Hammiravarman

Hammiravarman
'Parambhattaraka-Rajadhiraj-Parameshwar-Paramamaheshwar-Brahmakshatriyaottam-Dharmarajika-Rajnyashrestha-Prajapita-Mahobanresh-Shrikalanjaradhipati'
22nd Chandel ruler
Reign	c. 1288-1311 AD
Predecessor	Bhojavarman
Successor	Viravarman II
Born	Mahoba, Uttar Pradesh
Died	Mahoba, Uttar Pradesh
Names Shrimad Hammirvarman Dev Chandel
House	Yaduvanshi Haihaya, Chandravansh
Dynasty	Chandel
Father	Viravarman Dev I Chandel
Mother	Kalyana Devi Chandel Dadhichivansh, Bhargav Brahmin)
Religion	Vaishnav sect, Hinduism

Hammiravarman (Hindi: हम्मीरवर्मन चन्देल, reign. c. 1288–1311 AD), was a Maharaja from the Chandel Rajput dynasty of India. He ruled many parts of Central and Eastern India from his capital Mahoba, Jejakabhukti region (present-day part of the Uttar and Madhya Pradesh). Under his, the kingdom included Kalachuri and Eastern Ganga dynasty. His main achievement was that, during his reign, Sultan Alauddin Khalji of Delhi Sultanate attacked the Chandel kingdom in 1309 AD., but was defeated by him in the Battle of Betwa-Yamuna and fled away. To commemorate this victory, he settled the city named Hammirpur (today's Hamirpur).

Early life and succession

Hammiravarman was born in Mahoba palace in the Royal Haihayavanshi Chandel dynasty of Chandravanshi Rajputs. He and his elder brother Bhojavarman were the sons of Maharaja Viravarman Dev I Chandel and wife Maharani Kalyana Devi Chandel, who was a brahmin of dadhichi clan (Bhriguvanshi) and daughter of Maheshvar, who was revered even by the crowned heads. According to the contemporary genealogy book of Chandelas, they got a boon for the Chandel Rajput royals and direct descendant of Chandel royals from Lord Parshuram or Lord Chandra Dev, perhaps they married brahman girl only in love case, because their lineage was blessed and it did not cause any problem to any Brahmin scholar, Because Chandelas were Brahminists they don't do anything against religious rules, text and brahmin scholars (any scholar brahmin will never allow intercaste in Kaliyuga), on the contrary, they were afraid that something wrong might happen. This scriptural love marriage with brahman girl is not the first time in Chandel Rajput dynasty! Also Varman (for royal kshatriya family or direct descendants) has also been added to Hammir's name after Yajnopavita and Yajnopavita has been described as similar to that of a Kshatriya child by Brahmin scholars, which shows that he was not Varnashankar or Suta (brahmin woman+Kshatriya man).

After his elder brother Bhojavarman's death, he peacefully ascended the Chandel throne after the Bhardapada month on 12 ravau, Pushya nakshatra, Vikram Samvat 1326 (1288 AD.). He assumed the titles of Rajadhiraja (king of kings) and Kalanjaradhipati (lord of Kalanjara, the administrative capital of the Chandels). The Charkhari copper plate uses the title "Chakravarti Samrat" & "Maharajadhiraja" (overlord or king of Maharajas) for his ancestors. He ruled from 1288-1311 AD. He was a Shri Vaishnava or Ramanuji Vaishnava of Hindusim, but was also devoted to his Kuldevta Nilkanatha Mahadeva. There were not so many Maharajas under him like his ancestors, that is why he did not take the title of Maharajdhiraja but took the title of King of Kings i.e. Rajadhiraja. Among those who were subordinate, the main subordinate states were Kalachuri (branch of Chandels) and Eastern Ganga dynasty. The oldest and latest known inscriptions of Hamiravarman date back to 1289 BCE. And 1311 BC. Are of. This suggests that his reign lasted for at least 22 years. He describes himself as Param Bhantsaraka-Sahi-Rajavali.

