Shiladitya of Malwa

Shiladitya of "Mo-la-po" (identified as Malwa) was a 6th-century king of India, known only from the writings of the 7th-century Chinese traveler Xuanzang. Several modern scholars identify this king as the Maitraka king Shiladitya I alias Dharmaditya, although alternative theories exist.

Xuanzang's description

Xuanzang, who visited India during c. 630-644, states that Shiladitya ruled Mo-la-po 60 years before his time. Modern scholars generally identify "Mo-la-po" with Malwa, or southern Malwa.

Shiladitya built a highly ornamental Buddhist monastery (vihara) beside his palace, and installed the images of the seven Buddhas in it. Every year, he organized an assembly called Moksha mahaparishad, inviting priests and making generous donations to them.

Identification

One theory identifies Xuanzang's Shiladitya as Shiladitya I alias Dharmaditya, the Maitraka king of Vallabhi. Xuanzang states that Dhruva-bhata ("Tu-lo-po-po-ta"), the contemporary Maitraka king of Vallabhi ("Fa-la-pi"), was a nephew of Shiladitya. Although Shiladitya ruled from Valabhi, his rule apparently extended up to western Malwa, because of which Xuanzang describes him as the ruler of Malwa.

Shiladitya's known dates are 606 CE and 612 CE, and his father Dhara-sena ruled at least until 589 CE. These dates do not align with Xuanzang's statement that Shiladitya ruled 60 years before his own time. The proponents of this theory argue that Xuanzang's statement should not be taken literally.

Historian Radha Kumud Mukherjee identified Shiladitya as a son of the Aulikara king Yashodharman.