Kelhana-deva (
IAST: Kelhaṇadeva, r. c. 1163–1193 CE) was an Indian king belonging to the
Naddula Chahamana dynasty. He ruled the area around
Naddula (present-day Nadol in
Rajasthan
Rajasthan (; Literal translation, lit. 'Land of Kings') is a States and union territories of India, state in northwestern India. It covers or 10.4 per cent of India's total geographical area. It is the List of states and union territories of ...
), as a
Chaulukya vassal. He participated in the 1178 CE
Battle of Kasahrada, in which the Chaulukya forces defeated the
Ghurid ruler
Muhammad of Ghor.
Reign
Kelhanadeva was a son of the Chahamana ruler
Alhanadeva
Alhana-deva (IAST: Alhaṇadeva, r. c. 1148–1163 CE) was an Indian king belonging to the Chahamanas of Naddula, Naddula Chahamana dynasty. He ruled the area around Naddula (present-day Nadol in Rajasthan), as a vassal of the Chaulukya king Kuma ...
and queen Analladevi. As a prince, he assisted his father in the administration. Around 1163 CE, he succeeded his father as a
Chaulukya vassal on the throne of Naddula.
Kelhanadeva seems to have made an attempt to assert his sovereignty, as indicated by his titles ''
Maharajadhiraja Parameshvara'' ("King of Great Kings, Supreme Lord"). However, the Chaulukya monarch Kumarapala forced him to acknowledge the Chaulukya suzerainty. After Kumarapala's death, he again attempted to assert independence.
According to the
Sundha Hill inscription, Kelhanadeva and his brother
Kirtipala defeated the
Turushkas (Turkic people, that is, the
Ghurids). The legendary chronicle ''
Prithviraja Vijaya'' states that the Ghurid king
Muhammad of Ghor took possession of Naddula during his invasion of India. He was challenged by a Chaulukya force during the reign of
Bhima II. This force included the troops of the three Chaulukya feudatories: the Naddula Chahamana ruler Kelhanadeva, the
Javalipura Chahamana ruler Kirtipala, and the
Abu Paramara ruler Dharavarsha. The joint force defeated the Ghurid army at the
Battle of Kasahrada in 1178 CE. As a result, Kelhana managed to regain control of Naddula. To celebrate this victory, he is said to have commissioned a golden
torana (gateway) at a shrine dedicated to the deity
Somesha.
During Kelhanadeva's reign, the southern
Yadava ruler
Bhillama V raided
Gujarat
Gujarat () is a States of India, state along the Western India, western coast of India. Its coastline of about is the longest in the country, most of which lies on the Kathiawar peninsula. Gujarat is the List of states and union territories ...
and
Malwa regions, which were located to the south of Naddula. Kelhanadeva checked Bhillama's advance, and forced him to retreat. He probably fought this battle as a
Chaulukya feudatory.
Family
Kelhanadeva had at least two queens: Mahibala-devi (known from Lalrai inscription) and Jalhana-devi (known from
Sanderao inscription).
Kelhanadeva died around 1193 CE. He had at least two sons: Jayatasimha and Sodhaladeva. Jayatasimha assisted him in administration, and succeeded him on the throne of Naddula. Sodhaladeva was made governor of
Mandavyapura province in 1184 CE. Chamundaraja, who governed Mandavyapura before him and held the title ''Maharajaputra'' ("Prince"), may also have been a son of Kelhanadeva.
The king had at least two daughters: Shringara-devi and Lalhana-devi. Shringara married Dharavarsha, the ruler of the
Paramara branch of
Abu. Lalhana married Vigraha, a Pratihara chief of
Gwalior.
References
Bibliography
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{{Chahamanas of Naddula
Chahamana kings of Naddula
12th-century Indian monarchs