The Dynastic History of Northern India (Early Mediaeval Period) v2.c28.379

v2.c28.379

It seems reasonable to conclude from these two inscriptions that Bhojavarman succeeded Vīravarman at least in the territory around the fort of Ajaigarh. There is however some reason to believe that the Candellas continued in possession of Kalinjar till the 16th century. Recently Rai Bahadur Hiralal drew attention to a *Satī* record in the village of Bamhni of the Damoh district, C.P. It runs as follows: *Paramabheṭārakeṇādhirājavalītrayopeta Kāliñjarādhipati Srimad-Hammīravarma-devaḥ vijayarājye Saṁvat* 1365 *samaye Mahārājaputra Śrī-Vāghadeva bhujyamāne*………² This record shows that about A.D. 1308, portions of Damoh and Jubbulpore districts were governed by a *Mahārājaputra*, Vāghadeva, under the sovereignty of Hammīradeva. Two other *Satī* records of the time of Vāghadeva are known, dated in (*V.*)*S.* 1361 and 1362.³ In the former, which was discovered in Patan, in Jubbulpore district, he is described as a Pratihāra chief. It is quite likely that this Hammīradeva was a Candella and a successor of Bhojavarman. If this is accepted, the Candellas in the beginning of the 14th century were still the rulers of a considerable portion of their former dominions. But the discovery of a *Satī*-record at Salaiya, 3 miles from Bamhni, dated in (*V.*) *Saṁvat* 1366 (A.D. 1309) in the reign of Alayadīna Sutānā (Sultan ‘Alā ud-Dīn)¹ shows that Vāghadeva’s reign probably terminated between 1308 and 1309 A.D. The armies of ‘Alā ud-Dīn were at this time marching to the Deccan, and he may have established a base in Bundelkhand, reducing the power of the Candellas to some of their inaccessible forts. Though the Muslims attacked the fort of Kalinjar several times during the period *c.* 1240-1540 A.D.,² there is no decisive evidence to show that the Candellas were permanently driven out of Kalinjar; and there may be some truth in the suggestion that Kirat Singh, the Raja of Kalinjar who opposed Sher Shah in 1544 in A.D., was a Candella.³ The Candella princess Durgāvatī, who married Rājā Dalpat Sā of Garha-Mandla about the year 1545 A.D. and was killed in 1564 gallantly fighting against Akbar, may have been a daughter of this Kirat Rāi of Kalinjar.⁴