Sapadalaksha | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 551–1192 | |||||||||||||
 Coin of the Chahamana rulerVigraharaja IV,c. 1150 – c. 1164.Obverse:Rama standing left, holding bow; "sri ra ma" in Devanagari.Reverse: "Srimad vigra/ha raja de/va" in Devanagari; star and moon symbols below. | |||||||||||||
![Approximate territory of the Chahamanas of Shakambhari circa 1150–1192 CE.[1]](/mt/?noimg=&dark=on&url=http%3a%2f%2fen.wikipedia.org%2fwiki%2fFile%3aMap_of_the_Cahamanas.png) Approximate territory of the Chahamanas of Shakambhari circa 1150–1192 CE.[1] | |||||||||||||
| Status |
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| Capital | |||||||||||||
| Religion | Hinduism Jainism | ||||||||||||
| Government | Monarchy | ||||||||||||
• 6th century | Vasudeva (first) | ||||||||||||
| Hariraja (last) | |||||||||||||
| History | |||||||||||||
• Established | 551 | ||||||||||||
| 1192 | |||||||||||||
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| Today part of | India | ||||||||||||
TheChahamanas of Shakambhari (IAST: Cāhamāna), colloquially known as theChauhans of Sambhar orChauhans of Ajmer, were an Indian dynasty that ruled parts of present-dayRajasthan and neighbouring areas between the sixth and twelfth centuries in theIndian subcontinent. The territory ruled by them was known as Sapadalaksha. They were the most prominent ruling family of theChauhanRajput clan.[2]
The Chahamanas originally had their capital atShakambhari (present-daySambhar Lake Town). Until the 10th century, they ruled asPratihara vassals. When the Pratihara power declined after theTripartite Struggle, the Chahamana rulerSimharaja assumed the titleMaharajadhiraja. In the early 12th century,Ajayaraja II moved the kingdom's capital to Ajayameru (modernAjmer). For this reason, the Chahamana rulers are also known as the "Chauhans of Ajmer".
The Chahamanas fought several wars with their neighbours, including theChaulukyas of Gujarat, theTomaras of Delhi, theParamaras of Malwa and theChandelas of Bundelkhand. From 11th century onwards, they started facing Muslim invasions, first by theGhaznavids, and then by theGhurids. The Chahamana kingdom reached its zenith underVigraharaja IV in the mid-12th century. The dynasty's power effectively ended in 1192 CE, when theGhurid invaderMuhammad of Ghordefeated and executed Vigraharaja IV's nephewPrithviraj Chauhan.
According to the 1170 CEBijolia rock inscription ofSomeshvara, the early Chahamana kingSamantaraja was born at Ahichchhatrapura in thegotra ofsage Vatsa.[3] Historian R. B. Singh theorizes that the Chahamanas probably started out as petty rulers of Ahichchhatrapura (identified withNagaur), and moved their capital to Shakambhari (Sambhar) as their kingdom grew. Later, they became the vassals of theImperial Pratiharas.[4]
Several mythical accounts of the dynasty's origin also exist. The earliest of the dynasty's inscriptions and literary works state that the dynasty's progenitor was a legendary hero named Chahamana. They variously state that this hero was born fromIndra's eye, in the lineage of the sage Vatsa, in thesolar dynasty and/or during a ritual sacrifice performed byBrahma.[5] A popular medieval account classifies the dynasty among the fourAgnivanshi Rajput clans, whose ancestors are said to have come out ofsacrificial fire pit. The earliest sources to mention this legend are the 16th century recensions ofPrithviraj Raso. Somecolonial-era historians interpreted this myth to suggest a foreign origin of the dynasty, speculating that the foreign warriors were initiated into the Hindu society through a fire ritual.[6] However, the earliest extant copy ofPrithviraj Raso does not mention this legend at all. Instead, it states that the first ruler of the dynasty wasManikya Rai, who is said to have been born from Brahma's sacrifice.[7]
