Katyuri Kings
Encyclopedia
The Katyuri Kings were a medieval ruling clan of Uttarakhand
believed to have descended from Shalivahan
ruler from Ayodhya. This links them with Suryavansha
. However, many historians have placed them with Kuninda rulers
and also of Khasa origins, who ruled over the Kumaon
region between the 6th and 11th centuries C.E.
The Katyuri kings are also thought to be of Shaka
ancestry, as Shalivahana, the king, is considered to be of Shaka stock . However, historians like Badri Dutt Pandey believe that the Katyurs came from Ayodhya.
They called their state Kurmanchal, the land of Kurma
, the second Avatar
of Vishnu
, which gives the region its present name, Kumaon
.
origin founded by Vashudev Katyuri . Originally, from Joshimath, during their reign they dominated lands of varying extent from the 'Katyur' (modern day Baijnath) valley in Kumaon, between 7th and 11th centuries C.E., and established their capital at Baijnath in Bageshwar district; which was then known as Kartikeyapura and lies in the centre of 'Katyur' valley..Brahmadev mandi in Kanchanpur District
of Nepal was established by Katyuris king Brahma deo.
At their peak, the Katyuri kingdom extended from Nepal
in the east to Kabul
, Afghanistan
in the west , before fragmenting into numerous principalities by 12th century . They were displaced by the Chand Kings
in 11th century AD. Architectural remains of the Katyur dynasty's rule can be found in Baijnath and Dwarahat
.
The Rajbar
dynasty of Askot
in Pithoragarh
, was set up in the 1279 AD., by a branch of the Katyuri Kings, headed by Abhay Pal Deo, who was the grandson of Katyuri king, Brahm Deo . The dynasty ruled the region until it became part of the British Raj
through the treaty of Sighauli in 1816 .
, and Katarmala, 15 km from Almora
. After their decline the Chand Kings
continued the tradition of patronizing royal arts in the region, chief example of the tradition is the Pahari
school of painting.
, who is considered to be the son of King Jhal Rai, and his temples are spread all over the state, in Chitai
, Champawat
, and at Ghorakhal, near Bhimtal
.
, and Malusahi, son of the Katyuri Kings of Bageshwar
.
and King Shalivahandev, who renovated the temples at Jageshwar
.
Uttarakhand
Uttarakhand , formerly Uttaranchal, is a state in the northern part of India. It is often referred to as the Land of Gods due to the many holy Hindu temples and cities found throughout the state, some of which are among Hinduism's most spiritual and auspicious places of pilgrimage and worship...
believed to have descended from Shalivahan
Shalivahana era
The Shalivahana era, also known as the Saka era, is used with Hindu calendars, the Indian national calendar, and the Cambodian Buddhist calendar. Its year zero begins near the vernal equinox of the year 78....
ruler from Ayodhya. This links them with Suryavansha
Suryavansha
The Sooryavamsham or Suryavansh or Suryavamsa or Sun Dynasty or Solar Dynasty was one of the most prominent dynasties in the mythical history of India, along with the "Chandra-vaṃśa" or Lunar Dynasty.-Introduction:...
. However, many historians have placed them with Kuninda rulers
Kuninda Kingdom
The Kingdom of Kuninda was an ancient central Himalayan kingdom from around the 2nd century BCE to the 3rd century, located in the modern state of Uttarakhand and southern areas of Himachal in northern India.-Kingdom:...
and also of Khasa origins, who ruled over the Kumaon
Kumaon Division
For Kumaoni/Kumauni People see Kumauni PeopleKumaon or Kumaun is one of the two regions and administrative divisions of Uttarakhand, a mountainous state of northern India, the other being Garhwal. It includes the districts of Almora, Bageshwar, Champawat, Nainital, Pithoragarh, and Udham Singh Nagar...
region between the 6th and 11th centuries C.E.
Common Era
Common Era ,abbreviated as CE, is an alternative designation for the calendar era originally introduced by Dionysius Exiguus in the 6th century, traditionally identified with Anno Domini .Dates before the year 1 CE are indicated by the usage of BCE, short for Before the Common Era Common Era...
