Chandel (Rajput clan)

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Chandel (synonym: Mādhava, Vrishni or Chedi) [1][2](Sanskrit: चन्द+ऐल-चन्देल, lit. 'Moon and Ael means direct descendant of Ila goddess')[3][4] is a main clan of the Rajput or Kshatriya caste, which is the highest among the Kshatriyas and is the lord of the Chandravansh, which once ruled almost the entire India and saved Hindus from invaders like Turks, Afghans and also from Mughals during Aurangzeb even during there decline period.[5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13] Families belonging to this clan ruled many states in India and occupied various feudal estates. The most notable of these Chandel family is Chandel Empire, who ruled many big parts of India from 8th to 15th century from there capital in Jejakabhukti region.[14]

Subclans & Branches[edit]

Mahobia, Kahluria, Gidhauriya, Chand, Burhuri & Banafar etc are the subclans while Kalachuris, Meghas & Pallavas etc are separate branches of Chandel Rajputs.

Origin[edit]

Early text and inscriptions[edit]

The Chandels are Bramh-Kshatriyas and synonym or changed name of Haihayavanshi Vrshni and Chedi clan of Rajputs. According to Khajuraho inscription, the Chandel king Dhangavarman was born in Vrishni yadava clan of Chandravanshi Rajputs insted of Chandel clan, means Chandel and Vrishni (also Chedi, changed name of Vrishni clan) are synonyms. Also there are many inscriptions which mentioned Chandelas as Chandravanshi.[15]

Historians Such as CV Vaidya and GS Ojha consider these Chandel Rajput to be of Pure Chandra lineage and Highest clan among Kshatriyas.[16][17][18] According to Ballads of Chedi, the Chandel were descendants of Haihaya king Mahishman, who was the founder of Mahishmati Empire.[19][page needed]

According to 6th century inscriptions of Bilaspur State and Chedi Kingdom, a Chandel king Chandravarman became the king of Chanderi, his ancestors rulled Chedi Kingdom continuosly after Chedi-Chandel King Shishupala (he changed the name of Chedi clan to Chandel. Chandravarman II (also known as Nannukavarman) re-established the independence of Chandelas in Vindhya and defeated Pratihara dynasty. He became the 5th king of Chanderi after the Chandel king Hariharvarman (Harihar Chand in Pahadi) who was also the ancestors of Bir Chand (founder of Kahlur state in 632 A.D.).[20][21]

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).[15] A 954 CE Khajuraho inscription states that the dynasty's first king Chandrvarman 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.[22] The 1195 CE Baghari inscription and the 1260 CE Ajaygadh inscription contain similar accounts.[23] The Balabhadra-vilasa also names Atri among the ancestors of the Chandelas,Coz Saptrishi Atri was the Father of Lord Chandrma and the Chandelas were Bramh-Kshatriyas so they proudly accept the name of Atri during Rajtilaka by Bramhins priest.

Loving couple, Khajuraho.

Local Fairytales[edit]

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.[24][15] 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.[22] Prithviraj Raso is also considered an historically unreliable text.[25][26][27]

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

British theory & debunk[edit]

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 not a Gond but a Kachhhwaha Rajput adopted by King Amandas Gond according to Akbarnama.[28] 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 a Kachhwaha Rajput was adopted by a Gond King Amandas Gond.[29][28] Historian R. K. Dikshit also not find Bhar and Gond Origin theory convincing: he argues that Maniya was not a tribal deity.[30] 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.[31]

History[edit]

Mahameghvahana Dynasty[edit]

Mahameghavahana dynasty, Rule: 1st century BC to early 4th century BC[32][33]) was an ancient Indian dynasty of Kalinga after the fall of the Maurya Empire.[34] In the 1st century BCE, Mahameghavahanavarman, a Chandel king of the Chedi, conquered Kalinga and Kosala.[35] He belonged to the Chedi-Chandel Yadav clan of the Chandravanshi Kshatriyas.[36][37][38] [39][40][11][41][42]

Bilaspur State[edit]

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.[43]

Chand dynasty[edit]

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

The Chand Dynasty संस्कृत: चन्द राजवंश), sometimes Chandel of Kumaon[44] 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).[45] Thee dynasty was founded by Somvanshi Chandel Yadava prince Som Chand (Somvarman, the son of Kabirvarman Chandel or Kabir Chand).[46][47][48]

Chandelas of Jejakabhukti[edit]

The Chandelas of Jejakabhukti or Chandelas of Mahoba was a famous Hindu Rajput dynasty , which independently ruled Central India from the 8th to the 13th century. The Chandelas of Mahoba was founded by the Haihayavanshi Chandel king Chandravarman. They ruled from Mahoba, Jejakabhukti, Uttar Pradesh. The Chandel emperors of Kalinjar 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.

[49][50][51][52]

Chandels of Mirzapur[edit]

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.[53]

Zaildari[edit]

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.[54]

References[edit]

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Bibliography[edit]

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