The early history of the Chudasama dynasty in Saurashtra (now part of Gujarat, India) is largely lost. Bardic legends vary significantly in names, sequence, and numbers, rendering them unreliable as historical sources. Mandalika Kavya, a Sanskrit poem by Gangadhara, provides some information on the dynasty, though it holds limited historical accuracy. Certain inscriptions from the period offer early genealogical details, but these also vary in their order of succession. Historians like Ranchhodji Diwan, A. K. Forbes, James Burgess, and Gaurishankar Oza have attempted to determine a more consistent genealogy and chronology. Based on dates from inscriptions linked to Chudasama kings and other literary sources, the genealogy and chronology of the dynasty's later period are now relatively established. It is known that they ruled approximately from Vikram Samvat (VS) 900 to VS 1527, or around 875 CE to 1472 CE.

Chronology and genealogy

Based on inscriptions There is no inscription available from the period before the reign of King Mandalika I. However, it is clear that the Chudasama dynasty had established its rule in the Saurashtra region before the Chaulukya king Mularaja came to power in Anahilavada, as literary sources mention battles between Chudasama and Chaulukya kings, including Mularaja and Jayasimha Siddharaja. The Dhandusar inscription (VS 1445) identifies the dynasty’s founder as Chudachandra

A Vanthali inscription records a King Mandalika, whose kingdom was seized by Jagatsimha, a feudatory of the Chaulukya king Viradhavala. This King Mandalika must be a different ruler than the Mandalika mentioned in later genealogies. Since Viradhavala is known to have lived around VS 1288, this event is likely dated accordingly. The Vanthali inscription itself dates to VS 1346, indicating that Jagatsimha’s family likely retained control until then. Later, a Chudasama king named Mandalika apparently regained Vanthali as Chaulukya rule weakened, marking a new starting point for the dynasty’s later genealogy in subsequent inscriptions.

The Chudasama dynasty continued to rule until VS 1527 (1472 CE), when Junagadh was conquered by the Gujarat Sultan Mahmud Begada. Since inscriptions describe the Chudasama resistance against the Gujarat Sultans, it can be concluded that they were the most powerful dynasty in the Saurashtra region during that period.

Genealogy and chronology table

RulerRelationshipReign (CE)Accession Year (Samvat)Ra Khengar Mahal/Neminath Temple inscriptionon Mount GirnarHani Vav DhandhusarinscriptionMahaprabhu Bethaknear Revatikund,Girnar inscriptionUparkotJunagadhMandalika Ison of Yashodhavala1294–13061350MandalikaMandalikaNavaghanason of Mandalika I1306–13081362NavaghanaMahipala Ison of Mandalika I1308–13311364MahipaladevaMahipalaKhengarason of Mahipala I1331–13511387Shangara (Khangara)KhengaraKhengaraJayasimha Ison of Khangara1351–13781407JayasimhadevaJayasimhaJayasimhaMahipala IIson of Jayasimha I1378–13841435Mokalasimha/Muktasimhason of Jayasimha I1384–13961440MokalasimhaMokalasimhaMuktasimhaMandalika IIson of Mokalasimha1396–14001452MandalikaMeligason of Mokalasimha1400–14161456MelangadevaMeligaMaligadevaJayasimha IIson of Meliga1416–14301472JayasimhaMahipala IIIson of Meliga1430–14511486MahipaladevaMahipalaMandalika IIIson of Mahipala III1451–14721507MandalikaMandalika

Early attempts Ranchhodji Amarji (1825) Ranchhodji Amarji, the Diwan (prime minister) of the Junagadh State, wrote the Tarikh-i-Sorath in Persian in 1825. In this work, Ranchhodji documented that the Chudasama dynasty belonged to the Chandravanshi (lunar) lineage, claiming they were descendants of Sadashiva and originally hailed from Sindh. He noted a tradition of rulers with recurring names, including nine named Navghan, ten named Jakhra, and eleven named Alansingh, among others, who ruled in succession.

