Gazetteer of the Bombay Presidency, Vol. I, Part I: History of Gujarat c9.2

c9.2

A copperplate found at Haddala on the road from Dhrangadhra to Dhandhuka dated A.D. 917 (Saka 839) shows that there reigned at Vadhvan a king named Dharanivaraha of the Chapa dynasty, who granted a village to one Maheshvaracharya, an apostle of the Amardaka Sakha of Saivism. Dharanivaraha and his ancestors are described as feudatory kings, ruling by the grace of the lord of the great king of kings the great lord the illustrious Mahipaladeva. This Mahipala would seem to be some great king of Kathiawar reigning in A.D. 917 over the greater part of the province. Dr. Bhagvanlal had two coins of this king of about that time, one a copper coin the other a silver coin. The coins were found near Junagadh. The copper coin, about ten grains weight, has one side obliterated but the other side shows clearly the words Rana Sri Mahipala Deva. The silver coin, about fourteen grains in weight, has on the obverse a well-executed elephant and on the reverse the legend Rana Sri Mahipala Deva. From the locality where the name Mahipala appears both in coins and inscriptions, and from the fact that the more reliable historical lists contain similar names, it may be assumed as probable that Mahipala was a powerful Chudasama ruler of Kathiawar in the early part of the tenth century.