https://en.bharatpedia.org/w/index.php?action=history&feed=atom&title=Vidyadhara_%28Chandela_ruler%29Vidyadhara (Chandela ruler) - Revision history2026-11-05T07:35:08ZRevision history for this page on the wikiMediaWiki 1.43.6https://en.bharatpedia.org/w/index.php?title=Vidyadhara_(Chandela_ruler)&diff=544309&oldid=prevYashpaul0: creating pg...2026-04-03T13:59:02Z<p>creating pg...</p>
<p><b>New page</b></p><div>{{Short description|Chandela king from 1003 to 1035}}<br />
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2017}}<br />
{{Use Indian English|date=June 2017}}<br />
{{Infobox royalty<br />
| name = Vidyādhara<br />
| title = Paramabhattaraka Maharajadhiraja Parameshvara<br />
| reign = c. 1003–1035<br />
| succession = [[Chandela]] king<br />
| predecessor = [[Ganda (Chandela dynasty)|Ganda]]<br />
| successor = [[Vijayapala]]<br />
| dynasty = [[Chandela]]<br />
| consort = Satyabhama<br />
}}<br />
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'''Vidyadhara''' (r. c. 1003-1035) was a [[Chandela]] king of central India. He ruled in the Jejakabhukti region ([[Bundelkhand]] in present-day [[Madhya Pradesh]]). Vidyadhara was the successor of [[Ganda (Chandela dynasty)|Ganda]], and expanded the Chandela power between Chambal river in the northwest and Narmada River in south.<br />
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== Ascension ==<br />
Until the 1970s, scholars such as R. K. Dikshit assigned the beginning of Vidyadhara's reign to 1018 CE.{{sfn|Dikshit|1976|pp=71-72}} However, later, a copper-plate issued by Vidyadhara's queen Satyabhama was discovered at [[Kundeshwar]]. This inscription is dated 1004 CE, which proves that Vidyadhara was already ruling in 1004 CE. Based on this, scholar S. K. Sullerey dates Vidyadhara's reign as 1003-1035 CE.{{sfn|Sullerey|2004|p=25}}<ref>{{cite book |title=Indian Archaeology: A Review |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jW1DAAAAYAAJ |year=1975 |publisher=Archaeological Survey of India |page=55 }}</ref><br />
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== Invasion of Kannauj ==<br />
{{See also|Ghaznavid invasion of Kannauj}}<br />
In 1018, the [[Ghaznavid]] king [[Mahmud of Ghazni]] invaded [[Kannauj]], whose [[Gurjara-Pratihara|Pratihara]] king (possibly Rajyapala) fled the city, allowing the Ghaznvids to sack it without facing much resistance. According to the 12th century Muslim historian [[Ali ibn al-Athir]], Bida, the king of [[Khajuraho]] killed the king of Kannauj as a punishment for this cowardice. Bida is believed to be a variant of "Vidya" (that is, Vidyadhara). Some later Muslim historians misread this name as "Nanda", based on which [[British India|British-era]] scholars identified the killer of the Kannauj king as Vidyadhara's predecessor Ganda. However, an inscription discovered at Mahoba confirms that it was Vidyadhara who defeated the ruler of Kannauj.{{sfn|Mitra|1977|pp=72-73}}{{sfn|Dikshit|1976|p=72}} The Dubkund inscription of Arjuna of [[Kachchhapaghata dynasty|Kachchhapaghata]] family claims that Arjuna killed Rajyapala in a great battle. The Kachchhapaghatas were feudatories of the Chandelas, so it appears that Arjuna was acting as an agent of Vidyadhara.{{sfn|Mitra|1977|pp=74-75}}<br />
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== Struggle against the Ghaznavids ==<br />
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It is possible that Vidyadhara appointed Rajyapala's successor Trilochanapala on the Pratihara throne.{{sfn|Mitra|1977|p=75}} In 1019, Mahmud launched a fresh invasion of India, and defeated the [[Hindu Shahi|Kabul Shahi]] ruler Trilochanapala (not to be confused with the Pratihara ruler of same name). He then advanced towards Bari, the new Pratihara capital. According to [[Abu Sa'id Gardezi]]'s ''Zayn al-Akhbar'', the Pratihara ruler Trilochanapala fled from the town. After sacking Bari, Mahmud encountered the army of Vidyadhara (variously named "Bida" or "Nanda" in Muslim chronicles).{{sfn|Mitra|1977|p=78}}<br />
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According to [[Nizamuddin Ahmad]]'s ''Tabaqat-i-Akbari'', the two armies were encamped on the opposite banks of a river. Mahmud sent an envoy to Vidyadhara (called "Nanda" by Ahmad), asking him to accept [[Islam]] and Mahmud's suzerainty. Vidyadhara refused to make a submission. After seeing the Chandela ruler's vast army from an elevated spot, Mahmud became worried. However, at night, Vidyadhara withdrew with some of his companions, leaving behind his army. According to this account, there was no fight between the two armies. After Vidyadhara's withdrawal, Mahmud's army sacked his camp, and procured a great amount of wealth, including 580 elephants. Gardezi, in his ''Zayn al-Akhbar'', states that the Chandela ruler (called "Ganda" in this account) had already deserted his camp by the time Mahmud's envoy reached there. [[Ali ibn al-Athir]] offers a different account, stating that the two armies fought a battle before retreating at the nightfall.{{sfn|Mitra|1977|pp=78-79}}<br />
