From the legendary Amazons of Greek mythology to Queen Boadicea of Roman Britain, warrior women have fascinated the world for millennia. India, too, has its own share of indomitable women who proved themselves to be fierce fighters and skilled leaders.

From outlining military strategies to storming battlefields, these unflaggingly courageous Indian women were truly a force to be reckoned with. Rani Lakshmibai, Rani Abbaka Chowta, and Kittur Chenamma are three of the more well-known examples. However, there are many more whose stories have been forgotten.

Among these unsung warrior women is Naiki Devi, the Goan princess who went on to become the Chalukya queen of Gujarat and defeat the mighty Muhammad Ghori on the battlefield.

It has been rightly said that a woman becomes a hundred times more powerful when she becomes a mother.

Here is a historical saga of a brave mother, a young Chalukyan queen, an untold tale of how Naiki Devi etched her mark in the annals of history, who led a huge army with her young son tied to her lap against Mohammad Ghori on the battlefield.

Hundreds of enemy soldiers were slain by her flashing sword. She won!

We are delving into Naiki Devi, the Chalukyan queen of Gujarat, from the late 12th century. Lakshmi Bai of Jhansi fought in battle with her young son tied to her back. That was how brave mothers of India fought on the battlefield in the bygone days! But do we get to read in detail about their heroic and inspiring feats in our history textbooks?

No!

Naiki Devi was the daughter of Paramardin, the Kadamba chief of Goa. According to one account, Paramardin has been identified with Mahamandalesvara Permadi, also called Sivachitta, a Goan chief.

Naiki Devi was married to king Ajayapala of Gujarat. Ajayapala, who belonged to the Chaulukya (Solanki) dynasty, ascended the throne of Gujarat in 1171. The Chalukyan kingdom included parts of Gujarat and Rajasthan with the capital at Anahilavada, modern Patan. This dynasty was founded by Mularaja in 940 CE after supplanting Samantsimha, the last ruler of the Chapotkata dynasty. The Chalukyas here were also known as Solankis and Agnivanshi Rajputs.

Ajayapala’s rule was short-lived. He died in 1175. After his death, his elder son Mularaja II became his successor. But as he was a minor, his mother Naiki Devi acted as the Queen Regent. She looked after the complete administration and military affairs of the kingdom. Besides, she trained herself in the art of warfare to lead possible future battles.

During this time, Mu’izz ad-Din Muhammad of Ghor, also called Mohammad Ghori, was the Sultan of the Ghurid Empire in Afghanistan. The Ghurids were originally Buddhists but converted to Islam after Mahmud of Ghazni conquered Ghor in 1011. Mohammad Ghori ruled Ghor along with his brother Ghiyath ad-Din Muhammad.

The year was 1173 and the young Ghurid prince, Muhammad Shahabuddin Ghori (his royal title was Mu’izzuddin), had just conquered the Ghaznavids in Afghanistan. An ambitious ruler, he did something which Alexander’s troops, the Persians, the Arabs, and even Mahmud of Ghazni could not — conduct successful raids deep into the heart of Indian territory.

It was Mohammad Ghori who laid the foundation of Muslim rule in India. Do you know his first expedition of attacking, looting, and plundering India was foiled by Naiki Devi? After capturing Multan in 1175, Mohammad Ghori made plans to attack India. He heard a lot about the wealth and riches of India.

Muhammad Ghori’s first invasions were on the states of Multan and the fortress of Uch. After capturing Multan and Uch, he turned southwards towards the southern Rajputana and Gujarat.

His target? The prosperous fortified town of Anhilwara Patan.

Established by Vanraj of the Chapotkata dynasty in the 8th century, Anhilwara Patan was the capital of the Chalukya (also known as the Solankis) who supplanted the Chapotkatas. According to American historian Tertius Chandler, the ancient citadel was the tenth-largest city in the world in the year 1000, with a population of approximately 100,000.

With a base at Multan, Mohammad Ghori marched with a huge army to Uch, the southern part of Pakistan’s Punjab province. From there the Muslim army crossed the desert and started marching towards Anhilwara, the Chalukyan capital in 1178. 13th-century Persian historian Minhaj-i-Siraj wrote about Muhammad of Ghor advancing towards Anahilavada, the Chaulukya capital through the routes Uchchha and Multan. Ghori did learn about Gujarat being ruled by a boy. Little did he know that the Chalukyan army would offer stiff resistance under the leadership of the boy’s mother Naiki Devi!

Interestingly, it was this very fact that had made Ghori confident about capturing Anhilwara — he assumed that a woman and a child would not provide much resistance. He would soon learn otherwise.

Meanwhile, Naiki Devi heard from her spies about the advancing Muslim army towards her capital. She heard their forces were huge. Immediately, she sought help from neighboring feudatory rulers, namely Jalor Chahamana ruler Kirtipala, Arbuda Paramara ruler Dharavarsha, Naddula Chahamana ruler Kelhanadeva, and more. They agreed to help.

The daughter of the Kadamba king of Goa, Naiki Devi was well-trained in sword fighting, cavalry, military strategy, diplomacy, and all other subjects of statecraft. Undaunted by the prospect of Ghori’s imminent attack, she took command of the Chalukyan force and threw herself into organizing a well-planned opposition to the invading army.

She did receive aid from Chalukyan feudatories such as the leaders of the Naddula Chahamana clan, the Jalor Chahamana clan, and the Arbuda Paramara clan.

Realizing that this wasn’t enough to defeat the massive hordes of enemy soldiers, the astute Naiki Devi carefully planned a battle strategy that would even out the odds. She chose the rugged terrain of Gadaraghatta — an area at the foot of Mount Abu near the village of Kasahrada (in the modern-day Sirohi district) — as the site of the battle.

