Battle of Jambumali river

Battle of Jambumali river
Date	10th century
Location	Bhogavo River (modern day Gujarat)
Result	Chaulukya victory
Territorial; changes	Saurashtra (region) captured by Mularaja
Belligerents
Chudasama dynasty ; Kingdom of Kutch	Chaulukya dynasty ; Paramara dynasty
Commanders and leaders
Graharipu (POW); Laksha † ; Jadeja Raja †	Mularaja ; Gangamaha; Vakpati Munja
Strength
100,000	Unknown

Last updated January 27, 2025

Battle of Jambumali river was fought between Chudasama dynasty supported by Kingdom of Kutch and Chaulukya dynasty supported by Paramara dynasty.^[1]^[2] According to Hemachandra, the Brahmanas accused Graharipu of violating the Hindu laws and so Mularaja planned an invasion of the Chudasama dynasty.^[3] He marched towards Chudasama dynasty, a peace treaty was sent by Graharipu but it was rejected by Mularaja.^[4]

Accordingly Graharipu made his preperations and a battle took at Jambumali river (now Bhogavo River) which lasted for two days, Graharipu was made prisoner, Laksha who is said to have repulsed Mularaja 11 times before attacked him but was defeated and killed. Mularaja emerged victorious he spared the life of Graharipu and visited to Somnath temple after his victory.

Background

Causes of War

Hemachandra writes that Mularaja, the Chaulukya king and a pious devotee of Lord Somanatha, was commanded by the deity to vanquish Graharipu, who was said to be harassing Somanatha's devotees.^[1] Mularaja, by force of arms, subdued the Raivataka region and is said to have taken on some of the mlechchha (foreigners or non-Vedic people) practices. He is also said to have gone on hunting parties in Prabhasatirtha, a sacred place for Shaivites, and Hemachandra portrays him as an eater of beef.^[3]

Graharipu, knowing that there could be threats, was watchful. On the tenth day of the bright fortnight of Ashadha, Mularaja began his campaign with elaborate preparations, accompanied by Brahmanas chanting mantras.^[1]

Prelude

March towards battlefield

King Graharipu sent an emissary to Mularaja, who had posted his troops by the bank of the Jambumali River, and inquired whether Mularaja was invited there. The messenger presented the point as to whether he was summoned there by Brahmanas, who had claimed they were mistreated and reported wrongfully against the harassment of their members and blocking the path of the pilgrims. In reply, Mularaja pointed out that he could not befriend Graharipu, alleging him to have molested Brahmanas and was blocking pilgrims.^[1]

In preparation for war, Graharipu received support from the Mewasis, Bhillas, Lakha, (the King of Kachchh), and others. He also received the support of his sons and ally brothers from the region of Sindhu who raised an army of thousands along the seaside.^[1]

Battle

The battle was near the Jambumali River, known to be Bhogavo River in the Saurashtra region. There was a village named Jambu close to Limbdi located along the riverbanks. The war continued for two days with no clear result.^[3] On the third day, Mularaja arrived at the battle on an elephant, while Graharipu, furious, was also on his elephant. In a fierce duel, Mularaja overpowered Graharipu, unseated him from his elephant, and captured him by binding him with ropes.^[1] Laksha, attired in white clothes, encountered Mularaja and mocked him as "Mula." Laksha requested Graharipu be released, but Mularaja declined his demand as the captured person ate beef.^[3]

This issue was finally disputed between them, and it developed into a duel. Mularaja killed Laksha with a spear during this duel.^[2] Later, the men of Saurashtra, in women's dresses, offered themselves to Mularaja.^[4] Afterwards, the king released all the detainees and headed for the sacred city of Prabhasa in Saurashtra.^[3] This is further described by the 14th-century author Merutunga in the Prabandha-Cintamani, where he mentions that Laksha (or Lakha) was the son of Phulada, a herdsman who had married Kamalata, daughter of the Paramara king Kīrtirāja.^[1]

Laksha managed to defeat Mularaja 11 times. In the 12th time, Mularaja laid siege to Kapilkot (now Kera in Kutch). He defeated and killed Laksha.^[1] After the victory, Mularaja allegedly trampled on Lakhsa's beard. Lakhsa's mother, enraged by this act, cursed Mularaja's family that they would suffer from leprosy.^[3] The same version of this story is also available in Kumarapalacharita.

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References

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 SurvaVanshi, Bhagwansingh (1962). Abhiras their history and culture. pp. 40–41.
1 2 Shastri, Hariprasadji (1976). Gujaratlo Rajkiya Ane Sanskritik Itihas Granth Part-iii Itihasni Gujaratlo Rajkiya Ane Sanskritik Itihas Granth Part-iv Solanki. pp. 163–165.
1 2 3 4 5 6 Majumdar, Asoke Kumar (1956). Chaulukyas of Gujarat: A Survey of the History and Culture of Gujarat from the Middle of the Tenth to the End of the Thirteenth Century. Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan. pp. 25–26.
1 2 Hemachandra Acharya (1938). Kavyanushasanam Vol-ii.

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[:0-1] 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 SurvaVanshi, Bhagwansingh (1962). Abhiras their history and culture. pp. 40–41.

[:2-2] 1 2 Shastri, Hariprasadji (1976). Gujaratlo Rajkiya Ane Sanskritik Itihas Granth Part-iii Itihasni Gujaratlo Rajkiya Ane Sanskritik Itihas Granth Part-iv Solanki. pp. 163–165.

[:1-3] 1 2 3 4 5 6 Majumdar, Asoke Kumar (1956). Chaulukyas of Gujarat: A Survey of the History and Culture of Gujarat from the Middle of the Tenth to the End of the Thirteenth Century. Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan. pp. 25–26.

[:3-4] 1 2 Hemachandra Acharya (1938). Kavyanushasanam Vol-ii.

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