Chudasama

The Chudasama are a Rajput clan found in the state of Gujarat in India. The Anthropological Survey of India, which relies heavily on sources compiled during the period of the British Raj, notes that they are "an offshoot of the Samma tribe, probably of Turk origin who entered India during the seventh or eighth century and are found in Kachchh, Junagadh and Jamnagar districts." They claim to be originally of the Abhira clan from Sindh.

According to historian Virbhadra Singh, the Chudasama are descendants of the Samma-Yadavas of Nagar-Samai in Sindh, who came over from Sindh probably in 9th century.

Harald Tambs-Lyche believes that there is evidence, based on myths, that a Chudasama kingdom existed at Junagadh in the Saurashtra region of Gujarat. The dynasty is traditionally said to have been founded in 875 CE and around 1030 received assistance from members of the pastoralist Ahir community in order to restore its power following a conquest of the kingdom by the king of Gujarat. The Chudasamas are sometimes referred to as the Ahirani Ranis, and Tambs-Lyche says that, "The structure of the Chudasama state ... seems to have been an alliance between a small royal clan — later to be classified as Rajputs — and the Ahir tribe." In 'Duyashraya' and 'Prabandh Chintamani' the King of Wamanasthali is described as 'Ahir Rana' and the term fairly be applied to Chudasama prince Noghan as he was placed on throne by the aid of the Ahirs.

The last of these kings, Mandulak Chudasama, was forcibly converted to Islam in 1470 by Mahmud Begarha, who also annexed the state. Begarha had attacked the Chudasama kingdom, which was known as Girnar, on several previous occasions.

See also

• Jethwa
• Sodha
• Devat Bodar