Global Hindu Heritage Foundation is pleased to inform that Bala Samskar Kendra Assam students learnt about Naiki Devi, the Gujarati Queen from Goa Who Defeated Muhammad Ghori.
Among these unsung warrior women is Naiki Devi, the Goan princess who went on to become the Chalukya queen of Gujarat and defeat the mighty Muhammad Ghori in the battlefield.
Here’s the untold tale of how Naiki Devi etched her mark in the annals of history.
The daughter of the Kadamba king of Goa, Naiki Devi was well-trained in sword fighting, cavalry, military strategy, diplomacy and all other subjects of statecraft. Undaunted by the prospect of Ghori’s imminent attack, she took command of the Chalukyan force and threw herself into organizing a well-planned opposition to the invading army.
Naiki Devi was daughter of Paramardi. One theory identifies this Paramardi as the Kadamba king Permadideva, but according to historian Ashoke Kumar Majumdar, she was likely the daughter of the Chandela king Paramardi (reigned c. 1165-1203 CE).`
She was married to Chaulukya ruler Ajayapala and had son named Mularaja, who later became king after his father's death. When her son succeeded his father as king in 1175, she became regent during the minority of her son.
In 1175, Muhammad of Ghor crossed the Indus, capturing Multan and Uch before penetrating in present-day Gujarat through the Thar Desert in 1178. Muhammad of Ghor was routed by Mularaja II and his Rajput allies from Nadol, Jalore and Abu at the Battle of Kasahrada. The location of battle is identified as a village named Kayandra near foothills of Abu hills. Persian chroniclers Minhaj al-Siraj and Ferishta mentioned that Muhammad of Ghor was routed by Bhima II (Mularaja brother and successor), although the epigraphic evidence confirmed that Maharaja II was ruling at the time of Ghurid invasion.
When Ghori had planned his attack, he underestimated the power of Naiki Devi. He thought that a woman and child would be of no resistance. But he was to learn otherwise soon.
Naiki Devi was well-trained in sword fighting.  She wasn’t afraid after listening to Ghori’s attack rather got herself and her army ready for a battle. She also requested assistance from Prithviraj Chauhan but he denied it. Later she did receive assistance from leaders of the Naddula Chahamana clan, Jalor Chahamana clan, and the Arbuda Paramara clan.
A smart Naiki Devi now planned to subdue the Ghori army. She chose the Gadaraghatta terrain an area near the foot of Mount Abu, the village of Kahsrada as the battle site. The narrow hill passes of Gadaraghatta were a less-known area for Ghori’s army, giving Naiki Devi a huge advantage and balancing the odds in one masterful move. Hence when Ghori and his army finally arrived at Kahsrada the queen rode into the battle with her son on her lap, leading her soldiers into a thrilling counterattack.
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