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Alhanadeva

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Author:Laxman Burdak, IFS (R)

Alhanadeva (अल्हणदेव) (r. c. 1148-1163 CE) was a king belonging to the Naddula Chahamana dynasty. He ruled the area around Naddula (present-day Nadol in Rajasthan), as a vassal of the Chaulukya king Kumarapala.

Variants

History

During his reign, the Chahamanas of Shakambhari invaded Naddula, and Kumarapala replaced him with his own governors. Later, Kumarapala restored his rule in Naddula, as a result of his service in Chaulukya military campaigns.

Reign

Alhanadeva was a son of the Chahamana monarch Asharaja. He succeeded his elder brother Katukaraja on the throne of Naddula.[1] He accepted the suzerainty of the Chaulukya monarch Kumarapala. Another of his brothers, Purnapaksha, ruled the Ratanpur principality as Kumarapala's vassal.[2]

Alhana commissioned a Shiva temple at Naddula, and also made donations to the Chandaleshvara and Tripurusha temples. His queen Shankaradevi installed an idol of the goddess Gauri with his benefaction. He also gave a monthly grant to the Mahavira Jain temple at Naddula.[3]

Temporary loss of Naddula: While Alhanadeva was ruling at Naddula, the Shakambhari Chahamanas invaded the Chaulukya territories, including the Naddula Chahamana kingdom. According to the 1152 CE Kiradu inscription, Alhanadeva's rule was confined to the Kiratakupa (Kiradu), Latahrada (Gudamalani) and Shiva (Sheo) areas, which he had received as a favour from Kumarapala.[4] Naddula was being ruled by Kumarapala's own governor Pratapasimha, as attested by an 1156 CE Nadol inscription. By R. B. Singh 1964, pp. 255-256.CE, another Chaulukya governor ran the administration at Naddula.[5] This governor is variously known as Vayajladeva, Vaijalladeva and Vaijaka in historical records.[6] However, by 1161 CE, Kumarapala had restored Alhanadeva's rule in Naddula.[7]

The reason for these changes at Naddula is not certain. Historian Dasharatha Sharma theorizes that the Shakambhari Chahamana king Arnoraja invaded and captured Naddula. Kumarapala defeated Arnoraja, and appointed his own governors at Naddula to ensure that the fort was well-defended. Later, Alhanadeva gained Kumarapala's confidence by performing well in his military campaigns. As a result, Kumarapala restored Naddula to Alhanadeva.[8] A. K. Majumdar has a similar theory, but he believes that the invader was Arnoraja's successor Vigraharaja IV. Later, when Vigraharaja turned his attention away from Naddula as a result of his northern campaigns, Kumarapala reinstated Alhanadeva as the ruler of Naddula.[9]

Historian R. B. Singh theorizes that when Arnoraja invaded the Chaulukya kingdom around 1150 CE, Alhanadeva joined him against Kumarapala. As a result, Kumarapala appointed his own governors at Naddula. This theory is based on a legend in the medieval chronicle Prabandha Kosha, which states that the Naddula Chahamana ruler allied with Arnoraja against Kumarapala (although the text wrongly names Arnoraja's contemporary at Naddula as Alhana's successor Kelhanadeva). This prompted Kumarapala to appoint his own governors at Naddula. However, later Alhanadeva came back to Kumarapala and supported him against the Shakambhari Chahamanas. As a result, he was given control of three districts (Kiratakupa, Latahrda and Shiva). Meanwhile, the control of Naddula remained in hands of Kumarapala's governors. Later, Alhanadeva pleased Kumarapala with his services in a southern campaign, as a result of which Kumarapala restored Alhanadeva's rule in Naddula.[10] Later, Arnoraja's successor Vigraharaja subdued Alhanadeva.[11]

Saurashtra expedition

The Sundha Hill inscription mentions that the Gurjara king (that is, Kumarapala) sought Alhanadeva's assistance in curbing disturbances in the hilly part of Saurashtra. The Nadol inscription of his descendant Kirtipala also states that Alhanadeva defeated the Saurashtrikas. The Kumarapala Charita chronicle suggests that this event happened in 1149 CE.[12] According to Prabandha-Chintamani, Alhana killed the Abhira leader Sauṃsara (also called Saṃvara).[13]

Family

Alhanadeva had two queens: Analla-devi and Shankara-devi. Alhanadeva had a queen named Analla-devi, who was the daughter of one Sahula. The couple had three sons: Kelhanadeva, Gajasimha, and Kirtipala.[14]

Kelhanadeva assisted him in administration, and succeeded him on the throne of Naddula as a vassal of Kumarapala.[15]

