Hammiravarman Chandel

Hammiravarman Chandel
'Parambhattaraka-Rajadhiraj-Parameshwar-Paramamaheshwar-Brahmakshatriyaottam-Dharmarajika-Rajnyashrestha-Prajapita-Mahobanaresh-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	Lakula Shaiva sect, Shaivism

Hamiravarman Chandel (Hindi: हम्मीरवर्मन चन्देल, reign. c. 1288–1311 AD), was a ruler of 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 founded a city named Hammirpur (today's Hamirpur) and established 108 Shiva Lingas there on the Betwa river bank.

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 devotee of 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

Historians forcibly claimed that the Khiljis defeated the Chandels, based on the fact that the Khiljis moved south from the Jabalpur area in the late 13th century. However, this is refuted by the fact and epigraphic sources that in the 13th c., 3 inscriptions from the Sati area, dated 1304, 1308, and 1309, mention Maharajaputra Vaghadeva Parihara, who refers to his suzerain Sri Hammiravarman.

In 1309, Khiljis captured some areas near Jabalpur, which is why they mentioned the contemporary (Alauddin), as they had come close. But parihara vassal ruler of Chandel rajadhiraja never mentioned Khaljis as their suzerain or overlord etc (Muzlims claim that they placed their governor in Chandel Capital! then how the ruler of Chandels can issue grant if they are eliminated?

In the 14th c. inscriptions are found in that region which mention ruler Viravarman II. This means that this area was not fully captured and whatever little bit was left was soon captured by Chandels.

Alauddin Khilji had conquered almost all of Kingdoms in India, like the Seauna of Devgiri, Kaktiyas etc. Despite this, the Khiljis never conquered the Chandels, even after easily winning the some parts of northern region. This suggests that a battle must have taken place, because if someone captures a region, they will typically continue their military campaign further (if he wants to become Sikandar e Sani). So, it clearly means that Alauddin was defeated by the Hammiravarman, and therefore, the Chandels were not conquered by the Khiljis. If Alauddin Khilji had indeed eliminated the Chandels, as claimed, and reduced them to local chiefs, Then why did he only capture a small portion of their northern territory after defeating a minor vassal of the Chandel Rajputs? Why did he have to take a detour via Damoh to go south? Epigraphic proofs clearly states the status of ruler of Chandel dynasty as supreme kings in central India till 16th CE not local chiefs etc.. The Battle of Betwa-Yamuna marked a significant turning point, as Alauddin's shameful defeat prevented him from expanding his territories beyond the Yamuna & Betwa rivers. Consequently, the Eastern Ganga dynasty, Kalachuri and other dynasties under Chandel authority were spared from his aggression.

Notably, Alauddin had previously demonstrated his military prowess by defeating the powerful Paramaras, killing their king (who fled away from war, bite latter killed in second Khalji invasion on other Paramara stronghold, and decimating 100,000 infantrymen and 30-40,000 cavalrymen, with the army of 10,000 Khiljis.

Additionally, he had attacked the Ranthambore fort of the Chauhans twice, and on the third occasion, when he personally led the assault, the Chauhans were defeated and killed. The Seuna king Ramachandra, the Kakatiya king Prataparudra, & the Hoysala king Ballala III to were forced to become Alauddin's tributaries. Kafur also raided the Pandya kingdom. Rajadhiraja Sri Hammira varman Chandel was a follower of Lakula Pashupata Shaivism and Great Shiva devotee like his (99%) ancestors.

To commemorate his (Hammira varman) victory over Allaudin Khalji, he (Hammiravarman) founded a city named Hammirpur (today's Hamirpur) and established 108 Shiva Lingas there on the Betwa river bank.

According to the contemporary records;

क्षत्रियकुलेन सर्वश्रेष्ठस्य चन्देलवंश: ब्रह्मक्षत्रियस्य परममाहेश्वर 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, great devotee of Mahesh (Shiva), 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 कथा, शिवाचार्य श्री शंकर्षणशर्मा उवाच, 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.