Mahindu (r. c. 994–1015 CE), also known as Mahendra or Mahindra, was an Indian king belonging to the Naddula Chahamana dynasty. He ruled the area around Naddula (present-day Nadol in Rajasthan).
| Mahindu | |
|---|---|
| King of Naddula | |
| Reign | c. 994–1015 CE |
| Predecessor | Vigrahapala |
| Successor | Ashvapala |
| Dynasty | Chahamanas of Naddula |
| Father | Vigrahapala |
Reign
editMahindu succeeded his father Vigrahapala on the throne of Naddula.[1]
According to the Bijapur inscription of the Hastikundi Rashtrakuta prince Dhavala, a ruler named Mahendra helped him against Durlabharaja. F. Kielhorn identified this Mahendra with Mahindu, the king of Naddula. D. R. Bhandarkar identified Durlabharaja as Durlabharaja Chaulukya.[2] However, historian Dasharatha Sharma points out that Durlabharaja Chaulukya had not ascended the throne when this inscription was issued. Sharma, therefore, identified Durlabharaja as Durlabharaja Chahamana,[3]
Dhavala seems to have been a close ally of Mahindu, and helped him against the Paramara king Munja.[4]
Hemachandra's legend
editDvyashrya-Kavya, a legendary text by the Chaulukya court scholar Hemachandra, states that Mahendra-raja organized a swayamvara (husband-choosing ceremony) for his sister Durlabha-devi. Besides Durlabharaja, he invited the rulers of Anga, Andhra, Kashi, Kuru, Mathura and Ujjayini to this ceremony. Durlabha-devi chose Durlabharaja as her husband. Out of jealousy, the other invitees formed a confederacy and attacked his contingent, while he was returning to his capital. Durlabharaja defeated their combined army.[5] Mahindu's younger daughter Lakshmi-devi married Nagaraja, the younger brother of Durlabharaja.[4]
On basis of this legend, historian R. B. Singh theorizes that the Chahamana-Chaulukya rivalry concluded with a matrimonial alliance.[2] He also concludes that Mahindu was a powerful ruler, because of which several distant kings responded to the swayamvara invitation.[4]
Other historians doubt the historicity of this legend. According to A. K. Majumdar, the king of Naddula was a relatively insignificant ruler, and it is hard to believe that so many major rulers left their kingdoms to attend his ceremony at a time when northern India was under attacks from Mahmud of Ghazni.[6] Moreover, it is unlikely that Durlabharaja would have been able to defeat a confederacy of all these powerful kings.[7][8]
Successors
editMahindu had two sons: Ashvapala and Anahilla.[4] He was succeeded by Ashvapala, followed by Ashvapala's son Ahila. Anahilla succeeded Ahila on the throne of Naddula.[9]
References
edit- ^ Dasharatha Sharma 1959, p. 123.
- ^ a b R. B. Singh 1964, p. 240.
- ^ Dasharatha Sharma 1959, p. 124.
- ^ a b c d R. B. Singh 1964, p. 241.
- ^ Asoke Kumar Majumdar 1956, p. 40.
- ^ Asoke Kumar Majumdar 1956, pp. 40–41.
- ^ Krishna Narain Seth 1978, pp. 133–134.
- ^ Mahesh Singh 1984, p. 41.
- ^ R. B. Singh 1964, p. 242.
Bibliography
edit- Asoke Kumar Majumdar (1956). Chaulukyas of Gujarat. Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan. OCLC 4413150.
- Dasharatha Sharma (1959). Early Chauhān Dynasties. S. Chand / Motilal Banarsidass. ISBN 9780842606189.
- Krishna Narain Seth (1978). The Growth of the Paramara Power in Malwa. Progress. OCLC 8931757.
- Mahesh Singh (1984). Bhoja Paramāra and His Times. Bharatiya Vidya Prakashan. OCLC 11786897.
- R. B. Singh (1964). History of the Chāhamānas. N. Kishore. OCLC 11038728.