Cunningham's Ancient Geography of India c8.s2.t9: Champa, or Chamba.
Cunningham's Ancient Geography of India c8.s2.t9
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Champa, or Chamba.
c8.s2.t9.1
Chamba is a large district, which includes the valleys of all the sources of the Râvi, and a portion of the upper valley of the Chenâb, between Lâhul and Kâshtwâr. It is not mentioned by Hwen Thsang, and was, therefore, probably included by him within the limits of Kashmir. The ancient capital was *Varmmapura*, or *Barmâwar*, on the Budhil river, where many fine temples, and a brazen bull, of life size, still exist to attest the wealth and piety of its early rulers. According to the inscriptions these works belong to the ninth and tenth centuries. The country is frequently mentioned in the native chronicle of Kashmir, under the name of *Champa*, and each notice is confirmed by the local genealogies. Between A.D. 1028 and 1031 the district was invaded by Ananta of Kashmir,[*] when the native Raja, named *Sâla*, was defeated and put to death. His son founded a new capital, *Champapura*, called after the goddess *Champâvati Devi*; which, under the name of *Chamba*, is still the chief place in the district. The Rajas of Kashmir afterwards intermarried with the Chamba family;[†] and during the troubles that followed the Muhammadan invasions this petty state became independent, and remained so until reduced by Gulâb Singh, early in the present century.[‡]
c8.s2.t9.2
∗ 'Fragments Arabes, etc.,' 149.
c8.s2.t9.3
† 'Raja Tarangini,' vii. 218.
c8.s2.t9.4
‡ *Ibid.*, vii. 589, 1520 ; viii. 1092.
Cites (1)
- Rājataraṅgiṇī — Kalhaṇa, Sanskrit