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{{Short description|Indian ruling family in Gujarat}}
{{for|Guhilas of Rajasthan|Guhila dynasty}}
The '''Gohil dynasty''' or ''' Gohil''' or '''Guhilas of Saurashtra''' is a [[Rajput dynasty]] who ruled parts of [[Saurashtra region]] of present-day [[Gujarat]] state of India as subordinates or independents starting in the 12th century. They later moved to the east coast where they established themselves and the region came to be known as [[Gohilwar]], which included the [[princely state]]s of [[Bhavnagar State|Bhavnagar]], [[Palitana State|Palitana]], [[Lathi State|Lathi]], [[Vala State|Vala]], and [[Rajpipla State|Rajpipla]], and ruled until India gained independence in 1947.

==Origin==
Predecessor state of Sejakpur founded in 1194 (or 1240 or 1260), then the capitals were at Ranipur 1254/1309, Umrala or Gogha 1309/1445, Umrala 1445/1570, Shihor 1570/1723 then finally Bhavnagar from 1723. The Gohils claim to be descended from the celebrated [[Lord Ram|Ram]], who belonged to the [[Solar dynasty]] or [[Suryavansh|Suryavanshi]] race, and so trace their line from the celebrated Shalivahan of Guhila of Mewar, (Col. James Tod Also makes them of the solar race). The old family title of Rawal or Raol was earned at the memorable battle of Chittor, fought with [[Alauddin Khilji]] in 1303. The state motto is "Man Proposes but God disposes" on a label ''azure''. The state arms are ''Gules'', an eagle ''or'' displayed, in chief on a canton of the second, a lion statant of the first.{{cn|date=February 2025}}

Traditionally, Gohils trace their origin to the king named Shalivahana. [[D. R. Bhandarkar]], [[Chintaman Vinayak Vaidya|C. V. Vaidya]] and [[Gaurishankar Oza]] have established origin of Gohils with [[Guhila dynasty]] of Medapata (Guhilots of [[Mewar]]). This Shalivahana is identified with Shalivahana, the Guhila king of Medapata. He mentioned in Atpur (Ahar) inscription of his son Shaktikumara dated 977 [[Common Era|CE]] ([[Vikram Samvat|VS]] 1034). He is sometimes misidentified with [[Shalivahana]] of south who is sometimes associated with [[Saka Era]]. Guhilas considered themselves as [[Suryavansha|Suryavanshi]] (of solar race).<ref name="Singhji1994">{{cite book|last=Singhji|first=Virbhadra|title=The Rajputs of Saurashtra|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=NYK7ZSpPzkUC&pg=PA38|year=1994|publisher=Popular Prakashan|isbn=978-81-7154-546-9|chapter=A Historical Outline of Saurashtra|pages=38–}}</ref><ref name="Ray1935">{{cite book|last=Ray|first=H. C.|authorlink=Hem Chandra Raychaudhuri|title=The Dynastic History of Northern India: Early Mediaeval Period|chapter-url=https://archive.org/stream/in.ernet.dli.2015.461080/2015.461080.The-Dynastic-History-Of-Northern-India-Vol-2#page/n583/mode/2up/search/Sahajiga|volume=II|year=1935|publisher=University of Calcutta|location=Calcutta|pages=977, 1200–1202|chapter=Guhila-putras of Punjab, Rajputana & Kathiawar}} {{PD-notice}}</ref>

==Gohil inscriptions==
<mapframe text="[[Find spot]]s of inscriptions mentioning Gohil dynasty" width="400" height="400" zoom="7" longitude="71.31" latitude="21.84">
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"type": "Feature",
"properties": { "marker-symbol": "monument", "title": "[[Mangrol, Gujarat|Mangrol]]" },
"geometry": { "type": "Point", "coordinates": [70.12, 21.12] }
},
{
"type": "Feature",
"properties": { "marker-symbol": "monument", "title": "Ghelana" },
"geometry": { "type": "Point", "coordinates": [70.235205, 21.2385731] }
},
{
"type": "Feature",
"properties": { "marker-symbol": "monument", "title": "Parnala" },
"geometry": { "type": "Point", "coordinates": [71.9192815, 22.6682661] }
},
{
"type": "Feature",
"properties": { "marker-symbol": "monument", "title": "[[Vartej]]" },
"geometry": { "type": "Point", "coordinates": [72.0527249, 21.7390152] }
},
{
"type": "Feature",
"properties": { "marker-symbol": "monument", "title": "[[Halvad]]" },
"geometry": { "type": "Point", "coordinates": [71.18, 23.02] }
},
{
"type": "Feature",
"properties": { "marker-symbol": "monument", "title": "Gundi" },
"geometry": { "type": "Point", "coordinates": [72.2552128, 21.613171] }
},
{
"type": "Feature",
"properties": { "marker-symbol": "monument", "title": "[[Lathi, Gujarat|Lathi]]" },
"geometry": { "type": "Point", "coordinates": [71.38, 21.45] }
}
]
}
</mapframe>

