A Historical Glimpse of Surasena  Yadavas (Modern Jadons ) of Mathura -Bayana -Tahangarh and Karauli from Ancient to Medieval Period

A Historical Glimpse of Surasena  Yadavas (Modern Jadons ) of Mathura -Bayana -Tahangarh and Karauli from Ancient to Medieval Period 

•  Ancient Period-

Manu recommends that the warriors for the vanguard should be selected from Matsyas, Panchalas and those born in Surasena. Matsyas in the epic age lived to the west of the Surasenas of Mathura which was probably also their home in the Rigvedic age. Satrughna, the brother of Rama, is said to have fought Satvata-Yadavas on the west of the Yamuna and established his capital at Madhupuri or Madhura renaming it as Mathura where his son Subahu reigned. But he was soon expelled from Mathura by the Yadava king, Bhima Satvata. 

The Sürasenas settlement, by the time it had (at Mathura and Bindraban) come into nearer contact with the 'Eastern' group, seems at once to have been subjected to attack. We hear of Jarasandha from Magadha driving the tribe away. Again, they succumb to the Mauryan king. Once more, to quote Cunningham, "they were overwhelmed by the Indo-Scythians under the [Northern] Satrap Rajubul and his son Saudāsa. They next fall under the power of the Gupta. At the time of Hwen Thsang's visit in 635 A.D. the King of Mathura was a Südra, but a few centuries later the Jadu Rajputs' are in full possession both of Bayana and Mathura. Nearly the whole of Eastern Rajputana belonged to the "Yaduvańshis ."

• Pre-Medieval Period-

This Yadu /Jadu dynasty further ruled over Mathura region and around Bayana (old Sripatha )in the early period of history.Ajayaraja ll ,the chauhan ruler of Ajmer (C.1110-35 A.D)had extended his sway upto Bayana and the name of Chachiga ,Simdhala and Yasoraja who were put to death by him are associated with his conquests of Srimarga (identified by Fleet with modern Bayana and Durdda.His silver and copper coins discovered in Mathura and other places further testify his suzerainty over this area(Singh ,R.B.,1964). At the time of Mahmud Ghazani's invasion of India in 1018 A. D., Mahaban near Mathura and its environs were ruled by Kulachand, possibly a member of the Yadu dynasty. From Baran (modern Bulandshahr in U.P.). Mahmud marched towards Mahaban and attacked Kulachand who owned a large number of forts and enjoyed suzerainty over the neigh- bouring rulers. On hearing of his arrival, Kulachand retreated to a fort in the dense forest and later encountered the enemy there. A hand-to- hand fight with swords ensued and the Hindus, having failed to defend their position jumped into the Yamuna. Kulachand, finding no alterna- tive first killed his wife and then himself. Nearly 5,000 Hindus lost their lives and sultan secured a large booty and marched on to Mathura.

• Yadu / Jadu dynasty of Bayana and Tahangarh-

The king Jaitapala of the traditional list of this Yadu dynasty, may be placed in the first half of the eleventh century. His successor vas Vijayapala who may be identified with the king Vijaya of the Bayana inscription, dated A.D. 1044. Vijayapala's successor was Tahanpala who, according to tradition, built the fort of Tahangarh, 22.4 km (14 miles) south of Bayana. Tahanapala was followed in succession by Dharampala, Kunwarpala and Ajayapala. Cunningham suggests that there is a chronological error in placing Kunwarpala before Ajayapala. It is known from Mahaban presasti, found near Mathura, that Maharajadhiraja Ajayapala was ruling in A.D. 1150. The tradition mentions Haripala as the son and successor to Ajyapala. An nscription of Haripala, dated A.D. 1170, has been found at Mahaban. Haripala was succeeded by Sahanapala. An image inscription of the reign of Sahanapaladeva, dated A.D. 1192, has been discovered at Aghapur, in the old Bharatpur State. The traditional list describes Anangapala as the successor to Sahapala or Sahanapala. But Sahapala's uccessor seems to have been Kunwarpala who, according to tradition, was the predecessor of Ajayapala. Bayana played a very important and strategic role during the mediaeval period of the history of north India.

• Medeival Period-

The Ghuride invasion had destroyed the Chauhan power in north India. Prithviraj was defeated at Tarain and, Qutb-ud din Aibak was left in India as a lieutenant of Muhammad Ghori. In 1195 A.D.,. Muizzuddin again came to India. He attacked Bayana, whereupon Kunwarpala, the chief of Bayana, evacuated his capital and entrenched himself in the fort of Tahangarh (Thangarh) which he had to surrender after a short siege. "The several strongholds and strategic outposts of the locality were then occupied and garrisoned, and the command of this frontier between Rajputana and Doab was entrusted to Bahauddin Tughril. The latter founded another military station, which he named Sultankot, to serve as a base of operations both in the east and the west. After this the Ghuri chief laid siege to the mighty fortress of Gwalior. This fort was also subdued and annexed to the Delhi Sultanate.

After the death of Qutb-ud-din Aibak the hold of the Turks over Bayana weakened, owing to the efforts of the dethroned rulers who were endeavouring to revive their power. They were again subdued by Iltutmish who recaptured Bayana and Tahangarh, though the success proved to be temporary. Iltutmish's successors were weak and the continued depredations of the turbulent people of the northern Alwar region known as Koh payah of Mewat' hampered their success considerably. Actually, Mewat or the country of Meos which included the districts of Mathura, Gurgaon and parts of Alwar and Bharatpur States, became an abode of notorious rebels and a source of constant trouble to the rulers of Delhi. It was ruled by Khanzadas, a line founded by Bahadur Nahir. The Yaduvanshi Rajputs of Bayana and Tahangarh, having been deprived of their strongholds and territories had migrated to this region of Mewat. The descendants of Prithviraj of Ajmer were already living in the area now known as Ratha in Alwar district. The Jadons  had established themselves at Kaman, Tijara and Sarhatta (northern Alwar) . These disgruntled nobles known as Mewatis combined together and formed a more or less solid block against the Delhi authority. Sporadic affrays were made by them and they carried the districts of Siwalik. Hariana and Bayana by guerilla warfare. But Balban was able to restore prestige as well as some territories to the Delhi Sultanate. He deputed seasoned Afghans to encounter the Mewatis.
It appears that parts of this area remained under the Sultanate of Alauddin Khilji as well He once consulted Quazi Mughis-ud-din of Bayana as to the legality of his new regulations and measures against Hindus.

