Bhima of Mahikavati

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Bhima, also known as Bhimdev was a 13th-century Indian king (raja) who established his capital in Mahikavati, the present-day Mahim, in Mumbai. He is identified as a son of the king Ramadeva of Devagiri.

Contents

Identification

Bimbakhyan legend

Bimbakhyan ("The story of Bimba"), an old Marathi language poem, states that the king Bimbadev (or Bimbashah) came to Konkan travelling through Anahilavada in 1294 CE (1216 Shaka). He was accompanied by a number of people, who had left the kingdoms of Anahilavada and Devagiri because of Muslim invasions. Bimba halted at Mahim, then in Madh island, and became enamoured with its beautiful scenery. He built a palace on the island, and his followers also built their residence there. [1]

This poetic account is not corroborated by any independent evidence, and is of little historic value according to Stephen Edwardes. [2]

Based on the Bimbakhyan account, José Gerson da Cunha identified Bimba with Bhima II of the Chaulukya (Solanki) dynasty of Gujarat, whose capital was Anahilavada. In his Origin of Bombay, Cunha wrote that Bhima had come to Mahim after fleeing his capital as a result of Mahmud Ghaznavid's invasion in 1024 CE. However, this identification is incorrect, as the Chaulukya king who reigned during Mahmud's invasion was Bhima I: he returned to his capital as soon as Mahmud left, and ruled there until 1064 CE. [2] The Jain chroniclers of Gujarat recorded the achievements of the Chaulukya kings in detail, but they do not mention any conquest of Konkan by Bhima I. [3]

Bhima II (r. c. 1177–1240 CE) could not have been Bimba either, as he was a very weak monarch. According to the Gujarat chroniclers, his kingdom ended up being divided among his ministers and regional chiefs. Such a weak ruler could not have invaded Konkan and subdued the more powerful Shilahara kings such as Keshideva II. [3] Kumarapala was the only Chaulukya king who invaded Konkan. But he did not rule the area. Northern Konkan was ruled by the Shilahara kings around 1260 CE, and after that by the Yadavas of Devagiri. [3]

Persian firman account

According to a 1495 CE Persian language firman , 'Bimbashah' was a son of Ramachandra of Devagiri. After his father was defeated by Alauddin Khalji (c. 1296), Bimba fled to the Konkan coast. He was accompanied by rajguru (royal perceptor) Purushottam Pant Kavle and eleven umraos (consorts). In Konkan, he took control of the coastal towns, such as Parnera, Sanjan, Shirgaon and others. He himself came to Mahi (Mahim). [4]

This account is corroborated by another Persian record from 1436 CE, which states that in 1290 CE (1212 Shalivahana era), 'Raja Bimbashah' took possession of a coastal territory from Karson. This "Karson" can be identified with Krishna, who was the governor of Ramadeva in northern Konkan. A 1299 CE danapatra (donation record) also states that king 'Bimbadeva' granted some land in present-day Mumbai to his rajguru Purushottam Kavle. [5] These evidences prove that Bimba was Bhimadeva, the son of Ramachandra of Devagiri. [5]

Religion

Bhimdeva built the Babulnath temple.[ citation needed ] The deity in this temple is named after the Babool trees which were the main components of a forest covering the low-lying areas of this island. He is said to have built a palace and a court of justice and temple of Prabhadevi. [6]

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Chaulukya dynasty Indian dynasty that ruled Gujarat from c. 940 to 1244

The Chaulukya dynasty, also Solanki dynasty, was a dynasty that ruled parts of what are now Gujarat and Rajasthan in north-western India, between c. 940 CE and c. 1244 CE. Their capital was located at Anahilavada. At times, their rule extended to the Malwa region in present-day Madhya Pradesh. The family is also known as the "Solanki dynasty" in the vernacular literature. They belonged to the Solanki clan of Rajputs.

Sindhuraja was an Indian king from the Paramara dynasty, who ruled the Malwa region in the late 10th century. He was the younger brother of Munja, and the father of Bhoja.

