Hammiravarman (Chandel ruler)

Hammiravarman
'Parambhattaraka-Rajadhiraj-Parameshwar-Paramamaheshwar-Brahmakshatriyaottam-Dharmarajika-Rajnyashrestha-Prajapita-Mahobanresh-Shrikalanjaradhipati'
22nd Chandel ruler
Reign	c. 1288-1311 AD
Predecessor	Bhojavarman
Successor	Viravarman II
Born	Mahoba, Uttar Pradesh
Died	Mahoba, Uttar Pradesh
Names Shrimad Hammiravarman Deva Chandel Hindi: श्रीमद हम्मीरवर्मन देव चन्देल
House	Yaduvanshi Haihaya, Chandravansh
Dynasty	Chandel
Father	Viravarman Dev I Chandel
Mother	Kalyana Devi Chandel Dadhichivansh, Bhargava Brahmin)
Religion	Vaishnav sect, Hinduism

Hammiravarman (Hindi: हम्मीरवर्मन चन्देल, reign. c. 1288–1311 AD), was a Maharaja from the Chandel Rajput dynasty of India. He ruled many parts of Central and Eastern India from his capital Mahoba, Jejakabhukti region (present-day part of the Uttar and Madhya Pradesh). Under his, the kingdom included Kalachuri, Nagavanshi, Dahala and Eastern Ganga dynasty. His main achievement was that, during his reign, Sultan Alauddin Khalji of Delhi Sultanate attacked the Chandel kingdom in 1309 AD., but was defeated by him in the Battle of Betwa-Yamuna and fled away. To commemorate this victory, he settled the city named Hammirpur (today's Hamirpur).

Early life and succession

The contemporary text Shri Chandelvansham;

श्रीमद् हम्मीरवर्मनदेवस्य जन्म यशस्विने दिव्ये हैहय वृष्णिवंशे अर्थात् चन्देल यादववंशे । सः भ्रातुः भोजवर्मनस्य स्वर्गवानां अनन्तरं चन्देलसिंहासनम् आरुह्य । खुखरागढ़-रतनपुर-दहला-कलिङ्ग-राज्यस्य शासकाः तस्य राज्याभिषेक-समारोहे, राजसूय-यज्ञे च पूर्वजानां इव तं प्रणम्य युद्धं विना तस्य अधीनतां प्राप्तुं सहमताः अभवन् । सः श्रीमत् विरवर्मनदेवस्य तस्य पत्नी कल्याणदेवीयाः च पुत्रः आसीत् यः दधिचीवंशस्य ब्राह्मणकुटुम्बस्य धारयति स्म ।
Translation: Shrimad Hammiravarmandeva was born in the illustrious and divine Haihaya Vrishni dynasty, that is, the Chandel Yadava dynasty. He ascended the Chandel throne after the death of his brother Bhojavarman. The rulers of Khukhragarh, Ratanpur, Dahala and Kalinga bowed down to him at his coronation ceremony and at the Rajasuya sacrifice, like their ancestors, and agreed to submit to him without a fight. He was the son of Shrimat Viravarmandeva and his wife Kalyanadevi who held from a Brahmin family of Dadhichi clan.

