Mandi Kingdom in Ancient Period

The early Mandi tradition reveals the rule in ancient times of petty chiefs called Ranas and Thakurs; the Ranas being Kshatriyas or Rajputs and Thakurs of some low caste. These ancient rulers were numerous and more powerfulin Mandi and the adjoining regions of Suket and Kulu and seem to have retained their idependence to a much later period than in any other part of the hills. A long drawn struggle over many centuries required to subdue them; and for long after subjugation, their will to regain indepen- dence, was not-tamed. The history of Mandi records this type of struggle.

The rulers and chiefs of Mandi, Suket, Keonthal and Kishtawar claim descent from common ancestor, of the Sen Dynasty of Bengal, of Chandrabansi Rajputs and from the Pandvas of the Mahabharata. The descendants of the common ancestor were three brothers, one of them named Vir or Bir Sen became the ruler of Suket.

Among Bir Sen’s descendants were two brother in about 1000 A.D., named Sahu Sen and Bahu Sen, Sahu Sen succeeded to the Gaddi of Suket, and Bahu Sen, the younger, quarrelled with the Raja and left the state and went to place in Kullu, and there established himself as a petty chief and was recognised as Rana. His descendant ruled there, whose names have been preserved in the following succession: (1) Nimata Sen (2) Narvahana Sen, (3) Kanavahana Sen (4) Suvahana Sen, (5) Vira Sen, (6) Samudra Sen, (7) Ken shana Sen, (8) Mangala Sen, (9) Jaya Sen, (10) Karanchena Sen. A name of a certain Samudra Sen occurs in a copper plate inscription of the Nirmand Temple in Kulu, whom Cunningham identifies with Sanmudra Sen of Mandi Vansavali. The later historians, however, reject Cunnin- gham’s observation on more scientific grounds, and point out that recent research makes it probably that Samudra Sen of Nirmand Temple inscription was a Raja of Spiti.