Saindhavas of Ghumli | |||||||||||
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| c. 735 CE–c. 920 CE | |||||||||||
.jpg) Drachma of the Saindhava orChalukya dynasties dating from about 800–950. The front represents a bust, turned right ofIndo-Sassanian style with points, and the back contains a stylized fire. | |||||||||||
 .png) Location of the Saindavas and main neighbouring polities in South Asia, circa 800 CE.[1] | |||||||||||
| Capital | Bhutamabilika (nowGhumli,Gujarat, India) | ||||||||||
| Common languages | Sanskrit,Prakrit | ||||||||||
| Religion | Hinduism,Jainism,Buddhism | ||||||||||
| Government | Monarchy | ||||||||||
| History | |||||||||||
• Established | c. 735 CE | ||||||||||
• Disestablished | c. 920 CE | ||||||||||
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| Today part of | India | ||||||||||
TheSaindhavas, also known asJayadrathas, was amedieval Indian dynasty that ruled westernSaurashtra (now inGujarat, India) from c. 735 CE to c. 920 CE, probably in alliance withMaitrakas in its early years. Their capital was at Bhutamabilika (nowGhumli). The known historical events during their rule are the attacks of Arabs repulsed byAgguka I.
The earliest reference of Saindhava was found in Navsari copperplate ofChalukya governor ofLata region (modern-day South Gujarat)Avanijanashraya Pulakeshin dated 738-39 CE which enlisted the dynasties defeated by Arabs and finally repelled by him. The eighth verse in Gwaliorprashasti of Bhojadeva describes the Saindhava ruler defeated by Pratihara kingNagabhatta.[2]The nine copper plate grants issued by Saindhavas help to establish their genealogy as well as provides useful information about the dynasty. Six grants inscribed in 12 copper plates were discovered while digging on roadside in Ghumli in 1936. One more copper plate issued by Jaika was recovered fromMorbi. A clay seal referring to Pushyena was recovered fromValabhi (Vala).[3][2] Another copperplate grant is found from Ambalas (nearJunagadh).[3] One more from Dhinki issued by Jaikadeva (purportedly from 738 CE) was found as a forgery later.[3][2]
Saindhavas were originated fromSindh (now inPakistan) who moved southward and established themselves inApara-Surashtra (western Saurashtra comprising modernJamnagar,Devbhoomi Dwarka,Rajkot,Morbi andPorbandar districts inGujarat, India).[3][4] The Ghumli grant issued by Jaika II describes their family asJayadratha-vamsa. Other plates describes themselves asSaindhavas as they originated from Sindh.[3][2]
Their capital was at Bhutambilika or Bhumlika (nowGhumli) in Barda hills.[5][2] Their emblem was fish, the sign ofVaruna and suitable for their naval supremacy.[4][2][6]
The early kings ruled probably in an allegiance with theMaitrakas ofVallabhi. They ruledHalar andSorath regions constituting western part of Saurashta peninsula.[3][5][2]
Pushyadeva is the earliest known king mentioned in the grants found from Ghumli. A clay seal referring to Pushyena, son of Ahivarma was recovered fromVallabhi (Vala). It was believed that this Pushyena and Pushyadeva were one person but a copperplate found from Ambalas mentions Ahivarma as a son of Pushyena. So Pushyadeva might be a son of another Ahivarma.[7]
It seems that Ahivarma I was probably ruling in Sindh and his son Pushyena had to move Saurashtra due to invasion by Arabs Arabs fighting for theUmayyad Caliphate (711 CE). His clay seal was found in Valabhi (Vala) which implies that he was probably a Mahasenapati (Chief Commander) underMaitrakas. He might have gained power later. Pushyena was succeeded by his son Ahivarma II whose title was Maharaja. He had given a grant to Bhikkhuni-Vihara from Kuberanagara (probably nearKodinar or Kubada village nearAmreli). The date of grant is not clear but may belong to Valabhi Era 404 (723 CE).[8]
Pushyadeva, son of Ahivarma II, is mentioned in the last grant found from Ghumli and he probably ruled from c. 735 to 750, based on dates of his descendants. His capital was at Ghumli and was a contemporary of Maitraka ruler Shiladitya VI. He is mentioned as Jayadratha-vamsha-shekhara.[8] He was succeeded by his son Krishnaraja I who reigned c. 750 CE to 770 CE. He had five titles including Mahasamanta.[9]