The Katyuri kings are also thought to be of Shaka
Saka
The Saka were a Scythian tribe or group of tribes....
ancestry, as Shalivahana, the king, is considered to be of Shaka stock . However, historians like Badri Dutt Pandey believe that the Katyurs came from Ayodhya.
They called their state Kurmanchal, the land of Kurma
Kurma
In Hinduism, Kurma was the second Avatar of Vishnu. Like the Matsya Avatar also belongs to the Satya yuga.-Samudra manthan :...
, the second Avatar
Avatar
In Hinduism, an avatar is a deliberate descent of a deity to earth, or a descent of the Supreme Being and is mostly translated into English as "incarnation," but more accurately as "appearance" or "manifestation"....
of Vishnu
Vishnu
Vishnu is the Supreme god in the Vaishnavite tradition of Hinduism. Smarta followers of Adi Shankara, among others, venerate Vishnu as one of the five primary forms of God....
, which gives the region its present name, Kumaon
Kumaon Division
For Kumaoni/Kumauni People see Kumauni PeopleKumaon or Kumaun is one of the two regions and administrative divisions of Uttarakhand, a mountainous state of northern India, the other being Garhwal. It includes the districts of Almora, Bageshwar, Champawat, Nainital, Pithoragarh, and Udham Singh Nagar...
.
History
The Katyuri dynasty was a branch of KunindaKuninda Kingdom
The Kingdom of Kuninda was an ancient central Himalayan kingdom from around the 2nd century BCE to the 3rd century, located in the modern state of Uttarakhand and southern areas of Himachal in northern India.-Kingdom:...
origin founded by Vashudev Katyuri . Originally, from Joshimath, during their reign they dominated lands of varying extent from the 'Katyur' (modern day Baijnath) valley in Kumaon, between 7th and 11th centuries C.E., and established their capital at Baijnath in Bageshwar district; which was then known as Kartikeyapura and lies in the centre of 'Katyur' valley..Brahmadev mandi in Kanchanpur District
Kanchanpur District
-Basic statistics:* District: Kanchanpur* Headquarters: Mahendranagar* Area: 1610 km²* Total Population: 377,899* Literacy rate: 57.60% -Political divisions:* Political constituencies: 4...
of Nepal was established by Katyuris king Brahma deo.
At their peak, the Katyuri kingdom extended from Nepal
Nepal
Nepal , officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, is a landlocked sovereign state located in South Asia. It is located in the Himalayas and bordered to the north by the People's Republic of China, and to the south, east, and west by the Republic of India...
in the east to Kabul
Kabul
Kabul , spelt Caubul in some classic literatures, is the capital and largest city of Afghanistan. It is also the capital of the Kabul Province, located in the eastern section of Afghanistan...
, Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
in the west , before fragmenting into numerous principalities by 12th century . They were displaced by the Chand Kings
Chand Kings
Chand Kings were a medieval Raghuvanshi Rajput ruling clan of Kumaon region of the Uttarakhand state of India, which ruled the region after the decline of Katyuri Kings in 11th century AD., and continued till the rise of the British in 18th century....
in 11th century AD. Architectural remains of the Katyur dynasty's rule can be found in Baijnath and Dwarahat
Dwarahat
Dwarahat is a town and a nagar panchayat in Almora district in the state of Uttarakhand, India.-Geography:Dwarahat is located at . It has an average elevation of 1,510 metres .-Demographics:...
.
The Rajbar
Rajbar
Rajbhar or Rajwar was the title of the erstwhile medieval Kings of Askot in Pithoragarh district of the Kumaon region of the Uttarakhand state of India.-Origin:...
dynasty of Askot
Askot
Askot or Askote is a small Himalayan town in Pithoragarh district of Uttarakhand in India. It is the part of Kanalichhina development Block and Didihat Tehsil....
in Pithoragarh
Pithoragarh
Pithoragarh, is a city with a Municipal Board in the Pithoragarh district in the Indian state of Uttarakhand, was carved out of district of Almora in 1962.-Geography:...
