UpdateBot at 03:33, 25 May 2022

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{{Infobox country
| common_name = Garha Kingdom Of Gondwana
| image_coat = Kingdom of gondwana.jpg
| coa_size = 150px
| symbol_type = Seal
| conventional_long_name = Garha Kingdom of Gondwana
| government_type = Monarchy
| year_start = unknown
| year_end = 1781
| capital = [[Jabalpur|Garha]]<br />[[Singorgarh fort|Singhorgarh]]<br />[[Narsinghpur|Chouragarh]] (1564-1634)<br />[[Ramnagar, Madhya Pradesh|Ramnagar]] (1634 - 1781)
| religion = [[Gondi people#Religion|Gondi]]
| common_languages = [[Dravidian languages|dravidian]]<br />[[Gondi language|Gondi]]
| today = India
}}

The '''Garha Kingdom''', also called '''Garha Mandla''' or '''Garha Katanga''' was northern part of [[Gondwana Kingdom|Gondwana]].

==History==
The first Gond king of '''Garha-Mandla''' was Jadurai. He became king after disposing [[Kalachuris of Tripuri|the Kalchuri Rajputs]] of Garha-[[Mandla]], where earlier he worked in court.<ref name= "gondwana"/><ref name= "women"/><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/the-gond-kingdoms-46701|title=The Gond kingdoms|website=downtoearth}}</ref>

The Garha-Mandla kingdom was earlier a small territory which witnessed rapid expansion under the rule of [[Sangram Shah]], the 48th king, He captured territories like Narmada Valley, Bhopal, Sagar, Damoh and most of the Satpura hills. He conquered 52 forts called Garh to strengthen and spread the Gond territory. The Chouragrh Fort in [[Narsinghpur]] was built in the honour of conquering 52 forts.<ref name="gondwana">{{cite book |last1=Chatterton |first1=Eyre |title=The Story Of Gondwana |date=8 January 2021 |publisher=Read Books Ltd |isbn=978-1-5287-6963-1 |url=https://www.google.co.in/books/edition/The_Story_Of_Gondwana/z7UTEAAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=Sangram+Shah&pg=PT23&printsec=frontcover |language=en}}</ref> Sangram Shah is best known as a patron of arts and literature and he had great knowledge of [[Sanskrit]]. ''Rasratnamala'' was written by Sangram Shah.<ref name="misra">{{cite book |last1=Miśra |first1=Sureśa |title=Tribal Ascendancy in Central India: The Gond Kingdom of Garha |date=2007 |publisher=Manak Publications |isbn=978-81-7827-185-9 |url=https://www.google.co.in/books/edition/Tribal_Ascendancy_in_Central_India/R4MMAQAAMAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&bsq=Rasratnamala&dq=Rasratnamala&printsec=frontcover |language=en}}</ref> At the time of Sangram Shah the capital of Garha kingdom was [[Singorgarh fort|Singhorgarh]].

His successor [[Dalpat Shah]], was married to [[Rani Durgawati]]<ref name="goddess">{{cite book |last1=Datta |first1=Saurav Ranjan |title=Goddesses of Fury: History's Most Daring Queens |publisher=The Little Booktique Hub |isbn=978-93-93209-19-1 |page=151 |url=https://www.google.co.in/books/edition/Goddesses_of_Fury/xDpTEAAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=Dalpat+Shah&pg=PA151&printsec=frontcover |language=en}}</ref><ref name="women">{{cite book |last1=Gupta |first1=Archana Garodia |title=The Women Who Ruled India: Leaders. Warriors. Icons. |date=20 April 2019 |publisher=Hachette India |isbn=978-93-5195-153-7 |url=https://www.google.co.in/books/edition/The_Women_Who_Ruled_India/4XuLDwAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=Dalpat+Shah&pg=PT67&printsec=frontcover |language=en}}</ref><ref>[https://www.livehistoryindia.com/snapshort-histories/2017/07/17/rani-durgavati-the-warrior-queen-of-the-gonds.html "Rani Durgavati: The Warrior Queen of the Gonds"]</ref> who was a [[Chandelas of Jejakabhukti|Chandela]] [[Rajput]] princess. Rani Durgavati moved her capital to Chouragarh because it was safer than Singhorgarh. Rani Durgawati made the kingdom extremely propserous, it was said that the people paid their taxes in gold in her reign.<ref name= "women"/> She battled against [[Mughal Empire|Mughal Emperor]] [[Akbar]]'s forces lead by [[Asaf Khan I]] in 1564. Though she lost, she is remembered as a war-heroine and is still praised in the areas of the former Garha kingdom. The Mughals acquired immense booty, including thousands of elephants from this victory. <ref name= "women"/><ref name="west">{{cite book |last1=West |first1=Barbara A. |title=Encyclopedia of the Peoples of Asia and Oceania |date=19 May 2010 |publisher=Infobase Publishing |isbn=978-1-4381-1913-7 |url=https://www.google.co.in/books/edition/Encyclopedia_of_the_Peoples_of_Asia_and/pCiNqFj3MQsC?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=Sangram+Shah&pg=PA241&printsec=frontcover |language=en}}</ref>

