The Early Rulers Of Khajuraho

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From the Jacket:

The Candellas of Bundelkhand formed one of the most prominent dynasties that flourished for some centuries before the establishment of Islam as an Imperial Power in this sub-continent. They are known in history not only for their political sagacity and contribution to the social and economic stability of the country during a period of intense political rivalry, turmoil and foreign invasions, but also for their direct association with the art and architecture that developed in Khajuraho and its neighbourhood.

The book deals, in a comprehensive manner, with the history of the early rulers of Khajuraho, in fourteen chapters. Chs I-II deal with the origin of the Candellas and define their territory. Ch. III traces their history from Nanuka to Harsa. Chs IV-VII recount the rise of their power under Yasovarman and Dhanga, their struggles with the Muslims under Ganda and Vidyadhara and their conflicts with Cedis under Vijayapala, Devavarman and Kirtivarman. Ch. VIII is devoted to the rulers from Sallaksanavarman to Madanavarman. Ch. IX describes Cahamana-Candella rivalry and the fall of Mahoba. Ch. X deals with the temporary restoration of Candella power under Trailokyavarman. Chs. XI-XIV give a vivid picture of political, social, economic, religious and cultural life of Bundelkhand and offer a survey of its magnificent temples and sculptors.

The book contains four Appendices: (1) Inscriptions of the Candella times, (2) Genealogy of the Candella Dynasty, (3) Candella Land Grants and Feudalism, (4) A Note on some Aspects of Candella Architecture. It is documented with Bibliography, Index, Plates and Map of the Candella Dynasty.

Foreword Dr. Sisir Kumar Mitra's book, entitled "The Early Rulers of Khajuraho" constitutes a welcome addition to the existing literature on the history of the Candellas of Bundelkhand.

The Candellas, as is well known even to the very casual students of Indian history, formed one of the most prominent dynasties that flourished for some centuries preceding the establishment of Islam as an imperial power in this sub-continent. In all probability they started from a humble beginning, but they ultimately succeeded in founding and organizing an independent kingdom, seizing every opportunity to extend its frontiers and spreading their reputation far and wide by daring military expeditions. The sturdy defenses of Kalafajar provided them with a comparative security against external enemies. The policy underlying their relations with other powers seems to have been largely based on an appreciation of the strategic implications of the position, held by their territory in the political map of India during their time. The measures, which they took to help a Pratihara ruler facing an acute crisis, and subsequently to punish another Pratihara ruler, who had been humiliated by a Muslim invader; to associate themselves with co-operative efforts to protect the freedom of allied kings threatened by violent attacks from outside, and the way in which they rapidly succeeded in restoring their position which had been rudely shaken by the forces of the Kilocuries, testify to political sagacity and discernment of no mean order, a capacity for swift and determined action, and a stubbornness of spirit, which could not be reduced with ease. In an age of strife and turmoil they were able, by providing their own people with a strong and stable government, to prevent the disruption of the prevailing social and economic order in a fairly wide area. They were able, moreover, to maintain their independence much longer than most of the other rulers who quickly surrendered to Muslim aggressions.

Dr. Mitra gives a comprehensive and fascinating account of the varied activities of this distinguished family of rulers, based on a minute and detailed study of the material which he collected with great industry and thoroughness from diverse sources, indigenous and foreign, literary and archaeological. Though most of his data have been compiled from epigraphic sources, he is not over-zealous in his estimate of the importance and reliability of inscriptional material which he examines as, critically as any piece of literary evidence that is usually discarded as unhistorical and exaggerated. He has discussed the controversial issues connected with his subject without any bias. Although there may be differences of opinion regarding some of the conclusions he has attempted to draw from his own interpretation of the evidence compiled, unstinted praise is due to him for the reasonableness of his views, precision of expression and sobriety of judgment. His chapters on administrative, social, economic and religious history will be especially useful to those interested in the compilation of epigraphic material bearing on the evolution of ancient Indian culture. I sincerely hope that Dr. Mitra's work will receive wide appreciation as a very valuable and original contribution, and stimulate further research in the field.