The core territory of the Chahamanas was located in present-dayRajasthan. It was known asSapadalaksha (IAST: Sapādalakṣa) orJangala-desha (IAST: Jangaladeśa).[8][9]
The term Jangladesha ("rough and arid country") appears to be older, as it mentioned in theMahabharata.[10] The text does not mention the exact location of the region. The later Sanskrit texts, such asBhava Prakasha andShabdakalpadruma Kosha suggest that it was a hot, arid region, where trees requiring little water grew. The region is identified with the area aroundBikaner.[11]
The term Sapadalaksha (literally "one and a quarterlakhs" or 125,000) refers to the large number of villages in the area.[12] It became prominent during the Chahamana reign. It appears that the term originally referred to the area around modernNagaur near Bikaner. This area was known asSavalak (vernacular form of Sapadalaksha) in as late as 20th century.[10] The early Chahamana kingSamantaraja was based in Ahichchhatrapura, which can be identified with modern Nagaur. The ancient name of Nagaur was Nagapura, which means "the city of the serpent". Ahichchhatrapura has a similar meaning: "the city whosechhatra or protector is serpent".[13]
As the Chahamana territory expanded, the entire region ruled by them came to be known as Sapadalaksha.[10] This included the later Chahamana capitals Ajayameru (Ajmer) and Shakambhari (Sambhar).[14] The term also came to be applied to the larger area captured by the Chahamanas. The early medieval Indian inscriptions and the writings of the contemporary Muslim historians suggest that the following cities were also included in Sapadalaksha:Hansi (now inHaryana),Mandore (now inMarwar region), andMandalgarh (now inMewar region).[15]
The earliest historical Chahamana king is the 6th century rulerVasudeva. According to a legendary account inPrithviraja Vijaya, he received theSambhar Salt Lake as a gift from avidyadhara (a supernatural being).[16] Little is known about his immediate successors. The 8th century Chahamana rulerDurlabharaja I and his successors are known to have served theGurjara-Pratiharas as vassals. In 10th century,Vakpatiraja I made an attempt to overthrow the Gurjara-Pratihara suzerainty, and assumed the titleMaharaja ("great king").[17] His younger sonLakshmana established theNaddula Chahamana branch. Vakpatiraja's elder son and successorSimharaja assumed the titleMaharajadhiraja ("king of great kings"), which suggests that he was a sovereign ruler.[18]
Simharaja's successors consolidated the Chahamana power by engaging in wars with their neighbours, including theChaulukyas of Gujarat and theTomaras of Delhi. The dynasty's earliest extant inscription (973 CE) is from the reign ofVigraharaja II.[12] During the reign ofViryarama (r.c. 1040 CE), theParamara kingBhoja invaded the Chahamana kingdom, and probably occupied their capitalShakambhari for a brief period.[19]Chamundaraja restored the Chahamana power, possibly with the help of the Naddula Chahamanas.[19]
The subsequent Chahamana kings faced severalGhaznavid raids.Ajayaraja II (r.c. 1110–1135 CE) repulsed a Ghaznavid attack, and also defeated the Paramara kingNaravarman. He moved the kingdom's capital from Shakambhari to Ajayameru (Ajmer), a city that he either established or greatly expanded.[20][21] His successorArnoraja raided the Tomara territory, and also defeated theGhaznavid rulerBahram Shah in the Slaughter of Turushkas near Ajmer.[22] However, he suffered setbacks against the Gujarat Chaulukya kingsJayasimha Siddharaja andKumarapala, and was killed by his own sonJagaddeva.[23]
