Chudasama

The Chudasamas were the longest-lived Hindu dynasty of Saurashtra, ruling from Vamanasthali and later Junagadh from the late ninth century to 1472. Bardic tradition calls the founder Chudachandra, son of a Samma chief of Sindh; chronicles connect the family with the lunar Yadava line.

Early kings fought repeated wars with the Chaulukyas of Anahilavada. Navaghana rebuilt Uparkot fort at Junagadh, and its Navghan Kuvo well and Adi Kadi stepwell are attributed to him. Mandalika I, the first ruler known from inscriptions, was on the throne when Alauddin Khalji's armies invaded Gujarat.

The dynasty afterwards held on as independent kings or vassals of the Delhi and Gujarat sultans. Its end came in 1472, when Mahmud Begada defeated Mandalika III, forced him to convert and annexed Junagadh, making the Chudasamas the last major Hindu dynasty of the peninsula.