— श्रीमद हम्मीरवर्मन देव चन्देल, अध्याय 26, श्री चन्देलवंशम।

Hammiravarman was born in Haihaya-Vrishni dynasty i.e. Haihayavanshi Chandel dynasty of Chandravanshi Rajputs. He and his elder brother Bhojavarman were the sons of Viravarman I Chandel and his wife Kalyana Devi Chandel. Kalyana Devi was held from a noble brahmin family of Dadhichi clan of Bhargavas and daughter of Maheshvar, who was revered even by the crowned heads. According to the contemporary genealogy book of Chandels by brahmin acharyas, they got a boon for the Chandel royals and their direct descendant from the Parshuram, Some Chandel kings had married a Brahmin girl out of love, because their clan was blessed, so the Brahmin scholars did not stop them. All records tells that the all Chandels and the Chandel rulers were staunchly religious and Brahmanical and were strongly supported and guided by Brahmin scholars, ministers, advisors and they don't do anything against religious rules, texts and brahmin scholars (any scholar brahmin will never allow intercaste in Kaliyuga). In several Chandel inscriptions and records there are references to almost all Chandels and many Chandel Kings who were afraid to offend against the religious law. The inscriptions also suggest that the rule of Chandel rulers were based on religious text (Shaastra). The Chandels did not want to violate religion in any way. On the contrary, the Chandels were afraid of even the slightest act being done against religion and religious texts in any way. The Chandels often emphasized the positive duty of following the state through "Dharma" which was the duty of a Kshatriya ruler and every real Kshatriyas. It is obvious that if the Chandel clan had not received this boon for royal family and their direct descendants, they would not have committed such a big act against religious texts. Even after allowing other marriages, morality of the Chandel rulers and Chandels were such that they had only one wife and remained loyal to her and loved her so much, their wife were also very loyal to them and loved them so much that after his death she herself would commit sati and those chandel ruler who had more wife than one were criticized by there own son. For example, Madanavarman married 3 women and was criticized by his own grandson and greatgrandson in the inscription for this. Chandels have dynastic rules at the order of Moon god Chandra like;

चन्देलवंशे कोऽपि मांसं न खादिष्यति, मद्यं न पिबति, ब्राह्मणहत्यां न करिष्यति, स्वपत्न्याः अतिरिक्तं कस्यापि स्त्रिया सह किमपि प्रकारं शारीरिकं सम्बन्धं न करिष्यति न धर्मविरुद्धं गमिष्यति। चन्देलराजपरिवारस्य तेषां प्रत्यक्षवंशजानां च वर्मनशब्दस्य प्रयोगः अन्यैः चन्देलक्षत्रियैः च वर्माशब्दस्य प्रयोगः
Translation; No one in the Chandel dynasty will eat meat, drink alcohol, kill a Brahmin, have any kind of carnal intercourse with any woman other than his wife nor go against Dharma. The use of the word Varman by the Chandel royal family and their direct descendants and the use of the word Varma by other Chandel Kshatriyas should not stop after the Yagyoapavitra ceremony in adolescence. The day these sacred prophecies will be broken, not even the Chandels' impregnable fort Kalanjara or their power will be able to protect them and the dynasty will fall. The only way to avoid downfall would be to follow the rules I have told you to protect the prestige of the dynasty.

This scriptural love marriage with brahman girl is not the first time in Chandel Rajput dynasty! Also Varman (for royal kshatriya family or direct descendants) has also been added to Hammira's name after Yajnopavita and Yajnopavita has been described as similar to that of a Kshatriya teen by Brahmin scholars, which shows that he was not Varnasankara or Suta (Son or Daughter of brahmin woman+Kshatriya man).

After his elder brother Bhojavarman's death in young age, he peacefully ascended the Chandel throne after the Bhardapada month on 12 ravau, Pushya nakshatra, Vikram Samvat 1326 (1288 AD.). He assumed the titles of Rajadhiraja (king of kings) and Kalanjaradhipati (lord of Kalanjara, the administrative capital of the Chandels). The Charkhari copper plate uses the title "Chakravarti Samrat" & "Maharajadhiraja" (overlord or king of Maharajas) for his ancestors. He ruled from 1288-1311 AD. He was great Vishnu devotee and his sect was Shri Vaishnava of Hinduism, but was also devoted to his Kuldevta Nilkanatha Mahadeva. There were not so many Maharajas under him like his ancestors, that is why he did not take the title of Maharajdhiraja but took the title of King of Kings i.e. Rajadhiraja. Among those who were subordinate, the main subordinate states were Kalachuri (branch of Chandels) and Eastern Ganga dynasty. The oldest and latest known inscriptions of Hammiravarman date back to 1289 BCE. And 1311 BC. Are of. This suggests that his reign lasted for at least 22 years. He describes himself as Param-Bhantsaraka-Sahi-Rajavali.