After 25 years of [[Mughal Empire|Mughal]] rule, the kingdom was restored to Chandra Shah, another son of [[Sangram Shah]] and half-brother of [[Dalpat Shah]].<ref name="orissa">{{cite book |title=Orissa District Gazetteers: Mandla |date=1995 |publisher=Superintendent, Orissa Government Press |url=https://www.google.co.in/books/edition/Orissa_District_Gazetteers_Mandla/p14KAQAAIAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&bsq=Hirde+Shah&dq=Hirde+Shah&printsec=frontcover |language=en}}</ref> He was recognized as the successor of [[Rani Durgavati]] by [[Akbar]] on accepting Mughal suzerainty and ceding 10 of the garhas.<ref name="balaghat">{{cite book |last1=Pradesh (India) |first1=Madhya |title=Madhya Pradesh: Balaghat |date=1992 |publisher=Government Central Press |url=https://www.google.co.in/books/edition/Madhya_Pradesh_Balaghat/NCduAAAAMAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&bsq=Hirde+Shah&dq=Hirde+Shah&printsec=frontcover |language=en}}</ref><ref name="thakur gonds">{{cite book |last1=Sharma |first1=Anima |title=Tribe in transition : a study of Thakur Gonds |date=2005 |publisher=Mittal Publications |location=New Delhi |isbn=9788170999898 |edition=1st |url=https://www.google.co.in/books/edition/Tribe_in_Transition/72DFmlOlViEC?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=Dalpat+Shah&pg=PA124&printsec=frontcover}}</ref>
He was followed in succession by Madhukar Shah<ref name="balaghat"/> and Prem Narain. [[Jhujhar Singh]] of [[Orchha State|Orchha]] deposed Prem Narain, however, [[Mughal Empire|Mughal]] intereference restored the kingdom to [[Hridayshah]].<ref name="balaghat"/><ref name="thakur gonds"/>

[[Hridayshah]] maintained friendly relations with the [[Mughal Empire|Mughals]], he spent days at the imperial court in Delhi as well.<ref name= "gondwana"/> He moved his capital from Chouragarh to [[Ramnagar, Madhya Pradesh|Ramnagar]] of [[Mandla]] district.

==Decline==
Hriday Shah was the last great king of Garha-Mandla. After his death, no great ruler appeared and court intrigue was common, greatly weakening the state. It ceded away portions of its territory and its revenues were spent to buy off its enemies. One of its feudatories, the Gond rajas of Deogadh, took advantage of the kingdom's weakness subsequent to the temporary Mughal conquest in the early 17th century and annexed a large part of its territories.<ref name="vidarbha"/> [[Bakht Buland Shah]], the Gond raja of Deogarh, was ceded the district of Seoni, Chauri, Dongartal and Ghansour<ref name="berar">{{cite book |last1=Sil |first1=Jogendra Nath |title=History of the Central Provinces and Berar |date=1917 |publisher=J.N. Sil |url=https://www.google.co.in/books/edition/History_of_the_Central_Provinces_and_Ber/emxBAQAAMAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&bsq=bakht+buland+shah&dq=bakht+buland+shah&printsec=frontcover |language=en}}</ref> by Narendra Shah of Mandla for his aid against the latter's cousins.<ref>{{cite book |title=Host Bibliographic Record for Boundwith Item Barcode 30112050248951 and Others |date=2013 |url=https://www.google.co.in/books/edition/Host_Bibliographic_Record_for_Boundwith/4b4uPjJJFOkC?hl=en&gbpv=1&bsq=bakht+buland+shah&dq=bakht+buland+shah&printsec=frontcover |language=en}}</ref>