He provided the following chronology of Chudasama rulers in Tarikh-i-Sorath:

Accession date (Samvat) Date (CE) Ruler Relation Reign Notable events — — Rao Dayat — — Married the daughter of Siddha Rao (possibly Jayasimha Siddharaja) of Gujarat. 874 817 Navghan Son of Dayat Saved by Devayat Bodar of Alidhar (Gir Somnath District) from Siddha Rao as a child; later regained Junagadh and conquered Sindh. 916 859 Khengar Son of Navghan 36 years Attacked Patan; slain by Siddha Rao. Story of Ranik Devi, who ended her life in VS 952 (895 CE). 952 — Mularaja Son of Khengar 35 years and 6 months — 987 — Jakhra Son of Mularaja 21 years — 1009 — Ganraj Son of Jakhra 38 years and 4 months — 1047 — Mandalika Son of Ganraj 48 years and 2 months Allied with Bhimadeva against Mahmud of Ghazni, who attacked Somnath temple. 1095 — Hamira Deva Son of Mandalika 13 years and some days — 1108 — Vijayapala Son of Hamira Deva 54 years and 6 months — 1162 — Navaghana Son of Vijayapala 2 years — 1184 — Mandalika Son of Navghana 11 years — 1195 — Alansingh Son of Mandalika 14 years — 1209 — Dhanesh Son of Alansingh 5 years (some records state 9 years) — 1214 — Navghan Son of Navghan 9 years — 1224 1167 Khengar — 46 years — 1270 — Mandalika Son of Khengar 22 years, 3 months, 22 days (some records state 32 years) — 1302 — Mahipala Son of Mandalika 34 years, 5 months, 3 days Some records state 34 years. 12 Magshar 1336 1279 Khengar Son of Mahipala 54 years and 13 days Conquered Diu and 17 other islands; repaired Somnath temple; took refuge on Mount Girnar after Junagadh was taken by Sams Khan under Tughluq orders. 1390 — Jayasingh Son of Khengar 11 years, 8 months, 11 days — 6 Bhadarva 1402 — Mugatsingh (or Mokalsingh) Son of Jayasingh 14 years, 13 days — 4 Ashvad 1412 — Madhupat Son of Mugatsingh 5 years, 1 month, 6 days — 10 Kartika Sud 1421 — Mandalika Son of Madhupat 17 years, 6 months, 3 days — 1439 — Malek Brother of Mandalika (son of a slave-girl) 11 years, 11 months, 24 days — 1468 — Jayasingh Son of Malek 18 years, 3 months, 14 days Captured Zanzira (?) 1486 — Khengar Son of Jayasingh 22 years Ahmad Shah of Gujarat attacked Junagadh; Khengar and his diwan Hira Singh took refuge in Uparkot in 1470 (?) where Khengar died. 1489 — Mandalika — — Kiwamu-al-Mlik, Amir of Sultan Mahmud, attacked Junagadh in VS 1520 and captured Mandalika in 1527 (1470 CE). Mandalika embraced Islam and died in Ahmedabad, where he is buried in Manek Chowk. His son was later restored as Jagirdar with the title of Raizada.

Following the defeat by Mahmud Begada, Mandalika’s descendants were granted the jagir of Junagadh as Jagirdars. However, real power was exercised by the Thanadar, appointed by the rulers in Ahmedabad and later by provincial governors.

Accession date (Samvat) Date (CE) Ruler as Jagirdar Relation Reign Thanadar 1529/1528 — Bhupat Singh — 31 years Tatar Khan, son of Zafar Khan 1560 — Khengar Son of Bhupat Singh 22 years Malik Ayaz and Tatar Khan Ghori 1581 — Navghan Son of Khengar 28 years, 11 months, 20 days Sayyid Kasam and Mujahid Khan Belim 1608 — Shri Singh Son of Navghan 34 years, 1 month, 10 days Khan Azam Kokaltash became Subahdar of Ahmedabad, replacing Khan Khanan, and conquered Junagadh in 1633. 1642 — Khengar Son of Shri Singh 22 years Under Mahmud Shah and Bahadur Shah of Gujarat, Junagadh was granted as a jagir to their amirs, with Tatar Khan serving as Thanadar for 13 years.

James Burgess (1876-1882) James Burgess translated the Târikh-i-Soraṭh into English under the title Târikh-i-Soraṭh: A History of the Provinces of Soraṭh and Hâlâr in Kâthiâwâd, based on Gujarati translations of Persian manuscripts. The translation, edited by James W. Watson, was published in 1882. Burgess consulted several manuscripts and referenced an inscription from the Vastupal Jain Temple on Mount Girnar to verify the chronology provided by Ranchhodji Amarji. He initially published these findings in his Report on the Antiquities of Kathiawad and Kachh and included editor notes in the translation. Burgess also incorporated information from other sources and made conjectural corrections to dates, marking uncertain dates with "(?)" when converting to CE format.

