Baghel Raja Virabhanu of Gahora or Bandho
By Janaki Prasada
Summary
A genealogical inquiry seeks to identify the ruler Virabhanu mentioned in late medieval records from central India. Different chronicles refer to him as the Baghel Raja of Gahora or of Bandhogarh, leading to confusion about his domain. The author collates evidence from copper‑plate grants, bardic genealogies and Mughal records to show that Virabhanu belonged to the Baghel dynasty of Rewa. He ruled in the late fourteenth or early fifteenth century and was a son of Raja Jayasimha, who had shifted the Baghel capital from Gahora to Bandhogarh to escape attacks by neighbouring chieftains. Virabhanu’s own epigraphs, however, continued to mention Gahora, perhaps because the old capital still held symbolic significance. The author suggests that the dual association of Virabhanu with Gahora and Bandhogarh reflects the transitional phase in Baghel history when power centres shifted. He also notes that Virabhanu fortified Bandhogarh and patronised local temples, and that his descendants played a role in resisting Afghan and Mughal incursions. By disentangling the sources, the article assigns Virabhanu his proper place in the Baghel lineage and clarifies the regional history of the Rewa state.
Conclusion
This genealogical note demonstrates the value of cross‑referencing chronicles, inscriptions and local traditions to resolve questions of identity. By correctly situating Virabhanu as a Baghel ruler of Bandhogarh who retained ties to Gahora, the author illuminates the fluid nature of political centres in medieval central India and dispels confusion in later historical writing.