History of Lunar race Yadava stock of Chudasama Rajputs of Junagadh State --
History of Lunar Race Yadava stock Chudasama Rajputs of Junagadh State ---
Area-3,239 sq. miles. Population.-387,499. Revenue-24,00,000 rupees.
Junagarh claims to be one of the oldest State in Kathiavad. It is now governed by the Nawabs of the Babi dynasty. Before its conquest by the Mahomedans in 1746 it was held by Rajput kings. It was in the year 875 that the Chudasama Rajputs for the first time made Junagarh (Sorath) their seat of government. Before them Sorath was governed by the Rajput kings of Chaura or Chavada tribe, but they had their scat of government in Vamansthali, or as it is now called Vanthali.
Ancient History ---
The famous Shri Krishna, founder of the Yadav dynasty, had a son, named Samba, by his wife, Jambuvanti. There flourished one, Devendra, in his line, 80 degrees removed from him. He had four sons, Aspat, Gajpat, Narpat, and Bhupat. Of these, Aspat embraced Islamism, Bhupat becaine ,he founder of the Bhatti tribe of Rajputs, while Rajputs, tracing their pedigree to Samat, the son of Narpat, came to be known as Samas. The Jadejas are a more off-shoot of the Sama tribe of Rajputs. Gajpat had a son, named Chuda Chandra, and it is to him that the Chudasama Rajputs owe their origin.
Mediaeval History --
This Chuda Chandra, the founder of the Chudasama tribe, first went to Sorath from Sindh. At that time Vala Ram, of the Chavda tribe, reigned at Vanthali. He was the maternal uncle of Chuda Chandra. After the death of Vala Ram his nephew, Chuda Chandra, ascended the throne of Vanthali in 875; and it was in this year that the power of the Chudasama Rajputs was for the first time established in Sorath. Saurashtra or Sorath was then the name for the whole peninsula of Kathiawad; so Chuda Chandra as the King of Sorath must have exercised regal authority over all the ruling princes, great and small, throughout the province.
Chuda Chandra died in the year 907 and was succeeded by his grand son, Mulraj, on the Vanthali gadi. He added considerably to his dominions.On his death he was succeeded by Vishwa, who assumed the title of Rah. This distinctive title was adopted by all his descendants on their assuming the government of Sorath.
Rah Vishwa died in 940 and was succeeded by Rah Gariyo. (Graharı) He was also known by the name of Griha Ripu. He was such a valiant and powerful chieftain that the kings of Delhi, Devgadha and Lanka are said to have trembled at his name. Rah Gariyo (Grahari) died in 982. He was succeeded by Rah Kawat. He imprisoned and set at liberty the chief of Abu on ten different occasions. He was himself once entrapped by Viramdev, the Parmar chief of Shiyal Bet, but was subsequently released by his maternal uncle, Ugawala. Rah Kawat, dying in 1003, was succeeded by Dayas alias Mahipal. The Solanki king of Patan invaded his territory and conquered Vanthali, when the Rah had to scc. shelter in the citadel (Uparkot) of Junagarh. The Solanki chief followed him thither and besieged the fortress. All his attempts at escalad ing the walls were futile; so he resorted to a different plan. He mad some of his warriors sit in closed chariots, armed cap-a-pie, and declarin that there were women seated in the carriages, succeeded in getting them admitted into the citadel. They all rose in a body and massacred the garrison. In the struggle that ensued the Rah was also killed (1010). The chief reason assigned for this war was the indignity offered by the Raja to one of the ladies of the family of the Gujarat King, who were al! proceeding on a pilgrimage to Girnar. The Solanki monarch must in all probability be none else than Durlabhsen. The king of Gujarat returned immediately to his capital, leaving behind him a Thandar at Vanthalito look after the conquered district. Durlabhsen died in the same year and was succeeded by Bhimdev I. It was in his reign that the famous Sultan Mahumad, the Emperor of Ghazni, invaded Gujarat in 1024. A bloody battle ensued between the forces of Bhimdev and Mahumad near Prabhas Patan in which the Hindus were defeated. Bhimdev fleri towards Kutch and took refuge in the fort of Kanthkot. Mahmud, the Iconoclast, razed to the ground and pillaged the sacred temple of Somnath at Prabhas and broke into pieces the god-like Linga of Shiva. The Ghazni conqueror is said to have found immense wealth concealed underneath the image of Shiva. When Rah Dayas alias Mahipal of Sorath killed in the year 1010, one of his wives immolated herself on the funeral pyre, while the other made her escape into the district of Und with her infant son, Nau ghan. She thence took shelter with Devayat, the Ahir of Alidhara Bodidhara. The fact that Rah Naughan was concealed in the house of Devayat reached the ears of the Thandar of Junagarh. He there upon summoned the Ahir and ordered