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Guhila dynasty

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Guhila dynasty is located in Rajasthan
Ahar
Ahar
Nagda
Nagda
Chittor
Chittor
Sisoda
Sisoda
class=notpageimage|
Location of Ahar, Nagda, Chittor and Sisodia in present-day Rajasthan

The Guhilas of Medapata, also known as the Guhilas of Mewar, were an Indian Rajput dyansty who ruled the Medapata (Mewar) region in present-day Rajasthan. The early kings of the dynasty ruled as Gurjara-Pratihara vassals between 8th and 10th centuries. Their capitals included Nagahrada (Nagda) and Aghata (Ahar). For this reason, they are also known as the Nagda-Ahar branch of the Guhilas.

After the decline of the Gurjara-Pratiharas, the Guhilas ruled as sovereigns. In the 13th century, the dynasty divided into two branches: one branch ruled from Chitrakuta (modern Chittorgarh) with the title Rawal, while another branch ruled from Sesoda with the title Rana.

Origin

The history of the Guhilas has been obscured by bardic legends. The 977 CE Atpur inscription of Shaktikumara lists 20 Guhila kings in an unbroken line of succession, starting with Guhadatta and ending with Shaktikumara.[1] According to several inscriptions and literary sources, Guhadatta migrated to present-day Rajasthan from Anandpur (present-day Vadnagar in Gujarat).[2]

The Atpur inscription does not mention Bappa Rawal, whom the bardic legends and other post-13th century records name as the dynasty's founder. Historians identify Bappa Rawal with either Kalabhoja or Khummana mentioned in the Atpur inscription. R. C. Majumdar theorizes that he achieved a highly significant military success, because of which he gained reputation as the founder of the dynasty.[3] The 1460 CE Kumbhalgarh inscription identifies Bappa Rawal as Shiladitya, and mentions Guhadatta as his son. This appears to be erroneous.[4]

According to 1274 CE Chittor inscription and 1285 CE Achaleshwar (Abu) inscription of Vedasharma, Bappa Rawal "changed his priestly splendour for regal lustre". Based on this, scholars such as D. R. Bhandarkar theorized that the Guhilas were originally Brahmins. G. H. Ojha, however, believed that the statement in Vedasharma's inscription is a misinterpretation of the earlier Atpur inscription. The Atpur inscription describes Guhadatta as a "Mahideva", which can be translated as either "king" or "Brahmin".[5]

The 1274 CE Chittor inscription compares the Guhila ruler Bharttripatta with Rama, describing both of them as "Brahma-Kshatras". Based on the identification of Rama with Parashurama, scholars such as D. C. Sircar theorized that the progenitor of the dynasty had a Brahmin parent and a Kshatriya parent. However, R. V. Somani dismisses this theory, arguing that Rama here refers to Ramachandra, from whose solar dynasty the later Guhilas claimed descent.[6]

The later bardic chronicles mention a fabricated geneaology, claiming that Guhaditya was a son of Shiladitya, the Maitraka ruler of Vallabhi. This claim is not supported by historical evidence.[2]

History

R. C. Majumdar places Guhadatta in 5th century CE, assuming a 20-year reign for each generation.[1] R. V Somani places him somewhere before the first quarter of the 6th century.[2]

According to the 977 CE Atpur inscription and the 1083 CE Kadmal inscription, Guhadatta was succeeded by Bhoja, who commissioned the construction of a tank at Eklingji. The 1285 CE Achaleshwar inscription describes him as a devotee of Vishnu.[7] Bhoja was succeeded by Mahendra and Nagaditya. The bardic legends state that Nagaditya was killed in a battle with the Bhils.[7]

