Chandel (Rajput clan)

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For other uses, see Chandel Dynasty.

Chandel or House of the Moon God,[1][2](Hindi: चन्देल, lit. 'Chand:moon + El/Aila: scion of Ila.')[3][4] is a prominent race of the Rajput or Kshatriya class. They are regarded as the highest race among the Kshatriyas as well as the head of the Chandravansha. Families belonging to this clan ruled many states in India and occupied various feudal estates. The most notable of these families are Chandel Empire of Jejakabhukti, who ruled many almost entire India from 10th to 15th century from their capital in Jejakabhukti country.

Origin[edit | edit source]

Early text and inscriptions[edit | edit source]

The Chandelas are Bramh-Kshatriyas and synonym and evolved version of Chandravansha and Kuru clan of Rajputs.[5] Historians Such as CV Vaidya and GS Ojha consider these Chandel Rajput to be of Pure Chandra lineage and Highest clan among Kshatriyas.[6][7][8]

According to 6th century inscriptions of Bilaspur State and Chedi Kingdom, a Chandel king Chandravarman became the king of Chandeli, his ancestors rulled Chedi Kingdom continuosly after Chandela king Shishupala of Mahabharata. According ballads, he became the 5th king of Chanderi after the Chandela king Hariharvarman (Harihar Chand in Pahadi) who was also the ancestors of Bir Chand (founder of Kahlur state in 632 A.D.).[9][10]

The epigraphic records of the dynasty, as well as contemporary texts such as Balabhadra-vilasa and Prabodha-chandrodaya, suggest that the Chandelas belonged to the legendary Lunar dynasty (Chandravansha).[5] A 954 CE Khajuraho inscription states that the dynasty's first king Chandravarman was a descendant of sage Chandratreya (Lord Chandra), who was a son of Atri. A 1002 CE Khajuraho inscription gives a slightly different account, in which Chandratreya is mentioned as a son of Indu (the Moon) and a grandson of Atri.[11] The 1195 CE Baghari inscription and the 1260 CE Ajaygadh inscription contain similar accounts.[12] The Balabhadra-vilasa also names Atri among the ancestors of the Chandelas.

Loving couple, Khajuraho.

Local Fairytales[edit | edit source]

The Mahoba-Khanda legend of the dynasty's origin goes like this: Hemaraja, a priest of the Gaharwar king of Benares, had a beautiful daughter named Hemavati. Once, while Hemavati was bathing in a pond, the moon god Chandra saw her and made love to her. Hemavati was worried about the dishonour of being an unwed mother, but Chandra assured her that their son would become a great king. This child was the dynasty's progenitor Chandravarma. Chandra presented him with a philosopher's stone and taught him politics.[13][5] The dynasty's own records do not mention Hemavati, Hemaraja or Indrajit. Such legends appear to be later bardic inventions. In general, the Mahoba-Khanda is a historically unreliable text.[11] Prithviraj Raso is also considered an historically unreliable text.[14][15][16]

Celestial dancer (Devata) mid-11th century, Chandela period, Madhya Pradesh. Metropolitan Museum of Art.

British theory & debunk[edit | edit source]

The British indologist V. A. Smith theorised that the Chandelas were of either Bhar or Gond origin, this theory was not supported by some scholars including C V Vaidya because this Bhar and Gond Origin theory was based on Marriage of Durgavati to a king of Gond kingdom Dalpat shah who was a Gond and son of King Amandas Gond according to Akbarnama.[17] After the decline of Kalchuri Rajput remaining Kalchuri Rajput kingdom adopted tribal's which lead to the beginning of Gond Kingdom in which Dalpat Shah Gond was a son of Gond King Amandas Gond.[18][17] Historian R. K. Dikshit also not find Bhar and Gond Origin theory convincing: he argues that Maniya was not a tribal deity.[19] Also, the dynasty's association with Gond territory is not necessarily indicative of a common descent: the dynasty's progenitor may have been posted as a governor in these territories.[20]