him to surrender the person of Naughan. The poor man was harassed exceedingly before he agreed to bring him before that officer. Devayat was a prisoner in the hands of the Thandar, who compelled him to write a letter to his wife, desiring her to send Naughan. The faithful Ahir secretly managed to send another letter to his wife, in which he asked her to send their son, Vasana, in the place of Prince Naughan. This message threw the whole household into the greatest grief for Vasana had been married only recently and even the Mindhalas were not taken off the wrists of the couple. Notwithstanding this Vasana boldly proceeded to Junagarh with the noble determination of sacrificing himself on the altar of loyalty. On the Thandar question ing Devayat whether the boy present was none else than Naughan, he tumly replied, 'Yes he is Naughan in flesh and blood.' The officer then asked the Ahir to cut his throat and he did slay his own son without the slightest hesitation. After the occurrence of this sad event, Devayat turned home but the thoughts of wreaking a terrible vengeance upon his enemies began to oppress him night and day. He had promised the hand of his daughter, Jesala, to an Ahir, residing in Junagarh. On the occasion of her marriage Devayat and several of his Ahir followers assembled together in the capital. The Ahir chief also brought with him Naughan 'n disgaise. Devayat told his trusty Ahirs that if they all agreed to place Naughan on the throne of Junagarh, he would deliver into their hands the person of the Thandar. All the Ahirs agreed to the proposal. Devayat invited the Thandar and his subordinates to honour him with their presence on the occasion of the marriage of his daughter. In pursuance of a preconcerted plan all the Ahirs fell upon the Thandar and his subordinates and killed them in no time. Naughan was instated on the throne of Sorath. This event is supposed to have taken place in 1025.
From this date the seat of government was transferred from Vanthali to Junagarh. While Jesala was residing with her husband in Sindh, Hamir Sumro, the ruler of the province, enchanted by the Ahir beauty fell in love with her. He endeavoured to seize her and admit her into his harem. Jesala thereupon wrote a stirring letter to her foster brother, Rah Naughan, entreating him to save her from the impending peril. The Rah overpowered with feelings of love and gratitude led a large army into Sindh, defeated Hamir and rescued the lovely Jesala. The Rah soon after returned to his capital.
Rah Naughan died in 1044. He was succeeded by Rah Khengar 1. No important event is recorded to have occurred during his reign. Dying in 1067, he was succeeded by Naughan II. This Rah was both brave and beautiful. He entered into hostility with many brave princes and chiefs. Among them was the great Sidharaj, the celebrated king of Patan. Naughan II., was once forced by him to seck submission with a bunch of grass in his mouth. He had also offended Hansraj, the chief of Umeta, on the river Mahi, and the Vaghela of Bhoira. He was also much displeased with a Charan, named Mesan, who had insulted him. The Rah had four sons Bhim, the founder of the houses of Bhadali, Sarva (whence the Sarvaiyas) and Gampha: Satarsal who received Dhandhuka; Devganji who received the Osham Chorashi: and Khengar who succeeded him. Naughan, when on deathbed, summoned all his sons to his side and said Oh sons my soul will not leave my body until you promise to faithfully carry out the four following behests with which I charge you. They are (1) to slay Hansraj of Umeta (2) to destroy the fort of Bhoira (now under Jasdan) (3) to break down the gate of Patan and (4) to split the checks of the Charan named Mesan, who had spoken disrespectfully of him. Khengar alone undertook to carry out all the behests and took a solemn pledge to do all this by pouring water into the hand of his dying father. It was only after this assurance that the soul of Naughan departed in peace. The coronation ceremony on the installation of Rah Khengar on the hereditary throne took place at Junagarh in 1098. He, however, chose to remain for the greater part of the year at Vanthali. Sidharaj Jaysinh of the Solanki clan was his contemporary at Patan in Gujarat. Khengar, availing himself of the absence of Sidharaj, who had marched upon Malwa, invaded Gujarat and breaking the gate of Patan, sent its doors to Junagarh. On his way back he fought with Hansraj of Umeta and killed him in the struggle. After washing his gory sword in the waters of the Mahi, he went to Bhoira on his way to Junagarh and destroyed the fortress. He thus faithfully carried out three of his father's behests in a single expedition. On his reaching Junagarh he sent for that Charan, who had insulted his father. He filled his mouth with so much gold that the Charan at last cried