Against Alauddin Khilji: 1309 AD The Sati inscription mentions that during his reign, the Delhi Turk Sultan Alauddin Khilji (Alauddin Sultan) conquered parts of the Chandel kingdom. The Sati inscription mentions that a Parihar chief of the Chandels named Vagha deva. who Ruled the Damoh-Jabalpur region, he was defeated by the Khiljis and captured the Damoh-Jabalpur region of the northern part of the Chandel kingdom. There is no evidence or mention of any further invasion by the Khiljis nor of their occupation of the entire Chandel kingdom. Sati inscription, fragmentary copper plate and historical Chandel contemporary texts reveal that in 1309 AD, the Khiljis had captured Damoh Jabalpur by defeating the Parihar chief Vagha deva, who was a vassal of the Chandels. To prevent the Chandel army from attacking Delhi further, the Khiljis started their campaign directly against the Chandels without any warning. According to the Bamni (Bamhani) Sati inscription (1365 AD, 1308 AD) and the Ajaygarh Sati inscription (1368 AD, 1311 AD), the Khiljis also launched campaigns against the Chandel capital from here. Both the armies met between Yamuna and Betwa rivers. Khilji sent a letter to the camp saying, "Convert Islam and accept the subordination of the Khilji dynasty. Be assured that all the Chandels will leave here alive." Hammiravarman rejected it saying, "You are showing your eyes to Chandels of Chandravanshi Haihayavansh by marking the moon sign on weird flag? Now you will run away from here carrying this flag, only then you will survive." The next day there was a fierce battle between the Khlijis and the Chandels, which is called Battle of Betwa-Yamuna). In the battle of Betwa-Yamuna, the number of Khiljis was 20,000 infantrymen and 18,000 cavalrymen, while the Chandels had the number was 10,000 infantry, 200 elephant warrior and 6,000 cavalry. In this battle, the Chandels won and the Khiljis were defeated. In the battle, Alauddin fled to Delhi after showing the flag of surrender in front of Hammiravarman, saving his life. In this battle, Alauddin neither Not only was he unable to capture Kalanjara, but he could not even muster the courage to attack Kalanjara again in his entire life. To commemorate this victory, Hammirvarman established Hammirpur near the same place in his name and built many temples. This was the reason that Alauddin could never attack across Yamuna Betwa and the Ganga, Kalachuri etc. dynasties which were under the Chandels were saved, otherwise Alauddin defeated 100,000 infantry and 30-40,000 cavalry of the Paramaras along with 10,000 Khiljis and killed their king. Ranthambore fort of Chauhans was attacked twice and for the third time when Alauddin himself took charge, Chauhans were defeated and killed. Apart from this, other dynasties also could not survive. Even from the Muslim side there is no mention of the capture of Fortress Kalinjara or Jejakabhukti or Mahoba by the Chandel dynasty by the Delhi Sultanate during the reign of Alauddin Khilji and his successors. This can also be understood that, if Alauddin Khilji was capable, then why didn't he attack the Chandel kingdom further? Why did it stop at Chandel's small vassal only? Muslim sources indicate that by the late 1300s Delhi forces were moving towards the Deccan, suggesting that they may have captured the Damoh-Jabalpur region which lay on the way to the Deccan. But this appears to be an empty false statement by historians because, a Parihar chieftain named Vaghadeva, who ruled the Damoh-Jabalpur region, appears to have been a vassal of Hammiravarman. 1304 BC of Salaiya village. The sati inscription states that it was issued during the reign of Maharajaputra ("son of the king") Vagha deva. The 1308 AD Sati inscription of Bamani village (in Damoh district) also mentions Vagha deva as a contemporary ruler. Furthermore, it describes their overlord Hammiravarman as Kalanjaradhipati ("Lord of Kalanjara"). However, the 1309 AD Sati stone of Salaiya village mentions the name of "Alaydina Sultana" (Sultan Alauddin Khilji) as the contemporary ruler. Found in Ajaygarh in 1311 BC. The Sati stone of 1000 AD shows that the main citadel Ajaygarh and the capital Kalanjara remained independent under Chandel rule and the Kalachuri and Eastern Ganga dynasty also remained under the rule of Chandels till 1545 AD. There is no mention of these being captured by the Delhi Sultanate during the reign of Alauddin Khilji.

In the inscriptions and copper plates of this period, they are mentioned as "क्षत्रियकुलेन सर्वश्रेष्ठस्य चन्देलवंश: ब्रह्मक्षत्रियस्य विष्णुभक्तेन चन्द्रात्रेयवंशस्य कमल: यादवकुलशिरोमणि: म्लेच्छा अलायदीनसुल्तानं पराजय्य अस्मान् उद्धारयन् श्रीकलञ्जरस्य अधिपति राजाधिराज्य श्रीमद हम्मीरवर्मन देव चन्देल प्रणामं करोमि पुन: पुन:। ।" i.e; Chandel dynasty, the supreme among Kshatriya clans, Brahmakshatriya, devotee of Vishnu, Lotus of Chandraatreya (Chandra, son of Sage Atri) dynasty, Yadukul Shiromani, Lord of Shri Kalanjar, I bow again and again to the king of kings Shrimad Hammiravarman Deva Chandel, who defeated Mlechchha (Who isn't born in Varna or Caste system of Hinduism) Alaaydina Sultan (Alauddin Khilji) and protected us.

successor

Hammavarman's son and successor was Viravarman II. Hammiravarman's successors retained control over the Vindhyas, including the main stronghold Ajaygarh and Kalanjara forts. However, Chandel power declined due to increasing Muslim influence as well as the rise of other local dynasties, such as the Bundelas, the Baghel dynasty and the Khangar tribe. But within a few months, the Chandels defeated them and subjugated the Baghels and Bundelas and massacred the Khangar tribe. 1315 Ladwari (Larwari) inscription shows that Hammiravarman He was succeeded by King Veeravarman II, whose titles also indicate independent political status. In his next generation, Kirtivarman II (known as Salivahana and Bhairavvarman), was the last ruler of the Chandel dynasty of Jejakabhukti. He defeated Humayun in 1532 AD and killed Sher Shah Suri in 1545 and blew his half dead body from the top in Kalanjar. He was assassinated by Islam Shah, son of Sher Shah in 1545 AD. His daughter was the famous queen Durgavati. According to the contemporary text Akbarnama, she was married to Dalpat Shah Kachhwaha of Mandala, who was actually a Kachhwaha Rajput and was married to the Gond king Amandas. Was adopted.