Military career of Bhoja

The 11th century Paramara king Bhoja ruled from his capital at Dhara. The period of his reign is dated approximately 1010 CE to 1055 CE, although some historians believe that he ascended the throne before 1010 CE. Bhoja inherited a kingdom centered around the Malwa region, and made several attempts to expand it varying results. He managed to annex territories as far as northern parts of Konkan, but these territorial gains were short-lived. He fought wars against several of his neighbours, including the Chaulukyas of Gujarat, the Chalukyas of Lata, the Chalukyas of Kalyani, the Chandelas of Jejakabhukti, the Kachchhapaghatas of Gwalior, the Chahamanas of Shakambhari, the Chahamanas of Naddula, and the Kalachuris of Tripuri. He also conflicted with Gaznavid Turk Invaders, Mahmud's desecration of the Somnath temple in Gujarat motivated Bhoja to lead an army against him, however after Somnath raid, Mahmud Gazhnavi chose a more dangerous route via Sindh, to avoid facing the invading powerful armies of Bhoja.

Someshvara was an Indian king belonging to the Chahamana dynasty and ruled parts of present-day Rajasthan in north-western India. He was brought up at the Chaulukya court in Gujarat by his maternal relatives. After death of Prithviraja II, the Chahamana ministers brought him to the capital Ajmer and appointed him as the new king. He is said to have commissioned several Shiva temples in Ajmer, and is best known as the father of Prithviraja III.

Bhima II, also known as Bhola Bhima, was an Indian king who ruled parts of present-day Gujarat. He was a member of the Chaulukya dynasty. During his reign, the dynasty's power declined greatly as a result of rebellions by the feudatories as well as external invasions by the Ghurids, the Paramaras, and the Yadavas of Devagiri. The kingdom, however, was saved by his generals Arnoraja, Lavanaprasada and Viradhavala, whose family established the Vaghela dynasty.

Bhillama V Chakravartin

Bhillama V was the first sovereign ruler of the Seuna (Yadava) dynasty of Deccan region in India. A grandson of the Yadava king Mullagi, he carved out a principality in present-day Maharashtra by capturing forts in and around the Konkan region. Around 1175 CE, he grabbed the Yadava throne, supplanting the descendants of his uncle and an usurper. Over the next decade, he ruled as a nominal vassal of the Chalukyas of Kalyani, raiding the Gujarat Chaulukya and Paramara territories. After the fall of the Chalukya power, he declared sovereignty around 1187 CE, and fought with the Hoysala king Ballala II for control of the former Chalukya territory in present-day Karnataka. Around 1189 CE, he defeated Ballala in a battle at Soratur, but two years later, Ballala defeated him decisively.

Ramachandra of Devagiri Raja-i-Rajan (as a feudatory of Alauddin Khalji)

Ramachandra, also known as Ramadeva, was a ruler of the Seuna (Yadava) dynasty of Deccan region in India. He seized the throne from his cousin Ammana, after staging a coup in the capital Devagiri. He expanded his kingdom by fighting his Hindu neighbours such as the Paramaras, the Vaghelas, the Hoysalas, and the Kakatiyas.

Alauddin Khaljis conquest of Devagiri

Around 1308, the Delhi Sultanate ruler Alauddin Khalji sent a large army led by his general Malik Kafur to Devagiri, the capital of the Yadava king Ramachandra.

References

  1. ↑ Stephen Meredyth Edwardes 1902, pp. 22–23.
  2. 1 2 Stephen Meredyth Edwardes 1902, p. 23.
  3. 1 2 3 Stephen Meredyth Edwardes 1902, p. 24.
  4. ↑ Stephen Meredyth Edwardes 1902, p. 25.
  5. 1 2 Stephen Meredyth Edwardes 1902, p. 26.
  6. ↑ Quarterly journal of the Local Self-Government Institute (Bombay).: Volume 47 :1976

Bibliography

  • Stephen Meredyth Edwardes (1902). The Rise of Bombay: A Retrospect. The Times of India Press / Cambridge University Press. ISBN   978-1-108-14407-0.
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