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Chauhan dynasty

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Rajput Clan: Chauhan (चौहान)
Vansh Agnivansh
Descended from: Dhundhar
Branches: Sanchora, Sonigara, Hadas, Deoras, Kheechi's, Bhadurias
Ruled in Nadol, Jalor, Dhundhar, Ajmer, Delhi, Haryana, Hadoti, Godwar
Princely states: Ajmer (7th c.-1365)
Ranthambore (1236-1302), Neemrana, Mainpuri (U.P)
File:Prithvi Raj Chauhan (Edited).JPG
Prithvi Raj Chauhan

Chauhan or Chohan (Hindi: चौहान Urdu: چوہان) - is a Rajput clan found in the Indian subcontinent.

Origins

According to the Rajput bards, Chauhan is one of the four Agnikula or 'fire sprung' clans who were created by the Gods in the anali kund or 'fountain of fire' on Mount Abu to fight against the Asuras or demons. Chauhan is also one of the 36 ruling races of the Rajputs.

Agnikula origin was perpetuated by Raso from the 16th century onwards. Chauhan gotracharya: Samved, Somvansh, Madhyandini Shakha, Gotracharya is used for marriage relationship and has not changed from time immemorial. Chauhans are termed as Agnivanshi khstriyas.

History

According to the Rajput bards the Chauhan is one of the four Agnikula or 'fire sprung' tribes who were created by the gods in the Agni kund or 'fountain of fire' on Mount Abu to fight against the Asuras or demons. There was an Asur Named Dhunda at Mount Abu. All Rajputs of the world were unable to kill him. Then Guru Vashistha make a Yagya at Mount Abu. In the agni of that Yagya 4 Rajputs took Birth Ist was solanki, 2nd was Parmar ,3rd was parihar but those 3 were also unable to kill asur Dhundha. Then 4th birth from that Kund Was Anhil, his name was Anhil, Guru Vashishtha take the 4 Swear from Anhil those were Satya, Dharm,Karm & Daya, those were 4 Aans for Anhil So he named as The follower of charaans ie. Chauhan.The Anhil killed that Asur Dhundha & free the Earth from Asurs. Chauhan is also one of the 36 ruling races of the Rajputs. Chauhans were mainly used as foot soldiers in many battles due to their huge population.

The Chauhan dynasty flourished from the 8th to 12th centuries AD. It was one of the four main Rajput dynasties of that era, the others being Pratiharas, Paramaras and Chalukyas. Chauhan dynasties established themselves in several places in North India and in the state of Gujarat in Western India. They were also prominent at Sirohi in the southwest of Rajputana, and at Bundi and Kota in the east. Inscriptions also associate them with Sambhar, the salt lake area in the Amber (later Jaipur) district (the Sakhambari branch remained near lake Sambhar and married into the ruling Gurjara-Pratihara, who then ruled an empire in Northern India). Chauhans adopted a political policy that saw them indulge largely in campaigns against the Chalukyas and the invading Muslim hordes. In the 11th century they founded the city of Ajayameru (Ajmer) in the southern part of their kingdom, and in the 12th century captured Dhilika (the ancient name of Delhi) from the Tomaras and annexed some of their territory along the Yamuna River. Prithviraj III has become famous in folk tales and historical literature as the Chauhan king of Delhi who resisted the Muslim attack in the First Battle of Tarain (1191). Armies from other Rajput kingdoms, including Mewar assisted him. However, Prithviraj was defeated in the Second Battle of Tarain the following year. This failure ushered in Muslim rule in North India in the form of the Slave Dynasty, the first of the Delhi Sultanates.

Ajmer,erected its castle of Taragarh. The name ofAjaipal is one of the most conspicuous that tradition haspreserved, and is always followed by the epithet of Chakravartin, or uni- versal potentate. His era must ever remain doubtful, unless, as already observed, we should master thecharacters said to belong to this race, and which are still extant, both on stone and on copper. Prithi Pahar was brought from Mahishmati to Ajmer. By asingle wife he had twenty-four sons, whose progeny peopled these regions, one of whose descendants, Manika Rae, was lord of. Ajmerand Sambhar, in the year S. 741, or A.D. 685. Prithiraj, the descen-dant of Manika Rae, even when emperor of all Northern India. Manika Rae, whom we may consider as the founder of the Chauhans of the north, recovered Ajmer. He had a numerous progeny, who established many petty dynasties throughout Western Rajwara, giving birth to various tribes, which are spread even to the Indus. The Khichi, the Hara, the Mohil, the Nirwana, Bhadauria, the Bhaurecha,the Dhanetiya, and the Baghrecha, are alldescended from him