History[edit | edit source]

Mahameghvahana Dynasty[edit | edit source]

Mahameghavahana dynasty, Rule: 1st century BC to early 4th century BC[21][22]) was an ancient Indian dynasty of Kalinga after the fall of the Maurya Empire.[23] In the 1st century BCE, Mahameghavahana Varman, a Chandravanshi Aila/Chandela king of the Chedi Mahajanapada, conquered Kalinga and Kosala.[24] He belonged to the Chandel clan of the Kshatriyas.[25][26][27] [28][29][30][31][32]

Bilaspur State[edit | edit source]

According to Bilaspur Past and Present, Bilaspur Gazetteer and Ganesh Singh's book Chandravansh Vilas and Shashivansh Vinod confirm that the foundation of Kahlur Princely State was laid by Chandel prince Bir Chand (Birvarman), His father who reigned Chedi to northern Mahismati region from Chanderi, Hariharvarman Chandel (Harihar Chand) Chanderi) made his son Govindvarman Chandel the king of Chanderi and in old age came north with his son Birvarman and other 3.[33]

Chand dynasty[edit | edit source]

Fort and the capital city of Kali Kumaon, Champawat, 1815.

The Chand Dynasty संस्कृत: चन्द राजवंश), sometimes Chandel of Kumaon[34] or Chand Kingdom, was a Chandel dynasty of Kumaon, which was established by displacing the Katyuri kings. The Chands ruled over the Kumaon and parts of the Farwestern Nepal called Doti (present-day Sudurpashchim Province).[35] Thee dynasty was founded by Somvanshi Chandel Yadava prince Som Chand (Somvarman, the son of Kabirvarman Chandel or Kabir Chand).[36][37][38]

Chandelas of Jejakabhukti[edit | edit source]

The Chandel Empire of Jejakabhukti, also known as Chandelas of Jejakabhukti was a famous Indian dynasty, which ruled North India from the 8th-14th century AD. The Chandela dynasty of Jejakabhukti was founded by the Chandel Rajput king Nannukavarman, also known as Chandravarman. They ruled from Mahoba, Jejakabhukti, Uttar Pradesh. The Chandel emperors of Jejakabhukti were not only successful conquerors and efficient rulers but also had more inclination towards architecture, religion and love.

Map of Chandel dynasty in 1200 CE... The Chandel Empire during its decline around 1202 A.D.

[39][40][41][42]

Chandels of Mirzapur[edit | edit source]

Bijaigarh in modern Mirzapur district of Eastern Uttar Pradesh was ruled by a family of Chandel Rajputs who traced their line to the Burhur Chandels of Rewa. They were notable for their conflict with the Bhumihars of Benares state and for participating in the Indian rebellion of 1857.[43]

Zaildari[edit | edit source]

A group of Chandel families claiming a common origin once held the zaildaris of Ghund, Madhan, and Theog in present-day Himachal Pradesh. According to their tradition, their ancestor migrated from Chanderi to Bilaspur. After three generations, his descendants moved to Ram Sarai in the Garhwal region. After another four generations, four brothers from the family moved to the Shimla region.

The eldest brother became administrator of Madhan; the third youngest - Jai Chand - became the administrator of Theog; and the youngest became the administrator of Ghund.[44]

