Trailokyavarman

Trailokya-Varman (reigned c. 1203–1245 CE) was a king of the Chandela dynasty of central India. He ruled the Jejakabhukti, Kanyakubja, Tripuri and Chedi regions in present-day Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh).

Chandela inscriptions suggest that Trailokyavarman succeeded Paramardi as the Chandela ruler. He was Paramardi's son(Samarjit).

Early life

Prithviraj III Chauhan was killed at the Second Battle of Tarain against the Ghurids in 1192 CE or in the court of Ghurids by chand bardai. After defeating the Chahamanas (Chauhans) and the Gahadavalas of Kanyakubja, the Ghurid governor of Delhi planned an invasion of the powerful Chandela empire . A force led by Qutb al-Din Aibak, and accompanied by strong generals such as Iltutmish, besieged the Chandela fort of Kalanjara in 1202 CE.Fakhruddin Mubarakshah state that the fall of Kalanjara happened in the Hijri year 599 (1202–1203 CE). According to Taj-ul-Masir, Kalanjara fell on 20th of Rajab, in the Hijri year 599, on Monday. However, this date corresponds to 12 April 1203 CE, which was a Friday. Based on different interpretations of the historical sources, different scholars date the fall of Chandelas Empire to either 1202 CE - 1203 CE. After the death of Emperor Parmardideva in the war, it was seen that all would be defeated because of General Ajey Dev, then during the war the prince Samarjit (Trailokyavarman) was rescued and brought to Khajuraho.

Coronation and recapture

Seven inscriptions of Trailokyavarman have been found at Ajaygarh, Banpur, Garra near Chhatarpur, and Tehri (Tikamgarh). A number of other places in the Bundelkhand region are mentioned in these inscriptions. The inscriptions give him the usual imperial titles ''Asvapati , Gajapati, Rajatreyadhipati Parama-bhattaraka Maharajadhiraja Parameshvara Parama-Maheshvara Shri-Kalanjaradhipati''. His coins have been found in Banda district. This indicates that he controlled a large part of the traditional Chandela dominions.

The Maharanakas (feudal chiefs) of Kakaredika (modern Kakreri) transferred their allegiance from the Kalachuris of Tripuri to the Chandelas during Trailokyavarman's reign. The Rewa inscription of Kumarapala gives him the Kalachuri titles such as ''Trikalingadhipati'', probably because he had annexed the Kalachuri territories around the Rewa region. The Dhureti inscription also describes him as ''Kanyakubjapati'' (Lord of Kanyakubja), which was not assumed by any other Chandela ruler. It is possible that Trailokyavarman assumed this title following the decline of the Gahadavalas of Kanyakubja.

Battle of Kakadadaha

Trailokyavarman bore the title ''Kalanjaradhipati'' ("Lord of Kalanjara"), which suggests that he recovered the Kalanjara fort from the Turkic rulers of the Delhi Sultanate. The Garra copper-plate inscription of Trailokyavarman as well as the Ajaygarh inscription of his successor Viravarman support this hypothesid.The Ajaygarh inscription states that like Vishnu, he lifted the earth submerged in the ocean formed by the Turushkas. At all Chandela king Trailokyavarman defeated Turks at the battle of Kakadadaha and recaptured the Vindhya pradesh, Bundelkhand, Ajaygarh and Jejakabhukti .
A commander and samanta(Feudatory) named Rauta pape also killed in the battle against Delhi sultanate who was a Brahmin of Bharadwaja gotra according to Garra plates inscription of Trailokyavarman rauta Pape fell fighting in a battle against the Turuskas.

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{{Chandelas of Jejakabhukti

Chandelas of Jejakabhukti
13th-century Indian monarchs