Chronology of Chudasama dynasty

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Chronology and genealogy of the later half of Chudasama dynasty based on inscriptions Chronology and genealogy of the later half of Chudasama dynasty.png
Chronology and genealogy of the later half of Chudasama dynasty based on inscriptions

The early history of the Chudasama dynasty in Saurashtra (now part of Gujarat, India) is largely lost. Bardic legends vary significantly in names, sequence, and numbers, rendering them unreliable as historical sources. Mandalika Kavya, a Sanskrit poem by Gangadhara, provides some information on the dynasty, though it holds limited historical accuracy. Certain inscriptions from the period offer early genealogical details, but these also vary in their order of succession. Historians like Ranchhodji Diwan, A. K. Forbes, James Burgess, [1] and Gaurishankar Oza have attempted to determine a more consistent genealogy and chronology. Based on dates from inscriptions linked to Chudasama kings and other literary sources, the genealogy and chronology of the dynasty's later period are now relatively established. It is known that they ruled approximately from Vikram Samvat (VS) 900 to VS 1527, or around 875 CE to 1472 CE. [2] [3] [4]

Contents

Chronology and genealogy

Based on inscriptions

There is no inscription available from the period before the reign of King Mandalika I. However, it is clear that the Chudasama dynasty had established its rule in the Saurashtra region before the Chaulukya king Mularaja came to power in Anahilavada, as literary sources mention battles between Chudasama and Chaulukya kings, including Mularaja and Jayasimha Siddharaja. The Dhandusar inscription (VS 1445) identifies the dynasty’s founder as Chudachandra (also known as Chuda of the Samma).

A Vanthali inscription records a King Mandalika, whose kingdom was seized by Jagatsimha, a feudatory of the Chaulukya king Viradhavala. This King Mandalika must be a different ruler than the Mandalika mentioned in later genealogies. Since Viradhavala is known to have lived around VS 1288, this event is likely dated accordingly. The Vanthali inscription itself dates to VS 1346, indicating that Jagatsimha’s family likely retained control until then. Later, a Chudasama king named Mandalika apparently regained Vanthali as Chaulukya rule weakened, marking a new starting point for the dynasty’s later genealogy in subsequent inscriptions.

The Chudasama dynasty continued to rule until VS 1527 (1472 CE), when they were defeated by the Gujarat Sultan Mahmud Begada. Since inscriptions describe the Chudasama resistance against the Gujarat Sultans, it can be concluded that they were the most powerful dynasty in the Saurashtra region during that period. [4] [3] [5] [6]

Genealogy and chronology table

RulerRelationship [4] [6] Reign (CE)Accession Year (Samvat) [4] [6] Ra Khengar Mahal/
Neminath Temple inscription
on Mount Girnar [7]
Hani Vav Dhandhusar
inscription [8]
Mahaprabhu Bethak
near Revatikund,
Girnar inscription [9]
Uparkot
Junagadh [10]
Mandalika I son of Yashodhavala1294–13061350MandalikaMandalika
Navaghana son of Mandalika I1306–13081362Navaghana
Mahipala I son of Mandalika I1308–13311364MahipaladevaMahipala
Khengara son of Mahipala I1331–13511387Shangara (Khangara)KhengaraKhengara
Jayasimha I son of Khangara1351–13781407JayasimhadevaJayasimhaJayasimha
Mahipala II son of Jayasimha I1378–13841435
Mokalasimha/Muktasimhason of Jayasimha I1384–13961440MokalasimhaMokalasimhaMuktasimha
Mandalika II son of Mokalasimha1396–14001452Mandalika
Meliga son of Mokalasimha1400–14161456MelangadevaMeligaMaligadeva
Jayasimha II son of Meliga1416–14301472Jayasimha
Mahipala III son of Meliga1430–14511486MahipaladevaMahipala
Mandalika III son of Mahipala III1451–14721507MandalikaMandalika

Early attempts

Ranchhodji Amarji (1825)

Ranchhodji Amarji, the Diwan (prime minister) of the Junagadh State, wrote the Tarikh-i-Sorath in Persian in 1825. In this work, Ranchhodji documented that the Chudasama dynasty belonged to the Chandravanshi (lunar) lineage, claiming they were descendants of Sadashiva and originally hailed from Sindh. He noted a tradition of rulers with recurring names, including nine named Navghan, ten named Jakhra, and eleven named Alansingh, among others, who ruled in succession. [11]

He provided the following chronology of Chudasama rulers in Tarikh-i-Sorath: [11]