===Mangrol stone inscription===
The Mangrol stone inscription of the Guhila Thakkura Muluka was found engraved on a slab of black stone affixed to the wall of a stepwell in the town of [[Mangrol, Gujarat|Mangrol]], near Junagadh. It is the earliest known epigraph of Gohil dynasty and is dated 15 October 1145 CE. The inscription has 25 lines, beginning with ''Om Namah Sivay'' and an invocation to Hara ([[Shiva]]). It then praises [[Chaulukya dynasty|Chaulukya]] king [[Kumarapala (Chaulukya dynasty)|Kumarapala]], successor of [[Jayasimha Siddharaja]] and refers to Guhila family: Sahara, his son Sahajiga, who was an army commander (''anga-niguhaka'') of the Chaulukyas; his eldest son Muluka, who was protector of Saurashtra (''Saurashtraraksh-kshama'' and ''Saurashtra-nayaka''); his younger brother Somaraja, who built a Maheshwara (Shiva) temple at [[Somnath]] and named it ''Sahajigeshwara'' to honour his father. The inscription is composed by the [[Pashupata]] teacher Prasarvajna.<ref name="Ray1935" /><ref>{{Cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.31980|title=Appendix to Epigraphia Indica And Record of the Archeological Survey of India|last=Bhandarkar|first=D. R.|publisher=University of Calcutta|year=1929|isbn=|volume=19 - 23|location=Calcutta|pages=[https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.31980/page/n49 41]|chapter=Appenix - Inscriptions of North India No. 268}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.54106|title=New Indian Antiquary|last=Diskalkar|first=D. B.|date=December 1938|publisher=|isbn=|volume=1|location=|pages=[https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.54106/page/n13 581]-582|chapter=Inscriptions Of Kathiawad|via=|issue=9}}</ref><ref name="Sankalia1941">{{cite book|url=https://archive.org/stream/in.ernet.dli.2015.282975/2015.282975.The-Archaeology|title=The Archaeology of Gujarat: Including Kathiawar|last=Sankalia|first=H. D.|publisher=Natwarlal & Company|year=1941|page=34|authorlink=Hasmukh Dhirajlal Sankalia}}</ref>{{hidden begin|border=1px #aaa solid|title=Ancestry tree of Guhilas mentioned in Mangrol inscriptions<ref name="Sankalia1941"/>|ta1=left}}
{{Tree list}}
* Sahara
** {{Tree list/final branch}}Sahajiga
*** Mulaka (1145 CE)
*** {{Tree list/final branch}}Somaraja
{{Tree list/end}}
{{hidden end}}

===Ghelana inscription===
This inscription was found in the Kamanatha Mahadeva temple in Ghelana village near Mangrol. It is dated Vallabhi year 911 (1229 CE). It mentions Ranaka Rana(???), son of Thakur Mulu, who granted ''Asanapatta'' for worship of the god in Bhrigu Matha. Its copy is now stored in Rajkot Museum.<ref name="A1">{{Cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.54106|title=New Indian Antiquary|last=Diskalkar|first=D. B.|date=February 1939|publisher=|isbn=|volume=1|location=|pages=[https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.54106/page/n26 688]|chapter=Inscriptions Of Kathiawad No. 5|via=|issue=11}}</ref>

Thakur Mulu is probably the same Thakkura Muluka mentioned in the Mangrol stone-inscription. Based on this and Magrol inscriptions, it is known that they were ruling in the southwest region of Saurashtra, probably as the neighbour of [[Jethwa]]s. It is not known why they moved to the eastern coast of Saurashtra later.<ref name=":0"/>