Nagaditya's successor Shiladitya raised the political status of the family significantly, as suggested by his 646 CE Samoli inscription, as well as the inscriptions of his successors, including the 1274 CE Chittor inscription and the 1285 CE Abu inscription. R. V. Somani theorizes that the copper and zinc mines at Jawar were excavated during his reign, which greatly increased the economic prosperity of the kingdom. The 16th century Buddhist writer Taranatha mentions a reputed artist named Shringadhara, who was patronized by the king Shila of Maru country. Somani identifies this king as the Guhila king Shiladitya, although some other have identified him as Harshavardhana or the Maitraka king Shiladitya.[8]

Shiladitya was succeeded by Aparajita, who is attested by the 661 CE Kunda inscription. This epigraph records the construction of a Vishnu temple by Yashomati, the wife of Aparajita's commander Varaha. According to the bardic chronicles, Aparajita was also killed in a battle with the Bhils. His son Mahendra succeeded him.[4]

Mahendra was succeeded by Kalabhoja, who has been identified as Bappa Rawal by several historians including G. H. Ojha.[9]

The Guhilas originally acknowledged the suzerainty of the Gurjara-Pratiharas. In 10th century, Bhartripatta became an independent ruler, and assumed the title Maharajadhiraja (as per a 943 CE inscription). His successor Allata (reigned c. 950s CE) killed one Devapala, who according to Majumdar, might have been the Gurjara-Pratihara king Devapala.[3]

Guhilas of Aghata

Towards the end of the 10th century, Aghata became the second capital of the Guhilas.[10]

In the later half of the 10th century, the Paramara king Munja defeated the elephant forces of the Guhilas, and plundered their capital Aghata. The defeated Guhila ruler (either Naravahana or his son Shaktikumara) took shelter with Dhavala, the Rashtrakuta ruler of Hastikundi. As a result of this victory, the Paramaras gained control of the eastern part of Mewar, including Chittorgarh.[11]

Shaktikumara's son Ambaprasada was defeated and killed by the Chahamana king Vakpati II. Among his successors, Vijayasimha (r.c. 1108-1116) was a son-in-law of the Paramara king Udayaditya and a father-in-law of the Kalachuri king Gayakarna.[10]

Rawal branch

According to the 15th century text Eklinga-Mahatmaya, the family split into two branches during the reign of Ranasimha alias Karna: the Rawal (senior) branch of Chittor, and the Rana (junior) branch of Sesoda.[12] The later Sisodia Rajput dynasty of Sesoda thus descended from the Guhilas of Mewar.[13]

Kshemasimha succeeded his father Ranasimha alias Karna. By 1151, Chittor was under the control of the Chaulukya king Kumarapala.[10] Kshemasimha's son Samantasimha appears to have achieved military success against Kumarapala's successor Ajayapala. However, he was defeated by Ajayapala's feudatory Prahladana, the Paramara chief of Abu. The 1231 CE Abu prashasti inscription states that Prahladana defended the Gurjara king (that is, Ajayapala) after Samantasimha had broken the king's power on the battlefield.[14]

Shortly later, the Naddula Chahamana king Kirtipala, who was also a Chaulukya feudatory, ousted Samantasimha from Mewar. Kirtipala probably launched this invasion during 1171-1179 CE, with the approval of his Chaulukya overlord. By 1182,[10] Samantasimha's younger brother Kumarasimha regained the control of his ancestral kingdom by appeasing the Chaulukya king.[15] This Chaulukya king was probably Ajayapala or his successor Mularaja II.[10]

Kumarasimha was succeeded by Mathanasimha, Padmasimha and Jaitrasimha.[10]

Jaitrasimha

During the reign of Jaitrasimha (r. c. 1213-1252), the Guhilas achieved a high political status. Early in his reign, the Delhi Sultanate ruler Iltutmish invaded Mewar, and destroyed Nagahrada. Jaitrasimha (alias Jayatala) suffered heavy losses, but the invaders retreated when the Vaghela chief Viradhavala (a Chaulukya feudatory) marched northwards to check their advance.[16]