By the time of Maharaj Shah (1732-1742), the kingdom held only 29 out of the initial 52 forts held by his ancestor [[Sangram Shah]]. In 1742, ''peshwa'' [[Balaji Baji Rao]] attacked Mandla and killed Maharaj Shah. His son, Shivraj Singh, ascended he throne on the condition that he would pay an annual tribute of 4 lakhs to the Marathas.<ref name="seoni">{{cite book |last1=Pradesh (India) |first1=Madhya |title=Madhya Pradesh: Seoni |date=1989 |publisher=Government Central Press |url=https://www.google.co.in/books/edition/Madhya_Pradesh_Seoni/vyVuAAAAMAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&bsq=bakht+buland+shah&dq=bakht+buland+shah&printsec=frontcover |language=en}}</ref>

In 1781<ref name= "gondwana"/> or 1780,<ref name="vidarbha">{{cite book |last1=Deogaonkar |first1=Shashishekhar Gopal |title=The Gonds of Vidarbha |date=2007 |publisher=Concept Publishing Company |isbn=978-81-8069-474-5 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=X39c2VODLT0C&pg=PA16 |language=en}}</ref> Narhar Shah of Mandla was defeated by the [[Nagpur Kingdom|Maratha king of Nagpur]],<ref name= "gondwana"/><ref name="thakur gonds"/> [[Mudhoji Bhonsle]] and sent to spend the rest of his days at [[Khurai|Khurai fort]] in Saugor.<ref name= "gondwana"/> In 1817, Mandla came under British rule.<ref name="thakur gonds"/> The anthropologist [[Stephen Fuchs]] describes- "In 1781 the last Gond ruler of Mandla, Narhar Shah, was tortured to death by the Maratha general Moraji, and Mandla became a dependency of the Saugor Marathas. In 1799 Mandla fell to the [[Nagpur Kingdom|Bhonsla king of Nagpur]], till in 1818 the British took over and assumed the rule also over Mandla."<ref name="colonial">{{cite book |last1=Rashkow |first1=Ezra |last2=Ghosh |first2=Sanjukta |last3=Chakrabarti |first3=Upal |title=Memory, Identity and the Colonial Encounter in India: Essays in Honour of Peter Robb |date=18 August 2017 |publisher=Taylor & Francis |isbn=978-1-351-59694-7 |url=https://www.google.co.in/books/edition/Memory_Identity_and_the_Colonial_Encount/lJ4xDwAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=Narhar+Shah&pg=PT229&printsec=frontcover |language=en}}</ref>

[[Shankar Shah]], a pensioner of the British,<ref name= "gondwana"/> descendent of the rajas of Garha-Mandla and his son Raghunath Shah were arrested of a plot to murder the English residents of [[Jabalpur]] during the [[Indian Rebellion of 1857|Revolt of 1857]] and were executed by [[blowing from a gun]]<ref name= "gondwana"/> in [[Jabalpur]].<ref name="west">{{cite book |last1=West |first1=Barbara A. |title=Encyclopedia of the Peoples of Asia and Oceania |date=19 May 2010 |publisher=Infobase Publishing |isbn=978-1-4381-1913-7 |url=https://www.google.co.in/books/edition/Encyclopedia_of_the_Peoples_of_Asia_and/pCiNqFj3MQsC?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=Sangram+Shah&pg=PA241&printsec=frontcover |language=en}}</ref>

==Emblem of Gondwana State==
[[File:Gondwana emblem Amarkantak.jpg|thumb|Emblem at Amarkantak (MP)]]
For over a millennium in South Asia, the visual trope of a triumphant lion vanquishing one or several elephants has been common in architectural sculpture, both in the round and in relief. In the rather limited scholarship on this motif, diverse interpretations have been offered. Although its presence has remained fairly stable through time, there exist many minor variations on this motif, including the use of leonine creatures variously described as vyālas or yālīs, and the incorporation of other fantastic creatures known popularly as makaras in such combats. In South India, the myth of the fantastic composite animal called the Śarabha takes this imagery yet further. Yet, the simple image of a lion victorious over one or more elephants was situated very strategically within certain architectural programs for given periods and places. For example, [[Gondwana Kingdom]] forts, Deccani forts constructed between the fifteenth and seventeenth centuries carried this representation on their barbicans and gateways . While tracing the history of this visual motif.

