Lalit??ditya Mukt??p?????a (r. 724 –757 CE), “Pearl-crowned tremulous Sun”, of Kashmir’s K??rko???a dynasty was called a world conqueror and universal monarch by the 12th century historian Kalha???a in his R??jatara???gin??. Lalit??ditya defeated the central Indian king Yashovarman, and then marched to eastern and southern lands, subjugating several more rulers on his way back. Later his campaigns towards the north and the west brought him further victories, and he conquered lands in the region of the Taklamakan Desert. Many scholars believe that Lalit??ditya created an empire that included major parts of India as well as present-day Afghanistan and Central Asia.
Lalit??ditya was also a great builder of cities such as the new capital Parih??sapura, temples, and vih??ras. Many of his temples were dedicated to Vishnu, R??ma, Krishna, and Shiva, and there were stupas and vih??ras to the Buddha. The great Sun-temple of M??rtan???, although in ruins now, is a testament to the grandness and beauty of his conceptions.