Accession date (Samvat)Date (CE)RulerRelationReignNotable events
Rao DayatMarried the daughter of Siddha Rao (possibly Jayasimha Siddharaja) of Gujarat.
874817NavghanSon of DayatSaved by Devait of Alidhar (Gir Somnath District) from Siddha Rao as a child; later regained Junagadh and conquered Sindh.
916859KhengarSon of Navghan36 yearsAttacked Patan; slain by Siddha Rao. Story of Ranik Devi, who ended her life in VS 952 (895 CE).
952MularajaSon of Khengar35 years and 6 months
987JakhraSon of Mularaja21 years
1009GanrajSon of Jakhra38 years and 4 months
1047MandalikaSon of Ganraj48 years and 2 monthsAllied with Bhimadeva against Mahmud of Ghazni, who attacked Somnath temple.
1095Hamira DevaSon of Mandalika13 years and some days
1108VijayapalaSon of Hamira Deva54 years and 6 months
1162NavaghanaSon of Vijayapala2 years
1184MandalikaSon of Navghana11 years
1195AlansinghSon of Mandalika14 years
1209DhaneshSon of Alansingh5 years (some records state 9 years)
1214NavghanSon of Navghan9 years
12241167Khengar46 years
1270MandalikaSon of Khengar22 years, 3 months, 22 days (some records state 32 years)
1302MahipalaSon of Mandalika34 years, 5 months, 3 daysSome records state 34 years.
12 Magshar 13361279KhengarSon of Mahipala54 years and 13 daysConquered Diu and 17 other islands; repaired Somnath temple; took refuge on Mount Girnar after Junagadh was taken by Sams Khan under Tughluq orders.
1390JayasinghSon of Khengar11 years, 8 months, 11 days
6 Bhadarva 1402Mugatsingh (or Mokalsingh)Son of Jayasingh14 years, 13 days
4 Ashvad 1412MadhupatSon of Mugatsingh5 years, 1 month, 6 days
10 Kartika Sud 1421MandalikaSon of Madhupat17 years, 6 months, 3 days
1439MalekBrother of Mandalika (son of a slave-girl)11 years, 11 months, 24 days
1468JayasinghSon of Malek18 years, 3 months, 14 daysCaptured Zanzira (?)
1486KhengarSon of Jayasingh22 yearsAhmad Shah of Gujarat attacked Junagadh; Khengar and his diwan Hira Singh took refuge in Uparkot in 1470 (?) where Khengar died.
1489MandalikaKiwamu-al-Mlik, Amir of Sultan Mahmud, attacked Junagadh in VS 1520 and captured Mandalika in 1527 (1470 CE). Mandalika embraced Islam and died in Ahmedabad, where he is buried in Manek Chowk. His son was later restored as Jagirdar with the title of Raizada.

Following the defeat by Mahmud Begada, Mandalika’s descendants were granted the jagir of Junagadh as Jagirdars. However, real power was exercised by the Thanadar, appointed by the rulers in Ahmedabad and later by provincial governors. [11]

Accession date (Samvat)Date (CE)Ruler as JagirdarRelationReignThanadar
1529/1528Bhupat Singh31 yearsTatar Khan, son of Zafar Khan
1560KhengarSon of Bhupat Singh22 yearsMalik Ayaz and Tatar Khan Ghori
1581NavghanSon of Khengar28 years, 11 months, 20 daysSayyid Kasam and Mujahid Khan Belim
1608Shri SinghSon of Navghan34 years, 1 month, 10 daysKhan Azam Kokaltash became Subahdar of Ahmedabad, replacing Khan Khanan, and conquered Junagadh in 1633.
1642KhengarSon of Shri Singh22 yearsUnder Mahmud Shah and Bahadur Shah of Gujarat, Junagadh was granted as a jagir to their amirs, with Tatar Khan serving as Thanadar for 13 years.

James Burgess (1876-1882)

James Burgess translated the Târikh-i-Soraṭh into English under the title Târikh-i-Soraṭh: A History of the Provinces of Soraṭh and Hâlâr in Kâthiâwâd, based on Gujarati translations of Persian manuscripts. The translation, edited by James W. Watson, was published in 1882. Burgess consulted several manuscripts and referenced an inscription from the Vastupal Jain Temple on Mount Girnar to verify the chronology provided by Ranchhodji Amarji. He initially published these findings in his Report on the Antiquities of Kathiawad and Kachh and included editor notes in the translation. Burgess also incorporated information from other sources and made conjectural corrections to dates, marking uncertain dates with "(?)" when converting to CE format. [11] [1]

