Nala

Author:Laxman Burdak, IFS (R)

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Ancestry of Nala

Nala (नल) was a Suryavanshi Kachhawah Jat whose capital was Narwar. He defeated and killed Ghumasura who is believed to had defeated earlier even Indra, the god.

Variants

• Raja Nala
• Nalas
• Nala dynasty

Ancestry of Nala

Haris Chandra → Rohita → Harita → Champa (Founder of Champa) → Sudeva → Vijaya → Bharuka → Vrika → Bahuka - Sagara (m.Kesini) → Asamanjas → Ansumat → Dilipa → Bhagiratha → Sruta → Nabha → Sindhu Dvipa → Ayutayu → Rituparna (Friend of Nala) → Sarvakama → Sudas → Soudasa or Mitrasaha or Kalamasapada (m.Madayanti)

Mention by Panini

Nala (नल) is name of a place mentioned by Panini in Ashtadhyayi under Baladi (बलादि) (4.2.80.11) group.

Jat clans

• Nalla
• Nāla (नाला)

Jat Gotras Namesake

• Nala (Jat clan) → Naleshwar (नलेश्वर) is a village in Sindewahi tahsil in Chandrapur district in Maharashtra.

• Nala (Jat clan) → Naleshwar (नलेश्वर) is a village in Mul tahsil in Chandrapur district in Maharashtra.

• Nala (Jat clan) → Raneh is a village in Hata tahsil in Damoh district of Madhya Pradesh. Raneh is said to be founded by Raja Nala.

• Ranyal (Jat clan) → Raneh is a village in Hata tahsil in Damoh district of Madhya Pradesh. Raneh is said to be founded by Raja Nala.

History

Rajatarangini mentions that when Sussala became King of Kashmir second time in 1121 AD he faced difficulties. There happened a disaster on the bridge over the Sindhu, king was defeated but Renewal of war continued. It is mentioned that Ananda of the family of Kāka, Loshtasha, Nala and other renowned warriors in the Damara army were killed by the king's (Sussala) soldiers.

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Nalas (350-760) wre rulers of Bastar.

In the 4th or 5th century CE the Nala dynasty, with their headquarters in Pushkari near Umerkote, took control of the entire Bastar-Koraput region. The ruins of large temples and land grants indicate extensive civilizational development in the area. The Nalas fought several wars with the Vakatakas, the first of which they won handily and the second of which Pushkari was destroyed. Nala power was briefly restored by Skanda Varman, who rebuilt Pushkari, but was soon swept away by the Chalukyas. At the end of the 5th century CE, the Eastern Gangas came to control the area, but this period is little-known.

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The earliest history of the Gariaband district in Chhattisgarh is associated with Rajim. At the Rajiv Lochan temple, a 7th-century inscription records the king as Vilasatunga, most likely from the Nala dynasty. The region was controlled by a variety of powers, including the Mauryas and Guptas. The Kalachuris, who conquered the territory in the 10th century CE continued to rule there until Marathas invasions in 1742.

Nishadha Kingdom

Nala was king of Nishadha Kingdom. He was the husband of Damayanti and their story is told in the Mahabharata. Nala was known for his skill with horses and culinary expertise. His main weakness was gambling. He was possessed by the demon Kali.

Story of Nala

Genealogy of Suryavansha

Nala, also known as Nalachakravarti (Nala the emperor), was one of the Shatchakravarthins (six great emperors) in Hindu mythology. He was king of Nishadha Kingdom. He was chosen by Damayanti as husband in the swayamvara, a function in which the bride selects her husband from among the invitees, in preference to even the gods who came to marry her.

All the gods left the place praising the qualities of Nala and blessing the couple. But Kali vowed to divert Nala from the path of Dharma, or path of righteousness or virtue, and separate Nala and Damayanti. Such was the purity of Nala that it took twelve years for Kali to find a small fault in him and bewitch his soul. After being influenced by evil, Nala played dice or gambling with his brother Pushkara and lost all his wealth and the kingdom to Pushkara. Nala and Damayanti had to live in forests where they were separated. After undergoing many sufferings, in spite of which Nala did not deviate from the path of righteousness, Nala overcame the influence of Kali and regained his kingdom by defeating Pushkar. Nala and Damayanti were reunited and lived happily thereafter.

कृष्ण वंशावली में नल

बभ्रु के संयोग से कंक की कन्या ने कुकुर, भजमान, शशि और कम्बलबर्हिष नामक चार पुत्रों को जन्म दिया। कुकुर का पुत्र वृष्णि, वृष्णि का पुत्र धृति, उसका पुत्र कपोतरोमा, उसका पुत्र तैत्तिरि, उसका पुत्र सर्प, उसका पुत्र विद्वान् नल था। नल का पुत्र दरदुन्दुभि नाम से कहा जाता था ॥51-63॥ नरश्रेष्ठ दरदुन्दुभि पुत्रप्राप्ति के लिये अश्वमेध-यज्ञ का अनुष्ठान कर रहे थे उस विशाल यज्ञ में पुनर्वसु नामक पुत्र प्रादुर्भूत हुआ। पुनर्वसु अतिरात्र के मध्य में सभा के बीच प्रकट हुआ था, इसलिये वह विदान्, शुभाशुभ कर्मों का ज्ञाता, यज्ञपरायण और दानी था। बुद्धिमानों में श्रेष्ठ राजन्! पुनर्वसु के आहुक नामक पुत्र और आहुकी नाम की कन्या- ये जुड़वीं संतान पैदा हुई।

Notable persons

• Ram Ratan Nāla - IFS (2011), from Dodiana, tah:Degana, Nagaur. Cadre: Gujarat, DCF - GIR, Junagarh

• Suman Nala - IPS (2021), Gujarat. Earlier RPF (2016). She is from Dodiana, tah:Degana, Nagaur. She is wife of Om Prakash Jat (Kamedia),IPS (2017), VPO: Kalru, tah: Merta City, Nagaur, Rajasthan.

See also

• Damayanti - for the Story of Nala and Damayanti.

Reference

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