Khengara

Khengara was a Chudasama king of Saurashtra region of western India who reigned in the 12th century. His capital was at Junagadh. He was a contemporary of Jayasimha Siddharaja, the Chaulukya ruler of Anahilapataka. According to bardic tales, he was a son of Navaghana and had succeeded him.

Battle with Jayasimha Siddharaja Jayasimha's Dahod inscription (VS 1196/1140 CE) boasts that he imprisoned the king of Saurashtra; this is most probably a reference to his victory over Khengara. In Siddha-Haima-Shabdanushasana, Hemachandra has given two examples of grammar mentioning Jayasimha's victory over Saurashtra. The verses attributed to Ramachandra, disciple Hemachandra, in Prabandha-Chintamani of Merutunga, Jayasimha is referred as Giridurgamalla, i. e. the "Champion of the Giridurga or Junagadh". The Someshvara's Kirtikaumudi, the Puratana-prabandha-sangraha, and the Prabandhachintamani - all mentions Jayasimha's victory over Saurashtra.

Gulab Chandra Chaudhary opines that Merutunga, in Prabandha-chintamani, wrongly identifies Navaghana with Khengara; mentioning Navaghana in prose and Khengara in verses while all other sources mention Khengara. Jinaprabha's Vividh Tirtha Kalpa mentions death of Khengararaya by Jayasimha. Someshvara's Kirtikaumudi mentions that Jayasimha had defeated powerful Khengara of Saurashtra in battle as a lion kills an elephant. Prabhachandra, in Prabhavaka-charitra, also mentions that Jayasimha killed Khengara.

Bardic legends Khengara's vows

The Bardic accounts mentions that when Jayasimha ascended, Navaghana was the powerful ruler of Junagadh. Jayasimha had defeated and humiliated him. They say that his son Khengara was made to four vows by his dying father; to slay Harraj of Umeta, to destroy the fort of Bhoira, to break down the gate of Anahilapataka and to split the cheeks of a Charan named Mesan who had spoken disrespectfully of him. Along with fulfilling all other vows, Khengara broke the gates of Anahilapataka when Jayasimha was engaged in Malwa which enraged Jayasimha and he attacked Junagadh. The bards also mentions the Ranakadevi as the immediate cause of war.

Legend of Ranakadevi

The bardic accounts of Saurashtra represents the battle between Khengara and Jayasimha as a tragic romance of Ranakadevi.

The Saurashtra fell under the Chaulukyas by 1300 CE and the Chudasamas continued to rule Saurashtra as their feudatory till 1420 CE.

According to the Gazetteer of the Bombay Presidency, Khengara reigned from 1098-1125 CE and he was succeeded by his son Navaghana (1125-1140 CE), followed by Kavat (1140-1152 CE) and Jayasimha/Graharipu (1152-1180 CE). Though these dates are not reliable.