Kavat (king)
Kavat (Gujarati: કંવાટ) was a 10th century Chudasama king of Saurashtra region of western India mentioned in the bardic literature. According to bardic tales, he was captured and imprisoned by the chief of Shiyal Island. He was liberated by his maternal uncle Uga Vala, chief of Talaja, but had hurt his pride unknowingly. Kavat later marched against him and killed him near Chitrasar.
In bardic literature
Anant Chavda,[upper-alpha 1] the chief who held Shiyal Island off the coast of Saurashtra, near Jafrabad. He had captured several chiefs of villages on his island. He met Kavat on a ship near Prabhas Patan and captured him and confined him on the island. Kavat's maternal uncle named Uga Vala, chief of Talaja, came to knew about it so he invaded Shiyal Island and killed Viramdeva. When releasing Kavat, he accidentally hit him with his foot. So Kawat became angry and vowed vengeance on his uncle. He later marched against Uga Vala with an army, he defeated him, and killed him near Chitrasar.[2][3]
Dates and succession
According to bardic tales and folklore, he was a son and the successor of Graharipu and reigned from Vamanasthali (now Vanthali) possibly from 982 CE to 1003 CE. He was succeeded by his son, Dyas.[3]
Notes
- In some versions of the legend, the chief is referred as Meghanand Chavada. In some version he is referred as Viramdeva Parmar.[1]
References
- Parmar, Jayamalla. "સ્વધર્મ અને સ્વત્વરક્ષા માટે જે મરી શકતા નથી એ તો અમસ્તાએ જીવતે મૂઆ જેવા જાણવા!" (in Gujarati). Bombay Samachar. Retrieved 25 October 2017.
- Shastri, Keshavram Kashiram (1976). Parikh, Rasiklal Chhotalal; Shastri, Hariprasad Gangashankar (eds.). ગુજરાતનો રાજકીય અને સાંસ્કૃતિક ઇતિહાસ: સોલંકી કાલ [Political and Cultural History of Gujarat: Solanki Era]. Research Series - Book No. 69 (in Gujarati). IV. Ahmedabad: Bholabhai Jeshingbhai Institute of Learning and Research. pp. 134–135.