===Parnala inscription===
This inscription was found on pedestral of Chaturbhuj Jain image in Jain temple of Parnala village. It is dated VS 1453 (1397 CE). It says about the consecration of that image by Bhavaladevi, wife of Gohil king Pratapmalla.<ref name="A2">{{Cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.54106|title=New Indian Antiquary|last=Diskalkar|first=D. B.|date=December 1939|publisher=|isbn=|volume=1|location=|pages=[https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.54106/page/n75 593]-594|chapter=Inscriptions Of Kathiawad No. 56|via=|issue=21}}</ref> Nothing else is known about this king Pratapmalla.<ref name=":0"/>

===Mahuva inscription===
The sub-joined inscription in the black stone slab of the pedestral of idol of Laxmi Narayan temple near the Darbargadh of [[Mahuva, Bhavnagar|Mahuva]] near [[Bhavnagar]]. This Sanskrit inscription records digging of well and seem brought here from somewhere else as it does not mention the temple. It is dated VS 1500 (1444 CE). This inscription mentions Gohil king Sarangji who must have been Sarangji, son of Kanoji and ancestor of the rulers of [[Bhavnagar State]]. It also mentions a king named Rama which is not conclusively identified as Ramji, uncle of Sarangji or Vala king Ramadeva.<ref name="A3">{{Cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.54106|title=New Indian Antiquary|last=Diskalkar|first=D. B.|date=June 1940|publisher=|isbn=|volume=2|location=|pages=[https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.54106/page/n75 593]-594|chapter=Inscriptions Of Kathiawad No. 75|via=}}</ref><ref name=":0"/>

Raval Sarangji is also mentioned as ruler of [[Ghogha]] port in VS 1469 as a feudatory of the [[Delhi Sultanate]] in the manuscript of ''Vishnu Bhakti Chandrodaya''.<ref name=":0"/>

===Vartej inscription===
This inscription is found on the [[Sati (practice)|Sati]] ''[[paliya]]'' (memorial stone) dated VS 1674 (1617 CE) in [[Vartej]] near Bhavnagar. It records donation by Gohil king Raval Dhunaji. Dhunaji was a son of Visoji, a Gohil chief of Sihor and ancestor of the Bhavnagar rulers. He had died fighting Kathis in 1619.<ref name="A4">{{Cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.54106|title=New Indian Antiquary|last=Diskalkar|first=D. B.|date=November 1940|publisher=|isbn=|volume=2|location=|pages=[https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.54106/page/n135 281]|chapter=Inscriptions Of Kathiawad No. 116|via=}}</ref>

===Halvad inscriptions===
The inscription on ''paliya'' (memorial stone) dated VS 1722 (1666 CE) standing near 36 pillared shrine (''deri'') in [[Halvad]] records death of Gohil Lakhaji, son of Asaji and his wife Potbai and grandson of Gohil Chachaji, while fighting for Raja Gajasimhaji who must have been [[Jhala (clan)|Jhala]] ruler who ruled from 1661 to 1673 CE. Another inscription on ''paliya'' near it mentions Gohil Vasaji, son of Karanji and his wife Jivibai and grandson of Govindji, who died in battle in fighting for Maharaja Jaswantsinhji in VS 1749 (1693 CE). Jaswantsinhji was a [[Jhala (clan)|Jhala]] ruler who ruled from 1683 to 1723 CE.<ref name="A5">{{Cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.54106|title=New Indian Antiquary|last=Diskalkar|first=D. B.|date=December 1940|publisher=|isbn=|volume=2|location=|pages=[https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.54106/page/n154 348], 352|chapter=Inscriptions Of Kathiawad No. 142, 150|via=}}</ref>

===Gundi inscription===
A ''paliya'' in Gundi village near Ghogha has inscription dated VS 1755 (1699 CE) mentioning death of Gohil Kanoji, son Lakha, in battle a year earlier. Kanoji was successor of Vijoji, the chief of Umrala, and an ancestor of Bhavnagar rulers.<ref name="A6">{{Cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.54106|title=New Indian Antiquary|last=Diskalkar|first=D. B.|date=January 1941|publisher=|isbn=|volume=2|location=|pages=[https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.54106/page/n165 373]|chapter=Inscriptions Of Kathiawad No. 156|via=}}</ref>

