Nagvanshis of Chotanagpur

The origins of the Nagvanshis are shrouded in mystery.[6]

Nagvanshi claim descent from Nagas.[7][8] According to Nagvanshavali, Nagvanshi dynasty originated with Pundrika Naga. According to the story, to avoid killing by Raja Janamejaya the king of Hastinapur, Pundarika Naga assumed the persona of a Brahmin and studied shastras in the house of a Brahmin in Varanasi. Brahmin impressed by intelligence and grace of his pupil got married his daughter Parvati to him. Due to his forked tongue, he always slept with his back to his wife. Wife becomes curious to know about the secret. To avert the question, Naga proposes to do a pilgrimage to Puri. On the way in Jharkhand, wife gave birth to a child. According to custom, secret desire of wife or husband should be fulfilled. Naga compelled to disclosed his identity, assumed the form of Cobra and plunged into the water. Out of grief wife committed Sati. At that time a Brahmin named Janardan while holding sun idol came to see that the Pundarika Naga guarding his child. Pundarika Naga told his story. The Brahmin named the child Fani Mukut Rai. He took the child to the house of Madura Munda the chief of Sutiambe village. Madura adopted and brought the child up with his son of the same age. Madura convened the paraha chief and other Raja, where Fani Mukut Rai became Raja due to his qualities. Phani Mukut Rai was succeeded by his son Mukut Rai. His empire was named ‘Nagpur Des’. According to Nagvanshi tradition, the dynasty was established by Raja Phani Mukut Rai. However, the story of Phani Mukut Rai is mostly considered to be a myth.[9][10]

According to different source, the dynasty was founded in the 5th century AD as a successor state to the Gupta Empire. Phani Mukut Rai was first king.[11][5]

According to "Nagvanshavali", Phani Mukut Rai was founder of Nagvanshi dynasty in 1st century. However the story mostly considered to be a myth.[9]

In 12th century, Raja Bhim Karn was ruling from Khukhragarh.[12] There are several ancient palaces, temples, coins and pottery remains found in these places. The remains of the idol of the Sun Temple have been found near Pithoria in Ranchi district and they have been dated to the 12th Century AD.[13][14][15] Sometime between 1098-1113, the Nagvanshis began ruling from Khukhragarh and Mirza Nathan refers to the region as Khokhradesh.[1] In 1585, There was mughal invasion during reign of Raja Madhu Singh. He became a tributary to the Mughals. Raja Durjan Sal was taken to Prison in Agra for withdrawal of his relationship with Mughals, later he was released for identifying real diamonds. He built palaces, temples and ponds in Navratangarh. Raja Raghunath Shah(1665-1706) was a tributary to the Mughals. During his reign, Raghunath Shah built several temples, including Madan Mohan temple in Boera and Jagannath temple. He was succeeded by his son Yadunath Shah (1706 - 1724).[16]

Navratangarh fort

In 1719, during the reign of Emperor Muhammad Shah, Sarbuland Khan was appointed as the Subedar of Bihar Province. He first settled the Pargana of Sher and Sherghati under Irja Agoury. They proceeded towards the hills. Raja Yadunath Shah, to whom the ghatwal of Palamu, Ramgarh and Badam were subjects, sent Bedman Das Thakur as his agent and agreed to pay Rs. One Lakh as Nazrana. After this Mughal invasion, Yadunath Shah shifted the capital from Navratangarh to Palkot upon realising the weakness of the capital from a defensibility point of view. He was succeeded by his eldest son, Shivnath Shah(1724-1733). Due to non-payment of tribute, Fakhr-ud-daula invaded Khokhra in 1731. He faced considerable resistance from the Raja of Khokhra but both parties reached a compromise. The Subedar received Rs 12,000 from Ghatwal of Ramgarh on the account of Nagvanshi raja and Rs 5000 from Ghatwal of Palamu. When Fakhr-ud-daula was removed from the post of Subedar of Bihar Suba in 1733, the Khokhra chief discontinued payment of tribute to Mughals.[17] Nagvanshi were independent during weak Mughal rule.[18]

Jagannath temple at Ranchi built by king Ani Nath Shahdeo in 1691

After the Battle of Buxar, the East India Company got the right to collect revenue from Bihar, Bengal and Odisha. In 1772, Nagvanshi became a vassal of British rule. Between 1795 to 1800, Maratha invaded Chotanagpur and looted and collected revenue forcefully. The British stationed military forces at Chotanagpur to check the incursions of Marathas. Due to rebellion, refusal of payment of revenue by subordinate Jagirdar and Zamindar under Nagvanshi king, Chotanagpur was brought under direct control by British East India company in 1817 and they reduced Nagvanshi rulers to Zamindars. The Nagvanshi rulers shifted their capital from Palkot to Ratu in 1870.[19]

Chotanagpur in the map of Lower Bengal in 1870

The last ruler of Nagvanshi dynasty was Lal Chintamani Sharan Nath Shahdeo(1931 – 2014). Zamindari was abolished after independence of India in 1952.[14]

Following is the list of Nagvanshi rulers according to "Nagvanshavali" written by Beniram Mehta, and "Baishakh badi" by Drupnath Shahdeo which was given to Governor general of India in 1844.[12]

• Ani Nath Shahdeo, King of Barkagarh
• Vishwanath Shahdeo - Freedom fighter in 1857 rebellion
• Lal Pingley Nath Shahdeo - Jurist and political activist
• Lal Ranvijay Nath Shahdeo - Lawyer, Writer and Political activist
• Lal Vijay Shahdeo, Director
• Gopal Sharan Nath Shahdeo - Prince and Politician

• Nagvanshi
• Naga Kingdom
• Chota Nagpur Division
• Chota Nagpur Tributary States