Mahipala I (Chudasama dynasty)

For other kings named Mahipala, see Mahipal (disambiguation).

Mahipala I^{[upper-alpha 1]} was a Chudasama king of Saurashtra region of western India who reigned from 1308 CE to 1331 CE (VS 1364 to VS 1387).^{[2][upper-alpha 2]} His capital was at Junagadh.

Mahipala I
Ra of Saurashtra
Reign	1308–1331 CE
Predecessor	Navaghana
Successor	Khengara
Issue	Khengara
Era name and dates Vikram Samvat: 1364–1387
Dynasty	Chudasama dynasty
Father	Navaghana
Religion	Hinduism

Reign

Mahipala succeeded his father^{[upper-alpha 3]} Navaghana and repaired the Somnath temple which his father could not do and gave much money for religious uses. It is known that, at least till 1301, Vayajaladeva of Vaja dynasty was a local ruler of Prabhas Patan where Somanath temple is situated. So he must have defeated Muslim administrator with his cooperation and repaired the temple. He was succeeded by his son Khengara.^[1]

Inscriptions

He is mentioned in the inscriptions in Sodhali Vav, a stepwell in Mangrol (VS 1375/1319 CE); on the stone slab found from Hatansi, now in Bhavnagar Museum (VS 1387/1329 CE); at Jain temple on Girnar hill (date missing); and there is an inscription dated VS 1371 (1315 CE), likely from Shatrunjaya hill, commemorating the installation of an image in the Śatruṃjaya Ādinātha temple of the rāṇaka (vassal king) Mahīpāla, who is probably identical to Mahipala I.^[2] He is also mentioned in the genealogy in inscriptions at Revati Kund near Damodar Kund, Junagadh (VS 1472/1417 CE) and at Neminath Temple (c. VS 1510/c. 1454 CE) on Girnar.^[4][5]

Notes

1. Older chronology mentions him as Mahipala IV.^[1]
2. His rule ended in 1325 according to Parikh.^[1] But there is an inscription dated 1329 CE in Hatansi inscription, now Bhavnagar Museum.^[2]
3. Navaghana is also mentioned as Mahipala's brother.^[3]

References

1. Parikh, Rasiklal Chhotalal; Shastri, Hariprasad Gangashankar, eds. (1977). ગુજરાતનો રાજકીય અને સાંસ્કૃતિક ઇતિહાસ: સલ્તનત કાલ [Political and Cultural History of Gujarat: Sultanate Era]. Research Series – Book No. 71 (in Gujarati). Vol. V. Ahmedabad: Bholabhai Jeshingbhai Institute of Learning and Research. p. 158.
2. Diskalkar, D. B. (March 1939). "Inscriptions of Kathiawad: No. 24, 25, 27, 30". New Indian Antiquary. Vol. 2. pp. 730–736.
3. Diskalkar, D. B. (December 1938). "Inscriptions Of Kathiawad". New Indian Antiquary. Vol. 1. pp. 578–579.
4. Diskalkar, D. B. (December 1939). "Inscriptions of Kathiawad: No. 68". New Indian Antiquary. Vol. 2. pp. 602–603.
5. Diskalkar, D. B. (June 1940). "Inscriptions of Kathiawad: No. 77". New Indian Antiquary. Vol. 2. pp. 116–117.