Gujarat figures in the Puranic Literature and the epics. The regions of north
Gujarat are also known as Anarta after Sharyati's son. Anarta's son Revata
rules Kushsthali, the present Dwarka, which was the capital of Anarta. The
river Narmada is also known as Reva after a descendent of Revat of the same
name. Mount Girnar is also known as Raivataka which is also derived from
Regvat.
Lord Krishna, the hero of the Puranas, the author of GITA, the song celestial, and one of the most endearing, colourful and loving Gods of Hinduism, left Mathura along with his maternal grandfather Ugrasen and others of his Yadav followers and settled down in Saurashtra near its coast. Lord Krishna carried th banner of the Aryan culture over a large tract covering the whole of Gujarat and beyond. He fortified the ancient Kushsthali which later became famous as Dwarka meaning gateway. Lord Krishna's brother Baslaram got married to Revati the daughter of Kukudmi of the Revat dynasty. Varja, the son of Anirudha and grandson of Lord Krishna, was the only survivor of the internecine strife among the Yadavs, Arjun, the famous character of the Mahabharata, crowned Vajra as the ruler of Mathura and with that came to an end the Yadav dynasty's sway over Saurashtra.
Apart from Anart, parts of present Gujarat were also known by other names like Lata, Saurashtra, KUchchh, Aparanta etc. in the earlier days. These areas differered from time to time. This led to development of varied traits in these regions. Devoid of read political identity the different areas developed independent social and cultural identity. This lack of real political identity was more than compensated by the people themselves by acquiring an aggressive individuality.
The early historynof Gujuarat is full of imperial grandeur of Chandragupta Maurya who conquered a number of earlier States of Gujarat. Pushyamitra , a Vaishya, was appointed Governor of Saurashtra by the Mauryan regime. He ruled (322 B.C to 294 B.C) Giringer (present Junagadh) and built a dam on the Sudarshan lake. Emperor Ashok, the grandson of Chandragupta Maurya, not only ordered engraving of his famous edicts on the rock at Junagadh, but asked his Governor Tusherpha to take out canals from the lake where an earlier Maurayan Governor had built a dam.
Between the decline of the Mauryan power and Saurashtra coming under the sway of Samprati Mauryas of Ujjain, there was a Greek incursion into Gujarat led by Demetrious.
For nearly 400 years from the start of the first century, Saka rulers played prominent part in Gujarat's history. Wheather beaten rock at Junagadh gives a glimpse of the Ruler Rudradaman (100 A.D.) of the Saka satraps known as Kshatraps. Mahakshatrap Rudradaman I founded the Kardamaka dynasty which ruled from Anupa on the banks of the Narmada upto Aparanta region which bordered Punjab.
The Kshatrap dynasty was replaced by the Gupta reign with the conquest of Gujarat by Chandragupta Vikramaditya. Vikramaditya's successor Skandagupta has left an inscription (450 AD) on a rock at UJunagadh which gives details of the repairs of the embankment, damaged by floods, of Sudarshan lake by his Governor. Anarta and Saurashtra regions were both part of the Guipta empire. Towards the middle of the 5th Century A.D. the Gupta empire started to decline. Senapati Bhatarka, the Maitrak general of the Guptas, took advantage of the situation and in 470 AD he set up what came to be known as the Maitrak kingdom. he shifted his capital from Giringer to Valabhipur, near Bhavnagar, on Saurashtra's east coast. Maitrakas of Valabhi became very powerful and their writ prevailed over large parts of Gujarat and even over adjoining Malwa. Maitrakas set up a university which came to be known far and wide for its scholastic pursuits and was compared with the famous Nalanda university. it was during the rule of Dhruvasena Maitrak theat Chinese philospher-traveller Huan Tang visited in 640 AD.
Dadda, the founder of Pratihara dynasty, established the Gurjar rule at Nandipur (Nandol). Dadda III wrested Broach from the Maitraks whose citadel had started shaking. In fact, there were three powerful dynasties which were ruling different parts of Gujarat: the Gurjars had their sway over the north, the Chalukyas ruled the south and the Maitraks were saddled in Saurashtra. The vaccum created by the fall of the Maitrak dynasty was filled up by the Pratiharas from the north and Rashtrakutas from the south.
