Chawda dynasty

The Chavda Kingdom or Chapa dynasty^[1] also known as Gujar Chapas^[2] was an ancient Hindu Kshatriya dynasty which ruled northern Gujarat from 746 AD to 942 AD.

It is stated in Bombay Gazetteer that Chavdas were Gurjars.^[3] Historians such as Vincent Arthur Smith , Peter N. Stearns, William Leonard Langer also mentioned that Chapas or Chapotkatas were one of the ruling clans of the Gurjars.^[1][4]

History

Historian Vincent Arthur Smith states in his book "White Hun' Coin of Vyaghramukha of the Chapa (Gurjara) Dynasty of Bhinmal" that Chapa, Cahuda, Chavda, Chavotaka and Chapotkata are identical. Mr. Jackson regards Chapa as being the original form, Chapotkata a sanskritized variant, meaning 'strong bowman'. The chavda was a branch of the Gurjars who extended the power of the race in the south.^[1]

However, others believe, that Chawuras of Saurashtra or Gujarat were neither of Solar or Lunar race and consequently, it is supposed they were Scythians. They must have established themselves in India at very remote period, for we find Gehlots inter-married with them, when they were rulers of Balabhi. The capital of Chawdas was at Deobander, near Somnath on west coast of Kathiawar.^[5]

They settled down in Gujarat and later Saurashtra. The first king of the Chawra Kingdom was Jayshikhari Chawra. Panchsar, a city in north Gujarat, was capital of chapa Gurjara dynasty at the time of Jayshikhari Chawra. He was assassinated even before his son Vanraj Chavda was born. Vanraj Chavda went on to be the most successful Chawra ruler, founding historical cities such as Anhilpur Patan and Champaner. There were five Chawra kings after Vanraj.The last king Samantsinh Chawra did not have any children so he adopted his nephew Mulraj Solanki who overthrew him in 942 and set up what came to be known as the Solanki dynasty.^[6]

Solanki and Chavda dynasty have also ruled over Kutch in mediveal peiod 921 AD to 1500 AD. It was after Chawda dynasty became weak Jadeja emerged as powerful and ruled Kutch till India's independence. In Saurahstra, Chavda kings once held sway over Port of Diu, Dwarka, Wadhwan, Prabhash Patan, Shiyalbet, Harshad (Minalpur), Chorwad, Koylana-Ghed, okha etc. Further, Varsoda Principality in Gujarat was ruled by Chawda kings till Independence on India in 1947.^[7][8]

See Also

• Bhuvad

References

1. ^ ^{a b c} Vincent A. Smith. 'White Hun' Coin of Vyaghramukha of the Chapa (Gurjara) Dynasty of Bhinmal:Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland, Volume 1999. Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain & Ireland.. p. 926. JSTOR 25210490. "The chavadas seems to have been a branch of the Gurjaras who extended the power of the race in the south" 
2. ^ Chintaman Vinayak Vaidya (1979). History of mediaeval Hindu India, Volume 1. Cosmo Publications. p. 355. http://books.google.co.in/books?id=sXpDAAAAYAAJ&q=history+is+all+about+gurjara&dq=history+is+all+about+gurjara&lr=&cd=40. 
3. ^ Bombay Gazetter vol. 1 part 1 PP 467
4. ^ Peter N. Stearns; William Leonard Langer (2001). The Encyclopedia of world history: ancient, medieval, and modern, chronologically arranged. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. p. 132. ISBN 0-395-65237-5, ISBN 978-0-395-65237-4. http://books.google.co.in/books?id=MziRd4ddZz4C&pg=PA132&dq. 
5. ^ Chawuras of Saurashtra Handbook on Rajputs By A. H. Bingley. Page 30
6. ^ Gupta, Om (2006). Encyclopaedia of India, Pakistan and Bangladesh. Gyan Publishing House. pp. 495. doi:ISBN 81-8205-389-7. http://books.google.com/books?id=KR9m6TzO-PsC&pg=PA495&dq=%22Chavda+Kingdom%22&as_brr=3&ei=5NrdSaO_NIPuzQSD2oHZDg. 
7. ^ RULING FAMILY: The ruling family of Varsoda are Chavda (Chaura) Rajputs, first established in Morgarh (Kutch) in the 10th century, and later at Ambasan.
8. ^ VARSODA (Princely State) DYNASTY: Chavda

External links

• Gurjar Chapa or Chawra rulers