Kachchhapaghata dynasty
Dynasty in modern-day India
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Kachchhapaghatas (IAST: Kacchapaghāta) were an Indian Rajput dynasty that ruled between the 10th and 12th centuries.[4] Their territory included parts of Gopadri (Gwalior), Narwar, and Dubkund in northwestern Central India (present-day Madhya Pradesh).[5][6]
Kachchhapaghatas | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| c. 950–c.1196[1] | |||||||||||||
The Sasbahu Temple, Gwalior, built in 1096 CE by Kachchhapaghata dynasty ruler Mahipala (r. c. 1090–1105).
| |||||||||||||
 .png){kind=spacer} Location of the Kachchhapaghata dynasty, and main contemporary South Asian polities in 1175, on the eve of the Ghurid Empire invasion of the subcontinent.[2][3] | |||||||||||||
| Capital | |||||||||||||
| Common languages | Sanskrit | ||||||||||||
| Religion | Hinduism | ||||||||||||
| Government | Monarchy | ||||||||||||
| Historical era | Medieval India | ||||||||||||
• Established | c. 950 | ||||||||||||
• Disestablished | c.1196[1] | ||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||
| Today part of | India | ||||||||||||
The Kachchhapaghatas initially served as feudatories of the Gurjara-Pratiharas and later of the Chandelas of Jejakabhukti, becoming a significant regional power by the late 10th century. Lakshmana was an early prominent ruler, while his successor Vajradaman captured Gopadri (Gwalior) from the Pratihara king of Kannauj with the help of Chandelas of Jejakabhukti, as he served under the Chandela emperors Dhangavarman and Vidyadharavarman.
In 1021, Mahmud of Ghazni invaded territories under Vidyadhara Varman and attacked Gwalior Fort, forcing Kachchhapaghata ruler Kirtiraja to surrender. Kirtiraja accepted Mahmud's suzerainty and offered him 35 war elephants. After Vidyadhara Varman's death in 1030, repeated Ghaznavid invasions weakened Chandel empire, enabling the Kachchhapaghatas to assert independence. The dynasty developed three branches centred on Gopadri (Gwalior), Dubkund, and Narwar. Virasimha of Narwar issued a copper-plate grant in 1120–21 bearing the title Maharajadhiraja, and gold coins attributed to him have been discovered. Ajayapala is attested as ruling Gwalior in 1192–94. In 1196, the Ghurid general Qutb al-Din Aibak invaded Gwalior and defeated the Kachchhapaghatas during the Siege of Gwalior (1196). The Kachchhapaghata ruler Sulakshanapala surrendered and agreed to pay tribute, after which Gwalior Fort was brought under Ghurid control, marking the end of Kachchhapaghata dynasty.
Entomology
The Sanskrit word Kachchhapa-ghata (कच्छपघात) literally means 'tortoise killer'.[7]
History
The Kachchhapaghatas were originally the vassals of the Gurjara Pratiharas and the Chandelas.[9] They became powerful towards the end of the 10th century.[9] After the death of the Chandela king Vidyadhara in 1035 CE, the Chandela kingdom was weakened by repeated Muslim Ghaznavid (Yamini) invasions. Taking advantage of this situation, the Kachchhapaghatas gave up their allegiance to the Chandelas.[10]
A Sasbahu temple inscription suggests that Lakshmana was the first prominent member of the dynasty. This inscription, as well as a 977 Sihoniya inscription state that his successor Vajradaman captured Gopadri (Gwalior) from the king of Gadhinagara, that is the Pratihara ruler of Kannauj.[11] Vajradaman, described as the tilaka of the dynasty in Gwalior inscriptions dated 1093-94 and 1104, was probably the first powerful ruler of the dynasty. He served as a feudatory to the Chandela kings Dhanga and Vidyadhara.[5]
The dynasty was divided into three branches, which ruled from Gwalior (Gopādri-giri), Dubkunda (Chaṇdobha), and Narwar (Nalapur).[9] Virasimha (also Virasimharama or Virasimhadeva), a Kachchhapaghata ruler of Nalapura, issued a copper plate grant in 1120-21. This record describes him using the high-status royal title Maharajadhiraja. Gold coins issued by him have also been discovered.[12]
Decline and end
According to bardic traditions, the last ruler of the Kachchhapaghata family was Tejaskarana, also known as Dulha Rai, who is associated with the romantic tale Dhola Maru. The tradition states that Tejaskarana left Gwalior around 1128 CE (1185 VS) to marry Maaroni, the daughter of the ruler of Dausa. Before his departure, he entrusted Gwalior Fort to his sister's son, Paramal-deva (also known as Paramardi-deva), who is described in the tradition as a Parihara Rajput. Upon Tejas Karaṇa's return, Paramal-deva is said to have refused to relinquish control of the fort and established Parihara rule at Gwalior. The bardic tradition further claim that the Pariharas ruled Gwalior for 103 years.
