| Chandel (चन्देल) Haihayavanshi Chedi-Chandel dynasty | |
|---|---|
| Royal family | |
| Parent family | Chandravansh |
| Country | Mahishmati to Kalinga |
| Etymology | Chand+Ael->Chandel चन्द+ऐल->चन्देल |
| Place of origin | Mahishmati |
| Founded | 1700 BCE |
| Final ruler | Kirttivarman II |
| Final head | Direct descendant Vishnuvarman (Akshay Singh Chandel) Main branch head Devanshvarman (Devansh bramh) of Agori Barhar |
| Titles | Chakravarti Samrat Maharajadhiraja |
| Traditions | Smartha Vaishnav Smartha Shaiva Natha Shaiva |
| Estate(s) | Agori Barhar, Gidhaur, Moradabad, Rampur, Bilaspur (Kahlur) |
| Cadet branches | Guptas of Magadha Kalachuri dynasty Pallava dynasty |
The Chandel dynasty or Chandel rājavaṃśa (lit.'Descendants of the Chand (Moon) and Ila'; Sanskrit: चन्द्रात्रेयवंश or चन्देल राजवंश), is a Indian Rajput dynasty or clan founded by Shishupala of Mahabharata, who changed the name of Chedi dynasty to Chandel and also made it the synonym of Chedi (synonym of Haihaya-Vrishni dynasty). The word Chandel is made up of two words, Chand meaning Moon and Ael meaning direct descendant of Goddess Ila, grand-daughter of Surya. Chandels are the highest clan among all the Rajput or Kshatriya clans in the Hindu caste system.