Arnoraja's younger sonVigraharaja IV greatly expanded the Chahamana territories, and capturedDelhi from theTomaras. He also defeatedGhaznavid KingKhusrau Shah in Vigraharaja IV's first war against the Muslims.[24] His kingdom included parts of the present-day Rajasthan, Haryana, and Delhi. It probably also included a part ofPunjab (to the south-east ofSutlej river) and a portion of the northernGangetic plain (to the west ofYamuna).[25] His 1164 CE Delhi-Shivalik pillar inscription claims that he conquered the region between theHimalayas and theVindhyas, and thus restored the rule ofAryans inAryavarta. While this is an exaggeration, it is not completely baseless. The inscription was originally found in Topra village, near theShivalik Hills (Himalayan foothills). Also, the exiled ruler ofMalwa (Vindhyan region) possibly acknowledged his suzerainty. Thus Vigraharaja's influence extended from the Himalayas to the Vindhyas, at least in name.[26]
Vigraharaja was succeeded by his sonAmaragangeya, and then his nephewPrithviraja II. Subsequently, his younger brotherSomeshvara ascended the throne.[27]
The most celebrated ruler of the dynasty was Someshvara's son Prithviraja III, better known asPrithviraj Chauhan. He defeated several neighbouring kings, including theChandela rulerParamardi in 1182–83, although he could not annex the Chandela territory to his kingdom.[28] In 1191, he defeated theGhurid Empire kingMuhammad of Ghor at thefirst Battle of Tarain. However, the next year, he was defeated at thesecond Battle of Tarain by Muhammad of Ghor, and subsequently killed.[29]
Muhammad of Ghor appointed Prithviraja's sonGovindaraja IV as a vassal. Prithviraja's brotherHariraja dethroned him, and regained control of a part of his ancestral kingdom. Hariraja was defeated by the Ghurids in 1194 CE. Govindaraja was granted the fief ofRanthambore by the Ghurids. There, he established anew branch of the dynasty.[30][better source needed]
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The Chahamanas commissioned a number of Hindu temples, several of which were destroyed by theGhurid invaders after the defeat ofPrithviraja III.[31]
Multiple Chahamana rulers contributed to the construction of theHarshanatha temple, which was probably commissioned byGovindaraja I.[32] According toPrithviraja Vijaya:
Vigraharaja IV was known for his patronage to arts and literature, and himself composed the playHarikeli Nataka. The structure that was later converted into theAdhai Din Ka Jhonpra mosque was constructed during his reign.[38]
The Chahamana rulers also patronizedJainism. Vijayasimha Suri'sUpadeśāmālavritti (1134 CE) and Chandra Suri'sMunisuvrata-Charita (1136 CE) state that Prithviraja I donated goldenkalashas (cupolas) for the Jain temples at Ranthambore.[39] TheKharatara-Gachchha-Pattavali states thatAjayaraja II allowed the Jains to build their temples in his capital Ajayameru (Ajmer), and also donated a golden kalasha to aParshvanatha temple.[40] Someshvara granted the Revna village to a Parshvanatha temple.[36]
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Following is a list of Chahamana rulers of Shakambhari and Ajmer, with approximate period of reign, as estimated by R. B. Singh:[43]
| # | Ruler | Reign (CE) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chahamana | (legendary) |
| 2 | Vasu-deva | c. 551 CE (disputed) |
| 3 | Samanta-raja | 684–709 |
| 4 | Nara-deva | 709–721 |
| 5 | Ajaya-raja I | 721–734 |
| 6 | Vigraha-raja I | 734–759 |
| 7 | Chandra-raja I | 759–771 |
| 8 | Gopendra-raja | 771–784 |
| 9 | Durlabha-raja I | 784–809 |
| 10 | Govinda-raja I aliasGuvaka I | 809–836 |
| 11 | Chandra-raja II | 836–863 |
| 12 | Govindaraja II aliasGuvaka II | 863–890 |
| 13 | Chandana-raja | 890–917 |
| 14 | Vakpati-raja | 917–944 |
| 15 | Simha-raja | 944–971 |
| 16 | Vigraha-raja II | 971–998 |
| 17 | Durlabha-raja II | 998–1012 |
| 18 | Govinda-raja III | 1012–1026 |
| 19 | Vakpati-raja II | 1026–1040 |
| 20 | Viryarama | 1040 (few months) |
| 21 | Chamunda-raja | 1040–1065 |