Against Alauddin Khilji

1309 AD The Sati inscription mentions that during his reign, the Sultan Alaydina (Alauddin Khalji) conquered som northern parts of the Chandel kingdom. The Sati inscription mentions that a Parihara vassal of the Chandels named Vagha deva. who Ruled the Damoh-Jabalpur region, he was defeated by the Khiljis and captured the Damoh-Jabalpur region of the northern part of the Chandel kingdom. There is no evidence or mention of any further invasion by the Khiljis nor of their occupation of the entire Chandel kingdom. Sati inscription, fragmentary copper plate and historical contemporary Chandel texts reveal that in 1309 AD, the Khiljis had captured Damoh Jabalpur by defeating the Parihar chief Vagha deva, who was a vassal of the Chandels. To prevent the Chandel army from attacking Delhi further, the Khiljis started their campaign directly against the Chandels without any warning. According to the Bamni (Bamhani) Sati inscription (1365 AD, 1308 AD) and the Ajaygarh Sati inscription (1368 AD, 1311 AD), The Khiljis also launched a campaign against the Chandel capital from here (Damoh-Jabalpur). There the Chandels also immediately moved towards the Khiljis after receiving the news of the murder of their Parihar vasaal.. Both the armies met between Yamuna and Betwa rivers. Khilji sent a letter to the camp saying, "Convert Islam and accept the subordination of the Khilji dynasty. Be assured that all the Chandels will leave here alive."Hammiravarman rejected it saying", You are showing your eyes to Chandels of Chandravanshi Haihayavansh by marking the moon sign on weird flag? Now you will run away from here carrying this flag, only then you will survive. The next day there was a fierce battle between the Khlijis and the Chandels, which is called Battle of Betwa-Yamuna). In the battle of Betwa-Yamuna, the number of Khiljis was 20,000 infantrymen and 18,000 cavalrymen, while the Chandels had the number was 10,000 infantry, 200 elephant warrior and 6,000 cavalry. In this battle, the Chandels won and the Khiljis were defeated. In the battle, Alauddin fled to Delhi after showing the flag of surrender in front of Hammiravarman, saving his life. In this battle, Alauddin neither Not only was he unable to capture Kalanjara, but he could not even muster the courage to attack Kalanjara again in his entire life. To commemorate this victory, Hammirvarman established Hammirapur (Hamirpur) near the same place in his name and built many temples. This was the reason that Alauddin could never attack across Yamuna and Betwa or over Kalachuri etc. dynasties which were under the Chandels were saved, otherwise Alauddin defeated 100,000 infantry and 30-40,000 cavalry of the Paramaras along with 10,000 Khiljis and killed their king Mahakaladeva. Ranthambore fort of Chauhans was attacked twice and for the third time when Alauddin himself took charge, Chauhans were defeated and killed. Apart from this, other dynasties also could not survive. Even from the Muslim side there is no mention of the capture of Fortress Kalanjara or Jejakabhukti or Mahoba by the Chandel dynasty by the Delhi Sultanate during the reign of Alauddin Khilji and his successors. This can also be understood that, if Alauddin Khilji was capable, then why didn't he attack the Chandel kingdom further? Why only small part of the northern territory? Why did Khilji stop only after defeating a small vassal of the Chandels? Muslim sources indicate that by the late 1300s Delhi forces were moving towards the Deccan, suggesting that they may have captured the Damoh-Jabalpur region which lay on the way to the Deccan. But this appears to be an empty false statement by historians because, a Parihar chieftain named Vaghadeva, who ruled the Damoh-Jabalpur region, was a vassal of Hammiravarman. 1304 BC of Salaiya village. The sati inscription states that it was issued during the reign of Maharajaputra ("son of the king") Vagha deva. The 1308 AD Sati inscription of Bamani village (in Damoh district) also mentions Vagha deva as a contemporary ruler. Furthermore, it describes their overlord Srimad Hammiravarman Deva Chandel as Shri Kalanjaradhipati ("Lord of Kalanjara"). The 1309 AD Sati stone of Salaiya village mentions the name of "Alaydina Sultana" (Sultan Alauddin Khilji) as the contemporary ruler. Found in Ajaygarh in 1311 BC. The Sati stone of 1400 AD shows that the main citadel Ajaygarh and the capital Kalanjara remained independent under Chandel rule and the Kalachuri, Nagavanshi and Eastern Ganga etc eastern dyanasties also remained under the rule of Chandelas of Jejakabhukti till 1545 AD. There is no mention of these being captured by the Delhi Sultanate during the reign of Alauddin Khilji or other ruler after him.

