| Hammiravarman | |
|---|---|
| Paramabhattaraka, Parama-Maheshwara, Sahi, Rajavalitrayopeta, Shri-Kalanjaradhipati, Maharaja Shri | |
| Emperor of the Chandela Empire | |
| Reign | (c. 1288–1311 CE) |
| Predecessor | Bhojavarman |
| Successor | Viravarman II |
| Issue | Viravarman II |
| House | Chandel |
| Dynasty | Chandela dynasty of Jejakabhukti |
| Father | Viravarman |
| Mother | Kalyanadevi (Dadhichi Brahmin)[1] |
| Religion | Shaivism |
Hammiravarman (IAST: Hammīravarman; r. c. 1288–1311 CE) was the last important emperor of the Chandela Empire.[2] During his reign, Alauddin Khalji, Sultan of Delhi Sultanate, invaded the Chandela Empire. During this campaign, he annexed the Sati-Damoh region of Baghelkhand (Dahala country) from Vaghadeva, a Pratihara feudatory of Chandelas. However, there is no evidence that Hammiravarman lost his famous fortress city (which was also his capital), the Kalinjar Fort, along with Ajaigarh Fort. He also retained the core territories of his empire as a Sovereign Monarch.[3]
Early life[edit | edit source]
Name[edit | edit source]
The name Hammiravarman (IAST: Hammīravarman) derives from the words "Hammira", a Sanskritized form of the Arab title Amir. While "Varman" in his name is a traditional suffix of the Kshatriyas. Another ruler named "Hammira" at that time was Hammiradeva, a King of the Chauhan dynasty, who was defeated and killed by Alauddin in the Siege of Ranthambore (1301), on 10 July 1301.[4]
Personal life[edit | edit source]
According to Aliki Zannas, both Bhojavarman and Hammiravarman were possibly cousins, and Hammiravarman was the son of Viravarman.[5]
Hammiravarman's mother may have been Kalyanadevi, who is identified in an Ajayagadh inscription as the chief queen of Viravarman. According to the inscription, she was born into the lineage of the Brahmin sage Dadhichi and was the daughter of Maheshvara, who was described as being revered even by crowned heads. The inscription also names Shripala as her grandfather and Chadala as her great-grandfather. Her mother, Veshaladevi, was the daughter of King Govindaraja.[1]
Succession dispute[edit | edit source]
After the death of Viravarman, disputes arose between his two sons (possibly), Hammiravarman and Bhojavarman, over succession and division of the Chandela Empire. An inscription from Ajaigarh records Bhojavarman's reign as late as the 14th day of the dark fortnight of Margashirsha (V.S. 1346; 1289 CE), whereas Hammiravarman's Charkhari copper-plate inscription records him as already reigning on the 12th day of the dark fortnight of Bhadrapada (V.S. 1346; 1289 CE), nearly three months earlier.
Since both Chandela emperors are associated with Ajaigarh, it is difficult to explain how two independent rulers could have ruled from the same place at the same time. A partition of the Chandela Empire between the two brothers also appears unlikely.[6]
Dr. Chakravarti explained the discrepancy by suggesting that the two inscriptions followed different systems of dating. However, this explanation is unusual, as both records belong to the same dynasty (Chandela dynasty of Jejakabhukti), were found at the same place and were issued within a few months of each other.[6]
Hiralal drew attention to the omission of the titles Maharajadhiraja and Parameshvara from Hammiravarman's Charkhari inscription, although these titles had been used for his predecessors. He suggested that Hammiravarman may not have been recognised as the paramount Chandela emperor while his elder brother Bhojavarman was still on the throne. Nevertheless, Hammiravarman was accorded the titles Paramabhattaraka, Sahi Rajavalitrayopeta Shri Kalanjaradhipati and Shri Maharaja in the same inscription, indicating his considerable royal standing. Hiralal alternatively suggested that the omission of the grandiloquent titles might have reflected a reduction in Hammiravarman's political position.[6]
The discrepancy may also have resulted from errors in recording the dates, as both inscriptions are poorly engraved and their dates are expressed only in numerals. Hiralal further considered the possibility that Hammiravarman had usurped the throne, unless Bhojavarman had died before the date of Hammiravarman's Charkhari plates (12th day of the dark fortnight of Bhadrapada, V.S. 1346; 1289 CE).[6]
However, the name of Bhojavarman has been omitted in the list of predecessors given in his 1308 Charkhari copper plate inscription. The inscription mentions Bhojavarman's predecessors Paramardideva, Trailokyavarman and Viravarman. This indicates that Bhojavarman was not an ancestor of Hammiravarman.[7]
Hiralal suggested that Hamirpur, Uttar Pradesh derives its name from Hammiravarman.[8]
Inscriptions[edit | edit source]
We know of three inscriptions, which mention Hammiravarman as the reigning monarch:[7]
- Charkhari copper plate (1346 VS, 11 September 1289 CE)
- Bamni (Bamhni) sati record (1365 VS, 1308 CE)
- Ajaygadh sati stone inscription (1368 VS, 1311 CE)
The earliest and the latest known inscriptions of Hammiravarman are dated to 1289 CE and 1311 CE. This indicates that his reign lasted at least 22 years. The titles accorded to Hammiravarman in different records are also noteworthy. The Bamhni Sati inscription styles him as Paramabhattaraka Sahi Rajavalitrayopeta Shri-Kalanjaradhipati Srimad Hammiravarmandeva..., while the Charkhari copper-plate inscription styles him as Paramabhattaraka Sahi Rajavalitrayopeta Shri-Kalanjaradhipati Maharaja Sri Hammiravarmandeva...
