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Draft:Paramardi-Deva
Paramardi (Sanskrit: परमर्दि, IAST: Paramārdi) (c. 1165-1203 CE) also known as Paramardi-Deva-Varman was the last Chakravartin and great emperor of Central India, who ruled from the region Jejakabhukti at his Capital Kalanjara (present day in Uttar Pradesh. In 1182 CE Prithviraj III defeated kiledar sulkhan and raided Sirsagarh but was defeated by Paramardi-Deva. Around 1187, Paramardi-Deva defeated Prithviraj Chauhan in battle of Kirtti-Sagara. Then Paramardi took the title of Dasharana - dhipati. Later Paramardi Killed by the Ghurid general Qutb al-Din Aibak in the Siege of Kalanjara in 1203 CE.
| Paramardi | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bal-opi-neta-Paramabhattaraka-Maharajadhiraja-Parameshvara-Parama-Maheshvara-Shri-Kalanjaradhipati | |||||||||
File:Last Purbiya Rajput Emperor Paramardidev-Varman Chandel.jpg परमर्दिदेव चन्देल | |||||||||
| Maharaja of Mahoba | |||||||||
| Reign | c. 1165-1203 CE | ||||||||
| Predecessor | Yashovarman II | ||||||||
| Successor | Trailokyavarman | ||||||||
| Born | c. 1160 Mahoba, Uttar pradesh | ||||||||
| Died | c. 1203 Mahoba, Kalinjar fort , Uttar Pradesh | ||||||||
| Spouse | Malhana Parihara, (Pratihara Princess) | ||||||||
| Issue | Bramhjeet, Naiki Devi, Trailokyavarman (Samarjeet), Indrajeet, Sabhajeet | ||||||||
| |||||||||
| House | Haihaya, Lunar dynasty | ||||||||
| Dynasty | Chandel | ||||||||
| Father | Yashovarman II | ||||||||
| Religion | Shaivism, Hinduism | ||||||||
Early career[edit]
The inscriptions from the first few years of Paramardideva's reign have been found at Semra (1165-1166 CE), Mahoba (1166-1167 CE), Ichhawar (1171 CE), Mahoba (1173 CE), Pachar (1176 CE) and Charkhari (1178 CE).[1] All of these inscriptions use the imperial titles for him: Balopnata-Paramabhattaraka-Maharajadhiraja-Parameshvara Parama-Maheshvara Shri-Kalanjaradhipati Shrimanmat Paramardi-deva. This indicates that in the early part of his reign, Paramardi - deva retained the empire that he had inherited from his grandfather Madanavarman.[2]
Reign[edit]
Paramardi was the last of the powerful Chandela rulers, and has been mentioned in several legendary texts such as Paramala Raso (Parmal Raso or Mahoba Khand), Prithviraj Raso and Alha-Khand (Alha Raso or Ballad of Alha). While these texts are based on historical events, much of their content has been fabricated to glorify either Prithviraj Chauhan or Paramardi. Thus, these texts are of doubtful historicity, and therefore, much of Paramardideva's reign is shrouded in obscurity.[3][2]
Several Chandela inscriptions also mention Paramardideva, but these contain little historical information. For example, the Semra copper-plate inscription vaguely eulogizes him as someonoe who surpassed Makaradhvaja (the god of love) in handsomeness, the ocean in depth, the lord of heaven in majesty, Brihaspati in wisdom, and Yudhishthira in truthfulness. The Baghari (Bateshvar) stone inscription credits him with military victories and states that other kings bowed to him, but does not name any of these kings probably cause of vassal.[3] The Ajaygarh inscription of his grandson's wife Kalyanadevi similarly describes him as a universal sovereign, whose enemies were left in a pitiful condition.[4] Some claims of extensive conquests are not corroborated by historical evidence.[5]
Chahamanas-Chandelas War[edit]
According to the medieval ballads, Prithviraj was returning to Delhi after marrying the daughter of Padamsen. During this journey, he was attacked by Turkic forces (Ghurids). The Chauhan army managed to repulse the attacks, but suffered serious casualties in the process.
They lost their way, and arrived in the Chandela empire capital Mahoba. The Chauhan force, which had a number of wounded soldiers among them, unknowingly set up a camp in the Chandela royal garden. They killed the keeper of the garden for objecting to their presence. When Paramardi learned about this, he sent some soldiers to counter the Chauhan force. The Chandelas suffered heavy losses in the ensuing conflict. Paramardideva then decided to send another force led by his general Udal against Prithviraj. Udal advised against this proposal, arguing that it would not be appropriate to attack wounded soldiers or to antagonize a powerful king like Prithviraj. However, Emperor Paramardideva was under the influence of his brother-in-law Mahil Parihar (Pratihara), who secretly harboured ill-will against the Chandelas. Mahil instigated Paramardideva to go ahead with the attack plan. The Chandela force led by Udal then launched a second attack against the Chauhan army, but was defeated. The situation subsided when Prithviraj left for Delhi.[6]
Unable to bear Mahil Parihar's political scheming, Udal and his brother Alha left the Chandela court. They took shelter with Jaichand, the Gahadavala ruler of Kannauj.[6] Mahil then sent a secret message to Prithviraj Chauhan, informing him that the best generals of Paramardideva had left Mahoba. Instigated by him, Prithviraj set out from Delhi in 1182 CE and marched to the Chandela empire via Gwalior and Bateshwar. First, he besieged Sirsagarh, which was held by Malkhan, a cousin of Alha and Udal. Prithviraj tried to win over Malkhan, but Malkhan remained loyal to Paramardi and fought against the invaders. After Malkhan killed eight generals of the invading army, Prithviraj himself took charge of the battle. The Chandelas ultimately lost the battle, and Malkhan was killed.