Preface This work embodies the results of an intensive study of the history of the Candella dynasty, which I commenced about six years ago. Much work has already been done in the field of the political history of India, but when I undertook my task, the history of the Candellas, like that of some other contemporary dynasties, had not yet been treated on the lines followed in this book, but more or less as a part of the wider history of India as a whole. It was my object to gather in one place all the information that could be compiled from the different sources and study it critically. The application of such a method was expected to result in a larger accumulation of material on the basis of which it might be found necessary to revise some of the current theories. I have tried to collect in one place all the available information relating to my subject, and with its help to reconstruct the history of the Candellas in its different stages and aspects. I am not claiming originality for everything said in this treatise. My indebtedness to all previous writers has been duly acknowledged. I have, however, examined every suggestion or theory pertinent to my subject, and have also endeavored to offer my own views for what they are worth. I have already tried to indicate my lines of research in a number of papers published in the Indian Historical Quarterly, the Bharatiya Vidya, Bombay, and the Proceedings of the Indian History Congresses (1951-54).

This work consists of 14 Chapters and a number of Appendices including one which contains a detailed notice of the inscriptional records relating to the Candella dynasty. In the different chapters I have incorporated the political history of this family in its successive phases as well as accounts of their administrative system, the social, economic and religious conditions in Bundelkhand, and a brief survey of the art and architecture of Khajuraho, with systematic references to the archaeological remains discovered in the regions associated with the memory of the Candellas. In Appendix II I have given a genealogical table of the family with approximate dates.

CONTENTS

	Foreword
	Preface
CHAPTER I
	The Candellas, the early rulers of Khajuraho, and their territory	1-11
CHAPTER II
	Legends about the origion of the Candellas	12-20
	Appendix A - The story of Candravarman in the Mahoba Khand	21-26
CHAPTER III
	Beginnings of Candella history: From Nannuka to Harsa	27-35
CHAPTER IV
	The Rise of the Candellas: Yasovarman	36-55
CHAPTER V
	The growth of the Candella power: Dhanga	56-70
CHAPTER VI
	Struggles with the Muslims: Ganga and Vidyadhara  (Ganda 71-74; Vidyadhara 74-87)	71-87
CHAPTER VII
	From Vijayapala to Kirttivarman: Cedi-Candella conflicts (Vijayapala 88-91; Devavarman 91-93; Kirttivarman 93-104)	88-104
CHAPTER VIII
	From Sallaksanavarman to Madanavarman  (Sallaksanavarman 105-09; Jayavarman 109-10; Prthvivarman 110-12; Madanavarman 112-17)	105-117
CHAPTER IX
	Cahamana-Candella rivalry: Fall of Mahoba (Yasovarman II 118-19; Paramardi 119-27)	118-127
CHAPTER X
	After Paramardi: Temporary restoration under Trailokyavarman  (Trailokyavarman 128-34; Viravarman 134-38; Bhojavarman 138-39; Hammiravarman 139-40)	128-140
CHAPTER XI
	Administration  (The King 141-51; Ministers 151-59; Military Department 159-61; Administrative Divisions 161-64; Revenue Administration 164-68)	141-68
CHAPTER XII
	Social and Economic Conditions  (The Candella Rajputs 169-70; Position of the Brahmanas 170-73; The Kayasthas 173-75; Marriage and position of women 175-79; Economic condition 179-80; Arts and Crafts 180-81; Trade 181-82; Exchange and Currency 182-84)	169-184
CHAPTER XIII
	Religion  (Brahmanical Religion 186-88; Vaisnavism 188-93; Saivism 193-200; Minor cults 200-03; Buddhim 203-05; Jainism 205-08)	185-208
CHAPTER XIV
	Art and Architecture  (Architecture 209-16; Sculpture 216-222)	209-222
APPENDIX I
	Inscriptions of the Candella times	223-239
APPENDIX II
	Genealoty of the Candella dynasty	240
	Supplement to Appendix I	241-242
APPENDIX III
	Candella Land Grants and Feudalism	243-248
APPENDIX IV
	A Note on some Aspects of Candella Architecture	249-252
	List of Abbreviations	253-254
	Bibliography	255-256
	Index	257-265
	Plates Between	216-225
	Map of the Candella Territory

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