As vassals of the Valabhis, Chavadas held their sway over parts of north Gujarat. They assumed independent control after the fall of Valabhi. Vanraj,. the most prominent of the eight Chavada kings, founded a new capital at ASnhilpur Patan. he reconquered his father's lost territories and founded the Chavada dynasty which lasted a shade under a century.
Samantsinh, the last Chavada ruler, did not have an issued and he adopted MUlraj who overthrew him in 942 AD and set up what came to be known as the Solanki dynasty. Ambitious as he was, he started expanding his frontiers and established his complete and total hold over Saurashtra and Kachchh by defeating Grahripu of Junagadh (Saurashtra) and Lakho Fulani of Kachchh. M ulraj Solanki's reign marked the start of the most glorious period in the history of Gujarat during which Gujarati culture flowered as manifested in art, architecture, language and script. It is described as the golden period in Fujarat chequered history. Mulrag himself adopted the title lof Gurharesh ( King of Gurjardesh). The territoporieds under the sway of the Solanki dynasty same to be knon by different variations of teh wokd Gurjar like Gurjardesh, Gurjararastra, Gurjaratta and finally Gujarat.
Two mames stand our in the Solanbki dynasty. The fiest is that of Sidhrag Jayasinh who ruled for 47 years from 1094 A.D. and the second prominent Solanki King Kumarpala's reign lasted for 31 years from 1143 to 1174 AD Apart from Saurashtra and Kachchh, Sidhraj Jaysinh also conquered Malwa. One of the favourite legends with the Gujarat Bards is woven round the siege of Junagadh by Sidhraj Jaysinh. The fort was ultimately captured by hims along with Ranakdevi, the Queen of the ruler Rakhengar. However, in the true tradition of the Rajputs, Ranakdevi preferred to become a 'sati' rather than marry Sidharaj Jaysinh who was persuaded to allow Ranakdevi to commit 'Sati' by burning herself on a pyre at Wadhavan. A temple was built on the hallowed place where she became a 'Sati'. The temple still stands in Wadhavan, Saurashtra, as a mute testimony to the woman who preferred death to marriage with the person who had humbled her husband. The temple is called Ranakdevi's temple.
The guardian family deity of the Solankis was Somnath at Prabhas. Ironically, it was during the Solanki's rule that the scared shrine was sacked by Mahmud Ghazni who defiled and despoiled the fabulously rich shrine and put 50,000 Hindus to sword. The temple was destroyed with its Linga during the regime of Bhimdev I Bhimdev's successor Karandev defeated a Bhil chieftain and founded Karnavati. Karandev married Minaldevi by whom he begot Sidhraj who ushered in Gujarat's golden period. Sidhraj's successor Kumarpala encouraged Jainism. Bal Mulraj successfully repelled the incursions of Mahmud of Ghor who had the ambition of repeating the act performed by Mahmud Ghazni.
After the fall of Solanki rule, VAghelas who were in the service of the Solanki's established a rather shortlived (76 years) but powerful dynasty. The two rulers of this dynasty, Virdhaval and Vishaldev, were responsible for consolidating the stabilising the prosperity of Gujarat after the fall of the Solankis. While Vishaldev built the famous temples of Daboi and founded Vishalnagar, the credit for building magnificient temples at Abu, Girnar and Shetrunjay goes to two distinguished Dewans - Vastupal and Tejpar - of Virdhaval. Of the sack of the Somnath by Mahmud Ghazni, Kinlock Forbes, a British historian, had this to say "Mahmood of Ghuznee had hardly accomplished his disastrous homeward retreat, leaving behind him Unhilwara despoiled and Somnath a heap of ruins, when the sound of the hammer and the chisel was heard upon Arasoor and Aboo, and the stately fanes began to arise at Koobharea and Delwara, in which an elaboration almost incredible and a finish worthy nof the hand of a Cellini, seemed to express the founder's steadfast refusal to believe in mlechh invaders, or iconoclastic destroyers, as other than the horrid phntom of a disturbing dream."
Karandev of the Vaghela dynasty was the last Hindu ruler of Gujuarat. he was defeated and overthrown by the superior forces of Allauddin Khilji in 1297 With his defeat Gujarat not only became part of the Muslim empire but the RAjput hold over Gujarat lost for ever.
