Chandelas of Jejakabhukti
Chandelas of Jejakabhukti | |||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
c. 831 – 1315 CE | |||||||||||
Coinage of Sallakshana-Varman (1120–1135 CE), Chandelas of Jejakabhukti
| |||||||||||
Kalanjara | |||||||||||
Common languages | Sanskrit | ||||||||||
Religion | |||||||||||
Government | Monarchy | ||||||||||
Historical era | Medieval India | ||||||||||
• Established | c. 831 | ||||||||||
• Disestablished | 1315 CE | ||||||||||
| |||||||||||
Today part of | India |
The Chandelas of Jejakabhukti was an Indian dynasty in Central India. The Chandelas ruled much of the Bundelkhand region (then called Jejakabhukti) between the 9th and the 13th centuries. They belonged to the Chandel clan of the Rajputs.[2]
The Chandelas initially ruled as feudatories of the
The Chandelas are well known for their art and architecture, most notably for the temples at their original capital
Origin
The origin of the Chandelas is obscured by mythical legends. The epigraphic records of the dynasty, as well as contemporary texts such as Balabhadra-vilasa and Prabodha-chandrodaya, suggest that the Chandelas belonged to the legendary
The Mahoba-Khanda legend of the dynasty's origin goes like this: Hemaraja, a priest of the
British indologist V. A. Smith theorized that the Chandelas were of either Bhar or Gond origin. Some other scholars including R. C. Majumdar also supported this theory.[10] The Chandelas worshipped Maniya, a tribal goddess, whose temples are located at Mahoba and Maniyagadh.[11] Besides, they have been associated with places that are also associated with Bhars and Gonds. Also, Rani Durgavati, whose family claimed Chandela descent married a Gond chief of Garha-Mandla.[12] Historian R. K. Dikshit does not find these arguments convincing: he argues that Maniya was not a tribal deity.[13] Also, the dynasty's association with Gond territory is not necessarily indicative of a common descent: the dynasty's progenitor may have been posted as a governor in these territories.[12] Finally, Durgavati's marriage to a Gond chief can be dismissed as a one-off case.[13]
History
Early rulers
The Chandelas were originally vassals of the
According to the Chandela inscriptions, Nannuka's successor
Rise as a sovereign power
Harsha's son
Unlike the earlier Chandela inscriptions, the records of Yashovarman's successor
Dhanga's successor
The Chandela art and architecture reached its zenith during this period. The
Decline
By the end of Vidyadhara's reign, the
Vijayapala's elder son Devavavarman was subjugated by Gangeya's son Lakshmi-Karna.[39] His younger brother Kirttivarman resurrected the Chandela power by defeating Lakshmi-Karna.[40] Kirtivarman's son Sallakshanavarman achieved military successes against the Paramaras and the Kalachuris, possibly by raiding their territories. A Mau inscription suggests that he also conducted successful campaigns in the Antarvedi region (the Ganga-Yamuna doab).[41] His son Jayavarman was of religious temperament and abdicated the throne after being tired of governance.[42]
Jayavarman appears to have died heirless, as he was succeeded by his uncle Prithvivarman, the younger son of Kirttivarman.[43] The Chandela inscriptions do not ascribe any military achievements to him; it appears that he was focused on maintaining the existing Chandela territories without adopting an aggressive expansionist policy.[44]
Revival
By the time Prithvivarman's son
Madanavarman's son Yashovarman II either did not rule, or ruled for a very short time. Madanavarman's grandson Paramardi-deva was the last powerful Chandela king.[52]
Final decline
Prithviraj Chauhan's raid of Mahoba is corroborated by his
The Chandela power did not fully recover from their defeat against the Delhi forces. Paramardi was succeeded by
Hammiravarman was succeeded by Viravarman II, whose titles do not indicate a high political status.
Art and architecture
The Chandelas are well known for their art and architecture. They commissioned a number of temples, water bodies, palaces and forts at various places. The most famous example of their cultural achievements are the Hindu and Jain temples at
-
Dulhadeo temple, Khajuraho
-
Ajaigarh temple
Other smaller Chandela sites include Chandpur, Deogarh, Dudahi, Kakadeo, Madanpur and Aharji.[62][63][64]
-
Brahma and his consort, Khajuraho
-
Stone carving, Ajaigarh
-
JainSarasvati, Ajaigarh
-
Jain heavens, Ajaigarh
-
Jainshramanas, Ajaigarh
-
Cattle with treasure sign, Ajaigarh
-
Surasundari Apsara, Khajuraho
-
Dancing Ganesha, Khajuraho
-
Parshvanatha temple carvings
-
Lakshmana temple carvings
List of rulers
Based on epigraphic records, the historians have come up with the following list of Chandela rulers of Jejākabhukti (
S.N. | Ruler's regional name ( IAST name in bracket)
|
Reign (CE) |
---|---|---|
1 | Nannuka | 831–845 |
2 | Vakpati (Vākpati) | 845–865 |
3 | Jayashakti (Jayaśakti) and Vijayashakti (Vijayaśakti) | 865–885 |
4 | Rahila (Rāhila) | 885–905 |
5 | Shri Harsha (Śri Harśa) | 905–925 |
6 | Yasho-Varman (Yaśovarman) | 925–950 |
7 | Dhanga-Deva (Dhaṅgadeva) | 950–999 |
8 | Ganda-Deva (Gaṇḍadeva) | 999–1002 |
9 | Vidyadhara (Vidyādhara) | 1003–1035 |
10 | Vijaya-Pala (Vijayapāla) | 1035–1050 |
11 | Deva-Varman | 1050–1060 |
12 | Kirtti-Varman (Kīrtivarman) | 1060–1100 |
13 | Sallakshana-Varman (Sallakṣaṇavarman) | 1100–1110 |
14 | Jaya-Varman | 1110–1120 |
15 | Prithvi-Varman (Pṛthvīvarman) | 1120–1128 |
16 | Madana-Varman | 1128–1164 |
17 | Yasho-Varman II | 1164–1165 |
18 | Paramardi-Deva
|
1165–1203 |
19 | Trailokya-Varman | 1203–1245 |
20 | Vira-Varman (Vīravarman) | 1245–1285 |
21 | Bhoja-Varman | 1285–1288 |
22 | Hammira-Varman (Hammīravarman) | 1288–1311 |
23 | Vira-Varman II | 1311–1315 |
Family tree
Chandela dynasty | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
See also
References
History of South Asia | |
---|---|
(330–323 BC) | |
Maurya Empire | (321–184 BC) |
Seleucid India | (312–303 BC) |
Sangam period | (c. 600 BC – c. 300 AD) |
Pandya Empire | (c. 300 BC – AD 1345) |
Chera Kingdom | (c. 300 BC – AD 1102) |
Chola Empire | (c. 300 BC – AD 1279) |
Pallava Empire | (c. 250 AD – AD 800) |
Maha-Megha-Vahana Empire | (c. 250 BC – c. AD 500) |
Parthian Empire | (247 BC – AD 224) |