References[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ Dikshit, R. K. (1976). The Candellas of Jejākabhukti. Abhinav Publications. ISBN 978-81-7017-046-4.
  2. ↑ Viyogi; Ansari, Naval & M. Anawar (2010). History Of The Later Harappans And Silpakara Movement (2 Vols.). Gyan Publishing House. ISBN 978-81-7835-751-5.
  3. ↑ https://books.google.co.in/books?id=5jpuAAAAMAAJ&q=%E0%A4%9A%E0%A4%A8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A6%E0%A5%87%E0%A4%B2+%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%BE+%E0%A4%85%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A5&dq=%E0%A4%9A%E0%A4%A8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A6%E0%A5%87%E0%A4%B2+%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%BE+%E0%A4%85%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A5&hl=en&newbks=1&newbks_redir=0&source=gb_mobile_search&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjbnqyeyamDAxVVw6ACHaS1C_sQ6AF6BAgMEAM#%E0%A4%9A%E0%A4%A8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A6%E0%A5%87%E0%A4%B2
  4. ↑ https://books.google.co.in/books?id=6xQ-AAAAMAAJ&q=%E0%A4%9A%E0%A4%A8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A6%E0%A5%87%E0%A4%B2+%E0%A4%B6%E0%A4%AC%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A6+%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%BE+%E0%A4%85%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A5&dq=%E0%A4%9A%E0%A4%A8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A6%E0%A5%87%E0%A4%B2+%E0%A4%B6%E0%A4%AC%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A6+%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%BE+%E0%A4%85%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A5&hl=en&newbks=1&newbks_redir=0&source=gb_mobile_search&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjRopyDyamDAxUnyqACHVmCApQQ6AF6BAgFEAM#%E0%A4%9A%E0%A4%A8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A6%E0%A5%87%E0%A4%B2%20%E0%A4%85%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A5
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 R. K. Dikshit 1976, p. 3.
  6. ↑ Yaman ), डॉ अशोक कुमार ‘यमन’ ( Dr Ashok Kumar (8 January 2022). मध्यकालीन भारतीय संगीत का इतिहास ( Madhyakalin Bharatiya Sangeet ka Itihas ) (in हिन्दी). Kalpana Prakashan.
  7. ↑ Pandey, Dhanpati (1998). Pracheen Bharat Ka Rajneetik Aur Sanskritik Itihas (in हिन्दी). Motilal Banarsidass Publishe. ISBN 978-81-208-2380-8.
  8. ↑ Lal, Lallu (1882). Premasāgara (in हिन्दी). Navalakiśora.
  9. ↑ Brentnall, Mark (2004). The Princely and Noble Families of the Former Indian Empire: Himachal Pradesh. Indus Publishing. ISBN 978-81-7387-163-4.
  10. ↑ Pāṇḍeya, Trilocana (1962). Kumāūm̐ kā loka sāhitya (in हिन्दी). Alamoṛā Buka Ḍipo.
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 R. K. Dikshit 1976, p. 4.
  12. ↑ R. K. Dikshit 1976, p. 5.
  13. ↑ Jai Narayan Asopa (1976). Origin of the Rajputs. Bharatiya Publishing House. p. 208.
  14. ↑ Vijayendra Snatak (1997). "Medieval Hindi Literature". In K Ayyappap Panikkar (ed.). Medieval Indian literature: an anthology (Volume 1). Sahitya Akademi. p. 142. ISBN 978-81-260-0365-5.
  15. ↑ Freitag, Jason (2009). Serving empire, serving nation: James Tod and the Rajputs of Rajasthan. BRILL. pp. 3–5. ISBN 978-90-04-17594-5.
  16. ↑ R. V. Somani (1976). History of Mewar, from Earliest Times to 1751 A.D. Mateshwari. p. 30. OCLC 2929852.