Both records mention the title Sahi. It may have been adopted in emulation of the contemporary Muslim sovereigns; however, the title was known in India even before their advent. It was a well-known epithet of the Kushana emperors and was also adopted by the Brahmin rulers of the north-west belonging to the Hindu Shahis. The Khajuraho inscription of V.S. 1011 likewise mentions it as a title of the king of Kiras (Kira-raja)..[9]
Khalji invasion[edit | edit source]
By 1305 CE, Alauddin Khalji had gained control of large parts of northern India. Subsequently, in 1309 CE, Alauddin Khilji launched an expedition against his neighbouring power, the Chandela Empire. Epigraphic evidence indicates that Hammiravarman's suzerainty extended as far as the Damoh and Jabalpur districts of present-day Madhya Pradesh, in the region of Dahala, which were governed by his feudatory Mahārājaputra (Feudal title) Vaghadeva. Vaghadeva, apparently a Parihar chief, had his headquarters at Singorgarh Fort in the Damoh district. The Bamhni satī inscription, dated Vikrama Samvat 1365 (1308 CE), mentions Hammiravarman as Kālāñjarādhipati (Lord of Kalanjara) and Vaghadeva as his feudatory, demonstrating the extent of Chandela suzerainty in the region at that time.[10]
A satī inscription discovered at Salaiya, approximately three miles from Bamhni, dated Vikrama Samvat 1366 (1309 CE), records the reign of Sultan Alauddin. This contrasts with an earlier inscription from the same village, dated Vikrama Samvat 1362 (1304 CE), which records the reign of feudal Vaghadeva. The 1309 inscription indicates that the region had passed under the authority of the Sultan within a year of the Bamhni record.[8]
Despite losing his territories in the Damoh region, Hammiravarman continued to possess Ajaygarh Fort and possibly Kalinjar Fort, as a Sovereign ruler. There is no evidence that either of these strongholds was captured by Alauddin Khalji, or Khaljis. His Charkhari copper-plate inscription also indicates the possible inclusion of Charkhari and Bijawar within the Chandela Empire.[3]
Successors[edit | edit source]
Hammiravarman's successors might have retained control of the Ajaygadh and Kalanjara forts. However, the Chandela power would have declined because of the rising Muslim influence, as well as the rise of other local dynasties, such as the Bundelas, the Baghelas and the Khangars.[9] The 1315 Ladvari (Larwari) inscription suggests that Hammiravarman was succeeded by an obscure king Viravarman II, whose titles do not indicate a high political status.[11][12] One minor branch of the family continued ruling Kalanjara: its ruler was killed by Sher Shah Suri's army in 1545 CE. Another minor branch ruled at Mahoba: one of its princesses married into the Gond royal family of Mandla, to Sangrama Shah, who was originally a Kachhwaha Rajput, and was adopted by Sangram Shah. For other families of Chandela descent (see Chandel).[13]
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Dikshit 1976, p. 171.
- ↑ Dikshit 1976, pp. 177–179.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Dikshit 1976, pp. 178–179.
- ↑ Thapar 2013, p. 119.
- ↑ Zannas 1960, p. 45.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 Dikshit 1976, p. 176.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Dikshit 1976, p. 177.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 Dikshit 1976, p. 178.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 Dikshit 1976, p. 179.
- ↑ Dikshit 1976, pp. 177–178.
- ↑ Jackson 2003, p. 199.
- ↑ Misra 2003, p. 11.
- ↑ Thapar 2013, p. 572.
Bibliography[edit | edit source]
- Dikshit, R. K. (1976). The Candellas of Jejākabhukti. Abhinav. ISBN 9788170170464.
- Jackson, Peter (16 October 2003). The Delhi Sultanate: A Political and Military History. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-0-521-54329-3.
- Misra, Om Prakash (2003). Archaeological Excavations in Central India: Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. Mittal Publications. ISBN 978-81-7099-874-7.
- Mitra, Sisirkumar (1977). The Early Rulers of Khajurāho. Motilal Banarsidass. ISBN 9788120819979.
- Thapar, Romila (2013). The Past Before Us. Harvard University Press. ISBN 978-0-674-72651-2.
- Zannas, Eliky (1960). Khajurāho: Text and Photos. Mouton.