In the Târikh-i-Soraṭh, Ranchhodji lists the reigns of the first four kings, starting with Navaghana I, extending over 151 years, followed by a 22-year gap between Navaghana II and his successor Mandalika I. Burgess added Khengar II (c. 1107 CE) to the chronology, who was omitted by Ranchhodji. Additionally, Burgess noted that Ranchhodji excluded Navghana (c. 1235) after Mandalika, whom he assigned a reign of 22 years and 3.75 months, beginning in VS 1270, with Mahipala’s reign beginning in VS 1302. This adjustment left a 10-year gap, which may coincide with the reign of Navaghana IV. Ranchhodji’s genealogy includes Mugatsingh’s successors in the order of Madhupat (VS 1416-1421), Mandalika (VS 1421-1439), and Malek (VS 1439-1450), possibly derived from the Revatikunda inscription, which lists: Mandalika III, his son Mahipala, his son Khangara IV, his son Jayasimha, and his son Mugatsimha, with sons Mandalika and Melak. Burgess retained the dates VS 1421 and 1439 but suggested modifications to VS 1428 and 1433. [11] [1]

Burgess observed that some copies list VS 874 for Navghan’s accession, allowing him a 42-year reign. He criticized James Tod for counting Chudachandra as the fortieth prince before his time and as the eighth before Jam Unad, who Tod placed in VS 1110, speculating Chudachandra’s reign around VS 960. [1]

Rulers and chronology

The rulers are listed with Samvat (VS) dates, probable CE dates, and notes on their reigns and relations:

SamvatProbable date CERulerRelationReign
-904?Ra Dyas (Dyachh)Third descent from Ra Gariyo/Graharipu, grandson of Ra Chandrachud, founder of the Chudasama dynastyDefeated and killed by Patan king VS 874 (917 CE). Some sources list VS 874 as Navghan's accession date with a 42-year reign.
894937?Navaghana (Naughan)Son of Ra DyasInvaded Sindh and defeated Hamir of the Soomra dynasty in VS 890.
916959?KhangarSon of NavaghanaKilled at Bagasara by the Anhilvada Raja, possibly Mularaja, who ruled from 942 to 996 CE.
952968?MularajaSon of KhangaraPossibly from Anhilvada.
1009992?Navaghana IISon of MularajaRuled for 38 (18?) years.
10781021?MandalikaSon of NavaghanaJoined Bhima I of Gujarat in pursuit of Mahmud of Ghazni (VS 1080, AH 414).
10951038Hamir DevaSon of Mandalika13 years.
11081051VijaypalaSon of Hamiradeva-
11621085?Navaghana III-Subdued the Raja of Umeta.
-1107?Khengar II-Slain by Jayasimha Siddharaja of Anhilvada Patan.
11841127Mandalika II-11 years.
11951138Alansimha-14 years.
12091152Ganesha (Dhanesha)-5 years.
12141157Navaghana IV-9 years.
12241167Khangara III-46 years.
12701213Mandalika IIISon of Khangara III22 years, mentioned in Girnar inscription.
-1235?Navaghana V-Omissions of Navghana after Mandalika led to conjectural 10-year reign around Navaghana IV's period.
13021245Mahipaladeva (Ra Kavat)-34 years, built a temple at Somnath Patan.
13361279Khangara IVSon of MahipaladevaRepaired Somnath temple, conquered Div, Shams Khan captured Junagadh.
13901333JayasimhadevaSon of Khangara IV11.75 years, subdued 84 petty chiefs.
14021345Mugatsimha (Mokalsimha)Son of Jayasimha14 years.
14161359Melak DevaSon of MugatsimhaProvided protection to Jhala Krishnaji from Yavana.
14211371Mahipaladeva II (Madhupat)-Married Kunta, daughter of Arjuna.
14391376Mandalika IVSon of MahipaladevaDefeated Sangana of Okha.
14501393Jayasimhadeva II-Possibly Rai of Jerend, defeated by Muzaffar Shah I in 1411.
14691412Khangara V-Engaged in war with Ahmad Shah.
14891432Mandalika V-Restored Uparkot (VS 1507), subdued by Mahmud Begada in 1469-70 CE.
Post-subjugation as tributary jagirdars

After the dynasty was subjugated by the kings of Ahmedabad, it continued as tributary Jagirdars for another century, with the following succession:

Accession

CE

JagirdarRelationReign
1472BhupatCousin of Mandalika V32 years.
1503Khangara VISon of Bhupat22 years.
1524Navghana VISon of Khangara25 years.
1551Shrisimha-35 years, during Akbar’s conquest of Gujarat.
1585Khangara VII-Ruled until about 1609.

Some versions of the Târikh-i-Soraṭh list additional names without dates.

