Samantasimha
| Samantasimha | |
|---|---|
| Maharajakula | |
| King of Javalipura | |
| Reign | c. 1282-1305 CE |
| Predecessor | Chachigadeva |
| Dynasty | Chahamanas of Jalor |
Samantasimha (IAST: Sāmantasiṃha, r. c. 1282-1305 CE) was an Indian king belonging to the Chahamana dynasty, who ruled the area around Javalipura (present-day Jalore in Rajasthan). During the later half of his reign, he and his son Kanhadadeva jointly ran the administration. The Delhi Sultanate raided the kingdom twice during his reign, but could not capture it.
Reign
Samantasimha succeeded Chachigadeva on the throne of Javalipura. He was probably Chachigadeva's son, although this cannot be said with certainty. He is also known as Samvantasimha and Samyantasimha.[1] The inscriptions issued during his reign give his title as Maharajakula.[2]
According to the 17th century chronicler Munhot Nainsi, Samantasimha had at least two sons: Kanhadadeva and Maladeva. As the heir apparent, Kanhadadeva assisted his father in administration from at least 1296 CE onwards.[3][4] The 1299 CE Chohtan inscription refers to their joint reign.[5]
Khilji invasion
According to the Gujarat chronicler Jinaprabha Suri, in 1291-92 CE (1398 VS), the Delhi Sultan Jalal ud din Firuz Khilji invaded the Jalore kingdom. Samantasimha's neighbour Sarangadeva, the Vaghela king of Gujarat, came to his rescue. Khilji's army advanced up to Sanchore, but was forced to retreat by the Vaghelas, who were perhaps concerned that the Delhi Sultan would invade Gujarat next.[3][4]
Some years later, Firuz Khilji's successor Alauddin Khilji sent an army to Gujarat, under the command of Ulugh Khan and Nusrat Khan. While returning from Gujarat, the Delhi army marched through the kingdom of Jalore. However, the neo-Muslim soldiers of the Sultanate army rebelled against their commanders over distribution of the plunder from Gujarat.[6] According to Munhot Nainsi's chronicle, Samantasimha's envoys met the neo-Muslim rebel leader Mammushah (Muhammad Shah). Three days after this meeting, the Khilji army was attacked by the rebels from one side and by the Jalore army from the other side.[7] Ziauddin Barani's Tarikh-i-Firuz Shahi also describes the neo-Muslim mutiny, but does not mention the Chahamana participation in the conflict. According to Barani, Nusrat Khan's brother Malik Aizuddin and Alauddin's nephew were killed in this fight. Ulugh Khan barely managed to escape.[8]
Inscriptions
The following inscriptions dated to Samantasimha's reign have been found:
| Date | Place | Purpose | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1283 CE ((1339 VS) | Bhinmal | Grants by Guhila Sahajapala and his wife | [1] |
| 1284 CE (1340 VS) | Budtara | Construction of a well or tank by Rupadevi (daughter of Chachigadeva) | [9] |
| 1286 CE (1342 VS) | Bhinmal | Grant to the Mahalakshmi temple by Rathoda Alhanasimha | [10] |
| 1288 CE (1345 VS) | Bhinmal | Grant of a golden kalasha (cupola) and 200 gold coins to the Jagasvamin temple | [10] |
| 1288 CE (1345 VS) | Sanchore | Religious endowment | [2] |
| 1295 CE (1352 VS) | Juna Barmer | Religious grants at the Adinatha temple | [11] |
| 1296 CE (1353 VS) | Jalore | Grants to the Parshvanatha temple by family of Narpati and Gunadhara | [12] |
| 1299 CE (1355 VS) | Chohtan | [5] |
References
- 1 2 Ashok Kumar Srivastava 1979, p. 32.
- 1 2 Ashok Kumar Srivastava 1979, pp. 33-34.
- 1 2 Ashok Kumar Srivastava 1979, p. 36.
- 1 2 Dasharatha Sharma 1959, p. 159.
- 1 2 Ashok Kumar Srivastava 1979, p. 35.
- ↑ Ashok Kumar Srivastava 1979, p. 38.
- ↑ Ashok Kumar Srivastava 1979, pp. 38-39.
- ↑ Ashok Kumar Srivastava 1979, p. 39.
- ↑ Ashok Kumar Srivastava 1979, pp. 30-32.
- 1 2 Ashok Kumar Srivastava 1979, p. 33.
- ↑ Ashok Kumar Srivastava 1979, p. 34.
- ↑ Ashok Kumar Srivastava 1979, pp. 34-35.
Bibliography
- Dasharatha Sharma (1959). Early Chauhān Dynasties. S. Chand / Motilal Banarsidass. ISBN 9780842606189. OCLC 3624414.
- Ashok Kumar Srivastava (1979). The Chahamanas of Jalor. Sahitya Sansar Prakashan. OCLC 12737199.