Vanaraja Chavda
| Vanaraja Chavda | |
|---|---|
 Image of Vanraj Chavda | |
| Last Chavda king | |
| Successor | Mularaja (Solanki king) |
Vanaraja Chavda was the most prominent king of the Chavda dynasty, a dynasty which ruled Gujarat from 746 AD to 942 AD.[1][2]
Biography
Vanaraja Chavda is not portrayed as a Jain by birth, yet he is shown participating in distinctly Jain rituals of kingship by Jain authors.[3]
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. 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.[4]
His wife fled to the forests of Radhanpur and gave birth to Vanraj Chavda whose name was rupsundari.[4] He was named Vanraj (King of the forest) as he was born in the forest. He was educated by Jain priests and gained an academic as well as a military education. He eventually raised an army of Bhil tribal men and helped by his friend lieutenant Anhil, regained his father's lost kingdom and established the city of Anhilwad Patan in 746.[4] He named it in honour of Anhil, and made it the capital of his kingdom. It went on to be the most prosperous cities of its time in India. He also founded the city of Champaner, in honour one of his generals, Champa.
Vanraj Chavda was succeeded by his son, Kshemraj Chavda.
Notes
- ↑ Chintaman Vinayak Vaidya (1979). History of mediaeval Hindu India, Volume 1. Cosmo Publications. p. 355.
- ↑ Cort, John E. (2001), Jains in the World: Religious Values and Ideology in India, Oxford University Press, p. 37, ISBN 978-0-19-803037-9
- ↑ John E. Cort 1998, p. 87.
- 1 2 3 Gazetteer of the Bombay Presidency: Cutch, Palanpur, and Mahi Kantha 2015, p. 345.
References
- John E. Cort, ed. (1998), Open Boundaries: Jain Communities and Cultures in Indian History, SUNY Press, ISBN 0-7914-3785-X
- Gazetteer of the Bombay Presidency: Cutch, Palanpur, and Mahi Kantha. Government Central Press. 1880. p. 345.
External links
- District Map of Patan (includes brief history) at mapsofindia.com
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. p. 345.