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 Beveridge, H. (1907). The Akbarnama Of Abul Fazl Vol.2.
  18. ↑ "Rani Durgavati: The symbol of syncretic culture between Rajputs and Tribals". Times of India Blog. 16 August 2021. Retrieved 17 January 2022.
  19. ↑ Dikshit, R.K. (1976). The Candellas of Jejākabhukti. Abhinav Publications. p. 8. ISBN 978-81-7017-046-4.
  20. ↑ Dikshit, R. K. (1976). The Candellas of Jejākabhukti. Abhinav Publications. p. 7. ISBN 978-81-7017-046-4.
  21. ↑ Sahu, J. K. (1977). "The Meghas of Kosala". Proceedings of the Indian History Congress. 38: 49–54. ISSN 2249-1937. JSTOR 44139050.
  22. ↑ Sahu, J.K. (1977). "The Meghas of Kosala" (PDF). shodhganga.
  23. ↑ For a map of their territory see: Schwartzberg, Joseph E. (1978). A Historical atlas of South Asia. Chicago: University of Chicago Press. p. 145, map XIV.1 (f). ISBN 0226742210.
  24. ↑ L Bhagawandas Gandhi (1927). Tribes in Ancient India.
  25. ↑ Taṇḍana, Premanārāyaṇa (1962). ब्रजभाषा सूर-कोश: Nirdeśaka Dīnadayālu Gupta (in हिन्दी). Lakhanaū Viśvavidyālaya.
  26. ↑ Dikshit, R. K. (1976). The Candellas of Jejākabhukti. Abhinav Publications. ISBN 978-81-7017-046-4.
  27. ↑ Verma, Dr Shyam Bahadur (1 January 2010). Prabhat Brihat Hindi Shabdakosh (Vol-1): Bestseller Book by Dr Shyam Bahadur Verma: Prabhat Brihat Hindi Shabdakosh) (in हिन्दी). Prabhat Prakashan. ISBN 978-81-7315-769-1.
  28. ↑ Kapoor, Badrinath (1 September 2006). Brihat Pramanik Hindi Kosh (in हिन्दी). Lokbharti Prakashan. ISBN 978-81-8031-057-7.
  29. ↑ Thakur ‘Bipin’, Dr Bindeshwari Prasad. BHARTIYA SANSKRITI KE GAKAAR PRATEEK (in हिन्दी). Sarv Bhasha Trust. ISBN 978-93-93605-21-4.
  30. ↑ Ramesh Chandra Majumdar (1951). The History and Culture of the Indian People: The age of imperial unity; 2d ed. 1953. Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan.
  31. ↑ Society, Bihar and Orissa Research (1917). Journal of the Bihar and Orissa Research Society. The Society.
  32. ↑ Journal of the Andhra Historical Research Society. Andhra Historical Research Society. 1946.
  33. ↑ Mark Brentnall (2005). The Princely and Noble Families of the Former Indian Empire: Himachal Pradesh. Indus. p. 50 52. ISBN 9788173871634.
  34. ↑ Viyogi; Ansari, Naval & M. Anawar (2010). History Of The Later Harappans And Silpakara Movement (2 Vols.). Gyan Publishing House. ISBN 978-81-7835-751-5.
  35. ↑ Acharya, Baburam (1 December 1976). "Prithvi Narayan Shah". Regmi Research Series: 225.
  36. ↑ Handa, O. C. (July 2009). Art & Architecture of Uttarakhand. Pentagon Press. ISBN 978-81-8274-417-2.
  37. ↑ Census of India, 1991: Una (in हिन्दी). Controller of Publications. 1995.
  38. ↑ Tyagi, Nutan (1991). Hill Resorts of U.P. Himalaya. Indus publications. p. 63. ISBN 9788185182629.
  39. ↑ Early Rulers of Khajur (Second Revised Edition).
  40. ↑ Edwin Thomas Atkinson 1971, p. 504.
  41. ↑ Kuśa rājavaṃśa pradīpa & kr̥shṇapāla Siṃha, ‎Rāma Sahāya Brahma Bhaṭṭa, ‎Baśīra Ahamada 1976, p. 55.
  42. ↑ Nimara ka samskrtika itihasa & Ramnarayan Upadhyay 1980, p. 17.
  43. ↑ Downs, Troy (1992). "Rajput revolt in Southern Mirzapur, 1857–58". Journal of South Asian Studies: 29–46.
  44. ↑ Mark Brentnall (2005). The Princely and Noble Families of the Former Indian Empire: Himachal Pradesh. Indus. p. 284. ISBN 9788173871634.

Bibliography[edit | edit source]

R. K. Dikshit (1976). The Candellas of Jejākabhukti. Abhinav. ISBN 9788170170464.

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