Agguka I, son of Krishnaraja I, succeeded him and reigned c. 770 CE to 790 CE. He is praised heavily in two early grants found from Ghumli. During his rule, the Arabs tried to establish themselves in the Saurashtra.[9] In 759 CE, Hasham was appointed as the governor of Sindh who sent an Arab naval fleet under Amarubin Jamal to attack to the coast of Barda region. It was defeated by the Saindhava naval fleet, which was then leading naval power of western India. Twenty years later, another Arab naval fleet was sent, which initially succeeded in capturing a town near Barda. The campaign was withdrawn following an outbreak of an epidemic, according to Arab historians. They also state that the Caliph decided to never enter India from there again. But Agguka I's inscriptions state that he had severely defeated the Arabs in 776 CE and they had to withdraw.[5][2][10][11][12] He took the titleApara Samudradhipati (apara-samudr-ddhipati), "Master of the Sea".[13][14] During his reign, Valabhi probably fell due to Arab invasion (788 CE).[9]
Agguka's son and successor Ranaka I probably reigned from c. 790 CE to 810 CE. He is mentioned in Ghumli grant which states that he had donated a village in Pachchhatrivishaya (district). It also mentions his wife Kshemeshwari. He had two sons, Krishnaraja II and Jaika I.[9]
Ranaka I was succeeded by his son Krishnaraja II (reigned c. 810 CE to 825 CE). He was succeeded by his infant son Agguka II. The Ghumli grant datedGupta Era 513 (832 CE) is issued by his uncle Jaika I, step-brother of Krishnaraja II, so it seems that Agguka II ruled probably for very short period and he was disposed by his uncle few years before 832 CE, probably c. 830 CE.[15] This grant mentions the donation of a Dhak (now Dhank) village in Pachchatri Vishaya to a Brahmin from Someshwara (nowSomnath). Another undated grant mentions the donation of a village to a Brahmin of Bhillamala (nowBhinmal) in the same district. He reigned c. 825 CE to 845 CE. His sons were Agguka III and Chamudaraja.[16]
Jaika I was succeeded by Agguka III who reigned c. 845 CE to 870 CE. None of grants is found but he is praised in grant by his son and successor Ranaka II. He reigned c. 870 CE to 880 CE. His grant dated Gupta Era 555 (874-875 CE) mentions the donation of villages in Swarnamanjari district to some temples and a monastery. It also mentions his son Jaika but he did not succeed him probably because he died early or his granduncle Chamundaraja usurped the throne. He probably reigned from c. 880 CE to 885 CE.[17]
Chamundaraja was succeeded by his son Agguka IV who reigned c. 885 CE to 900 CE. He had donated a village to a Brahmin in Swarnamanjari district in Gupta Era 567 (886-887 CE). He was succeeded by Jaika II (reigned c. 900 CE to 920 CE) who was the last known ruler. His two grants are recovered from Ghumli andMorbi. Morbi grant mentions the donation of a village to two Brahmins. Ghulmi grant has a long genealogy from Pushyadeva to Jaika II but does not mention branches of Krishnaraja II and Agguka III.[18] Jaika II had granted a village to Nanna Mathika, a monastery, in Swarnamanjari district in Gupta Era 596 (915 CE). It was built by Nanna, a trader from Bhillamala and was located near Purushottam monastery in Bhutambilika division.[6]
The copper plate inscription of Ranaka Bashkaladeva dated 987 CE found from Ghulmi indicates that he was probably a vassal ofChaulukyas of Patan and ruled "Jyeshthukadesha", a region around Ghumli. But the inscription does not refer to Saindhavas or their descendants. It is assumed that between 920 CE and 987 CE, the rule of the Saindhavas ended.[6]
Ghumli was the capital under theJethwa dynasty who later ruled the region. There might be some relation between Jayadratha-Saindhava dynasty and the Jethwa dynasty which hadHanuman as its emblem instead of fish.[6]
Their notable constructions are Hindu monastery (mathika) at Ghumli and temples dedicated toSurya,Shiva andShakti (Goddess) at Suvarnamanjari. The inscriptions referring to temples are scarce. The temples constructed in this period follows the contemporary and earlier traditions of Maitrakas.[5]
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In 776 AD, Arabs tried to invade Sind again but were defeated by the Saindhava naval fleet. A Saindhava inscription provides information about these naval actions.
