Chandravarman II (Chandel ruler)
Chandravarman II Chandel (Hindi: चन्द्रवर्मन चन्देल (द्वितीय), reign. 831–845 AD) also known as Nannuka or Nannukavarman, Different from earlier Chandel ruler Chandravarman I), was the ruler of the Chandel dynasty. His main achivement was against the Abbasids. In 833 AD, on the side of the Pratiharas, he attacked Baghdad, the capital of the Abbasid Caliphate of Arabia, destroyed it and killed 7 of their generals and burnt the palace, while there Caliph al-Mu'tasim hid somewhere out of fear. He also defeated Pratiharas and founded the Chandel Kingdom of Mahoba again.[1][2][3]
| Chandravarman II | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nṛpati, Mahipati | |||||||||
| 2nd founder of Chandel Kingdom of Mahoba | |||||||||
| Reign | 831-845 CE | ||||||||
| Predecessor | Mahendravarman II | ||||||||
| Successor | Vakpativarman | ||||||||
| Wife | Aranya-Devi, (Raghuvanshi Princess) | ||||||||
| Son | Vakpativarman | ||||||||
| |||||||||
| Sanskrit | श्रीमन्मत् चन्द्रवर्मन देव चन्देल द्वितीय | ||||||||
| House | Haihaya Yadava, Chandravansh | ||||||||
| Dynasty | Chandel | ||||||||
| Father | Mahendravarman II | ||||||||
| Mother | Indrani-Devi (Ikshvaku princess) | ||||||||
| Religion | Vaishnavism, Hinduism | ||||||||
AncestoryEdit
According to 6th cen. Book Sashivansh Vinod and Bilaspur inscription Hariharvarman, a Chandravanshi Chandel Rajput king from Chandeli (from the city of Chandels, now Chanderi in bundeli prakrit) in the lineage of Chedi/Chandel king Shishupala, made his elder son Govindvarman the king of his kingdom before leaving Kahlur, while he took the remaining four sons with him to the temple of Naina Devi where he formed the new kingdom.[4][5][6] In the lineage of Govindvarman, king Mahendravarman II born whoose son was Chandravarman II. ChandravarmanII's beruda Nannuka (Nannukavarman) is mentioned as the Kingdom's founder in two inscriptions found at Khajuraho, dated Vikrama Samvat 1011 (954 CE) and 1059 (1002 CE). These two inscriptions, eulogistic in nature, do not provide much information of historical value.[3]
LifeEdit
Nannukavarman or Chandravarman II's full name was Shrimat Chandravarman Dev Chandel II (Different from the early Chandravarman I), he was initially a feudatory king of the Pratihara dynasty. His father's name was Mahendravarman II (different from the early Mahendravarman I) and mother's name was Indrani Devi Chandel, who was an Ikshvakuvanshi] princess before marriage. Chandravarman II's beruda was Nannukavarman Dev. Chandravarman II was married to Raghuvanshi Rajput princess Aranya Devi. The inscription also praises him using vague phrases, such as "a touchstone to test the worth of the gold of the regal order".[7] The inscription describes him as the Sun and the pearl-jewel of his family. It compares his archery skills to that of the legendary hero Arjuna. It praises his modesty and generosity, and calls him the "delight of his subjects".[8]
Military campaignEdit
GondsEdit
After becoming the king, Chandravarman II attacked Rajandas, the head of the emerging Gond power in the Vindhya region. The Gond chief had gathered Gonds from everywhere around. The number of Gonds in the war was 35,000 whereas Chandravarman II had included 10,000 Chandel Rajputs in his army. In this war, the Gond chief was killed by Chandravarman II. Chandravarman II's commander Uddhavarma Chandel killed Rajandas' deputy chief Laldas. About 30,000 Gonds were killed in this war and the Gonds were almost wiped out from the Gond area. The remaining Gond men were taken captive and made slaves. Pleased with this victory, Pratihar ruler Nagabhatta II appointed him the ruler of Gond region also.
Arab CaliphateEdit
In 833 AD, ruler Nagabhatta II, assessing the warfare, archery and muscle power of King Chandravarman II, confidently sent him on his behalf to stop the invader army coming from Arabia (Aurva country) in the west. The Chandel army of 10,000 and Pratiharas of 7000 i.e. Rajput army of 17,000 was led by ruler Chandravarman II, while the number of Muslims was 80,000. In this battle, Chandravarman II killed the Yemeni (Muslim) commander, seeing which the Muslim army fled to their capital. Chandravarman II chased them and reached Baghdad, the capital of the Abbasi Caliphate. Then more troops and 6 commanders came out of the Muslim fort. A fierce battle took place in which those 6 Muslim generals were killed by Chandravarman II. In the war, the Muslims were helpless in front of the might of the Chandels and fled here and there, leaving their Caliph. On the orders of Chandravarman II, the Chandels and Pratiharas destroyed his capital and burnt his palace. Caliph al-Mu'tasim went into hiding out of fear of Chandravarman II. Due to this victory, the fear of Chandravarman II spread among many princes of India, everyone became afraid of him. Chandravarman II returned after a few years and attacked the Pratiharas and conquered the Pratihara branch of Mau Sahaniya and Jhansi Guna from Antaravedi and brought them under his control.[8] After this, he very quickly conquered his enemies in the Vindhya and Mithila regions. Due to these victories, other princes obeyed him out of fear. The 954 CE inscription states that he had conquered many enemies, and that other princes feared and obeyed him. It also states that he was "shaped like the god of love", and "playfully decorated the faces of the women of the quarters with the sandal of his fame". His wife Aranya Devi was very happy with his fame. After returning to Mahoba after these campaigns, he playfully decorated his wife's faces like the god of love.[9]
External LinksEdit
ReferencesEdit
- ↑ Pradesh (India), Uttar (1988). Uttar Pradesh District Gazetteers: Hamirpur. Government of Uttar Pradesh.
- ↑ Gangoly, Ordhendra Coomar (1957). The Art of the Chandelas. Rupa.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Dikshit 1976, p. 25.
- ↑ India, Anthropological Survey of (1996). Himachal Pradesh. Anthropological Survey of India. ISBN 978-81-7304-094-8.
- ↑ Massy, Charles Francis (1890). Chiefs and Families of Note in the Dehli [sic], Jalandhar, Peshawar and Derajat Divisions of the Panjab. Printed at the Pioneer Press.
- ↑ Census of India, 1991: Una (in हिन्दी). Controller of Publications. 1995.
- ↑ Mitra 1977, p. 27.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 Dikshit 1976, p. 26.
- ↑ Dikshit 1976, pp. 25-26.
BibliographyEdit
- Dikshit, R. K. (1976). The Candellas of Jejākabhukti. Abhinav. ISBN 9788170170464.
- Mitra, Sisirkumar (1977). The Early Rulers of Khajurāho. Motilal Banarsidass. ISBN 9788120819979.