Gajasimha administered the province of Mandavyapura (modern Mandore).[16]

Kirtipala was given a fief of 12 villages, and established a new kingdom at Javalipura (modern Jalore). His descendants — the Chahamanas of Javalipura — ruled until the 14th century.[17]

The 17th century chronicler Muhnot Nainsi names one Vijayasimha as a son of Alhana. Vijayasimha captured Satyapura (Sanchore) from the Dahiya Rajputs.[18] There, he established a new kingdom, which his descendants ruled for around 250 years.[19][20] According to historian Dasharatha Sharma, Vijayasimha's father Alhana may have been a different person.[21]

Kumarasimha, titled Maharajaputra (prince) in a Bamnera inscription, may also have been a son of Alhana.[22]

History

Dasharatha Sharma[23] writes....Alhana - [p.151]: For Alhana we have six inscriptions ranging from V. 1209 to 1220.

  • 1. Kiradu Stone-inscription, V. 1209 (EI, XI, pp .43-46)
  • 2. Nadol Grant 1, V. 1218 (EI, IX, pp .63-66)
  • 3. Nadol Grant 2, V. 1218 (EI, IX, pp .66-70)
  • 4. Jhamwera inscription (JPASB, xii, pp. 102 ff)
  • 5. Ojha Grant 2 (see Appendix F for its text), and the
  • 6. Bamnera Grant of V. 1220 (EI, XII, pp .208ff.)

Of these the last has been wrongly ascribed by the editor to Kelhana. The mistake has been copied by Drs. D.R. Bhanclarkar and H.C. Ray. Kelhana is mentioned merely as a Kumvara there. The rajya was that of his father Alhana.

These combined with other contemporary records, specially those discovered by Dr. G.H. Ojha, give us a good idea of his chequered history. In or before V. 1205 he had, as we have seen, made himself, somehow, master of Nadol. But in V. 1209 we find him ruling not at Nadol but over the three towns of Kiratakupa, Ratahrada and Siva granted to him by

[Page-152]:Kumarapala Chaulukya. (See his Kiradu inscription) Kiritakupa is Kiradu, Ratahrada is modern Raddhara, and Siva is Seo. All the three are in the western part of the modern Jodhpur division of Rajasthan.

As the Chaulukyas had, while advancing against Ajmer, in V. 1207 to capture Palli, one of the strongest forts in the principality of Nadol, it might be assumed that Arnoraja had in V. 1206 or so driven out the Chaulukya feudatory Alhana from his ancestral possession. Arnoraja's defeat at the hands of Kumarapala freed Nadol from the hands of the Chauhans of Sakambhari. Kumarapala could have now, if he so desired, restored Alhana to his throne at Nadol. But instead of doing so, he gave him the three towns in Marwar named above, keeping Nadol under his direct control for a while. A little later he put it under his dandadhisha Vaijalladeva Chauhan, his reason for this perhaps being the desire to have it under someone who could withstand the mighty Vigraharaja IV of Sakambhari.

We have the following inscriptions for Vaijalladeva:

  • (i) a stone inscription at Sevadi, V. 1213.
  • (ii) a stone inscription at Ghanerav, V. 1213.
  • (iii) a stone inscription at Bali, V. 1216.
  • (iv) an inscription of the reign of the Chaulukya ruler, Ajayapala, dated in the V. 1231, mentioning Vaijalladeva as a mahamandaleshvara and Chauhuyana, i.e. a Chauhan.

But Alhana himself would not have been a bad choice for the job. He participated in many Chaulukya campaigns. In Saurashtra where Kumarapala's army found itself in sore straits on being surrounded by the hostile Abhiras on all sides, Alhana

[Page-153]:gained a splendid victory by slaying the Abhira leader Saumsara (Also called Samvara). Such a success, indeed, was badly needed, for Saumsara had slain the Chaulukya general, Udayana; and Kumarapala's army, unless immediately relieved, ran the risk of annihilation. Dr. Bhagwanlal Indraji puts the event in V. 1205. But it would be better to date it somewhere between V. 1209 and 1211. Had it occurred earlier than V. 1209, it would have been referred to in Alhana's inscription of that year. Its occurrence after V. 1211, of course, is impossible, because by that time Udayana, the general to whose help Alhana had rushed, was no more. Udayana's son, Vagbhata, not merely occupied his position as a minister in V. 1211 but had completed also the repairs vowed by Udayana a few days before his death.