War[edit]
In the second battle of Sirsagarh Chandelas Army under Paramardi -deva's son Bramhjit and nephew Alhadefeated chahmanas and Bramhjit married Bela chauhan (daughter of Prithviraja III) [7][8][9]
After victory in Battle of Sirsagarh against Chauhans of Ajmera, Paramardi-Deva's son Brahma married Bela Chauhan, whom he loved. But In 1182, in instigation of Mahil, Prithviraj III again attacked Sirsagarh and raided it. Two sons and 1 nephew of Kashi king Jaichand gehwara were killed in battle, But Prithviraja was finally defeated by Paramardi-Deva in Battle of Mahoba (1184 CE). Prithviraja Chauhan again defeated by Paramardi-Deva Chandel around 1187 CE in Battle of Kirtisagar. [8][7][10][11][12][13][9]
The 1195 CE Bateshvar inscription states that other feudatory kings bowed before him, and the 1201 CE Kalanjara inscription describes him as the lord of Dasharna country.[14]
Later days and Death[edit]
According to a Kalanjara inscription, while one of Paramardideva's predecessors had imprisoned the wives of the earthly rulers, Paramardideva's heroics made even the divine rulers anxious about the safety of their wives. As a result, the gods let loose an army of mlechchhas (foreigners) against him, and made him face a defeat.[5]
Prithviraj Chauhan was killed at the Second Battle of Tarain against the Ghurids in 1192 CE. After defeating the Chahamanas (Chauhans) and the Gahadavalas, the Ghurid governor of Delhi planned an invasion of Chandela kingdom.[15] A force led by Qutb al-Din Aibak, and accompanied by strong generals such as Iltutmish, besieged the Chandela fort of Kalanjara in 1202 CE.[14]
Taj-ul-Maasir, written by the Delhi chronicler Hasan Nizami, states that Parmaal (Paramardideca) initially offered some resistance, but then fled to the safety of the fort. Subsequently, he surrendered before ruler of Delhi, and agreed to be his vassal.[15] He promised to pay a tribute to the Sultan, but died before he could execute this agreement. His dewan Aj Deo (Ajaya-Deva) continued to resist the ruler of Delhi after his death. The dewan was finally forced to surrender as the water reservoirs within the fort dried up during a drought. Taj-ul-Masir further states that after the Sultanate's victory, temples were converted into mosques and 50,000 men were taken as slaves. Qutb al-Din Aibak appointed Hazabbar-ud-Din Hasan Arnal as the governor of Kalanjara, and also captured Mahoba.[16]
The 16th century Muslim historian Firishta states that Paramardideva was assassinated by his own minister, who disagreed with the king's decision to surrender to the Delhi forces.[16]
Firishta as well as Fakhruddin Mubarakshah state that the fall of Kalanjara Empire happened in the Hijri year 599 (1202-1203 CE). According to Taj-ul-Masir, Kalanjara fell on 20th of Rajab, in the Hijri year 599, on Monday. However, this date corresponds to 12 April 1203 CE, which was a Friday. Based on different interpretations of the historical sources, different scholars date the fall of Kalanjara to either 1202 CE or 1203 CE.[17]
According to the Chandela inscriptions, Paramardideva was succeeded by Trailokyavarman.[14]
- ↑ Sisirkumar Mitra 1977, p. 119.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Sisirkumar Mitra 1977, p. 120.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 R. K. Dikshit 1976, p. 141.
- ↑ R. K.Dikshit 1976, p. 141.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 R. K. Dikshit 1976, p. 143.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Sisirkumar Mitra 1977, p. 121.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Sisirkumar Mitra 1977, p. 125.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 Sisirkumar Mitra 1977, p. 122.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 Parmaalraso 1189, p. Jagnikarao.
- ↑ Mohinder Singh Randhawa & Indian Council of Agricultural Research 1980, pp. 472.
- ↑ M.S. Randhawa & Indian Sculpture: The Scene, Themes, and Legends 1985, pp. 532.
- ↑ Parmal Raso, Shyam sunder Das, 1919, 467 pages
- ↑ Pandey(1993) pg197-332
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 Sisirkumar Mitra 1977, p. 126.
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 R. K. Dikshit 1976, p. 147. Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; name "FOOTNOTER. K. Dikshit1976147" defined multiple times with different content - ↑ 16.0 16.1 R. K. Dikshit 1976, p. 148.
- ↑ R. K. Dikshit 1976, p. 149.