Ra Meliga, also known as Melaga or Maleka, was a Chudasamaking ofSaurashtra region of western India who reigned from 1400 CE to 1416 CE. He remove his capital from Vanthali back to Junagadh, from which place he expelled the thanadar appointed by Gujarat Sultan. Thus GujaratSultan Ahmad Shah I sent an army against Junagadh. He captured Vanthali and later Junagadh was besieged. Meliga left to a fort on Girnar hill which was inaccessible to the forces. So the forces left and placed two officers in Junagadh to collect tribute. Meliga died and was succeeded by his son Jayasimha II in 1416 CE.
Reign
Meliga succeeded his elder brother Mandalika II in 1400 CE. His fatherMokalasimha had to move the capital from Junagadh to Vanthali due to order from the Governor of GujaratZafar Khan on behalf of Delhi SultanFiruz Shah Tughluq who placed a thanadar. It seems that Meliga had played no role when Zafar Khan attacked Somnath temple in 1402 CE which was under repair. Meliga expelled the thanadar from Junagadh and again made it his capital. According to the Mandalika Kavya, he had sheltered a Jhala chieftain fleeing from Gujarat Sultan Ahmad Shah I. Mirat-i-Sikandari tells that, in 1413-14 CE, Ahmad Shah marched against Junagadh. On this occasion, Melinga fought a pitched battle with Ahmad Shah at Vanthali but was defeated and fled to Junagadh. Vanthali was taken by Ahmad Shah who then marched to Junagadh and took the lower fortress on five paliyas of people died in battle at Vanthali corroborate this event. The Mandalik Kavya, however, omits all account of the fight at Vanthali and represents that Meliga defeated Ahmad Shah and plundered his baggage but this is probably an exaggeration based on the Meliga's escape to the Girnar fortress and his avoidance of capture. In the Uparkot inscription, Meliga is styled the Yadav Rana of Jirandurg. He was succeeded by his son Jayasimha II in 1416 CE. Other inscriptions on paliyas mentioning his name are located at Mesavana, Vaghelana as well as on a stone in well at Vanthali dated VS 1472/1416 CE. He is also mentioned in genealogy of Revati Kund near Damodar Kund, Junagadh and Neminath Temple inscription on Girnar.
