Dhanga

Dhanga (r. c. 953–999), also known as Dhaṇga-deva in inscriptions, was a king of the Chandela dynasty of India. He ruled in the Jejakabhukti region (Bundelkhand in present-day Madhya Pradesh). Dhanga established the sovereignty of the Chandelas, who had served as vassals to the Pratiharas until his reign. He is also notable for having commissioned magnificent temples at Khajuraho, including the Vishvanatha temple.

Early life

According to the Khajuraho Inscription No. IV, Dhanga was born to the Chandela king Yashovarman and his queen Puppā (Puṣpā) Devī. The earliest inscription set up during Dhanga's reign is the Chaturbhuj inscription of 953-954 CE (1011 VS). Dhanga must have ascended the throne sometime before this. His ascension was probably undisputed, as his brother Krishna had been deputed to protect the kingdom's Malwa frontier.

Other inscriptions from Dhanga's reign include the Nanaora (or Nanyaura) inscription (998 CE) and the Lalaji inscription at Khajuraho (dated variously as 999 CE or 1002 CE CE). Some scholars have interpreted this as suicide, but according to Rajendralal Mitra, this was a conventional way of announcing a person's death.

Dhanga was succeeded by his son Ganda-deva. S. K. Sullerey (2004) dates the end of his reign to 999 CE. R. K. Dikshit (1976) dated the end of his reign to 1002 CE.