THE CHANDEL THAKURS.
FEBRUARY, 1873.]
to them, crossed the Jamuna for the fertile
plains of the Doāb. Both MSS. are agreed that for eight genera tions the head-quarters of the clan were at Kanauj, though the year of the migration thither is given by the Persian MS. at Sambat 1223, and by the Hindi one as 1180—a comparatively trifling discrepancy. The eight rājās of Kanauj were— Sabhājit. Gyäs Deo. Ghansyām Deo.
incursion.
The object, therefore, of this last migration is not clearly brought out. From the analogy parganah Rasūlabad, the Mughuls of Bârah and the Chauhāns of Moháná, parganah Ak bärpär, zilla Kánhpūr, it would seem that the
Súp Deo. Bås Deo. Khakh Deo.
Meos (Mewäs, Mewatis, whose rule is invariably
branch des-
RAo. From this branch des
put at 500 years back, as having preceded the existing clans) becoming turbulent and lawless, the aid of the stronger Hindu rājās was accept ed by the emperor, and grants of land bestowed upon them for their services. In Elliot's Glos sary it is said:– “The Chandels of Sheorājpúr in Kånhpūr are represented to have received from the Gautams 62 villages in that parganah,
cended the
cended the
having been induced to leave Mahoba after the
Dhām Deo. r—
him the betel leaf prepared for him daily in his home, before the hour of midday meal.” The Hindi M.S. simply says:—“ In 1383 Sambat, Sheorāj Deo came to Sheorājpār, and, destroying the fort of Rådhan, founded Sheorājpúr.” The fort at Rådhan certainly appears too massive to have served as head-quarters for so brief a time as would appear from the Persian MS. It probably dates from before the Chandel
of the settlements of Gaur Thäkärs in Närh,
Bihr Deo. Lahr Deo.
Sheorāj Deo
35
—º
~
Pat Deo
Lag Deo
founded Sheo-
founded
founded
rājpür.
Sapihi.
RAJA.
Pachor. RAwat.
From this
From this
branch descended the
Rāwat of Onha. Rănā of Sakrej. Rāwat of Rā watpúr.
A sort of intermediate migration was made from Kanauj to Rådhan, where the remains of a
large fort overlooking a wide expanse of country bear silent witness to departed greatness. The Persian MS. gives the following account:—
“Sheorāj Deo founded Sheorājpúr and called
defeat of their chief, Birmaditya,t by Prithi
rāj.” This account of the origin of the Chandel influence in zilla Kánhpūr is not confirmed by either of the MSS.; nor is it perhaps probable that it would be, even if true. It takes, moreover,
no account of the Kanauj dynasty. The 62 vil lages, however, are well known to the present day, and formed the rājā’s talūka under our settlements.
it after his own name, so that from Kumāon
to Karra (Mánikpār") the whole country of Kanauj was in his possession. Since the rule of the Muhammadans had been established now
for some time, all the rājās and great men of the country attended the emperor's court, and amongst them Sheorāj Deo, regarding whom it was ordered that leaving Kanauj" (where he was probably too strong) “he was to reside in Tappa Rādhan and Bilhat, in the parganah of Bithūr, where is ‘Sita Rasoi.” Sheorāj accordingly, obeying the emperor's order, left the fort of Kanauj, and first building a fort in Rådhan lived
there ; and afterwards founding Sheorājpúr, he established his rule there.
While he lived in
Kanauj he had soldiers, horse and foot, numerous as the waves of the sea, so that to enumerate them
is impossible. They say that when the rājā went for a short time to Karra, horsemen carried to
- Zilla Fattehpūr.
I have shown above the principal branches of the original Chandel stock; of these, the Pachor branch is extinct, and the Sakrej branch practi cally so. The rānā still grasps at some remnant of clan-authority, and his attendance at wed dings is sought after to give the ceremony eclat. On the death of the rānā, those of the brother hood who still warm to their old nobility meet
and, contributing small presents of grain, clothes, and money, go through the ceremony of imprint ing the tilak. The other branches still flourish, the representative of Onha being the picture of a Rājpút squire. The last titled occupant of the Sheorājpúr gaddi, accused of disloyalty, was stripped of all his landed property—mutilated as its value was by the conferment of sub-proprie tary rights on the Mukaddams at the last settle ment—and thrown into jail; and after the expira t No such name in the pedigrees.