===Lathi inscriptions===
The inscription dated VS 1808 (1752 CE) in the Bhidbhanjan Mahadeva temple in [[Lathi, Gujarat|Lathi]] mentions construction of the temple during reign of Gohil Shrisimhaji. Another inscription on the pedestal of the image of [[Ganesha]] mentions its consecration during reign of Gohil Lakhaji in VS 1820 (1763 CE).<ref name="A7">{{Cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.54106|title=New Indian Antiquary|last=Diskalkar|first=D. B.|date=February 1941|publisher=|isbn=|volume=2|location=|pages=398–399|chapter=Inscriptions Of Kathiawad No. 175, 177|via=}}</ref> These who rulers must be ancestors of rulers of [[Lathi State]].

==History==
===Early Gohils===
====Mohadasa====
It is said that a descendant of Salivahana settled in Khera-gadh on the banks of [[Luni river]] in the [[Jodhpur State]]. The last prince of Khera, Mohadasa, was killed by Siaji, grandson of the Rathod ruler 'Jayacandra' of [[Kanauj]], according to the tradition.<ref name="Ray1935"/>

====Sejakji====
Traditions say that Mohadasa's grandson, Sejakji (1194–1254 CE or 1240–1290 CE), migrated to Saurashtra about VS 1250 and entered in service of [[Chudasama dynasty|Chudasama]] king Mahipala ruling from Junagadh. He obtained 12 villages around Sapur and from his progeny descended the Gohils of Saurashtra and other regions.<ref name="Ray1935"/><ref name=":0"/> According to Bardic accounts, he entered in service of another Chudasama king Kavat and had his daughter Valamkunvarba married to Khengar, son of Kavat. Kavat gave him a grant of Shahpur and surrounding twelve villages in Panchal (central Sairashtra). Sejakji's sons Shahji and Saranji obtained Mandvi Chovisi and Arthila Chovisi due to interests of their sister Valamkunvarba. The rulers of [[Palitana State]] and [[Lathi State]] traces their ancestry to these two brothers.<ref name="Singhji1994"/> James W. Watson, in ''Gazetteer of the Bombay Presidency: Kathiawar'' Volume VIII (1884) had given VS 1290 and reason as their rivalry with Rathods.<ref name="GBP1884">{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=c70MAAAAIAAJ&pg=PA711|title=Gazetteer of the Bombay Presidency : Kathiawar|last=|first=|publisher=Government Central Press|year=1884|isbn=|editor=Watson|editor-first=James W.|volume=VIII|location=Bombay|pages=114, 547}} {{PD-notice}}</ref> Sejakji is reported to have established new village named Sejakpur and won several villages surrounding it.<ref name="Ray1935"/><ref name="Singhji1994"/>

Based on Mangrol stone-inscription, Muluka was a feudatory chief under Chaulukya king Kumarapala. Gaurishankar Oza identifies his father Sahajiga with Sejakji. He suggests that Sahajiga had first migrated from Luni valley and took service under Chaulukya king Siddharaja Jayasimha. He had participated as a commander of Chaulukya forces in his war against Saurashtra and thus he was later appointed as a chief of Saurashtra. H. C. Ray agrees with suggestion citing Muluka mentioned in the inscription as the protector of Saurashtra.<ref name="Ray1935"/>

====Ranaji and Visoji====
[[File:Ranpur-5.jpg|right|thumb|The statue of Ranaji]]
Ranaji/Ranoji (1254–1309 CE or 1290–1309 CE), descendant of Sejakji, established [[Ranpur, Gujarat|Ranpur]] and moved their capital to it. With help of Koli forces of Dhanmer, he captured Vala ([[Vallabhipur]]). It is told that he died in battle with forces of [[Ahmedabad]], the capital of [[Gujarat Sultanate]]. Virbhadra Singhji has identified him as the grandson of Sejakji<ref name="Singhji1994"/> while other sources identify him as a son of Sejakji.<ref name="GBP1884"/>

