- published: 03 Jul 2015
- views: 1837
The Chavda Kingdom or Chapa dynasty also known as Gujar Chaparana was an ancient Hindu Kshatriya dynasty which ruled northern Gujarat from 746 AD to 942 AD.
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.
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.