•  Foundation of Karauli and Yadavas of This Kingdom -

After the fall of Tahangarh (Thangarh or Tribhuvanagiri ) yaduvanshi ruler Kunwar pal ,the other succeeding rulers , could not regain their patrimony .From 1196 to 1327 A.D.the chronology of this line is uncertain .It seems that this period was marked by disorder and that the fortunes of the dynasty had declined for time .The territory remained in possession of the invaders for a period of about 130 years when Raja Arjun Pala ( A.D.1327-61) son of Gokuladeva (some historians say that Arjun pala was the son of Anangapala brother of Kunwar pala) was one of the greatest king of this  Jadu dynasty.

By defeating representative of Mohmmad Tugluq (Miyan Makkhan) of Mandrayal ,who was unpopular in the region ,he again got a foot hold in his home territory by taking Minas and Panwar Rajputs in his confidence and captured Mandrail Fort.He further established his authority over his kingdom by suppressing the Minas and Panwar Rajputs and gradually took possession of most of the country formerly held by Tahan Pala.He is also credited with having founded the town of Kalyanpuri in 1348A.D laterally known as present capital ,Karauli town and making it beautifully with mansions ,lakes ,gardens ,and temples .

He built the Thakur Kalyanaji on the site of Karauli ,a name which is said to be a corruption of Kalyanaji. and  he so built Anjani Mata temple.In other words we can say that Karauli  was originally called Kalyanpuri after the temple of Kalyanji (Shri Krishana ) , built about the same year.It's  ancient  name was  Karkrala or Karkralagiri being surrounded by circular mountain ranges  .The town was also known by the name Bhadrawati , after the river , which flows close by.During this period  ,27 kings ruled the land .Maharaja of Karauli is the head of the Jadon clan of Rajputs who claim descent from Bajarnabha (son of Aniruddha and Rochana ,great grand daughter of Vidharv Raj Rukmi brother of Rukmaniji  ) great grand son of Shri Krishna.

Arjun pala 's death was followed by the significant reigns of Prthvipala ,Udaipala and Pratap rudra and Chandrapal.Prthvipal was ,deprived of Tahangarh fort by the Afgans .He failed to suppress the Minas who had grown formidable .Maharaja Chandrapal was deprived of his kingdom by Mahmud Khilji of Malwa in A.D.1454 and was forced to live a retired life in Untgarh.

Mahmud Khalji of Malwa  is said to have conquered the country, and to have entrusted the government to his son, Fidwi Khan. In the reign of Akbar (1 556-1 605) the State became incorporated in the Delhi empire, and Gopal Das (1449-1589 A.D.)grand son of Maharaja Chandrapal  probably the most famous of the chiefs of Karauli, launched on a career of conquest ,which was marked by his success against Afgans and Minas.

He appears to have been in considerable favour with the emperor Akbar by showing his valour at the seige of Daulatabad in return of which he war awarded Nandan and a right to own Nakkara -cattle drum. He is mentioned as a commander of 2,000 . According to Khyat writers Akbar requested him to lay the foundation of the fort of Agra in A.D.1566 ,on the merit of his birth from the pious branch of the Yadu (Shri Krishna ).He strengthened his kingdom by the construction of the fort of Masalpur .He beautified his capital by the construction of palaces ,gardens and temples.

From 1589 -1724 A.D. seven weak rulers occupied the throne leading the state on the anarchy and confusion .They were either mere puppet in the hands of rival baronial parties or were under the influence of the ministers of harem.But the last important ruler Maharaja Gopal Singh II was by far the most eminent prince of this dynasty.He over powered the hostile neighbours and the countries .By entering into alliance with Marathas for the payment of tribute he saved his kingdom from their raids.Throughout his region of about 33 years he kept himself engaged in extending the limits of his kingdom , punishing the rebels and providing means to his subject to improve their lot.He was also a great builder ,to whom Karauli is indebted for some of her building of Diwani -Am , Tripolia , Nakkarkhana and city wall raised after Mugal pattern.Out of devotion towards Vishnu he constructed the temples of Gopal and Madanamohan .

Gopaladas has three sons Dwarika Das ,Mukund Das and Tursam Bahadur.From Gopal das are descended two of the most important offshoots of the Karauli house ,the Muktawats of Sir Mathura , Jhiri ,and Sabalgarh ,and the Bahadur ke Jadon sprung from the Tursam Bahadur ,who obtained Sabalgarh , Bahadurpur , and Bijaipur .

Gopal Das 's grandson Mukund Das (1586) was ancestor of the still numerous families of Mukund Jadons .His son Chatar Man (1632) was ancestor through his son Bhup Pal ,Rao of the Inaiti ,one of the five chief nobles of Karauli  ,and through another son Shast Pal of the Manoharpur Kotri .

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Author- Prof.Dr Dhirendra Singh Jadaun
Village-Larhota,Sasni District-.Hathras ,U.P
Principal,Govt Girls P.G College ,Sawaimadhopur 
Rajasthan