Before they finally entrenched themselves in 1298, the Muslims had only an
occasional contact with this part of India. This was either as sea-farers or
traders. They were allowedx to establish two small settlements in Cambay and
Broach. Abdulla, a missionary from Egypot, who came during Sidhraj Jaysinh's
regime and was allowed to preach,. is credited with the formation of Bohra
community among the Muslims. However, after the defeat of Karandev Vaghela at
the hands of Allauddin Khilji, Muslim rule continued for nearly 400 years
either under Delhi's viceroyalty or under Muslim Sultanates till the MUghal
viceroy, Monimnkhan was defeated by the Marathas who captured Ahmedabad in
1758.
Zafar Shah, a vicerory of Delhi for Gujarat, was responsible for starting tyhe Sultanete in Gujarat. he fully exploited the then prevailing conditions in Delhi to his advantage. He shook off his loyalty to the emperor, declared independence and became the first Sultan. he assumed the title of MUzaffar Shah. His successor Ahmed Shah founded a new city, following a dream, on the banks of the River Sabarmati and named it Ahmedabad after his own name. Since then, this new city became the Capital of successive regimes. It grew into a flourishing city city and became next only to Delhi in importance.
Mahmud Shah succeeded Ahmed Shah, Mahmud became a powerful ruler and was successful in over powering and subduing most of the Rajput chieftains. As a conqueror Mahmud was ruthless, as an administrator efficient and as a builder a great one. Apart from subduing the RAjpuit chieftains, Mahmud also successfully checked the Portuguese menance with the help of a naval fleet raised by his slave named Malik Ayyaz. He set up his Naval base at Diu off the Sautrashtra coast.
Under Mahmud Shah Gujarat once again became prosperous and there was a great deal of progress and building activity. Patan, the ancient seat of Hindu learning, once again became a seat of learning in Islamic disciplines. The avilable infrastructure at Patan was exploited by Mahmud Shah. The decline of the Sultanate started with the assassination of Sikandar Shah. Because of this decline Gujarat became an easy prey to the great Mughal Emperor Akbar's armies. Bahadur Shah, the last Sultan, was defeated which marked the begining of the Mughal rule which lasted some 185 years.
Notwithstanding the fact that Gujarat became a part of the MUghal Empire its importance did not diminish as is apparent from the selection of the ablest princes as Gujarat's viceroys. Murad, Shah Jahan, Dara Shekov were all made the Viceroys of this West coast region. The formal MUslim rule in Guijarat ended in 1758 when Momin Khan surrendered to the Marathas.
When the cracks had started developed in tghe edifice of teh Mughal empire in
the mid 17th century, the Marathas were consolodating their power in the west,
Chatrapati Shivaji, the great Maratha ruler, attacked Surat twice first in 1664
and again in 2672. These attaackes marked the entry of the Marathas in Gujarat.
Hooever, before the Maratha in-roads into Gujarat, the Europeans had made their
presence felt here with the Portugese leaeding them follwed by the Dutch and
the English.
The Pesghwas had establish ed their soverrighty over Gujarat including Sauratstra and collected taxses and tributes throgh their representaaves. DAmaji Geakwad and Kadam Bande divided the Peshewa's territory between them with DAmaji establishing the sway of Geakwad over Gujarat and made Barodssa his CApital. The ensuing internecine war among the Marathas werte fully explotied by the Britishers interfering in the affairs of both Geaskwads and the Peshwas. The Britishers also wmbarked upon their policy of Subsidiary Alliance. With this policy they establoshed their paramountcy over one princely state after another. Anadrao Gaekwad joined the Alliance in 1802 anbd surredered Surat and adjoining territories to the English./ In the gasrb of helping the MArathas the Britishers only helped themselves and slowly and gradully the Marathas power came to an end in Gujkarat in 1819. Geakwad and other big and small rulers accepted the Briuthsh Paramonthcy.
Pre Gujarat has played a key role in the freedom struggle specially after Mahatma Gandhi's taking over of the leadership of the fredom movement. Besides Mahatma Gandhi, Gujarat has been the home of such stalwarts like Dadabhai Naoraji, Pherozshah Mehta, Badruddin Tayabji, Vithalbhai Patel, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel who took a leading part in India's struggle for freedom. A man of tremendous foresight and endowed with an earthy rustic sense, Sardar Vallabhbhai patel was the one person responsible for persuading the princely |States to merge with the Indian Union when the Britishers left India dividing the country into India and Pakistan. The house of Tatas, the pioneers in the industrial advancement in the country, and Swami Dayanand Saraswati, the great social and religious reformist, also belonged to Gujarat.