Biram Dev Songara

Who is Biram Dev Songara?

Biram Dev Sonigara was the son of Kahad Dev Sonigara who ruled Jalore, in the present-day Indian state of Rajasthan, in the 13th century CE. He belonged to the Sonigara sect of the Chauhan clan of Rajputs.

In 1298, Ala ud din Khilji's Mongol general Ulugh Khan asked permission of Kanhad Dev to march through Jalore to conquer Gujurat and destroy the temple at Somnath. When Kanhad Dev refused a war ensued.[1] In 1299 Ala ud din sacked the temple and broke the Shiva lingam that had been worshipped there. He was carrying the broken pieces back to Delhi when he was attacked and defeated by Kanhad Dev Sonigara's armies. Kanhad Dev's son Biramdev and trusted general Jaitra Deora were in charge of his army. The broken pieces of the Shiva lingam were recovered. Kanhad had them washed in water from the Ganges river, which was regarded as sacred, and then placed within various Shiva temples in and around Jalore. This story is recounted in the 16th century ballads Padmanabhama and Kanhad Dev.[2]