The Early Rulers of Khajur (Second Revised Edition)Motilal Banarsidass Publ., 1977 - 265 pages The Candellas of Bundelkhand formed one of the most prominent dynasties that flourished for some centuries before the establishment of Islam as an Imperial Power in this sub-continent. They are known in history not only for their political sagacity, but also for their direct association with the art and architecture that developed in Khajuraho and its neighbourhood. The book deals, in a comprehensive manner, with the history of the early rulers of Khajuraho, in fourteen chapters. Chs. I and II deal with the origin of the Candellas and define their territory. Ch. III traces their history from Nannuka to Harsa. Chs. IV to VII recount the rise of their power under Yasovarman and Dhanga, their struggles with the Muslims under Ganda and Vidyadhara and their conflicts with Cedis under Vijayapala, Devavarman and Kirtivarman. Ch. VIII is devoted to the rulers from Sallaksanavarman to Madanavarman. Ch. IX describes Caha-mana- Candella rivalry and the fall of Mahoba. Ch. X deals with the temporary restoration of Candella power under Trailokya-varman. Chs. XI to XIV give a vivid picture of political, social, eco-nomic, religious and cultural life of Bundel-khand and offer a survey of its magnificent temples and sculptors. |
Common terms and phrases
10th century Ajaygaḍh Arjuna Banaphar Bengal Betwā Bhojavarman brahmins Bṛhaspati Bundelkhand Candella dominion Candella dynasty Candella king Candella power Candella records Candella rulers Candravarman Cedi century A.D. Charkhāri Plate claim Copper Plate Cunningham D. C. Sircar dated defeated Deogaḍh Devavarman Dhanga E. I. Vol enemy epigraphic evidence feudatory fortress Gāhaḍavālas Gahirawārs Gauḍa Gopāla grant Gurjara Gurjara Pratihāras Gwalior Hamirpur district Harṣa ibid indicate Insc Inscription of V.S. invasion Jain Jayapala Jayavarman Kacchapaghāta Kalacuris Kālañjar Kamboja Kanauj Kayastha Khajuraho Inscription Khajuraho Record Kielhorn Kirttivarman Kośala Kṛṣṇa Lalitpur Madanavarman Madanpur Mahmud Mahoba Mahoba Khand Malwa maṇḍala Mau Stone mentioned military Moon-God Muslim Nannuka Nanyaura Plate Northern India Pālas Paramāras Paramardi Paramardideva Parmāl political Pratihāras prince Pṛthviraj Pṛthvivarman Rāso Rāṣṭrakūṭa refers region reign Rock Inscription Sallakṣaṇa Samvat Śiva Śrī Stone Inscription Sultan throne tion Trailokyavarman varman verse Vidyadhara Vijayapāla village Viravarman viṣaya Visņu Yaśovarman
Popular passages
Page 236 - The political essence of feudalism lay in the organisation of the whole administrative structure on the basis of land ; its economic essence lay in the institution of serfdom in which peasants were attached to the soil held by landed intermediaries placed between the king and the actual tillers, who had to pay rent in kind and labour to them. The system was based on a selfsufficient economy in which things were mainly produced for the local use of the peasants and their lords and not for...
Page 78 - When the Sultan encamped in front of Nanda's army, he first sent an envoy to him, and invited him to submit, and to accept Islam. Nanda refused to place his neck under the yoke of subjection. After that the Sultan went to an elevated spot, so that he might look at, and make an estimate of, the strength of Nanda's army. Then when he saw what a vast host it was, he repented of his coming; and placing the forehead of supplication on the ground of submission and humility, prayed for victory and conquest...
Page 164 - Buhler3 that bhoga means the periodical supplies of fruits, fire-wood, flower and the like which the villagers had to furnish to the king is a better explanation of the term.
Page 236 - ... Another factor that played a significant role in the transformation of the classical society in Europe as well as India was feudalism. But the feudalism of India greatly differed from its European counterpart, so much so that many scholars have doubted its existence in India.
Page 38 - On hearing of the conquest of all the strongholds in the Southern region simply by means of his angry glance, the hope about Kalanjara and Citrakuta vanished from the heart of the Gurjara.
Page 57 - playfully acquired by the action of his long and strong arms, as far as Kalanjara, and as far as Bhasvat situated (?) on the banks of the river...
Page 65 - a blessing for the earth who, by the strength of his arms equalled even the powerful Hamvira, who had proved a heavy burden for the earth"12.
Page xiv - I shall be failing in my duty if I do not acknowledge a number of basic weaknesses.
Page 183 - ... all. That Manya Devi was the tutelar goddess of the Chandels, or at least that she was the goddess to whom they appealed in their direst extremity, is shown by the bard Chand ; it is therefore reasonable to infer that she was the primitive tutelar deity of the kingdom at its earliest dawn ; in fact, it does not appear improbable that she was a sort of compromise between the Brahmanical Parvati and the obscenely naked female worshipped to this day by some tribes of Gonds, settled near Jabalpur,...
Page 73 - Rajaypal, rebuking him for his flight and surrender of his territories to the Mussalmans. A long quarrel ensued between them, which resulted in hostilities ; and as each of them prepared to fight the other, they marched out and met and fought and Rajaypal was killed and most of his soldiers also perished ; and this success added to the mischief and refractoriness of Bida, and his fame spread throughout India.