Agnivansha

It was the summer's passing and a whirl of dust frolicked on the edges of the fort of the mighty Parmar's. Maharaja Sindhuraja stood at the balcony overlooking the vast expanses of the Satpura. Far away the Sun's dying rays gleamed off the Kalika Devi temple dome burning it orange for a minute before darkness pulled over. Sindhuraja ambled inside, hands clasped behind, head hung low over the chest to save from the cold Indraprasth breeze. It had been thirteen years since his elder brother and the rightful emperor of Aryavrata, Munja or Vakpati as the workd knew him, had launched his campaign against the Southerners. The Chalukya's were a shrewd clan and their king Tailapa was a determined fool. He had lost six times to Munja but always returned with more zeal than he needed. 

As soon as he reached his quarters the queen with red eyes and a hand over her mouth engulfed him in an embrace. 

"Maharaj, your brother is no more." she sobbed.

Sindhuraja stepped back from the queen and with a rather strong squeeze asked "Who bore this ill message?" 

A fair complexioned man with long curly hairs and a dirty turban stepped in focus and said, "I brought this unfortunate news, Maharaj." 

"How did this happen Padmagupta?" 

"We were ambushed in the western ghats outside of Manyakheta outnumbered twenty to one. I was sent to deliver his last will and message to you." He handed over a parchment with the Royal Garuda and Snake emblem securing the blue ribbon. 

Sindhuraja opened it slowly. 

"Dear Shashank,

I'll not be around to save you from the bandits any more. My glory has always been in the battlefields and here shall I rest. I may not have royal blood but you and our father, the true Maharaj of Aryavrata, never let me believe otherwise. I pray to Agnideva everyday of my life for such fortune. Before I descend to haven or hell, I must advise you. Tailap will not rest until he enters Dhar nagri. You, my dear brother, are no match for him. Renounce your throne and anoint Bhoja as the Maharaja. I've seen Bhoja in action. Do not hold this bias against the boy. His tumour was removed and skull repaired by the Avanti Vaidya's in as successful a manner as the raj Vaidya of Ravana himself. You must make him your successor and not Pala. He has our father's blessings. 

I'll meet you in the next life,

Your brother,

Amoghavarsha, Sri-Vallabha, Prithvi-Vallabha, Parama-Bhattaraka Maharajadhiraja Parameshvara Vakatpati Munja. 

Sindhuraja rolled up the parchment and tied it with deliberate care. He slowly then handed it back to Padmagupta and dismissed him with a lazy wave of his hand and called in Bhoja. The seventeen year old dark skinned boy with long black hairs and fierce eyes like the Satpura tigers. He patted his head and said in a deep voice this sacrosanct fable of the Agnikula,

"When Rishi Vishwamitra stole the divine cow of sage Vaishist, a cosmic illusion set to work. A sacred clan of vedic rishis performed a yagna to the fire god, call him Agni, Atesh or Mithra, and from this yagna was born the great 'Slayer of the enemies' wearing the crown and armor of gold and a bow in his hand. 'Parmar' he was called and thus he became entitled to rule the world entire. His lineage continues through us, through you my son and I renounce the kingdom in search of Moksha. You are now the King of Parmars."

Raja Bhoj ruled for forty five years, from 1010 CE to 1055 CE.