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In 1022, Mahmud invaded the Chandela kingdom again, besieging the [[Gwalior Fort]] (Gopadri), which was controlled by a [[Kachchhapaghata dynasty|Kachchhapaghata]] feudatory of Vidyadhara. This feudatory is identified with Kirtiraja. According to ''Tabaqat-i-Akbari'' Mahmud lifted the siege after four days, in return for a tribute of 35 elephants. He then proceeded to besiege the Chandela fortress of [[Kalanjara]]. After a long siege, the Kalanjara ruler (called "Nanda" in this account), offered Mahmud a tribute of 300 elephants and "begged for safety". According to [[Firishta]]'s account, the Chandela king intoxicated the elephants and sent them to Mahmud's camp without any riders. These wild elephants were tamed by Mahmud's [[Tatars|Tatar]] soldiers. The Chandela king, on seeing this act of bravery, sent a [[panegyric]] praising Mahmud and his army. In return, Mahmud also complimented the Vidyadhara, and awarded him 15 fortresses and other presents before turning to his capital [[Ghazna]].{{sfn|Mitra|1977|pp=80-82}}<br />
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S. K. Mitra theorizes that the encounter between Vidyadhara and Mahmud ended with an "exchange of gifts", which must have been depicted as "tribute" by the Muslim historians.{{sfn|Mitra|1977|p=82}}<br />
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== Possible conflict with Bhoja ==<br />
An inscription of Kirtiraja, the [[Kachchhapaghata dynasty|Kachchhapaghata]] ruler of Gwalior, claims that he defeated the forces of the [[Malwa]] ruler. At that time, Malwa was ruled by the powerful [[Paramara dynasty|Paramara]] king [[Bhoja]]. It is unlikely that Kirtiraja could have defeated him alone. Thus, S. K. Mitra theorizes that Kirtiraja must have received help from his overlord Vidyadhara in this campaign. One possibility is that Bhoja invaded the Chandela kingdom, but was forced to retreat by Kirtiraja.{{sfn|Mitra|1977|pp=83-84}} The fragmentary [[Mahoba]] inscription of the Chandelas states that Bhoja and Kalachuri-Chandra, like scared pupils, worshipped Vidhyadhara, a master of warfare.{{sfn|Mitra|1977|p=75}} Kalachuri-Chandra (literally "Moon of the Kalachuris") is identified with the [[Kalachuris of Tripuri|Kalachuri]] king [[Gangeyadeva|Gangeya-deva]]. According to one theory, Bhoja, aided by Gangeya, invaded the Chandela kingdom, but Vidyadhara forced them to retreat. However, some scholars such as [[K. M. Munshi]] believe that the Mahoba inscription is merely a boastful exaggeration.{{sfn|Singh|1984|p=69}}<br />
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== Cultural contributions ==<br />
[[File:A view of Kandariya Mahadev Temple Khajuraho India.jpg|thumb|right|[[Kandariya Mahadeva Temple]], commissioned by Vidyadhara]]<br />
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Vidyadhara commissioned the [[Kandariya Mahadeva Temple]] at Khajuraho.{{sfn|Sullerey|2004|p=26}} Epigraphic inscriptions on a [[pilaster]] of the [[mandapa]] in the temple mentions a king called "Virimda", which is interpreted as another name of Vidhyadhara.{{sfn|Deva|1990|p=370}}<br />
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== References ==<br />
{{reflist|2}}<br />
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=== Bibliography ===<br />
{{ref begin}}<br />
* {{cite book |last=Deva |first=Krishna |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4OzVAAAAMAAJ |title=Temples of Khajuraho |volume=1 |year=1990 |publisher=Archaeological Survey of India }}<br />
* {{cite book |last=Dikshit |first=R. K. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=a9j9ZJGJOV0C&pg=PA25 |title=The Candellas of Jejākabhukti |publisher=Abhinav |year=1976 |isbn=9788170170464 }}<br />
* {{cite book |last=Mitra |first=Sisirkumar |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=irHN2UA_Z7gC&pg=PA27 |title=The Early Rulers of Khajurāho |publisher=Motilal Banarsidass |year=1977 |isbn=9788120819979 }}<br />
* {{cite book |last=Singh |first=Mahesh |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uPsgAAAAMAAJ |title=Bhoja Paramāra and His Times |publisher=Bharatiya Vidya Prakashan |year=1984 }}<br />
* {{cite book |last=Sullerey |first=Sushil Kumar |title=Chandella Art |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Rj8RusFpYHIC&pg=PA25 |year=2004 |publisher=Aakar Books |isbn=978-81-87879-32-9 }}<br />
{{ref end}}<br />
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{{Chandelas of Jejakabhukti}}<br />
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[[Category:Chandelas of Jejakabhukti]]<br />
[[Category:11th-century Indian monarchs]]</div>Yashpaul0