In due course these meritorious services must have put Alhana in the good books of Kumarapala. (Verse-32 Sundha Inscription) Vaijalladeva Chauuhan, the dandadhisha of Nadol, had not been very successful against Vigraharaja IV of Sakambhari who "reduced Pali to the condition of a small hamlet and Nadol to that of a bed of reeds"." Equally unsuccessful perhaps had been another Chaulukya officer, the Naduliya Chahamana Kuntapala. Vaijalladeva was therefore transferred to some other district, probably to Gambhuta-vishaya, and Alhana, the successful warrior and unfailling ally of the Chaulukyas, was rewarded with the restoration of his hereditary principality of Nadol. Rightly therefore, could

[Page-154] His son, Kirtipala, claim that Alhana secured the glory of maharajya through his own valour. (Verse 5, EI, IX, p. 69). The jagir of Kiratakapa, Latahrada and Seo, which he had hitherto enjoyed, was now transferred to its hereditary owner, Someshvara Paramara, who also had rendered good service to Kumarapala in more than one campaign.

Alhana built a temple of Siva at Nadol (Sundha Inscription, verse:32, EI, IX, p. 77) and granted valuable benefactions to the gods Chandalesvara and Tripurusha and to the goddess Gauri installed by his queen Sankaradevi (Ojha Grant 3). Nor was his charity merely confined to the orthodox Hindus. He gave a monthly grant to the Mahavira temple at Nadol (EI, IX, p. 64f ) and his proclamation of the non-slaughter of animals shows that he knew how to respect the religious sentiments of his Jaina subjects. (See his Kiradu Inscription, EI, XI, p. 44ff)

Analladevi, a daughter of Sahula was mother of his three sons Kelhana, Gajasimha, and Kirtipala.( Ojha Grant 3, EI, IX, p. 69). Nainsi makes him the father of one more son, Vijayasimha, who founded the Satyapura line of Chauhans (khyat I, p. 172). The Bamnera Grant mentions one Maharajaputra Kumarasimha who held the village of Koreta in jagir. (EI, XIII, p. 208. In the inscription of Kelhana he is a Raja) Kelhana's Osia inscription of V. 1235 shows that he was Kelhana's son, and was known also by his title as Simhavikrama.

Alhana gave his two sons Kelhana and Gajasimha a share in government as early as V. 1209. (See Kiradu inscription, V. 1209) Gajasimha was later on transferred to the government of Mandor (JPASB, XII, p.102 ff) which Alhana captured from his relative Sahajapala. He wanted it to be in the safe and strong hands of his son. Kelhana remained with his father and

[Page-155] was appointed yuvaraja. (See Kirtipala’s Nadol plates, EI,IX, pp. 68 ff) Kirtipala, the third son, was granted twelve villages, including Naddulai. Towards the end of Allhana's reign he seems to have shared with his father and yuvaraja Kelhana the government of Nadol, as evidenced by the Bamnera Grant of V. 1220 of which he was an approver (See EI, XIII, p. 208). In V. 1225 (?) he helped Kumarasimha in administering Mandor and enjoyed himself a jagir which included Osia. (See Osia Inscription).

Alhana died somewhere between Sravana, V. 1202 and Magha, V. 1221.

External links

References

  1. ↑ R. B. Singh (1964). History of the Chāhamānas. N. Kishore. OCLC 11038728.p.254
  2. ↑ R. B. Singh 1964, p. 255.
  3. ↑ Dasharatha Sharma (1959). Early Chauhān Dynasties. S. Chand / Motilal Banarsidass. ISBN 9780842606189. p. 135.
  4. ↑ R. B. Singh 1964, pp. 255-256.
  5. ↑ R. B. Singh 1964, p. 256.
  6. ↑ Asoke Kumar Majumdar 1956, p. 110.
  7. ↑ R. B. Singh 1964, p. 257.
  8. ↑ R. B. Singh 1964, p. 257.
  9. ↑ Asoke Kumar Majumdar 1956, p. 111.
  10. ↑ R. B. Singh 1964, pp. 255-257.
  11. ↑ R. B. Singh 1964, p. 258.
  12. ↑ R. B. Singh 1964, p. 255.
  13. ↑ Dasharatha Sharma 1959, p. 133.
  14. ↑ Dasharatha Sharma 1959, p. 136.
  15. ↑ R. B. Singh 1964, p. 258.
  16. ↑ R. B. Singh 1964, p. 258.
  17. ↑ R. B. Singh 1964, p. 258.
  18. ↑ Dasharatha Sharma 1959, p. 149.
  19. ↑ R. B. Singh 1964, p. 258.
  20. ↑ Dasharatha Sharma 1959, p. 136.
  21. ↑ Dasharatha Sharma 1959, p. 149.
  22. ↑ Dasharatha Sharma 1959, p. 136.
  23. ↑ "Early Chauhan Dynasties" by Dasharatha Sharma, pp. 151-155
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