The Achaleshvara inscription suggests that Jaitrasimha destroyed Naddula and defeated the Turushkas (Turkic people).[17] According to historian R. B. Singh, this suggests that the Turkic Ghurid invaders had captured Naddula from the Chahamanas, and Jaitrasimha defeated their local governor. Later, the Jalor Chahamana king Udayasimha (a relative of Jayatasimha), gained control of Naddula.[17] However, D. C. Ganguly believes that Jaitrasimha may have plundered Naddula after Udayasimha's conquest of Jalore.[16]

Jaitrasimha also seems to have invaded the Chaulukya territory. During an attempt to capture Kottadaka (modern Kotada), his general Bala was killed by Tribhuvana-Ranaka (identified with the Chaulukya king Tribhuvanapala).[18]

According to one record, Ksehma's son Madana fought with the Panchalagudika Jaitramalla at Utthunaka (modern Arthuna), on behalf of Jesala. Based on identification of Jesala with Jaitrasimha, historian D. C. Ganguly believes that Jaitrasimha's general Madana fought with Jaitramalla, who was probably a chief of the Vagada branch of the Guhilas.[16]

The Guhila records also credit Jaitrasimha with military success against the king of Shakambhari. The Chahamana dynasty of Shakambhari had already ended by this time, therefore, this may be a reference to his victory over their descendants, the Chahamanas of Ranthambore. Jaitrasimha is also said to have defeated the Sindhuka army, whose identity is uncertain.[16]

Invasions from Delhi

Jaitrasimha's son Tejasimha ascended the throne sometime before 1260. The earliest Guhila inscription discovered at Chittor is from Tejasimha's reign, and refers to "Chitrakuta-maha-durga" (the great fort of Chittor).[16]

Tejasimha's son Samarasimha succeeded him sometime during 1267-1273. He defeated Krishnaraja, a ruler of the Paramara branch of Abu. He lost control of Abu soon, when Krishnaraja's son Pratapasimha, supported by the Vaghela king Sarangadeva, conquered it during 1285-1287. Sometime before 1285, Tejasimha helped Sarangadeva repulse a Turushka invasion of Gujarat (possibly a Delhi Sultanate army during Balban's reign). Towards the end of the 13th century, when Alauddin Khalji's army invaded Gujarat, he saved his kingdom by paying a tribute.[16]

The Rawal branch ended when Ratnasimha was defeated by Alauddin Khilji.[19] The Rana branch survived in form of the Sisodia dynasty.

Genealogy

Different sources offer different lists of the Guhila kings. The earliest extant inscription that provides a genealogy of the dynasty is the 971 CE inscription of Naravahana. However, it is badly damaged, and only three names can be read: Guhila, Bappa and Naravahana.[20]

The following inscriptions are the major source of the dynasty's genealogy:[21][22]

  • Atpur (Ahar) inscription, 977 CE (1034 VS) of Śaktikumāra
  • Chittor inscription, 1274 CE (1331 VS) of Samarasiṃha
  • Abu (Achaleshvar) inscription, 1285 CE (1342 VS) of Samarasiṃha
  • Sadadi (Ranpur) inscription, 1439 CE (1496 VS) of Kumbhakarna of Rana (Sisodia) branch
  • Kumbhalgarh inscription, 1460 CE (1517 VS) of Kumbhakarna of Rana (Sisodia) branch

Early kings

The following table lists the early kings of the dynasty, as listed in the various inscriptions.[21][22]