out "That will do, my cheeks are split." Then the Rah bestowed upon him a village, situated about twelve miles to the south-west of Palitana. That village is still called after him Mesanka. Rah Khengar married the celebrated Ranak Devi. She was, as tradition goes, bred up in the house of a potter, but was betrothed to Maharaja Sidharaj of Gujarat. But before her marriage with the monarch of Gujarat was celebrated, Khengar carried her away to Junagarh and made her his wife. This insult afforded Sidharaja a fresh cause for resentment. He marched against Junagarh with a large army and besieged the citadel. During the siege Khengar used to stay in the Upar Kot, while his favourite wife Ranak was kept in the fortress of Girnar. No one had access to her'save Desal and Visal, the nephews of Rah Khengar. Once it so happened that during one of his visits to the Girnar fortress, he saw his nephew, Desal, lying drunk in the palace of his queen. This aroused a suspicion in his breast with regard to his nephew's conduct, and in spite of Desal's entreaties and protestations to the contrary, he expelled both Desal and Visal from his dominions. Burning with a desire for revenge, they took refuge with their uncle's enemy Sidharaj. This was a most welcome desertion indeed to Sidharaj, for he had lain there besieging the fortress for over twelve years and his troops had grown weary and discontented. Concealed under sacks of grain, on the back of many a cattle. The soldiers artfully succeeded in obtaining an entrance to the Upar Kot where they massacred the whole garrison. Rah Khengar fell while valiantly fighting with the enemy. The treacherous brothers took Sidharaj to the palace of the fair queen and requested their aunt to open the gate. The poor woman, quite ignorant of what had occurred, recognising the voice of her nephews, ran eagerly to throw open the gate. Sidharaj saw her seated with her two sons, Manero and Dagayacha. He could not bear the sight of the two little offsprings of his rival, affectionately carried in the loving embrace of a woman, who was once about to become his own wife. He slew the unfortunate Dagayacha with his own hands and ran after Manero to apprehend him. The innocent boy began to cry, seeking as usual his mother's protection.
After the death of Rah Khengar ,Sidharaj instructed the affairs of Government to Sajan , one of his brave warriors , but the subjects of Junagadh rose in a body against him and drove him out of the territory.They seated Rah Naughan III on the Sorath gadi in the year 1125.On his death in 1140 he was succeeded by Rawat II. and after his death in 1152, Prince Jaysinh alias Rah Gariyo II came to the throne. Rah Jaysinh, dying in 1180, was succeeded by Raysinh. He reigned till 1184 and was succeeded by Mahipal II. In 1201 Rah Jaymal came to the throne, which he enjoyed till 1230.
After the death of Jaymal, Prince Mehepo or Mahipal III came to the throne. In his reign the Kathis gathered a large army near Kotda and rebelled against him. The Rah, too, sent a large army under the command of Motisha to intimidate the Kathi leaders; but they had mustered strong and in the contest between the two contending armies. Motisha sustained a signal defeat. Shortly after, Arjunsinh, the Vala Raja of Dhonk, came to the succour of the Rah with a large army and attacked the bands of the Kathis and dispersed them. They, however, rallied together in no time and reduced many of the villages of Dhonk to submission. It was in his time that Sejakji, the founder of the Gohel dynasty in Kathiawad, first came to Sorath from his native country of Marwar and sought the Rah's protection. Rah Mehepo bestowed upon him the village of Shapor. It is to this chief that the present rulers of Bhavnagar, Palitana, Lathi and Rajpipla in Rewa Kantha trace their descent. Rah Mehepo died in 1253 and was succeeded by Khengar III. He continued warring with the Kathis, reconquered all the villages of the Dhonk territory, which they had seized and restored them to Arjunsinh. Rah Khengar III. and Arjunsinh were very great friends. It is said that they ravished a woman of the Mer tribe, whose relations assassinated them both. This occurred in the year 1260. Rah Khengar III was succeeded by Rah Mandalik. During his reign Junagarh suffered considerably from the successive invasions of the Rathods, Vaghelas, and the Mahomedans under Ala-ud-din Khilji. Alaf Khan, the generalissimo of Ala-ud-din's troops, once more destroyed the famous temple of Sorathi Somnath. The temple of Somnath was destroyed by Mahmud Ghazni in 1024, but it was recon- structed by Kumarpal, the King of Gujarat, of the Solanki tribe, in the middle of the 12th century. He conquered the sea-coast territory between Ghogha and Madhavpur and appointed a Suba to preserve order in the conquered districts. Rah Mandalik died in 