James W. Watson (1884) and Harold Wilberforce-Bell (1916)

James W. Watson, in Gazetteer of the Bombay Presidency: Kathiawar Volume VIII (1884), provided a chronology of the Chudasama kings. The early kings' chronology was based on bardic legends, while the later chronology was derived from inscriptions. [12]

In 1916, Harold Wilberforce-Bell published The History of Kathiawad from the Earliest Times. [5] He expanded on Watson's chronology, confirming that the kings starting with Mandalik I were correctly positioned in the chronology, though the dates of accession varied from later chronologies. He presented the following chronology:

RulerAccession Start CEAccession End CENotes
Chudachandra875907Founder of the dynasty
Mularaja907915
Vishwavarah915940
Graharipu940982Uparkot fort rebuilt; battle with Chaulukya Mularaja
Kavat9821003Uga Wala tale
Dyas10031010Battle with Chaulukya Dularaj (Durlabhraja?)
Chaulukya Viceroy10101020
Navghan10201044Regained from Chaulukya with help from Ahirs; expedition to Sindh; sack of Somnath in 1026 by Mahmud of Ghazni
Khengar I1044106723 years
Navghan II1067109821 years; defeated by Siddharaj
Khengar II10981125Youngest of four sons of Navghan II; defeated chief of Umeta; broke gate of Analihavad Patan; Siddharaj attacked in return; tale of Ranik Devi
Navghan III11251140Navghan III regained throne, expelling the Chaulukya viceroy
Kavat II1140115212 years
Jayasimha/Graharipu II11521180
Raisimha11801184
Mahipal II/Gajraj11841201
Jayamal12011230
Mahipal III12301253Battles with Kathis
Khengar III12531260Subdued Kathis
Mandalik I12601306Alaf Khan raided Saurashtra; lost Vanthali to Rathod chief
Navghan IV13061308
Mahipal IV1308132517 years
Khengar IV13251351Restored Somnath and expelled the Delhi Sultanate-appointed governor
Jayasimha II1351136918 years
Mahipal V13691373Recovered Vanthali in 1370
Muktasimha13731397Tughluq order to move capital to Vanthali
Mandalika II139714003 years
Malek14001415Brother of Mandalika II; conflict with Ahmad Shah I of Gujarat
Jyasimha III1415144025 years
Mahipal IV14401451
Mandalik III14511470Defeated by Mehmud Begada in 1470 and told to embrace Islam; his descendants restored as Jagirdar

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 James Burgess (1876). "X. Mount Girnar". Report on the Antiquities of Kathiawad and Kachh: Being the Result of the Second Season's Operations of the Archaeological Survey of Western India, 1874-75. pp. 163–165.
  2. Soszynski, Henry. "CHUDASAMA DYNASTY". members.iinet.net.au. Retrieved 10 October 2017.
  3. 1 2 Virbhadra Singhji (1994). The Rajputs of Saurashtra. Popular Prakashan. pp. 35–36. ISBN   978-81-7154-546-9.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Diskalkar, D. B. (December 1938). "Inscriptions Of Kathiawad". New Indian Antiquary. Vol. 1. pp. 578–579.
  5. 1 2 Harold Wilberforce-Bell (1916). The History of Kathiawad from the Earliest Times. London: William Heinemann. pp. 54–83.PD-icon.svg This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain .
  6. 1 2 3 Bhandarkar, D. R. (1929). Appendix To Epigraphia Indica And Record Of The Archeological Survey Of India. Vol. 19–23. Calcutta: University of Calcutta. pp.  243, 406.
  7. Diskalkar, D. B. (June 1940). "Inscriptions Of Kathiawad No. 77 Girnar". New Indian Antiquary. Vol. 2. pp. 116–117.
  8. Diskalkar, D. B. (April 1939). "Inscriptions Of Kathiawad No. 48 Dhandhusar". New Indian Antiquary. Vol. 1. pp. 37–38.
  9. Diskalkar, D. B. (December 1939). "Inscriptions Of Kathiawad No. 68 Junagadh". New Indian Antiquary. Vol. 1. pp. 602–603.
  10. Diskalkar, D. B. (June 1940). "Inscriptions Of Kathiawad No. 76 Junagadh (Uparkot)". New Indian Antiquary. Vol. 1. pp. 113–114.
  11. 1 2 3 4 5 Ranchodji Amarji (1882). Târikh-i-Soraṭh: A History of the Provinces of Soraṭh and Hâlâr in Kâthiâwâd. Educ. Soc. Press, & Thacker. pp.  101–126, 127–131.PD-icon.svg This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain .
  12. Watson, James W., ed. (1884). Gazetteer of the Bombay Presidency: Kathiawar. Vol. VIII. Bombay: Government Central Press. pp. 492–493.PD-icon.svg This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain .