History And The Origin Of The Chahamana Rajputs! Great Prithviraj Chauhan-Dharti ka Veer Yoddha (The Brave Indian Warrior)

Chahamana Rajputs were the main out of the four Agnikula Kshatriyas-Chauhans, Parmaras ,Solankis & Pratiharas (Agnikula Kshatriyas are considered as another branch of Suryavanshi descent as per Hammari Mahakavya of 1400 AD). Chauhan Gotracharya: Samved, Somvansh, Madhyandini Shakha, Gotracharya is used for marriage relationships and has not changed from time immemorial. Chauhans are termed as Agnivanshi Rajputs. James Tod places it in the list of thirty six Royal races in Pulota,Harsha and later Sambhar and Ajmer had become power centres of Chauhan kings. Due to importance of Sambhar lake they have been called Shakambharishwar.

Important and relevant details of Chauhans Rajputs :

• Vansh- Agnivanshi,descended from Dhundhar, Rishi-Atreya,
• Common Ancestory– Cheema, Chahal, Chohan,Chahar,Chatha, Chillar.
• Branches: Sanchora,Songara,Lonia Hada,Deora,Bhadauriyas,chavan,Rajkunwar.
• Ruled in :Nadol, Jalor, Dhundhar ,Ajmer, Delhi, Haryana, Neemrana, Hadoti, Godwar, Awadh.

Vanshaval of Prithvirj Chauhan or Rai Pithora :

1)Vasudeva(c-6thcenturyCE) 2)Samantaraj(c 684-709 CE)Historian R B Singh identified legendary Manik Rai as the progenitor/restorer of Chauhan rule/dynasty in Sambhar by the grace of Shakambhari mata and was the lord of Ajmer & Sambhar in western Rajwara————– — ——– 30)Someshwara(1169-1178) 31)Prithviraj-III(1178-1192CE) 32)Govindraja -IV (1192CE) Banished by Hariraja for accepting muslim suzerainty. 33)Hariraja-(1193-1194CE) son of Someshwar, King of Supadaksha (Shakambhari Chahamana).He dethroned naphew GovindrajIV and ruled part of ancestral kingdom for brief period being defeated by Ghurids in 1194CE 34)Chahamanas of Ranthanbhor(1192CE-1301 CE) known as the Chahamanas of Ranthambhor and later as Soverigns.They were preceded by Chauhans of Shakambhari and succeeded by Delhi Sultanate(1206-1526).It was established by Govindraj as a vassal of Ghurids after the defeat of Prithviraj Chauhan. Chahamanas belonged to the Shakambhari-Sapadalakha-Shivalik containing 125000 towns and villages. Nagore town in Jodhpur is at the same distance from Sambhar.

As per saint shri Kanharam, in 10th century, Nagvansh -Chauhan sect came after Parihars were weakened -main places were Nagore and Sambhar.Chauhans did not let Arab, Turkey,Ghori Gajnavi enter India upto 200 centuries.Chauhans (Churu branch)-Gogas in 9th century defeated Md. Gajnavi but Gogaji was sacrificed in the battle.There is a Lokdevata Goga mela organised in villages.In ancient Nagvanshi Kshatriya came to be known as Chauhans with capital at Nagore.551 AD-Vasudev Nag was the ruler ,7th century-Nardev,8th century VigrahrajaII-Prithviraj-I,,Govindraj-II,1053-At the time of Govindraj III-due to interference of Arabs/Turks, the Chauhans shifted their capital to Sambhar.After that they shifted to yet safer place Ajmer in 1123(made capital by king Ajaypal who constructed Taragarh. Anoraj(1133-53), Vigrahraj-IV was a great king (1153-64)who constructed a sanskrit college in Ajmer.Later on the muslim invaders converted it into Dhai di ka jhonpara. Jagdev ,Prithviraj II,Someshwar Chauhan & then Prithviraj Chauhan(1178-92) became the ruler of Ajmer and Delhi.

Genealogical Tree of Chahamanas-39 Princes ruled from Anhal to Prithviraj Chauhan who was the last Hindu Emperor of India. 24 Branches/Shakhas : Chauhan,Hara, Khinchi, Songira, Deora, Pabia, Sachora, Goelwal, Bhadauria ,Nirwan,Malani,Purbia,Sura, Madrecha ,Sacrecha ,Balecha, Tasera, Chachera, Roj ,Chanda,Nikumba,Bhanwar,Bankat There are Lonia Chauhans found in Rajput,Jat and Gujjars and is a caste in itself.Adhana is found in Gujjars,Trehan in Punjab ,Lohan& Duhan are clan of haryanvi jats, khatris & Tarkan caste of Punjab.The Jats supported Chauhans in their battles for regaining power.

Princely states :

1)Ajmer (7th C-1365) 2)Ranthambhore(1236-1302) 3)Tulsipur (7th C-AD) 4)Devgarh Baria ,5)Bundi 6)Sirohi,7)Kotah, 8)Mainpuri:Raja Bhojraj-King of Mainpuri-the 8th in descent from Prithviraj Chauhan dynasty. Accession 1857/1953,Manchanna taluka was a part of Mainpuri distt.which originally belonged to the Nawab Wazir of Oudh who ceded it to East India Co.in1801. Pratap Rudraji left Neemrana in Samvat 1301 and established Mainpuri as Capital. Other successors were Dharakdevji, Pooranchan devji ,Karandevji ,Ghatamdevji,

Maharaj Tejsingh was the last Chauhan king of Mainpuri. 85 villages of Chauhans lie in western utterpradeshin the distt. of Bulandshahr,Aligarh,Agra etc. Village Davkoura lies in Bulandshahr having a population of 75% Chauhans. Three Lineages of Rajputs :

1) Suryavanhi (Solar dynasty),

2)Chandravanshi (Lunar dynasty)and

3)Agnivanshi (descent from Agni-the Hindu God of Fire)-The Chauhans, Parmaras, Solanki and Pratiharas. The 36 Rajput Clans :1) Badgujar Raghav,Bais,Gehlot,Parmar,Naru,Chauhan ,Nirwan (fought alongside Maharana Pratap against Akbar)Panwar,Solanki,Rathore, Tomar/Tanwar ,Kachhawa ,Sengar ,Balla ,Khurwar, Chawuru, Dahima/Dayma/Pundhir ,Dahiya,Byce,Gherwal,Nikumbh,Dewut,Johiya,Sikarwar,Dodiagh,Mer/Med,Sisodias ,Bhati ,Jadeja, Katoch ,Dhanetiya ,Dudhis ,Chandels , Bachhils, Jadauns.

Dynasties of Chauhan Clan:

1)Chahamanas of Shakambhari(Chauhans of Ajmer) 2)Chahamans of Nadula(Chauhans of Nadol) 3)Chahamans of Lata 4)Chahamans of Dholpur, 5)Chahamans ofJalore branched off from Chauhans of Nadulla 6)Chahamans of Pratapgarh 7)Chahamanas of Ranthambhor(branched off from Chauhans of Shakambhari)

Chahamanas of Shakambhari or Sambhar:They were the Hindu rulers who ruled parts of present Rajasthan and the neighouring areas called Sapadalaksha for around 400years from 7th century to 12th century.They were most prominent ruling clan categorised among Agnivanshi Rajputs with capital at Sambhar and were threat to the Gehlots in the SW region.They were preceded by the Gurjars-Pratiharas and Tomar dynasty and succeeded by Ghurid dynasty and Chahamanas of Ranthambhor.Until the 10th century ,they ruled as Pratihara vassals.After decline of Pratihara and Tripartite struggle the Chahamana ruler Simharaja assumed the title of Maharajadhiraja.In the early 12th century Ajayraj II moved the kingdoms capital to Ajmer due to which they are called the Chauhans of Ajmer. The setback came in year 1192 when Prithviraj-III was defeated in the IInd battle of Tarrain although this did not signify the end of the kingdom as it broke into Satpura and Deora branches after the invasion of Qutibuddin Aibak in 1197.The earliest Chauhan inscription on Copper plate is found at Hanslot.

Chahamanas originated as feudatories of the Pratiharas and rose to power in the wake decline of Pratiharas.Their state was initially centered around Sambhar.In the 11th century they founded Ajmer as capital. In 12th century Prithviraj acquired Delhi from maternal grandfather the then Delhi ruler Anangpal Tomar.The most famous ruler was Prithviraj Chauhan who won the first battle of Tarrain in 1191 against an invading muslim army but lost the second battle of Tarrain the following year in 1192. This loss was the landmark of the prolonged period of muslim rule over northern India.

As per Dashrath Sharma,the original habitat of Chauhan Raj: 1)Jangladesh(Pushkar) & Sapadalakaksha(Sambhar +NW area) 2)They moved northwards and conquered Delhi from Tomars. 3)Prithvirajvijaya puts Vasudevas capital a little to the east of Sambhar-which may have been Ananta distt. of Sapadalaksha. 4) The Harsha inscription(v-1020)shows that Ananta province situated near Sikar in Jaipur div. was Chauhans old seat of power.It was here that Tantrapala kshmapala tried to attack Vigrahraj-II grandfather Vakpati.It was here that Chauhans had the temple of their family diety Harshadeva. 5)Bijolia inscription regards Samanta as Samanta of Ananta Province 6)Ahichchatrapura 7)The Prithviraj vijay,Hammira and Surjana charita give Pushkar as Chahamanas birthplace-Pushkar rightly called Janglapradesh.

