Chavda dynasty

Chavda dynasty
c. 690–942
Capital		Panchasar Anhilwad Patan
Languages		Old Gujarati, Prakrit
Religion		Hinduism, Jainism
Government		Monarchy
King		Vanaraja
History
•	Established	c. 690
•	Disestablished	942
Preceded by Succeeded by Gurjara-Pratihara Solanki dynasty Cutch State
Today part of		India

The Chavda dynasty was a Hindu Kshatriya family line of Rajput rulers in what is now northern Gujarat from c.690 to 942. Other names for the dynasty include Chawda, Chavada, Chapa, Chapotkat and Chāpoṭkata.

History

During the seventh century, Panchasar was the capital of Chavda ruler Jai Shikhri, and was so splendid a city that, according to the court bard, no one living there had any desire for paradise. This boasting of his bard brought against Jai Shikhri (697) the power of the king of Kalyan Katak (probably Kanauj). The first expedition, surprised by Jai Shikhri's minister, was defeated, but a second, under the personal command of the Kalyan king, ended in the destruction of Jai Shikhri and of his capital. His wife, saved by her husband's forethought, became the mother of Vanraj Chavda, the founder (746) of the city of Anhilwad Patan.^[1] He ruled for sixty years.

He was succeeded by Yogaraj (ruled 35 years), followed by Kshemraj (25 years), Bhuyad (29 years), Virsinh (25 years) and Ratnaditya (15 years). Ratnaditya was succeeded by Samantsinh who ruled seven years.

Samantsinh Chavda did not have any children so he adopted his nephew Mularaja who overthrew him in 942 and established the Solanki dynasty.^[2]

About 942, one of queens of Samantsinh fled with her year old child to his father's house in Jaisalmer. This son Ahipat became a formidable outlaw and he was used to ravage dominions of Anhilwad Patan. He conquered more than 900 villages in Kutch and established Morgadh as its capital. He reigned for many years and was succeeded by his son Vikramsi. The lineage of succession was Vibhuraja, Takulji, Seshkaranji, Vaghji, Akheraja, Tejasi, Karamsinha, Takhansinha, Mokasinha, Punjaji. Punjaji lived in the reign of Alauddin Khilji around the end of thirteenth century.^[3]

During the British raj, the small Varsoda and Mansa princely states under the Mahi Kantha Agency (in present Western Indian state Gujarat) remained ruled by a branch of the Chavda dynasty until independence of India in 1947.^[4]

References

Notes

1. Gazetteer of the Bombay Presidency: Cutch, Palanpur, and Mahi Kantha 2015, p. 345.
2. Gir Forest and the Saga of the Asiatic Lion By Sudipta Mitra. 2005. p. 14.
3. Gazetteer of the Bombay Presidency: Cutch, Palanpur, and Mahi Kantha 2015, p. 131.
4. Gujarat State Gazetteers: Mehsana -1975- Page 127

Bibliography

• Gazetteer of the Bombay Presidency: Cutch, Palanpur, and Mahi Kantha. Government Central Press. 1880. pp. 131, 345.

This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Gazetteer of the Bombay Presidency: Cutch, Palanpur, and Mahi Kantha. Government Central Press. 1880. pp. 131, 345.

External links and Sources

• IndianRajputs.com