Sejakji's fifth brother Visoji married a daughter of Dhandh of Mer tribe of village Khas who was ruler of [[Dhandhuka]]. Their descendants are known as Khasiyas (Garasiya)after name of the village.<ref name="Singhji1994"/> Watson identifies Visoji as the son of Ranoji. They lived in Khas for fifteen generations and Aranji II moved to neighbouring Matiyala in the early eighteenth century.<ref name="GBP1884"/>

====''Mokhadaji'' ====
Ranaji's son, Mokhadaji (1309–1347 CE) captured Bhimdad from Vala Rajput and [[Umrala]] from Kolis. Then he captured Khokhra and later [[Ghogha]] expelling Muslim Kasbati (chief). From Baria Kolis, he conquered the [[Piram Island]] in the [[Gulf of Cambay]]. He established himself there and took up piracy. This irked [[Delhi Sultanate|Delhi Sultan]] [[Muhammad bin Tughluq]] who was in Gujarat to quell rebellion. After hard-fought battle, he killed Mokhadaji and captured Ghogha and Piram island in 1347 CE.<ref name="Singhji1994" /><ref name="GBP1884" />

According to one story, Mokhadaji had no children until he was fifty. Balansha, a Muslim saint of Karakadi, was pleased by him with sacrifice. By his grace, he had sons so he built a mosque in his honour and vowed that his descendant will offer a leather (called Budi) when they are virgin.<ref name="Singhji1994" />

===Descendant States===
The rulers of [[Palitana State|Palitana]] and [[Lathi State]]s trace their ancestry to Shahji and Saranji, two sons of Sejakji.<ref name="Singhji1994"/>

Mokhadaji's elder son Dungarji (1347–1370) fled to Und-Saravaiyawad but he was captured by the Delhi forces. He was later reinstated as a chief of Ghogha and regained his father's possession of Umrala. His successor Visoji (1370-1395) was involved in a dispute of Jani and Rana clans of Audichya Brahman landlords of [[Sihor]]. Jani clan summoned Visoji while Rana clan summoned Kandhoji Gohil of [[Gariadhar]]. Visoji defeated Kandhoji and captured Sihor. He fortified it and made it his capital. His successors were Kanoji (1395–1420 CE) and Sarangji (1420–1445 CE), Sivdasji (1445–1470 CE), Jethiji (1470–1500 CE), Ramdasji (1500–1535 CE), Sartanji (1535–1570 CE), Visoji (1570–1600 CE), Dhunaji (1600–1619 CE), Ratanji (1619–1629 CE ), Harbhamji (1620–1622 CE), Govindji (1622–1636 CE), Satrasalji (1636 CE), Akherajji II (1636–1660 CE), Ratanji II (1660–1703). His son Bhavsinhji (1703–1764) established [[Bhavnagar]] in 1722–23 and made it capital of [[Bhavnagar State|his state]] moving from [[Sihor]].<ref name="Singhji1994"/><ref name="GBP1884"/><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://members.iinet.net.au/~royalty/ips/b/bhavnagar.html|title=BHAVNAGAR|last=Soszynski|first=Henry|website=members.iinet.net.au|access-date=2017-12-25|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171225070318/http://members.iinet.net.au/~royalty/ips/b/bhavnagar.html|archive-date=2017-12-25|url-status=dead}}</ref> [[Vala State]] was founded in 1740 by Akherajji (1764–1772 CE), son of Bhavsinhji, for his twin brother Visaji.

Mokhadaji's younger son Samarsinhji was taken to his maternal uncle Chokrana, the prince of Junaraj (old Rajpipla), of Parmar dynasty of [[Ujjain]]. As Chokrana had no heir, Samarsinhji took up a new name, Arjunsinhji and succeeded him. The rulers of [[Rajpipla State]] are his descendants.<ref name="Singhji1994"/><ref name="GBP1884"/>

Many small estates in [[Gohelwar|Gohilwad]] region of Saurashtra were offshoots from the parent stem.<ref name="GBP1884"/> These States and estates were continued to rule for centuries and even under the [[British Raj]]. They were [[political integration of India|merged]] with the [[Dominion of India]] when India became [[Independence of India|independent in 1947]].

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Gohils]]
[[Category:Dynasties of India]]
[[Category:Rajput dynasties]]
[[Category:Hindu dynasties]]
[[Category:Rajput clans of Gujarat]]

Gohil dynasty - Revision history

Giispune at 20:42, 12 March 2026