According to the contemporary records;

क्षत्रियकुलेन सर्वश्रेष्ठस्य चन्देलवंश: ब्रह्मक्षत्रियस्य विष्णुभक्तेन चन्द्रात्रेयवंशस्य कमल: यादवकुलशिरोमणि: म्लेच्छा अलायदीनसुल्तानं पराजय्य अस्मान् उद्धारयन् श्रीकलञ्जरस्य अधिपति राजाधिराज्य श्रीमद हम्मीरवर्मन देव चन्देल प्रणामं करोमि पुन: पुन:। ।
Chandel dynasty, the supreme among Kshatriya clans, Brahmakshatriya, devotee of Vishnu, Lotus of Chandraatreya (Chandra, son of Sage Atri) dynasty, Yadukul Shiromani, Lord of Shri Kalanjar, I bow again and again to the king of kings Shrimad Hammiravarman Deva Chandel, who defeated Mlechchha (Who isn't born in Varna or Caste system of Hinduism) Alaaydina Sultan (Alauddin Khilji) and protected us.

According to the contemporary text Shri Chandelvansham;

उत्तरे राजानः ये अलायदीना-आक्रमणात् भीताः आसन्, ते चन्देल-अधीनत्वेन स्थिताः इति कारणतः अलायदिना-तः उद्धारिताः ।

The kings in the north, who were afraid of Alaydina’s invasion, were saved from Alaydina because they were under Chandel’s control.
यथा अमरेन्द्रवर्मनः कालकेयनाम्ना राक्षसान् मारयित्वा अस्मान् रक्षति स्म, तथैव तस्य वंशजः हम्मीरवर्मनः यमुना-बेतवा-तटे म्लेच्छ् अलायदिनं पराजय्य अस्मान् रक्षति स्म ।

Just as Amarendravarman protected us by killing the demons called Kalakeya, so his descendant Hammiravarman protected us by defeating the Mlechha Alaydina on the banks of the Yamuna and Betwa.

— श्रीमद हम्मीरवर्मन देव चन्देल, अध्याय 26, श्री चन्देलवंशम।

successor

Hammavarman's son and successor was Viravarman II. Hammiravarman's successors retained control over the Vindhyas, including the main stronghold Ajaygarh and Kalanjara forts. However, Chandel power declined due to increasing Muslim influence as well as the rise of other local dynasties, such as the Bundelas, the Baghel dynasty and the Khangar tribe. But within a few months, the Chandels defeated them and subjugated the Baghels and Bundelas and massacred the Khangar tribe. 1315 Ladwari (Larwari) inscription shows that Hammiravarman He was succeeded by King Veeravarman II, whose titles also indicate independent political status. In his next generation, Kirtivarman II (known as Salivahana and Bhairavvarman), was the last ruler of the Chandel dynasty of Jejakabhukti. He defeated Humayun in 1532 AD and killed Sher Shah Suri in 1545 and blew his half dead body from the top in Kalanjar. He was assassinated by Islam Shah, son of Sher Shah in 1545 AD. His daughter was the famous queen Durgavati. According to the contemporary text Akbarnama, she was married to Dalpat Shah Kachhwaha of Mandala, who was actually a Kachhwaha Rajput and was married to the Gond king Amandas. Was adopted.