1881.] 
19 
Y. A. Smith —History of JBundelkhand. 
by Col. Sleeman in the following remarks: “ According to Sir William 
Sleeman, the fort of Singorgarh was built by Raja Belo, one of the Chandel 
Rajas of Mahoba. But none of my informants had ever heard of Raja 
Belo Chandel; and I have very grave doubts as to the Chandel rule having 
ever extended so far to the south.” 
“ The whole of this part of the country would appear to have belonged 
to the Parihars or Pratihars, as we find was actually the case in A. D. 1307, 
when these monoliths were erected. But the Pratihars were tributary to 
the great kings of Chedi, whose rule certainly extended as far north as 
Bharhut and Kalin jar. The latter place was recovered by the Chandels 
in the 11th century ; but the Kulachuris still held the country about 
Bharhut in the 12th century.” 
Sir William Sleeman, however, was an accurate and careful inquirer, 
and traditions recorded by him demand careful consideration, and although 
General Cunningham’s informants knew nothing of Raja Belo, there is 
some evidence of his existence, and also of the fact that Bilhari was at 
one time part of the Chandel dominions. 
It is true that the genealogies of the regnant Chandel princes given 
in the inscriptions do not include the name of Raja Belo or Bela, but it 
is also true that the name is included in all the bardie lists, and that it is 
traditionally remembered. 
The lake at Jaitpur, called the Bela Tal is supposed to be named 
after Raja Bel Brihm, and is said to have been constructed in the year 
1200 Sam vat = 1143 A. I). This date, which was that given to both 
Mr. Wigram and myself, is probably only a round number. Mr. Carne ) 
formerly Assistant Collector in charge of Mahoba and Jaitpur, was told 
that the exact date was 1268 S. =1211 A. D., but that date is certainly 
too late, the Chandels having lost Mahoba in 1182 A. D. 
A Bel Jclierci exists at Bijanagar near Mahoba, and at Ajnar there is 
an ancient well named Bela, and ascribed to the Chandels. 
Several instances are known of works ascribed by tradition to Chandel 
chiefs who find no place in the authentic lists of regnant monarchs; for 
example, the Ratan Sagar, with a fine temple on the embankment, at 
Urwara in Pargana Mahoba, and the Bars! Talao, with temples, near Pahra 
in the same pargana, are ascribed respectively to Ratan Brahm and Bar 
or Bal Brahm Chandels, and are evidently of Chandel origin. 
Bar Brahm (Bala Yarmma) is also believed to have built the fort of 
Barigarh, now in native territory, some ten miles distant from Mahoba. 
Bar Brahm and Ratan Brahm, like Bel Brahm, are included in the 
bardic lists. All three were probably, like Pratapa Yarmma and Sallak- 
shana Yarmma of the inscriptions, younger scions of the royal house, and 
really executed the works which bear their names. 
