Navaghana (king)

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Navaghana was an early Chudasama king known only from the ballads and folklore of Saurashtra of Gujarat, India. His capital was at Vamanasthali (now Vanthali) which he later moved to Junagadh during his last years of reign.

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Navghan Kuvo, a well attributed to Navaghana Navghan Kuvo 02.jpg
Navghan Kuvo, a well attributed to Navaghana

In bardic literature

The bardic literature says his father Dyas was defeated by Patan Raja (Chaulukya king) and Navaghana was rescued. When Navaghana grew up, he regained the throne. He may have been benefited by weakened Chaulukyas due to invasion of Mahmud Ghazni who attacked desecrated the Somnath temple in 1024 CE. Navaghana came to power soon after the attack. [1]

Successors

According to bardic tales and folklore, Navaghana reigned from 1026 CE to 1044 CE and he was succeeded by his son Khengara who reigned for 23 years (1144-1167 CE), followed by his son Navaghana. Udayamati, wife of Chaulukya ruler Bhima I, was a daughter of his son Khengara. [1]

Cultural activities

The construction of Navghan Kuvo, a stepwell in the Uparkot Fort, is attributed to him. It is considered an oldest example of stepwell in Gujarat by some scholars. [2]

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Khengara was a Chudasama king of Saurashtra region of western India who reigned from 1331 CE to 1351 CE. His capital was at Junagadh.

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Ranakadevi was a legendary 12th century queen of Khengara, the Chudasama ruler of Saurashtra region of western India. She is mentioned in the bardic tragic romance representing the battle between Chudasama king Khengara and Chaulukya king Jayasimha Siddharaja. However, this legend is not credible.

Navaghana alias Khengara was a Abhira King of Saurashtra region of western India who reigned in the late 11th century. His capital was at Junagadh. He was a contemporary of Jayasimha Siddharaja, the Chaulukya ruler of Anahilapataka. According to bardic legends, Jayasimha attacked during his reign and he was defeated and became is vassal. He moved capital to Junagadh. He was succeeded by Khengara who had vowed to take revenge.

Gajaraja, also known as Mahipala, was an early Chudasama king known only from the ballads and folklore of Saurashtra region of Gujarat, India.

The early history of Chudasama dynasty of Saurashtra region is almost lost. The bardic legends differs very much in names, order and numbers so they are not considered reliable. Mandalika Kavya, a Sanskrit poem by Gangadhara, gives some information on dynasty but it has little historical value. Some of their inscriptions gives their genealogy but they too differ in order of succession. Ranchhodji Diwan, A. K. Forbes, James Burgess and Gaurishankar Oza had tried to fix genealogy and chronology. They ruled about from Vikram Samvat (VS) 900 to VS 1527.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Navghan Kuvo</span> Stepwell in Junagadh, India

Navghan Kuvo is a stepwell in Uparkot Fort, Junagadh, Gujarat, India.

References

  1. 1 2 Shastri, Keshavram Kashiram (1977). Parikh, Rasiklal Chhotalal; Shastri, Hariprasad Gangashankar (eds.). ગુજરાતનો રાજકીય અને સાંસ્કૃતિક ઇતિહાસ: સોલંકી કાલ [Political and Cultural History of Gujarat: Solanki Era]. Research Series - Book No. 69 (in Gujarati). Vol. IV. Ahmedabad: Bholabhai Jeshingbhai Institute of Learning and Research. pp. 135–137.
  2. Jutta Jain-Neubauer (1981). The Stepwells of Gujarat: In Art-historical Perspective. Abhinav Publications. pp. 22, 27. ISBN   978-0-391-02284-3.