The narrow hill passes of Gadaraghatta were unfamiliar ground for Ghori’s invading army, giving Naiki Devi a huge advantage and balancing the odds in one masterful move.

Mohammad Ghori camped at Kayadara near Mount Abu and sent a messenger to the court of the Chalukyan queen with a condition that he would not attack, loot, and plunder Gujarat if the queen herself surrendered to Ghori along with her sons and handed over to him all of the gold and women of the Chalukyan kingdom.  

The queen pretended to agree.

Mohammad Ghori waited in his camp for the arrival of the queen, her sons, gold, and women. Naiki Devi approached the camp on a horse with her minor son Mularaja II tied to her lap. Approaching hoofs alerted the Ghurid Sultan. He was overjoyed that the queen easily accepted defeat and accepted his conditions.

Soon, the sound of more hoofs followed, and then it was unending.

The fierce warrior queen rode into the battle with her son on her lap, leading her soldiers in a fierce counter-offensive. What followed was a rout. In the battle that ensued (known as the battle of Kasahrada), the outnumbered Chalukyan army and its troop of war elephants crushed the invading force that had once beaten the mighty sultans of Multan in battle.

The combined forces of the Chalukyan army led by Naiki Devi surrounded the camp of Mohammad Ghori. A fierce battle ensued between the two forces. Soon the Battle of Kasahrada witnessed major casualties from Ghori’s army. Swords and spears clashed amid war cries. Naiki Devi tore into the enemy forces killing the enemy soldiers on either side with her sword. As she fought, her son watched the fast-dwindling enemy forces from her lap!

Firishta, a Persian historian from the 16th century mentions how the ruler of Gujarat defeated the Muslim army “with great slaughter”. Ghori’s army was badly defeated. The Sultan and the remaining Muslim army fled from the battlefield. Chalukyan army chased them out of the territories of Gujarat.

Besides Firishta, Minhaj-i-Siraj wrote how the huge Chaulukya army with elephants defeated Ghori. In his words, “the army of Islam was defeated and put to rout”. 16th-century Muslim historian Badauni also mentions Ghori’s defeat. He also mentions how the ‘remnant of the defeated army’ returned to Ghazni out of great difficulty.

Facing a major defeat, Ghori fled with a handful of bodyguards. His pride was shattered, Mohammad Ghori was so badly defeated in this expedition that he never again attacked Gujarat in his life!

As for the Battle of Kasahrada, had the indomitable queen of the Chalukyas not taken charge, it is quite likely that the history of India would have been very different. Interestingly, Naiki Devi’s victory finds several mentions in the accounts of the state chroniclers of Gujarat as well as Chalukyan inscriptions.

For instance, Gujarati poet Someshwara’s works mention how the army of ‘Bala’ Mularaja (infant king) had defeated the lord of Turushkas (Turkish people) and crushed the mlechchha (foreign) army. Another poet, Udayaprabha Suri, states in his Sukrita-Kirti-Kallolini, that Naiki Devi’s army had defeated the Hammira (Sanskrit form of Emir) and his mlechchha army, whose soldiers were covered from head to toe in order to protect themselves.

Furthermore, a Chakukyan inscription from the reign of Bhima II (Mularaja II’s brother and successor) states that even a woman could defeat the Hammira during the reign of Bala Mularaja.

Minhaj-i-Siraj, a 13th-century Persian chronicle, also mentions the Chalukyan victory in his account. According to him, Muhammad of Ghor marched towards Nahrwala (Anhilwara) via Uchchha and Multan. “The Rae (king) of Nahrwala was very young but commanded a huge army with war elephants.”

In the ensuing battle, “the army of Islam was defeated and put to rout”, and the invading ruler had to return without any accomplishment.

The 16th-century writer Badauni also mentions the invader’s defeat and states that he retreated to his homeland with great difficulty.

However, the most detailed account of the Battle of Kasahrada can be found in the works of 14th-century Jain chronicler Merutunga who describes how Naiki Devi fought the mlechchhas at Gāḍāraghaṭṭa and conquered their leader.

One of the toughest women in the history of India, Naiki Devi’s unflagging courage and indomitable spirit are at par with the legendary Rani Laxmi Bai of Jhansi, Rani Tarabai of the Marathas, and Rani Chennamma of Kittur. Yet, little is written about her or her incredible story in the history books. It is time this changed.

TBI Trivia: Naiki Devi’s capital, Anhilwara or present-day Patan, is also home to a mesmerizingly beautiful stepwell called the Rani ka Vav. The intricately constructed 11th-century monument is a subterranean water storage system and was built by Queen Udaymati for her husband King Bhimdev I of the Chalukya (Solanki) dynasty.

Designed in the Maru-Gurjara style as an inverted temple highlighting the sanctity of water, it has seven levels of stairs, more than 500 principal sculptures, and over a thousand minor ones on its paneled walls!

Women warriors like Naiki Devi are the manifestation of Shakti, who have protected Dharma and the motherland for centuries. Women in Indian society have made immense contributions in upholding civilizational values as warriors as well as intellectuals. Hindu religious texts speak of ladies like Gargi, Maitreyi, Lopa Mudra, Ubhaya Bharati, etc. who were known for their debating skills and high intellect. Our history has vibrant female warriors like Rani Durgawati, Rani Lakshmibai, Velu Nachiyar, and Queen Abbakka who sacrificed their lives for the protection of their motherland. It is the need of the hour to celebrate the vibrant female historical icons of India who were committed to Dharma and present them as role models worthy of being followed for women empowerment.

References: 

Saffron Swords: Centuries of Indic Resistance to Invaders - Manoshi Sinha Rawal, Yogaditya Singh Rawal