In the Târikh-i-Soraṭh, Ranchhodji lists the reigns of the first four kings, starting with Navaghana I, extending over 151 years, followed by a 22-year gap between Navaghana II and his successor Mandalika I. Burgess added Khengar II (c. 1107 CE) to the chronology, who was omitted by Ranchhodji. Additionally, Burgess noted that Ranchhodji excluded Navghana (c. 1235) after Mandalika, whom he assigned a reign of 22 years and 3.75 months, beginning in VS 1270, with Mahipala’s reign beginning in VS 1302. This adjustment left a 10-year gap, which may coincide with the reign of Navaghana IV. Ranchhodji’s genealogy includes Mugatsingh’s successors in the order of Madhupat (VS 1416-1421), Mandalika (VS 1421-1439), and Malek (VS 1439-1450), possibly derived from the Revatikunda inscription, which lists: Mandalika III, his son Mahipala, his son Khangara IV, his son Jayasimha, and his son Mugatsimha, with sons Mandalika and Melak. Burgess retained the dates VS 1421 and 1439 but suggested modifications to VS 1428 and 1433.

Burgess observed that some copies list VS 874 for Navghan’s accession, allowing him a 42-year reign. He criticized James Tod for counting Chudachandra as the fortieth prince before his time and as the eighth before Jam Unad, who Tod placed in VS 1110, speculating Chudachandra’s reign around VS 960.

Rulers and chronology

The rulers are listed with Samvat (VS) dates, probable CE dates, and notes on their reigns and relations:

Samvat Probable date CE Ruler Relation Reign - 904? Ra Dyas (Dyachh) Third descent from Ra Gariyo/Graharipu, grandson of Ra Chandrachud, founder of the Chudasama dynasty Defeated and killed by Patan king VS 874 (917 CE). Some sources list VS 874 as Navghan's accession date with a 42-year reign. 894 937? Navaghana (Naughan) Son of Ra Dyas Invaded Sindh and defeated Hamir of the Soomra dynasty in VS 890. 916 959? Khangar Son of Navaghana Killed at Bagasara by the Anhilvada Raja, possibly Mularaja, who ruled from 942 to 996 CE. 952 968? Mularaja Son of Khangara Possibly from Anhilvada. 1009 992? Navaghana II Son of Mularaja Ruled for 38 (18?) years. 1078 1021? Mandalika Son of Navaghana Joined Bhima I of Gujarat in pursuit of Mahmud of Ghazni (VS 1080, AH 414). 1095 1038 Hamir Deva Son of Mandalika 13 years. 1108 1051 Vijaypala Son of Hamiradeva - 1162 1085? Navaghana III - Subdued the Raja of Umeta. - 1107? Khengar II - Slain by Jayasimha Siddharaja of Anhilvada Patan. 1184 1127 Mandalika II - 11 years. 1195 1138 Alansimha - 14 years. 1209 1152 Ganesha (Dhanesha) - 5 years. 1214 1157 Navaghana IV - 9 years. 1224 1167 Khangara III - 46 years. 1270 1213 Mandalika III Son of Khangara III 22 years, mentioned in Girnar inscription. - 1235? Navaghana V - Omissions of Navghana after Mandalika led to conjectural 10-year reign around Navaghana IV's period. 1302 1245 Mahipaladeva (Ra Kavat) - 34 years, built a temple at Prabhas, Veraval. 1336 1279 Khangara IV Son of Mahipaladeva Repaired Somnath temple, conquered Div, Shams Khan captured Junagadh. 1390 1333 Jayasimhadeva Son of Khangara IV 11.75 years, subdued 84 petty chiefs. 1402 1345 Mugatsimha (Mokalsimha) Son of Jayasimha 14 years. 1416 1359 Melak Deva Son of Mugatsimha Provided protection to Jhala Krishnaji from Yavana. 1421 1371 Mahipaladeva II (Madhupat) - Married Kunta, daughter of Arjuna. 1439 1376 Mandalika IV Son of Mahipaladeva Defeated Sangana of Okha. 1450 1393 Jayasimhadeva II - Possibly Rai of Jerend, defeated by Muzaffar Shah I in 1411. 1469 1412 Khangara V - Engaged in war with Ahmad Shah. 1489 1432 Mandalika V - Restored Uparkot (VS 1507), subdued by Mahmud Begada in 1469-70 CE.

Post-subjugation as tributary jagirdars

After the dynasty was subjugated by the kings of Ahmedabad, it continued as tributary Jagirdars for another century, with the following succession:

Accession