Draft:Kholesvara

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ksmãpati, sainyādhipati
Kholesvara
General and Feudatory Chief of the Seuna (Yadava) dynasty
MonarchSimhana II
Personal details
BornVidarbha
ChildrenRama
Parents
  • Trivikarma (father)
  • Candra (mother)
ResidenceAmbe

Kholesvara (also called khōlēsa and khōlladēva[1]), was a general and a feudatory chief under the rule of King Simhana II of the Seuna dynasty, who engaged in numerous military campaigns into adjacent realms, that further solidified the kingdom's influence and power.

Early life[edit]

Kholesvara was born into a Brahmin family[2][3] who found his paternal descent tracing back to the sage Mudgala, renowned for his devout meditation on Lord Śiva. Conversely, his maternal ancestry finds its roots in the sage Kaśyapa. This dual heritage shaped Kholesvara's early life, with Mudgala representing his own gotra (Paternal) while Kashyapa's lineage symbolized his maternal family's heritage.[1]

Military career[edit]

Singhana was engaged in struggle with opponents such as the Hoysala king Vira Ballala, the Kakatiya king Ganapati, and Laksmideva, the ruler of Bhambhagiri (modern Bhamer in the Pimpalner taluka of the Dhulia district). Additionally, he confronted Bhoja II of the Silahara family within the confines of the fortified hill of Pranala, known as Panhala, situated approximately 12 miles northwest of Kolhapur. Later, he further expanded his conquests by defeating Arjunavarmadeva, the king of Malwa, and even advanced as far north as Varanasi, where they forced Ramapala to flee. Notably, many of these victories were achieved under the leadership of his general, Kholesvara.[4]

Minor Campaigns[edit]

Abhiras[edit]

Kholesvara likely Started his career by assisting Simhana in defeating Lakshmideva, an Abhira chieftain who ruled over Bhambhagiri, perhaps identical to Bhamer in Western Khandesh. The existence of a ruined fort near the place, reveals Kholesvara's early military activities against Abhiras.[5]

Bhoja, Hoysalas and Hemadri[edit]

Following the defeat of Lakshmideva, Kholesvara next defeated Hemadri, another local chief in the vicinity, and also defeated Bhoja II, king of Chanda in Madhya Pradesh. Additionally, he played a key role in campaigns against the Hoysalas and contributed Simhana to capture the fortress of Torgal in the Southern Maratha Country.[5]

The Ambe inscription of Kholesvara[6]

Major Campaigns[edit]

First expedition against Lata[edit]

Arjunavarman faced yet another adversary in Simhana, the Yadava ruler. Simhana targeted Lata, a region within Arjunavarman's domain. In this conflict, Arjunavarman received support from his vassal, Salakhanasimha Chāhamana. The Mandhātā plates of Jayasimha Jayavarman document the Chahamana leader's victory over Simhaņadeva's army, confirming him as the Yadava king referenced. However, Simhana, launched another invasion on Lata. Leading this expedition was Kholeśvara, who achieved victory in the ensuing battle. The Bähl inscription of 1222 A.D. commemorates Kholesvara's victory over Arjuna, with the likelihood that Arjuna met his death in combat against Kholeśvara.[7]

Second expedition against Lata[edit]

With his armies relieved from commitments in Karnatak and Kolhapur, Simhana initiated second campaign against Lata in A.D. 1220. Kholesvara, was chosen to lead the Yadava army. The decision proved effective, as the general's fief lay in Khandesh and Berar, rendering him intimately acquainted with the terrain of the region in which his forces were to operate. Lata, also known as southern Gujarat, was still under the rule of the Chahamana ruler Udayasimha. Despite being a small kingdom, Udayasimha had previously managed to repulse the Yadavas due to the support he received from either the Parmaras or the Chaulukyas. However, the Paramara power was in the phase of decline, and the Chaulukya throne had been seized by an upstart named Jayantasimha. Both Bhima and his minister Lavnaprasada were more focused on ousting this usurper than assisting Simhana, who had shown wavering loyalty to them. In this context, Kholesvara secured a decisive victory; in the ensuing battle, King Udaysimha and his brother Sindhuraja were killed. Sindhuraja's son, Sangramasimha, also known as Sankha, was captured, and Broach was annexed.[8] The Ambe inscription of Kholesvara, dating back to A.D. 1228, vividly recounts the moment when the general (Kholesvara) captured Broach. Despite the conquest, Simhana made the strategic decision not to annex Lata. Instead, he eventually liberated Sankha from captivity and granted him the authority to govern Broach as his vassal.[9]

