Navaghana was an early Chudasama king known only from the ballads and folklore of

Saurashtra Saurashtra, Sourashtra, or variants may refer to: ** Kathiawar, also called Saurashtra Peninsula, a peninsula in western India ** Saurashtra (state), alias United State of Kathiawar, a former Indian state, merged into Bombay State and since its d ...

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 ...

, India. His capital was at Vamanasthali (now Vanthali) which he later moved to

Junagadh Junagadh () is the city and headquarters of Junagadh district in the Indian state of Gujarat. Located at the foot of the Girnar hills, southwest of Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar (the state capital), it is the seventh largest city in the state. It i ...

during his last years of reign. Navghan Kuvo 02

In bardic literature

The bardic literature says his father Dyas was defeated by Patan Raja (

Chaulukya The Chaulukya dynasty (), also Solanki dynasty, was a dynasty that ruled parts of what are now Gujarat and Rajasthan in north-western India, between and . Their capital was located at Anahilavada (modern Patan). At times, their rule extended ...

king) and Navaghana was rescued. When Navaghana grew up, he regained the throne. He may have been benefited by weakened Chaulukyas due to the invasion of Mahmud Ghazni who attacked desecrated the Somnath temple in 1024 CE. Navaghana came to power soon after the attack.

Successors

According to bardic tales and folklore, Navaghana reigned from 1026 CE to 1044 CE and he was succeeded by his son Khengara who reigned for 23 years (1144-1167 CE), followed by his son Navaghana. Udayamati, wife of Chaulukya ruler

Bhima I Bhima I (r. 1022–1064) was a Chaulukya king who ruled parts of present-day Gujarat, India. The early years of his reign saw an invasion from the Ghaznavid ruler Mahmud, who sacked the Somnath temple. Bhima left his capital and took shel ...

, was a daughter of his son Khengara.

Cultural activities

The construction of Navghan Kuvo, a stepwell in the

Uparkot Fort Uparkot is a fort located in east side of Junagadh, Gujarat, India. History A fort and town was established at the foothills of Girnar hill during reign of the Maurya Empire and continued to be used during Gupta period, but it lost its importa ...

, is attributed to him. It is considered an oldest example of stepwell in Gujarat by some scholars.

References

{{Chudasama dynasty Chudasama dynasty 10th-century Indian monarchs Legendary monarchs