RAI
DYNASTY
Rai
Dynasty
489 – 632
Capital : Aror
Religion : Hinduism, Buddhism
Government : Absolute Monarchy
Historical era : Classical India
• Established : 489
• Disestablished : 632
Area :
c. 600 1,553,993 km2 (600,000 sq mi)
Succeeded by : Brahmin dynasty
The
Rai Dynasty (c. 489–632 CE) was a kingdom during the Classical
period on the Indian subcontinent, which originated in the region
of Sindh, later part of Pakistan. The dynasty at its height ruled
much of the Northwestern regions of the Indian subcontinent. The
influence of the Rai's extended from Kashmir in the east, Makran
and Debal port (modern Karachi) in the west, Surat port in the south,
and the Kandahar, Sulaiman, Ferdan and Kikanan hills in the north.
It ruled an area of over 600,000 square miles (1,553,993 km2), and
the dynasty reigned a period of 143 years.
The
Battle of Rasil in 644 played a crucial role in their decline. The
battle resulted in the Rashidun Caliphate annexing the Makran coast.
The book Chach Nama chronicles the final demise of the Rai dynasty
and the ascent of the Hindu Chach of Alor to the throne.
Rai
emperors were patrons of Buddhism. They established a formidable
temple of Shiva in present-day Sukkur, Pakistan, close to their
capital in Aror. This is consistent with the historical accounts
from the times of Ashok and Harsh, as numerous monarchs from the
subcontinent never sponsored a state religion and typically patronized
all Dharmic religions.
History
:
B. D. Mirchandani stated, "Our knowledge of the Rai dynasty,
which is not a great deal, is derived entirely from three Muslim
chronicles of Sind." The history of the Rai and Brahman
dynasties is almost entirely derived from the Muslim chronicles,
especially the Chachnama and Shahnama. C. V. Vaidya recognizes
the dynasty as belonging to same Mori clan as the one which ruled
at Chittor. The dynasty was launched by Adi Rai in the year 3044
of the Kaliyuga era, i.e., 58 B.C. He is said to have been contemporary
of Vikramaditya of Dharanagari, Ujjain, to whom he professed allegiance.
His son Dev Rai succeeded him after 48 years. Sukh Dev Singh Charak
rose to power in the shifting political scene with the wane of the
Sassanid influence in the wake of the Hepthalite (White Hun/Huna)
invasions. Rulers issued silver coins bearing their likeness by
the 7th century.
The
Chachnama describes the Rai dynasty as a significant power of the
time, as well as the extent of Rai Sahiras' domain:
The limits of his dominions extended on the east to the boundary
of Kashmir, on the west to Makran, on the south to the coast of
the sea and Debal, and on the north to the mountains of Kurdan and
Kíkánán. He had appointed four Governors (Maliks)
in his kingdom: one at Brahminabad; and the fort of Nerun and Debal,
Luhánah, Lákhah. Sammah and the river were left under
his management. Another at the town of Siwis-tán; and Ladhia,
Chingán, the skirts of the hills of Rojhán up to the
boundary of Makrán, were given into his charge. The third
at the fort of Iskandah; and Báhíah, Stwárah,
Jajhór, and the supplementary territories of Dhanód
were given in his possession; and the fourth at the town of Multan;
and the towns of Sikkah, Karnd, Ishthar, and Kíh up to the
boundary of Kashmir were en¬trusted to him. The king himself
had his headquarters in the city of Aror, retaining Kurdán,
Kíkánán, and Bar-Hamas directly under his sway.
Demise
:
According to the Chachnama, the last Rai emperor, Rai Sahasi
II, died through illness without issue. By that time, Chach
was in complete control of the affairs of the kingdom. When Rai
Sahasi II was near death, Suhanadi explained to Chach that the kingdom
would pass to other relatives of the dying king in the absence of
any direct heir. Consequently, they hid the news of the king's death
until claimants to the throne were killed through conspiracy. Following
this, Chach declared himself a ruler and later married Suhandi.
This ended the Rai Dynasty and began the dynasty of a Brahmin dynasty
called Chach dynasty.
Six
months after death of Rai Sahasi his brother, Rana Maharath of Chittor,
challenged Chach in combat, claiming to be rightful ruler of the
Rai Dynasty. Chachnama states that Maharath was killed as the two
engaged in a duel, in which it was forbidden to mount a horse or
any other animal. During the duel Chach mounted a horse in order
to kill his rival.
Rulers
:
Andre Wink reports on the possibility of the corruption of the Sanskrit
names and renders them as related in parenthesis in the following
chronology of the Rai rulers of Sindh :
•
Rai Diwa ji (Devaditya), a powerful chief who forged alliance and
extended his rule east of Makran and west of Kashmir, south to the
port of Karachi and north to Kandahar. [citation needed]
• Rai Sahiras (Shri Harsha)
• Rai Sahasi (Sinhasena)
• Rai Sahiras II, died battling the King of Nimroz
• Rai Sahasi II, the last of the line
Source
:
https://en.wikipedia.org/
wiki/Rai_dynasty
