The Dynastic History of Northern India (Early Mediaeval Period) v2.c34.s4: (4) Guhila-putras of Asikā
The Dynastic History of Northern India (Early Mediaeval Period) v2.c34.s4
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(4) Guhila-putras of Asikā
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The existence of a Guhila chief at Asikā or Hansi, in the Hisar district of the Punjab, is known from the Hansi stone-inscription of the Śākambharī Cāhamāna Pṛthvīrāja II (c. 1167-69 A. D.).³ This was found on the wall of a building at Hansi. It contains 22 lines of writing. The opening verse invokes Murāri (Viṣṇu). It then mentions Kilhaṇa, the maternal uncle of the Cāhamāna Pṛthvīrāja, who belonged to the Gūhilaüta clan. We are next told that as Hammīra had become a cause of anxiety to the world, the king put Kilhaṇa in charge of the fort of Asikā. The object of the inscription is to record that Kilhaṇa erected a *pratoli* (gateway) and near it two *Koṣṭhakas* (granaries). The flag which Kilhaṇa set up on the *pratoli*, we are told, ‘set Hammīra as it were at defiance.’ The Guhila chief is stated to have burnt Pañcapura, which has been identified with ‘Pachapattana’ on the Sutlej. The inscription is dated (V.) S. 1224 (*c.* 1167 A. D.).¹
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³ IA, 1912, pp. 17-19.
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¹ *IA*, 1912, p. 18. See *ante*, *DHNI*, Vol. II, chapter on the Cāhamānas, pp. 1078-79.
v2.c34.s4.4
It is clear from this inscription that the Guhila principality of Āsikā was established by the Cāhamānas of Śākambharī, specially to check the advance of the later Yamīnīs,² and must have been practically swept out of existence when the Turks under Mu'izz ud-Dīn Ghūrī captured Hansi after the second battle of Tarā'in in 588 A. H. (A. D. 1192).³
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² *Ibid*, p. 1080.
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³ *Ibid*, pp. 1089 ff.
v2.c34.s4.7
(5) *Guhila-putras of Naḍūlaḍagikā.*
v2.c34.s4.8
The existence of this small principality of the Guhilas is known from the *Nadlai stone-inscription*⁴ of the Naddūla Cāhamāna Rāyapāla (*c.* 1132-45 A. D.). The inscription was found incised on a pillar in the temple of Neminātha at Nadlai. It contains 26 lines, and opens with salutation to Neminātha. It then gives the date, (V.) S. 1195 (*c.* 1138 A. D.), and refers itself to the reign of *Mahārājādhirāja* Rāyapāla over Naḍūlaḍagikā (Nadlai in Godwar, Jodhpur State). We are then told that for the worship of Neminātha, the *Thakkura* Rājadeva, son of Rauta (i. *e.*, *Rājaputra*) Uddharaṇa, of the Guhila family granted 1/20th part of the income derived from the loads going on their way or coming to Naḍūlaḍagikā. It ends with the sign-manual of the donor—*Svahasto'yam Rāu Rājadeva*.
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⁴ *EI*, Vol. XI, pp. 36-37; also *ante*, *DHNI*, Vol. II, chapter on the Cāhamānas, p. 1112.
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Two other Nadlai stone-inscriptions⁵ dated in V. S. 1200 and 1202, under the Naddūla Cāhamāna Rāyapāla, also record gifts by one *Rāuta* Rājadeva. In one of these he is described as the *Thakkura* of Naḍūlaḍāgikā. There is therefore little doubt that this Rāyapāla is the same person who is described in the inscription dated in V. S. 1195 as the son of the Guhila Uddharaṇa.
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⁵ *EI*, Vol. XI, pp. 41-43. See also *ante*, *DHNI*, Vol. II, chapter on the Cāhamānas, pp. 1113-14.
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Nothing is at present known about the subsequent history of this principality.