Third expedition against Lata[edit]

Around this period, both the Chaulukyas and the Paramaras had weakened, prompting Sankha to solidify his position by remaining loyal to Simhana. While his father and uncle were killed in conflict with the Yadavas, Lavnaprasada, the de facto ruler of the Chaulukya dynasty, seized the strategic port of Cambay from the Lata kingdom and annexed it to Gujarat. Despite initial prosperity under the administration of Vastupala, Gujarat soon faced threats from the north by the king of Marwar and ominous movements from Muslim armies aimed at Anahilapattana. Sensing an opportunity, Sankha issued an ultimatum to Vastupala to surrender Broach. However, Vastupala's refusal led to a failed attack on the city, causing Sankha's retreat in defeat. Sankha sought to achieve his goals through a coalition, persuading Simhana, his overlord and Devapala, the new king of Malwa, to join forces against Gujarat. Kholesvara, once again led the main force. The invasion caused concern in Gujarat vividly depicted in the Kirti Kaumudi. Conflicting accounts from various sources make it challenging to reconstruct the invasion's precise course. However, it appears that Lavnaprasada managed to turn the tide with a clever ruse. Through espionage, he acquired Devapala's prized horse and orchestrated a forged letter, creating discard between Simhana and his allies. Eventually, Simhana sought peace with Lavnaprasada, leading to a treaty of mutual non-aggression and assistance around A.D. 1231. Though Simhana's campaign may not have yielded further territorial gains, it likely resulted in significant spoils and solidified his influence over southern Gujarat.[10]

Achievements[edit]

As a Brahman general in the service of the Yadava dynasty, Kholesvara left an mark through his achievements on the battlefield. Kholesvara, hailing from the region of Khandesh, ascended to prominence within the Yadava kingdom, eventually assuming the mantle of governor over a vast expanse of territory. His jurisdiction extended across Khandesh, Berar, and swathes of northern Madhya Pradesh.[5] On the contrary, Kholesvara's forebears appeared devoid of aspirations for royal authority, lacking regal titles or notable military exploits in their lineage. Instead, they found fulfillment in the solemn rites of Vedic sacrifices and the tranquil stewardship of agraharas. However, Kholesvara chose a different path, forsaking the sruk, symbolizing sacrificial rituals, in favor of the sword.[5] These abilities of Kholesvara's led to his appointment as the general and feudatory chief of the Seuna dynasty.[11] He is also termed as ksmãpati (King) and sainyādhipati (General).[1]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c Shastri, Ajay Mitra (1972). Yādava Inscriptions from Ambe Jogai. Vishveshvaranand Institute. p. 14.
  2. ^ Sen, Sailendra Nath (1999). Ancient Indian History and Civilization. New Age International. ISBN 978-81-224-1198-0.
  3. ^ Gazetteer of the Bombay Presidency. Vol. I (2nd ed.). Printed at the Government Central Press. 1904. p. 240.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link)
  4. ^ Kunte, Dr. B. G. "Yadavas of Devagiri". Archived from the original on 2022-08-12. Retrieved 2024-03-26.
  5. ^ a b c d Yazdani, G. (1960). Early History of the Deccan pts.7 to 11. Oxford University Press. p. 541.
  6. ^ Shastri, Ajay Mitra (1972). Yādava Inscriptions from Ambe Jogai. Vishveshvaranand Institute.
  7. ^ Jain, Kailash Chand (1972-12-31). Malwa Through The Ages. Motilal Banarsidass Publ. pp. 370–371. ISBN 978-81-208-0824-9.
  8. ^ Yazdani, G. (1960). Early History of the Deccan pts.7 to 11. Oxford University Press. p. 535.
  9. ^ Yazdani, G. (1960). Early History of the Deccan pts.7 to 11. Oxford University Press. p. 536.
  10. ^ Yazdani, G. (1960). Early History of the Deccan pts.7 to 11. Oxford University Press. pp. 536–537.
  11. ^ Yadava Inscriptions from Ambe Jogai. Vishveshvaranand Institute. 1972. p. 15.

Works cited[edit]

Category:Seuna (Yadava) dynasty Category:Indian military leaders

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