Graharipu

Uparkot fort occupied during reign of Graharipu

Graharipu was a 10th-century Chudasama[1]king of Saurashtra region of western India with his capital at Vamanasthali (now Vanthali). He was a contemporary of Mularaja, the first Chaulukya ruler of Anahilapataka (now Patan).[2] Graharipu built or repaired Durgapalli, the ancient fort in Junagadh identified as Uparkot.[3][4]

Hemachandra, in the Dvyashraya-Kavya describes the prince Graharipu as ruling at Vanthali near Junagadh.[5]

The Chudasama began to rule in Southern and western Sourashtra from the second half of the 10th century A.D their capital was vamanshtali, modern vanthali nine miles west of Junagadh. They became very powerful during the reign of Graharipu who defeated the Saindhavas and the Chaulukyas.[6][7]

The growing power of the Chudasama dynasty[citation needed] and his acts of harassing the pilgrims to Somnath temple resulted in his conflict with Mularaja. After a major and decisive battle, Mulraja defeated Graharipu. The ruler from Kutch, Laksha had fought alongside Graharipu in the battle and was killed. After this battle, the Chudasama[citation needed] domain was repeatedly attacked by subsequent Chaulukya rulers.

  1. ^ K. V. Soundara Rajan (1985). Junagadh. Archaeological Survey of India. The Chudasama dynasty, originally of Abhira clan [...] An illustrious ruler of this clan in the 10th cent. was Graharipu or Grahario I
  2. ^ Ramesh Chandra Majumdar (1 January 1994). Ancient India. Motilal Banarsidass. pp. 303–. ISBN 978-81-208-0436-4. Retrieved 30 June 2011.
  3. ^ K. V. Soundara Rajan; Archaeological Survey of India (1985). Junagadh. Archaeological Survey of India. Retrieved 30 June 2011.
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference Parikh was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ Tambs-Lyche, Harald (31 December 1996). Power, Profit, and Poetry: Traditional Society in Kathiawar, Western India. Manohar Publishers & Distributors. p. 56. ISBN 978-81-7304-176-1. Hemachandra, in the Dyashraya-Kavya, describe the prince Grahasipu, ruling at Vanthali near Junagadh, as an Abhira and a Yadava (Krishna's legendary tribe) (Enthoven 1920, 25).
  6. ^ Majumdar, Ramesh Chandra (1964). Ancient India. Motilal Banarsidass. p. 303.
  7. ^ Sen, Sailendra Nath (1999). Ancient Indian History and Civilization. New Age International. p. 344. ISBN 978-81-224-1198-0.