The Parihara rule over Gwalior is attested by the 1150 CE inscription of Ramadeva and the 1194 CE inscription of Lohanga-deva.[1] However, other epigraphic evidence indicates that the Kachchhapaghatas continued to exercise authority in the region until at least 1155 CE.[13] Inscriptions from Gwalior dated 1192 and 1194 also mention the Kachchhapaghata ruler Ajayapala.[1] These records are inconsistent with the chronology preserved in the bardic tradition and suggest that the Parihara chiefs may have exercised authority at Gwalior as feudatories of the Kachchhapaghatas.[1]
In 1196, the Ghurid general Qutb al-Din Aibak attacked Gwalior. According to the Taj-ul-Ma'asir, he received tribute from Sulakshanapala, whom the chronicle identifies as Solankhapala of the Parihara family. The Ghurid forces subsequently captured Gwalior Fort.[11][14] The identification of Sulakshanapala as a Kachchhapaghata ruler is uncertain, as the Taj-ul-Ma'asir identifies him with the Parihara family.
List of Rulers
The following is a list of known Kachchhapaghata rulers, with estimate of their reigns:[15]
Simhapaniya (Sihoniya) and Gopadri (Gwalior) branch
- Lakshmana (r. c. 950–975)
- Vajradaman (r. c. 975–1000)
- Mangalaraja (r. c. 1000–1015)
- Kirtiraja (r. c. 1015–1035)
- Muladeva (r. c. 1035–1055)
- Devapala (r. c. 1055–1085)
- Padmapala (r. c. 1085–1090)
- Mahipala (r. c. 1090–1105)
- Ratnapala (r. c. 1105–1130)
- Ajayapala (r. c. 1192–1194)
- Sulakshanapala (r. c. 1196)
Dubkund (Dobha) branch
- Yuvaraja (r. c. 1000)
- Arjuna (r. c. 1015–1035)
- Abhimanyu (r. c. 1035–1045)
- Vijayapala (r. c. 1045–1070)
- Vikramasimha (r. c. 1070–1100)
Nalapura (Narwar) branch
- Gaganasimha (r. c. 1075–1090)
- Sharadasimha (r. c. 1090–1105)
- Virasimha (r. c. 1105–1125)
- Tejaskarana
Art and architecture
_Temples,_Gwalior_Fort,_Madhya_Pradesh_231.jpg)
The dynasty patronized Shaivism and Vaishnavism, but were tolerant towards Buddhism and Jainism. Several temples were constructed during their reign in Kadwaha.[4][17]
Matha (monastery), Kadwaha
One of the lion figures from the Sihoniya Kakanmaṭh temple, now at the Archaeological Museum, Gwalior
The Kachchhapaghatas of Gwalior are especially noted for their art and architecture.[5] Kachchhapaghata ruler Mahipala commissioned the Sas-Bahu Temple at Gwalior. Records of two grants issued by him at Gwalior, dated 1093 and 1104 CE, have been found. Several silver and gold coins issued by him have also been discovered.[18] Ajayapala (r. c. 1192–1194) had the Gangola tank of Gwalior desilted, as attested by an 1194 inscription.[13]
Other temples constructed by the Gwalior branch include the ones located at:
- Kadwaha (Kadmbaguhā) in Ashok Nagar district
- Surawaya
- Mahua
- Terahi (Terambhi) in Shivpuri district
- Sihoniya (Simhapāniyā)
- Padhaoli
- Mitaoli in Morena district
- Kherata in Bhind district
Claimants
Later Kachhwaha genealogical traditions and bardic narratives claimed descent from the Kachchhapaghata dynasty.