, was set up in the 1279 AD., by a branch of the Katyuri Kings, headed by Abhay Pal Deo, who was the grandson of Katyuri king, Brahm Deo . The dynasty ruled the region until it became part of the British Raj
British Raj
British Raj was the British rule in the Indian subcontinent between 1858 and 1947; The term can also refer to the period of dominion...
through the treaty of Sighauli in 1816 .
Legacy
The Katyuri kings were great patrons of arts and as result even today the area around Almora district and Bageshwar district is dotted with hundreds of stone temples, most important being the temples at Baijnath , JageshwarJageshwar
Jageshwar is a Hindu pilgrimage town in Almora district, Uttarakhand, dedicated to Lord Shiva, located 36 km northeast of Almora, in Kumaun region...
, and Katarmala, 15 km from Almora
Almora
Almora is a municipal board, a cantonment town in the Almora district in the state of Uttarakhand, India. Almora was founded in 1568.It is a town bustling with activity and a rich cultural heritage and history. It is considered the cultural heart of the Kumaon region of...
. After their decline the Chand Kings
Chand Kings
Chand Kings were a medieval Raghuvanshi Rajput ruling clan of Kumaon region of the Uttarakhand state of India, which ruled the region after the decline of Katyuri Kings in 11th century AD., and continued till the rise of the British in 18th century....
continued the tradition of patronizing royal arts in the region, chief example of the tradition is the Pahari
Pahari painting
Pahari painting is an umbrella term used for a form of Indian painting, originating from Himalayan Hill kingdoms of North India, during 17th-19th century...
school of painting.
Golu Devta
One of the Katyuri kings, is still venerated all over the state, as Golu DevataGolu Devata
Golu Devata or Lord Golu is the legendary mythological and historical God of the Kumaun region of Uttarakhand state of India and is their the much loved deity...
, who is considered to be the son of King Jhal Rai, and his temples are spread all over the state, in Chitai
Chitai
Chitai is a place on the Almora-Pithoragarh highway, six km from Almora towns in the Uttarakhand state of India. This place is famous for the temple of Golu Devata or Lord Golu....
, Champawat
Champawat
Champawat is a town and a nagar panchayat in Champawat district in the state of Uttarakhand, India. It is the administrative headquarters of Champawat district.-Mythology:...
, and at Ghorakhal, near Bhimtal
Bhimtal
Bhimtal Lake is a lake in the town of Bhimtal, Uttarakhand, India. There is an island at the centre of the lake. It is the largest lake in the only real lake district of India...
.
Rajuli Malushahi
Another popular legend of Rajuli-Malusahi relates to Rajuli, daughter of Sunpati Shauka, a local king of JoharShauka - Johar
The Shauka living in the Johar Valley of Goriganga river in Munsiyari Tehsil of the Pithoragarh district are also known as Johari or Johari Shauka. They are part of the larger Uttarakhand Bhotiya ethno-linguistic group, and one of the few of Uttarakhand tribes that shows a rich cultural heritage...
, and Malusahi, son of the Katyuri Kings of Bageshwar
Bageshwar
Bageshwar is a city and a municipal board in Bageshwar district in the state of Uttarakhand, India. It is also the administrative headquarters of Bageshwar district....
.
Baichaldeo
Other important Katuyri kings have been King Baichaldeo, who ruled the region around AlmoraAlmora
Almora is a municipal board, a cantonment town in the Almora district in the state of Uttarakhand, India. Almora was founded in 1568.It is a town bustling with activity and a rich cultural heritage and history. It is considered the cultural heart of the Kumaon region of...
and King Shalivahandev, who renovated the temples at Jageshwar
Jageshwar
Jageshwar is a Hindu pilgrimage town in Almora district, Uttarakhand, dedicated to Lord Shiva, located 36 km northeast of Almora, in Kumaun region...
.
Further reading
- Malushahi: The Ballad of Kumaon by Mohan UpretiMohan UpretiMohan Upreti was an Indian theatre director, playwright and a music composer, considered one of the pioneers in Indian theatre music....
. New Delhi, Sangeet Natak AkademiSangeet Natak AkademiSangeet Natak Akademi is the national level academy for performing arts set up by the Government of India.-History:...
, 1980.