Khengara (12th century king)

Khengara was a Chudasama king of Saurashtra region of western India who reigned in the 12th century.

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.

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".

Someshvara's Kirtikaumudi mentions that Jayasimha had defeated powerful Khengara of Saurashtra in battle as a lion kills an elephant.

[1] According to Puratana-prabandha-sangraha, Jayasimha's officer Udayana killed Khengara but it Jain chronicler Prabhachandra, in Prabhavaka-charitra, noted that he had died in the expedition against Navaghana.

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.

[2][7][8] The bardic accounts of Saurashtra represents the battle between Khengara and Jayasimha as a tragic romance of Ranakadevi.

[2][3][7] Several Sorathas (couplets) uttered by Ranakadevi in these bardic accounts evokes sadness but their usefulness as the historical material is doubtful.

[2] The Vividha Tirth Kalpa mentions that Sajjana, the governor of Saurashtra, built Neminatha temple on Girnar in VS 1185.

[2][4] Shri Simha Samvat connected with Siddharaja is mentioned in several inscriptions in Saurashtra around Prabhas which starts in VS 1170 (1114 CE).

For example, the inscription in the Sodhali Vav, a stepwell in Mangarol has a date in two eras; VS 1202 and Shri Simha Samvat 52.