Nannuka (r. c. 831-845 CE) was the founder of the

Chandela The Chandelas of Jejakabhukti was an Indian dynasty in Central India. The Chandelas ruled much of the Bundelkhand region (then called ''Jejakabhukti'') between the 9th and the 13th centuries. They belonged to the Chandel clan of the Rajputs. ...

dynasty of India. He ruled in the Jejakabhukti region (

Bundelkhand Bundelkhand (, ) is a geographical and cultural region and a proposed state and also a mountain range in central & North India. The hilly region is now divided between the states of Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh, with the larger portion lyin ...

in present-day

Madhya Pradesh Madhya Pradesh (, ; meaning 'central province') is a state in central India. Its capital is Bhopal, and the largest city is Indore, with Jabalpur, Ujjain, Gwalior, Sagar, and Rewa being the other major cities. Madhya Pradesh is the seco ...

). The poetic ballads about the Chandelas do not mention Nannuka at all, and instead name "Chandravarman" as the founder of the Chandela dynasty. However, Nannuka is mentioned as the dynasty's founder in two inscriptions found at Khajuraho, dated

Vikrama Samvat Vikram Samvat (IAST: ''Vikrama Samvat''; abbreviated VS) or Bikram Sambat B.S. and also known as the Vikrami calendar, is a Hindu calendar historically used in the Indian subcontinent. Vikram Samvat is generally 57 years ahead of Gregorian Calend ...

1011 (954 CE) and 1059 (1002 CE). These two inscriptions, eulogistic in nature, do not provide much information of historical value. The 954 CE inscription states that he had conquered many enemies, and that other princes feared and obeyed him. It also states that he was "shaped like the god of love", and "playfully decorated the faces of the women of the quarters with the sandal of his fame". The inscription also praises him using vague phrases, such as "a touchstone to test the worth of the gold of the regal order". The 1002 CE inscription describes him as the Sun and the pearl-jewel of his family. It compares his archery skills to that of the legendary hero

Arjuna Arjuna (Sanskrit: अर्जुन, ), also known as Partha and Dhananjaya, is a character in several ancient Hindu texts, and specifically one of the major characters of the Indian epic Mahabharata. In the epic, he is the third among Panda ...

. It praises his modesty and generosity, and calls him the "delight of his subjects". The epigraphic records do not mention the circumstances in which the Chandela kingdom was established. The titles given to Nannuka in the Chandela records include ''nṛpa'', ''narpati'' and ''mahīpati''. These are not very high titles, and therefore some modern historians believe that he was only a small feudatory ruler. According to the local tradition of Bundelkhand, the Chandelas became rulers of that region after subduing the

Pratiharas The Gurjara-Pratihara was a dynasty that ruled much of Northern India from the mid-8th to the 11th century. They ruled first at Ujjain and later at Kannauj. The Gurjara-Pratiharas were instrumental in containing Arab armies moving east of the ...

. Historian R. K. Dikshit notes that, in absence of any historical evidence, it is hard to believe that Nannuka defeated the imperial Pratiharas. He could have overthrown a local branch of the Pratiharas. Nannuka was succeeded by his son Vākpati.

References

Bibliography

* * {{Chandelas of Jejakabhukti Chandelas of Jejakabhukti 9th-century Indian monarchs