Important Capital cities :

1) AJMER :

It was founded by Ajayraj-II (C1110-1135CE) in the name of Ajaymeru(invincible hills) and served as Chahamana capital until the 12th century.It is surrounded by Aravalli mountains.It had been a muncipality till 1869.A enlogistic inscription issued by Vigrahraja-IV is found at Adhai din ka jhonpara states that Ajayadeva moved his residence to Ajmer.Dashrath Sharma notes that earliest mention of city name occurs in Palha’s Pattravali which was copied in 1113CE at Dhara. There is a black statue of Prithviraj Chauhan at his Smarak in Ajmer.

2)DELHI :

Anangpal Tomar founded Delhi.As per Harsha in 12th century Prithviraj’s place was near Kutub minar or Mehrauli .He defeated Anangpal Tomar and constructed a fort on the Indraprast fort ruins.He also made Surajkund near Tuglakabad.All the buidings were changed by Kuttubuddin.Chahaman kings of Ajmer conquered Lal kot in 1180 CE and renamed it Quila Rai Pithora.In 1206 after the death of Mohd.Ghori,Delhi became capital of Delhi Sultanate under slave dynasty of Ist Sultan Qutubudin Aibak (1206-10)who started the construction of Qutub Minar,a recognisable symbol of Delhi.

Mythological Epics :The Ajmer inscription of Shakambhari Chauhan ruler Vigrahraja IV (1150-64)claim that chahamana belonged to the Solar dynasty orginating from the Orbit of the Sun.The inclusion of Chauhans in Agnivansha may be traced back to recensions of Prithviraj Raso.Once Vashishtha and some sages began a major sacrificial ceremony in Mt.Abu.The ritual was interrupted by demon Dhundha .To get rid of the demon Vashistha created progenitors of the Rajput dynasty from the sacrificial firepit. These were Parihars,Solanki and Parmars who were not able to defeat the demons.So the sages prayed again and this time a fourth warrior Chahamana(Anhil) appeared and slayed the demons.Guru Vashistha took swearingg of 4 Aans-Satya,Dharma,Karm and Daya for Anhil.So he was named the follower of Chaarans & Chauhan. The earliest inscription describes the origin of the Chahamanas in 1119CE inscription Ratnapala -a ruler of Nadulla Chahamana dynasty.According to inscription, the ancestor of the Chahamana (a sanskrit word) was born from the eye of Indra.Prithviraj or Rai Pithora was born to father Someshwar and queen Karpuradevi .As per medieval biographies he was well educated.His particular proficiency was in Archery & mastered 6 languages .He was the epitome of courage and patriotism & ruled over two capitals of Ajmer & Delhi.He began his reign from 1177.He defeated Chandela king Parmadi. He was hostile towards king of Kannauj Jaichand Rathod whose daughter he married in the swayamvar he was not invited to.After the death of Prithviraj Chauhan it is believed that Sanyogita committed Jauhar to salvage her pride from Quttubiddin Aibak. The end of Prithviraj in 1192 weakened the Chauhan dynasty and it became part of the Delhi Sultanate. Chamundaraja (rc 1045-1065CE) was Indian king belonging to Chahamana dynasty.He ruled parts of present day Rajasthan & North western India. Preceeder-Viryarama /successor-Durlabhraja III.As per Dashrath Sharma ,Viryaram ,Vakpatiraja II & Chamundaraja were sons of Govindraja III.

Sher Singh Rana: A convicted murderer of dacoit-turned politician Phoolan devi ,was able to escape from Tihar Jail and after lot of planning & efforts and managed to reach Ghazni ,Afghanistan to bring back the relics of Prithviraj Chauhan. It was a great effort as a mark of respect for the great Indian warrior.

Historical dramas and Movies on Prithviraj Chauhan: 1)Dharti ka veer yoddha-Prithviraj Chauhan: A TV Serial-382 episodes,was originally released in 2006-2009.It was a historical drama broadcast on Star Plus based on Prithvirajraso played by Anas Rashid and produced by Sagar Pictures. 2)A movie titled Prithviraj is produced by Yashraj films and slated for release on Diwali of 2020 .Star Akshay kumar is in the lead role. 3)Animated movie Veer Yoddha (pc 2008)was released in English,Hindi,Tamil &Telugu 4)Medieval kavyas and epic poems by Hindu & Jain authors .These include the Prithvirajvijaya, Hammira mahakavya & Prithviraj Raso. PRV is the only surviving literary text from the reign of Prithviraj. PR Raso has popularised PR as a great king &purported to be written by kings court poet Chand Bardai but these can’t be authenticated for the purpose of history.

Readers may kindly note that most of the above information is courtesy Wikipedia (to which I am very grateful) for any corrections, additions & comments, contact this site so that necessary corrections may be made as per the verified & authentic information.