User:Jethwarp/Chawda

The Chawda / Chavda / Chowra / Cahuda also known as Chapa / Chavotaka / Chapotkata  is a royal Hindu clan that ruled parts of western and central India from the 10th to 13th centuries. The Chawda clan can be found among the Rajput communities of Gujarat and also among converted communities like Kolis and Mahyavanshi.

It is stated in Bombay Gazetteer that Chavdas/Chapa were Gurjars. Historians such as Vincent Arthur Smith, Peter N. Stearns, William Leonard Langer also mentioned that Chapas or Chapotkatas were one of the ruling clans of the Gurjars.

History
Historian Vincent Arthur Smith states in his book "White Hun' Coin of Vyaghramukha of the Chapa (Gurjara) Dynasty of Bhinmal" that Chapa, Cahuda, Chavda, Chavotaka and Chapotkata are identical. Mr. Jackson regards Chapa as being the original form, Chapotkata a sanskritized variant, meaning 'strong bowman'. The chavda was a branch of the Gurjars who extended the power of the race in the south.

However, others believe, that Chawuras of Saurashtra or Gujarat were neither of Solar or Lunar race and consequently, it is supposed they were Scythians. They must have established themselves in India at very remote period, for we find Gehlots inter-married with them, when they were rulers of Balabhi. The capital of Chawdas was at Deobander, near Somnath on west coast of Kathiawar.

They settled down in Gujarat and later Saurashtra. The Chapa rulers were also titled as Rana. Therefore they were also known as Chaprana.

History
Panchsar, a city in north Gujarat, was capital of Chapa Gurjara dynasty at the time of Jayshikhari Chawra. He was assassinated even before his son Vanraj Chavda was born. Vanraj Chavda went on to be the most successful Chawra ruler, founding historical cities such as Anhilpur Patan and Champaner.

There were five Chawra kings after Vanraj. The last king Samantsinh Chawra did not have any children so he adopted his nephew Mulraj Solanki who overthrew him in 942 and set up what came to be known as the  Solanki dynasty.

Chavda dynasty have also ruled over Kutch in medieval period 921 to 1500. The last noted king of Chawda dynast in Cutch was Waghum Chawda. Apart from that on Bhuwad Chawda, who ruled from Bhuwad is also noted by historians. It was after Chawda dynasty became weak Jadeja emerged as powerful and ruled Kutch until India's independence.

In Saurahstra, Chavda kings once held sway over Port of Diu, Dwarka, Wadhwan, Prabhash Patan, Shiyalbet, Harshad (Minalpur), Chorwad, Koylana-Ghed, okha etc. Further, Varsoda Principality in Gujarat was ruled by Chawda kings until Independence of India in 1947.