1306. He was succeeded by Rah Naughan IV. He reigned only for two years and dying in 1308, was succceded by Rah Mahipal IV. He repaired the historic temple of Sorathi Somnath, which was all in ruins and did many other charitable acts. Rah Mahipal IV died in 1325, after a reign of 17 years and was succeeded by Rah Khengar IV. He expelled the Mahomedan Suba from Somnath and enhanced the greatness of the God, Mahadev. When Mahmud Tughlak of Delhi invaded Gujarat, a detachment of the Imperial troops stormed the fort of Junagarh, but after the recall of the army Rah Khengar regained his lost power and in addition to his own territory conquered several islands in the sea. He was a brave monarch,having subdued no less than eighty-four different chiefs and exacted tribute from them all. On Rah Khengar's death in 1351, Rah Jaysinh II. came to the throne. He vanquished all the enemies of his father and increased the extent of his already vast kingdom. He died in the year 1369. After Rah Jaysinh II, a succession of princes occupied the throne of Junagarh, in whose reigns no event worth recording seems to have taken place. Jaysinh was succeeded by Mahipal V who reigned till 1373. Then came Mokalsinh, who died in 1395. Then upto 1400 reigned Rah Mandalik II. who was succeeded by 
Rah Mandalik III was as misconducted as he was brave. The Gohel Dudo of Arthilla (the present Lathi) was ravaging the territory of the Shah of Gujarat. He wrote to the Rah to dissuade the Gohel from doing so. Dudo was summoned and upbraided by the Rah, but he did not give up the marauding adventures. The Rah marched against Dudo, though he was the uncle of his wife and in the struggle the Gohel was killed, while Arthilla was pillaged and destroyed. The famous devotee and poet, Narsinh Mehta, seems to have flourished in Rah Mandalik's time. Many stories have been recounted of the Rah's illicit amours, which brought destruction upon him. In the village of Mania, there lived a Charan woman of extraordinary beauty. Her name was Gangabai alias Nagbai. She was, however, as chaste as she was beautiful. The Rah heard accounts of her captivating beauty and he repaired to Mania to have a look at the fair Charan woman He made several futile attempts to ravish this blooming beauty. At last he contented himself, by throwing his hand upon her bosom, when the Charan woman turned away from him and thus cursed the wicked Rah. "The bride of thy good fortune shall turn away her face from thee even as I do now and will unite herself with the Mahomedan Kings. Thy kingdom shall fall into the hands of the Moslems, thou, too, shall fall into their hands and shall die a follower of Islam."
Mahmud Shah there -upon marched against Rah Mandalik with large army in 1467, but soon returned to Ahmedabad on receiving from the Rah demonstrations of friendship.At last Rah Mandalik embraced Islamism and became a Muhomedan.It was from this date (1476 A .D) that the government of Junagadh was transferred from the hands of the Chudasama Rajputs to those of the Muhammadan kings of Gujrat.Muhammdan sway was for the first time established in Junagadh in the year 1476 A.D.
But the Sultan also placed Rah Mandolin's son Bhupatsingh as a Jagiradar.The jagir allotted to Bhupatsingh was the Sil Bagasra Chovisi and his descendants may be found there to this day but he resided at Junagadh.He was succeeded by his son Khengar.Khengar was succeeded by his son Noghan in A.D.1525 and he lived until A.D.1551.Noghan was succeeded by his son Shrisingh in A.D.1551 .He lived till 1586.After the siege and capture of Junagadh in A.D.1591-92 by Naurang Khan , Raizada Khengar was dismissed to his estate of Sil Bagasra and the Raizadahs (as these later Chudasamas were called ) ceased to rule at Junagad .
References--
1-History of Gujarat by J.W.Watson .
2-History of Gujarat by Edalji Dosabhai.
3-The History of Sindh by K.R.Malkani.
4-Bombay Gazetteers, Kathiawar III.p ,554.
5-The Golden book of India ,a Genealogical and Biographical Dictionary of the ruling Princes , Chiefs by Roper Lethoridge.
6-Imperial Gazetteer of India ,v, 11.p78.
7-The Rajputs of Saurashtra by Virbhadra Singh.
8-Yaduvamsh prakash .,pp.,263-287.
9-History of Kathiyawar from Earliest Times .,p177, by Harold Wilberforce -Bell.
10-Bombay Gazetteer , 8,p-489-90, 565-66, p124-126.
11-Glimpses of Bhartiya History by Rajendra Singh Kushwaha.
12-Gazetteer of Bombay presidency , vol 9, part I ,p.129.
13-The Hind Rajasthan or The Annals of the Native states of India., Voll.2 , issue I, part 2.complied by Manu Nandshankar Mehta and Markand Nandshankar Mehta.
Author- Dhirendra Singh Jadaun
Village-Larhota near Sasni
District-Hatharas ,Uttar Pradesh
Associate Prof in Agriculture
Shahid Captain Ripudaman Singh Govt.College ,Sawai madhopur 'Rajasthan ,322001.
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