# Name (IAST) Atpur
inscription		 Chittor
inscription		 Abu
inscription		 Sadadi
inscription		 Kumbhal-garh
inscription		 Own inscriptions dated… Notes
1 Bappa ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Bappaka (Abu inscription)
2 Guhila ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Guhadatta (Atpur inscription)
3 Bhoja ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
4 Mahendra (I) ✓ ✓
5 Nāga ✓ ✓
6 Śila ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 646 CE (703 VS) The Kumbhalgarh inscription lists Bappa instead
7 Aparājita ✓ ✓ 661 CE (718 VS)
8 Mahendra (II) ✓ ✓
9 Kālabhoja ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
10 Khommāṇa (I) ✓ ✓ Called Sh[Kh]ummāṇa in Kumbhalgarh inscription
11 Mattaṭa ✓ ✓ ✓ Called Manttaṭa in Chittor inscription
12 Bhartṛipaṭṭa (I) ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Called Bhartṛibhaṭa in all inscriptions except the Atpur one
13 Siṃha ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Called Athasiṃha Chittor inscription
14 Khommāṇa (II) ✓ Son of Siṃha
15 Mahāyaka ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Called Mahāyika in Abu inscription, Son of Khommāṇa
16 Khommāṇa (III) ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Called Khumāṇa in all inscriptions except the Atpur one, Son of Mahāyaka
17 Bhartṛipaṭṭa (II) ✓ 942 CE (999 VS), 943 CE (1000 VS) Son of Khommāṇa (III), Married Mahālakṣmī of Rashtrakuta family
18 Allaṭa ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 951 CE (1008 VS), 953 CE (1010 VS) Son of Bhartṛipaṭṭa (II), Married Huna princess Hariyādevī
19 Naravāhana ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 971 CE (1028 VS) Son of Allaṭa, Married a daughter of Jejaya of Chahamana family
20 Śalivāhana ✓ ✓ Son of Naravāhana
21 Śaktikumāra ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 977 CE (1034 VS) Son of Śalivāhana
22 Āmraprasāda ✓ ✓ Called Ambāprasāda in Kumbhalgarh inscription, Son of Śaktikumāra
23 Śuchivarman ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ The Kumbhalgarh inscription lists Anantavarman (a son of Śaktikumāra) instead
24 Naravarman ✓ ✓ ✓ Son of Śaktikumāra
25 Kīrtivarman ✓ ✓ ✓ The Kumbhalgarh inscription lists Yaśovarman (a son of Śaktikumāra) instead
26 Yogarāja ✓ ✓ According to Kumbhalgarh inscription, his descendants did not rule
27 Vairaṭa ✓ ✓ ✓
28 Vaṃśapāla ✓ ✓ Called Haṃsapāla in Kumbhalgarh inscription
29 Vairisiṃha ✓ ✓ ✓ Son of Vaṃśapāla
30 Vijayasiṃha ✓ 1164 VS, 1173 VS Son of Vairaṭa. Married Śyāmaladevī (daughter of Paramara king Udayaditya); Hi); His daughter Alhaṇadevi married the Kalachuri king Gayakarna. The Kumbhalgarh inscription mentions him as an unnamed narendra (prince).[23]
31 Vairisiṃha (II) ✓ ✓ Son of Vijayasiṃha. Called Vairisiṃha (II) in Kumbhalgarh inscription
32 Arisiṃha ✓ ✓
33 Choḍa ✓ ✓ ✓ Called Choḍasiṃha in Sadadi inscription
34 Vikramasiṃha ✓ ✓ ✓ Son of Choḍa (Abu insc.) or Elder brother of Choḍa (Kumbhalgarh insc.)
35 Raṇasiṃha ✓ ✓ 1223 VS Son of Vikramasiṃha. Called Karṇasiṃha in Ekalinga Purana

Rawal branch

The rulers of the Rawal branch include:[12]

  • Kshemasimha, son of Ranasimha
  • Samantasimha
  • Kumarasimha, younger brother of Samantasimha; evicted Kitu (Kirtipala) from Mewar
  • Mahanasimha; called Mathanasimha in other inscriptions
  • Padmasimha
  • Jaitrasimha alias Jayasimha; ruled from Nagahrada (Nagda)
  • Tejasimha
  • Samarasimha, son of Tejasimha
  • Ratnasimha, son of Samarasimha

Rana branch

Rahapa, a son of Ranasimha alias Karna, established the Rana branch. According to the 1652 Eklingji inscription, Rahapa's successors were:[24]

  • Narapati
  • Dinakara
  • Jasakarna
  • Nagapala
  • Karnapala
  • Bhuvanasimha
  • Bhimasimha
  • Jayasimha
  • Lakhanasimha
  • Arisimha (Arasi)
  • Hammira (Hammir Singh)

For Sisodia successors of Hammir Singh, see Ranas of Mewar.

