Bappa Rawal

Bappa Rawal was a semi-legendary ruler of the Mewar region in Rajasthan, India. The bardic chronicles describe him as a member of the Guhila (Gahlot) clan of Rajputs, and some of these describe as the founder of his dynasty. Several historians have identified him with Kalabhoja, a ruler of the Mewar branch of the Guhilas.

Bappa Rawal has not been mentioned in the 977 CE Atpur inscription and the 1083 CE Kadmal inscription, both of which record a detailed genealogy of the Guhila dynasty of Mewar. However, he does find a mention in the 959 CE Unawas inscription and the 971 CE Ekling inscription. Some scholars such as C. V. Vaidya, D. R. Bhandarkar, G. H. Ojha, and Kaviraj Shyamaldas believe that "Bappa Rawal" is not a proper noun. Rawal is a royal title, and Bappa means "father".

According to the Atpur and Kadmal inscriptions, the Mewar Guhila ruler Mahendra was succeeded by Kalabhoja. Several historians, such as G. H. Ojha, have identified Bappa Rawal as Kalabhoja. This identification is based on the fact that the 977 CE Atpur inscription mentions Khumana as a son of Kalabhoja, and the 1404 CE Uparaganva (Dungarpur) inscription of Maharawal Pata names Khumana as the son of Bappa Rawal. R. V. Somani endorses this identification, but cautions that the evidence is not conclusive: Bappa Rawal may have been a different ruler who belonged to another branch of the Guhilas.

The 1460 CE Kumbhalgarh inscription suggests that Bappa Rawal was another name for the Mewar Guhila king Shiladitya, the great-grandfather of Kalabhoja. Based on this Dasharatha Sharma and D. C. Sircar have identified Bappa Rawal with Shiladitya. However, R. V. Somani notes that this inscription contains several errors, including naming Bappa Rawal as the father of Guhadatta (who was the founder of the dynasty according to other inscriptions).

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