| 22 | Durlabha-raja III aliasDuśala | 1065–1070 |
| 23 | Vigraha-raja III aliasVisala | 1070–1090 |
| 24 | Prithvi-raja I | 1090–1110 |
| 25 | Ajaya-raja II | 1110–1135 |
| 26 | Arno-raja aliasAna | 1135–1150 |
| 27 | Jagad-deva | 1150 |
| 28 | Vigraha-raja IV aliasVisaladeva | 1150–1164 |
| 29 | Apara-gangeya | 1164–1165 |
| 30 | Prithvi-raja II | 1165–1169 |
| 31 | Someshvara | 1169–1178 |
| 32 | Prithviraja III (Rai Pithora) | 1177–1192 |
| 33 | Govinda-raja IV | 1192 |
| 34 | Hari-raja | 1193–1194 |
When Gurjara Pratiharas power declined after the sacking of Kannauj by the Rashtrakutkas in the early tenth century many Rajput princes declared their independence and founded their own kingdoms, some of which grew to importance in the subsequent two centuries. The better known among these dynasties were the Chaulukyas or Solankis of Kathiawar and Gujarat, the Chahamanas (i.e. Chauhan) of eastern Rajasthan (Ajmer and Jodhpur), and the Tomaras who had founded Delhi (Dhillika) in 736 but had then been displaced by the Chauhans in the twelfth century.
The period between the seventh and the twelfth century witnessed gradual rise of a number of new royal-lineages in Rajasthan, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh, which came to constitute a social-political category known as 'Rajput'. Some of the major lineages were the Pratiharas of Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and adjacent areas, the Guhilas and Chahamanas of Rajasthan, the Caulukyas or Solankis of Gujarat and Rajasthan and the Paramaras of Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan.
This is curious statement for the Chahamanas were known to be one of the pre-eminent Rajput families regarded as..
"From the process of migration and metamorphosis of lowly groups into Rajputs new Rajput clans were formed some of these clans The Pratiharas, Guhilas and Chahamanas
By contrast in Rajasthan a single warrior group evolved called Rajput (from Rajaputra-sons of kings): they rarely engaged in farming, even to supervise farm labour as farming was literally beneath them, farming was for their peasant subjects. In the ninth century separate clans of Rajputs Cahamanas (Chauhans), Paramaras (Pawars), Guhilas (Sisodias) and Caulukyas were splitting off from sprawling Gurjara Pratihara clans...
Muhammad of Ghor was another Afghan Turk invader. He established a much wider control in North India. The Rajputs were unable to resist him, following his defeat of Prithviraja III, king of Chauhans, a Rajput clan based southeast of Delhi
The rise of a new section called the Rajputs and the controversy about their origins have already been mentioned. With the break-up of the Pratihara empire, a number of Rajput states camne into existence in north India. The most important of these were the Gahadavalas of Kanauj, the Paramaras of Malwa, and the Chauhans of Ajmer
From Ajmer in Rajasthan, the former capital of the defeated Cahamana Rajputs – also, significantly, the wellspring of Chishti piety the post-1192 pattern of temple desecration moved swiftly down the Gangetic Plain as Turkish military forces sought to extirpate local ruling houses in the late twelfth and early thirteenth century
The Tomaras ultimately met their destruction at the hand of another Rajput clan, the Chauhans or Chahamanas. Delhi was captured from the Tomaras by the Chauhan king Vigraharaja IV (the Visala Deva of the traditional bardic histories) in the middle of twelfth century
The Chauhans (Cahamanas) Rajputs had emerged in the later tenth century and established themselves as a paramount power, overthrowing the Tomar Rajputs. In 1151 the Tomar Rajput rulers (and original builders) of Delhi were overthrown by Visal Dev, the Chauhan ruler of Ajmer
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