Chudachandra, also known as Chadrachuda or simply Chuda, was a legendary king and founder of the
Chudasama dynasty of
Saurashtra (now in
Gujarat
Gujarat (, ) is a state along the western coast of India. Its coastline of about is the longest in the country, most of which lies on the Kathiawar peninsula. Gujarat is the fifth-largest Indian state by area, covering some ; and the ninth ...
, India).
Founder of the Chudasama dynasty
According to bardic tales and limited historical records, after the fall of
Vallabhi
Vallabhi (or Valabhi or Valabhipur, modern Vala; Devanāgarī: वल्लभी) is an ancient city located in the Saurashtra peninsula of Gujarat, near Bhavnagar in western India. It is also known as Vallabhipura and was the capital of the ...
ruled by
Maitraka
The Maitraka dynasty ruled western India (now Gujarat) from approximately 475 to approximately 776 CE from their capital at Vallabhi. With the sole exception of Dharapaṭṭa (the fifth king in the dynasty), who followed the Mithraic mysteries, ...
s, the
Chavda Governor of Vamansthali (now
Vanthli
Vamansthli (Vanthli)is a city and a municipality in Junagadh district in the Indian state of Gujarat.
Demographics
India census, Vanthali had a population of 21,891. Males constitute 53% of the population and females 47%. Vanthali has an avera ...
) near
Junagadh
Junagadh () is the headquarters of Junagadh district in the Indian state of Gujarat. Located at the foot of the Girnar hills, southwest of Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar (the state capital), it is the seventh largest city in the state.
Literally t ...
became independent. His descendants ruled till the later part of 9th century till the ruler Vala Ram.
[ ]
The bardic accounts are unanimous in ascribing the origin of the Chudasama to Chudachandra, a Rajput of the Samma tribe then ruling at Nagar-Samai or Saminagar (now
Thatta
Thatta ( sd, ٺٽو; ) is a city in the Pakistani province of Sindh. Thatta was the medieval capital of Sindh, and served as the seat of power for three successive dynasties. Thatta's historic significance has yielded several monuments in and ...
,
Sindh
Sindh (; ; ur, , ; historically romanized as Sind) is one of the four provinces of Pakistan. Located in the southeastern region of the country, Sindh is the third-largest province of Pakistan by land area and the second-largest province ...
, Pakistan); and they also agree that before his arrival in the peninsula, Vala Ram was the ruler of Vamanasthali (now
Vanthali
Vamansthli (Vanthli)is a city and a municipality in Junagadh district in the Indian state of Gujarat.
Demographics
India census, Vanthali had a population of 21,891. Males constitute 53% of the population and females 47%. Vanthali has an avera ...
). Some say that Vala had no son, but that his sister had married the father of Chudachandra, and that the Vala Ram kept his nephew Chudachandra at Vamanasthali, and finally appointed him his successor. Others say that Vala Ram had a son, but that he quarreled with Chudachandra, and that rather than that this son should have Vamanasthali, Vala Ram expelled him from the country. All agree that Chudachandra succeeded him. There are very few bardic verses regarding Chudachandra, but he is mentioned in the Dhandhusar inscription (VS 1445/1389 CE), and there is a play on his name, viz. that as Chandrachuda (
Shiva
Shiva (; sa, शिव, lit=The Auspicious One, Śiva ), also known as Mahadeva (; ɐɦaːd̪eːʋɐ, or Hara, is one of the principal deities of Hinduism. He is the Supreme Being in Shaivism, one of the major traditions within Hindu ...
) placed the moon (
Chandra
Chandra ( sa, चन्द्र, Candra, shining' or 'moon), also known as Soma ( sa, सोम), is the Hindu god of the Moon, and is associated with the night, plants and vegetation. He is one of the Navagraha (nine planets of Hinduism) and ...
) on his head (Chuda) so Chudachandra was considered by the kings of the neighbouring countries as ''Chudasaman'' or as their head; hence Chudasama, but no doubt the real derivation is Chuda from Chudachandra's name, and Sama from the name of his tribe. Chudachandra is called Rai Chuda in bardic poetry.
[ ]
It is almost certain that Chudachandra reigned at Vamanathali, and that he founded the rule of the Chudasama dynasty in Saurashtra at the close of the ninth or the start of the tenth century or possibly a few years previously. According to bards and traditional dates, he succeeded around 875 CE. Chudachandra had a son named Hamira, but it is doubtful whether he succeeded his father, and it seems most probable that he died during his father's lifetime, and that Chudachandra was succeeded by his grandson Mularaja, the son of Hamira.
The historical accuracy of these bardic legends is doubtful.
References
{{Chudasama dynasty
Chudasama dynasty
9th-century Indian monarchs
Legendary rulers