References

  1. ^ a b R. C. Majumdar 1977, p. 298-299.
  2. ^ a b c Ram Vallabh Somani 1976, p. 34.
  3. ^ a b R. C. Majumdar 1977, p. 299.
  4. ^ a b Ram Vallabh Somani 1976, p. 39.
  5. ^ Ram Vallabh Somani 1976, pp. 31–32.
  6. ^ Ram Vallabh Somani 1976, p. 32.
  7. ^ a b Ram Vallabh Somani 1976, p. 36.
  8. ^ Ram Vallabh Somani 1976, pp. 37–38.
  9. ^ Ram Vallabh Somani 1976, p. 40.
  10. ^ a b c d e f D. C. Ganguly 1957, p. 89.
  11. ^ Krishna Narain Seth 1978, p. 94.
  12. ^ a b Akshaya Keerty Vyas 1937, pp. 311.
  13. ^ R. C. Majumdar 1977, p. 298.
  14. ^ Asoke Kumar Majumdar 1956, p. 128.
  15. ^ Ashok Kumar Srivastava 1979, p. 5.
  16. ^ a b c d e f D. C. Ganguly 1957, p. 90.
  17. ^ a b R. B. Singh 1964, p. 264.
  18. ^ Asoke Kumar Majumdar 1956, p. 168.
  19. ^ Akshaya Keerty Vyas 1937, pp. 313.
  20. ^ Anil Chandra Banerjee 1958, p. 15.
  21. ^ a b N. P. Chakravarti 1987, p. 119-121.
  22. ^ a b Anil Chandra Banerjee 1958, pp. 14–15.
  23. ^ Akshaya Keerty Vyas 1937, pp. 310–314.
  24. ^ D. C. Ganguly 1957, p. 91.

Bibliography

  • Akshaya Keerty Vyas (1937). "First and Third Slabs of Kumbhalgarh Inscription V.S. 1517". In N. P. Chakravarti (ed.). Epigraphia Indica. Vol. XXIV. Archaeological Survey of India. {{cite book}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)
  • Anil Chandra Banerjee (1958). Medieval studies. A. Mukherjee & Co. OCLC 4469888. {{cite book}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)
  • Ashok Kumar Srivastava (1979). The Chahamanas of Jalor. Sahitya Sansar Prakashan. OCLC 12737199. {{cite book}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)
  • Asoke Kumar Majumdar (1956). Chaulukyas of Gujarat. Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan. OCLC 4413150. {{cite book}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)
  • D. C. Ganguly (1957). "Northern India During The Eleventh and Twelfth Centuries". In R. C. Majumdar (ed.). The Struggle for Empire. The History and Culture of the Indian People. Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan. OCLC 26241249. {{cite book}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)
  • Krishna Narain Seth (1978). The Growth of the Paramara Power in Malwa. Progress. {{cite book}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)
  • N. P. Chakravarti (1987) [1958]. "Appendix: Rajaprasasti Inscription of Udaipur (Continued from Vol. XXIX, Part V)". In N. Lakshminarayan Rao; D. C. Sircar (eds.). Epigraphia Indica. Vol. XXX. Archaeological Survey of India. {{cite book}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)
  • R. B. Singh (1964). History of the Chāhamānas. N. Kishore. OCLC 11038728. {{cite book}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)
  • R. C. Majumdar (1977). Ancient India. Motilal Banarsidass. ISBN 9788120804364. {{cite book}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)
  • Ram Vallabh Somani (1976). History of Mewar, from Earliest Times to 1751 A.D. Mateshwari. OCLC 2929852. {{cite book}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)
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