==Administration==
Administration of Gondwana was becoming centralised. The kingdom was divided into ''garh'', each ''garh'' was controlled by particular [[Gondi people|Gond]] clan. This was further divided into units of 84 villages called ''chourasi''. The ''chourasi'' was further subdivided into ''barhots'' which are made up of 12 villages each.

==52 Garh of Gondwana==

{{columns-list|colwidth=20em
|# [[Jabalpur|Garha]]
# [[Singorgarh fort|Singhorgarh]]
# [[Kurwai]]
# [[Rahatgarh]]
# Ginnorgarh
# [[Bhopal]]
# [[Makrai State|Makrai]]
# Madogarh( Mandla)
# Amoda(jabalpur)
# Patangarh( Jabalpur)
# [[Chaurai Khas|Chourai]]
# [[Bargi Dam|Bargi]]
# [[Ghansor|Ghansour]]
# Karvagarh( seoni)
# [[Chaiturgarh Lafagarh korba]]
# [[Raigarh]]
# Tipagarh(Balaghat)
# Kanoja(Jabalpur)
# Pachelgarh(Jabalpur)
# Bagmar(Mandla)
# Dongartal(Nagpur)
# Jhanjhangarh(Jabalpur)
# Santagarh
# Diyagarh(Jabalpur)
# Bankagarh
# Amargarh(Dindori)
# Devhar(Dindori)
# Nimuagarh(Narsinghpur)
# Bhanwargarh(Narsinghpur)
# [[Pawai]]-karhi
# Shahnagar
# [[Dhamoni]]
# [[Hatta, Madhya Pradesh|Hatta]]
# Madiyado
# [[Garhakota]]
# [[Shahgarh]]
# Garhpahra(sagar)
# [[Damoh]]
# [[Rehli]]
# Itwa(sagar)
# [[Khimlasa]]
# [[Badi, Raisen|Badi]]
# Chowkigarh(Hoshangabad)
# Karubag(Raisen)
# [[Raisen]]
# Bhanwaraso
# Opadgarh(Bhopal)
# Punagarh(Narsinghpur)
# [[Deori, Sagar|Deori]]
# Gourjhamar
# Partabgarh(Bilaspur)
# Fatehpur(Hoshangabad)
}}

== List of Rulers ==
=== Independent rulers ===
* Kharji (1440-1460)
* Gorakshakdas (1460-1480)
* Sukhandar (1480-1500)
* Arjun Das (150-1513)
* [[Sangram Shah]] (1513-1543)<ref name="thakur gonds"/>
* [[Dalpat Shah]] (1543?-1550)<ref name= "women"/>
* [[Rani Durgawati]] (1550-1564)<ref name= "goddess"/><ref name= "women"/><ref name="thakur gonds"/>
* Chandra Shah (c. 1589 -?)<ref name="thakur gonds"/>
* Madhukar Shah
* Prem Narain
* [[Hridayshah]] (1634-1668)
* Chhatra Shah (1668-1685)
* Kesari Shah (1685-1688) <ref name="Naidunia-Five-storey palace built from 350 year old stones">{{cite web |last1= |first1= |title=Five-storey palace built from 350 year old stones |url=https://www.naidunia.com/madhya-pradesh/mandla-fivestorey-palace-built-from-350-year-old-stones-2725820 |website=Naidunia |publisher=Naidunia |access-date=12 December 2020}}</ref>
* Narendra Shah (1688-1732)
* Shahi (1732-1742)
* Shivaraj Shah (1742-1749)
* Durjan Shah (1749)
* Mahipal Shah (1749-1776)
* Narhari Shah (1776-1778)
* Sumedh Shah (1778-1781)

==References==
{{Reflist}}
*https://thewire.in/rights/adivasi-religion-recognition-census

[[Category:Ancient empires and kingdoms of India]]

Garha Kingdom - Revision history

UpdateBot at 03:33, 25 May 2022