Alhanadeva was a son of the Chahamana monarch
Asharaja. He succeeded his elder brother
Katukaraja on the throne of Naddula. He accepted the suzerainty of the
Chaulukya monarch
Kumarapala. Another of his brothers, Purnapaksha, ruled the Ratanpur principality as Kumarapala's vassal. Alhana commissioned a
Shiva temple at Naddula, and also made donations to the Chandaleshvara and Tripurusha temples. His queen Shankaradevi installed an idol of the goddess
Gauri with his benefaction. He also gave a monthly grant to the
Mahavira Jain temple at Naddula.
Temporary loss of Naddula While Alhanadeva was ruling at Naddula, the
Shakambhari Chahamanas invaded the Chaulukya territories, including the Naddula Chahamana kingdom. According to the 1152 CE
Kiradu inscription, Alhanadeva's rule was confined to the Kiratakupa (Kiradu), Latahrada (Gudamalani) and Shiva (
Sheo) areas, which he had received as a favour from Kumarapala. Naddula was being ruled by Kumarapala's own governor Pratapasimha, as attested by an 1156 CE Nadol inscription. By 1159 CE, another Chaulukya governor ran the administration at Naddula. This governor is variously known as Vayajladeva, Vaijalladeva and Vaijaka in historical records. However, by 1161 CE, Kumarapala had restored Alhanadeva's rule in Naddula. The reason for these changes at Naddula is not certain. Historian
Dasharatha Sharma theorizes that the Shakambhari Chahamana king
Arnoraja invaded and captured Naddula. Kumarapala defeated Arnoraja, and appointed his own governors at Naddula to ensure that the fort was well-defended. Later, Alhanadeva gained Kumarapala's confidence by performing well in his military campaigns. As a result, Kumarapala restored Naddula to Alhanadeva. A. K. Majumdar has a similar theory, but he believes that the invader was Arnoraja's successor
Vigraharaja IV. Later, when Vigraharaja turned his attention away from Naddula as a result of his northern campaigns, Kumarapala reinstated Alhanadeva as the ruler of Naddula. Historian R. B. Singh theorizes that when Arnoraja invaded the Chaulukya kingdom around 1150 CE, Alhanadeva joined him against Kumarapala. As a result, Kumarapala appointed his own governors at Naddula. This theory is based on a legend in the medieval chronicle
Prabandha Kosha, which states that the Naddula Chahamana ruler allied with Arnoraja against Kumarapala (although the text wrongly names Arnoraja's contemporary at Naddula as Alhana's successor
Kelhanadeva). This prompted Kumarapala to appoint his own governors at Naddula. However, later Alhanadeva came back to Kumarapala and supported him against the Shakambhari Chahamanas. As a result, he was given control of three districts (Kiratakupa, Latahrda and Shiva). Meanwhile, the control of Naddula remained in hands of Kumarapala's governors. Later, Alhanadeva pleased Kumarapala with his services in a southern campaign, as a result of which Kumarapala restored Alhanadeva's rule in Naddula. Later, Arnoraja's successor Vigraharaja subdued Alhanadeva.
Saurashtra expedition The
Sundha Hill inscription mentions that the
Gurjara king (that is, Kumarapala) sought Alhanadeva's assistance in curbing disturbances in the hilly part of
Saurashtra. The Nadol inscription of his descendant
Kirtipala also states that Alhanadeva defeated the Saurashtrikas. The
Kumarapala Charita chronicle suggests that this event happened in 1149 CE. According to
Prabandha-Chintamani, Alhana killed the
Abhira leader Sauṃsara (also called Saṃvara). == Family ==