The Chauhans later asserted their independence from the Pratiharas, and in the early eleventh century, the Sakhambari king Ajaya-Raja founded the city of Ajayameru (Ajmer) in the southern part of their kingdom, and in the mid twelfth century, his successor Vigraharaja enlarged the state, captured Dhilika (the ancient name of Delhi) from the Tomaras and annexed some of their territory along the Yamuna River, including Haryana and Delhi. In 12th century the Chauhans dominated Delhi, Ajmer and Ranthambhor. They were also prominent at Godwar in the southwest of Rajputana, and at Hadoti (Bundi and Kota) in the east. Chauhans adopted a political policy that saw them indulge largely in campaigns against the Chalukyas and the invading Muslim hordes.

The Chauhan kingdom became the leading state and a powerful kingdom in Northern India under King Prithviraj III (1165-1192), also known as Prithvi Raj Chauhan or Rai Pithora. Prithviraj III has become famous in folk tales and historical literature as the Chauhan king of Delhi who resisted and repelled the invasion by Mohammed of Ghor at the first Battle of Tarain in 1191. Armies from other Rajput kingdoms, including Mewar, assisted him. The Chauhan kingdom collapsed after Prithviraj and his armies fled[1][2] the battle ground against Mohammed of Ghor in 1192 at the Second Battle of Tarain.

After Prithviraj III

Prithviraj's defeat and capture at Tarain ushered in Muslim rule in North India by the Delhi Sultanate. The Chauhans of Ajmer remained in exile due to Muhammad of Ghor and his successors, the Sultans of Delhi, and thus swelled the ranks of the armed forces of the Maharana of Mewar, until 1365, when Ajmer was captured by the Sisodias rulers of Mewar, and Ajmer was then returned to the Chauhans.

A branch of the Chauhans, led by Govinda, the grandson of Pritviraj III, established themselves as rulers of Ranthambore from the thirteenth to the fifteenth centuries, until Ranthambore was captured by Rana Kumbha of Mewar. The Hadas, great dynasty of the Chauhans, moved into the Hadoti region in the twelfth century, capturing Bundi in 1241 and ruled there until the twentieth century. One sept of these Hada Rajputs won KotaThe Dhanetiyas of Shahabad, which by a singular fatality has at length come into the possession of the Hadas of Kota and ruled their till the merger of state in independent India.

Chauhans of the Deora branch established the state of Sirohi in southern Rajasthan, and ruled there from the fifteenth century until Indian Independence. In western India, Chauhans are found at Devgadh Baria, founded by Dungarsinhji, a member of the Khichi Chauhan clan about 700 years ago. Rajkumar (Bhadaiyan State of Awadh) and Bachgoti (Diyara State of Awadh) are two other branches of Chauhans in Uttar Pradesh. Chauhan's are also found in Khurja Dasheri and Arnia.

Distribution

The Chauhan Rajputs come from the region around the lakes of Sambhar and Pushkar in Rajasthan, near Amber and present-day Marwar, Mewar Jaipur. Other seats of Chauhans are Mainpuri in Uttar Pradesh, Uttarkhand, Himachal Pradesh and Neemrana in Alwar District of Rajasthan. There is a great village of the Chauhan clan by the name of Gura Sonigara near Pali in Rajasthan. These Chauhans belong to Man Singot Sonigara Chouhan. Another village of chauhans is Amin near Thanesar in Haryana. These Chauhans belong to the Ror community and they have provided many Volleyball players to the Indian national team. The average height of the ROR Chauhans of Amin is well over six feet. Amin is also supposed to be the village where the Pandavas arrayed their forces before the last battle in the war of Mahabharat.

In Gujarat Chauhans ruled a few states like Chota Udepur,Mundetti and Vav.Sanchora Chauhans of Mundetti are well known for their valor both during the Marwar Raj and British Raj. SurajMal Chauhan is a very popular figure and well sung hero of the local folk songs of Idar State. He had challenged the British and Idar state's propiertorship of Mundetti.

Culture

Religion

In India, Chauhans are predominantly Hindu.

Some Chauhan Rajputs of the Doab region of Punjab also adopted Sikhism and are called Sikh Rajputs, not to be confused with Jat Chohans of the Punjab (who happen to write the transliteration of their name in English differently). One of very few Chauhan Rajput villages in Doaba Bist is Sarhal Mundi.

Sarhal Mundi is a small village situated 5 miles south of Behram in Tehsil Phillaur, District Jallandhar, Punjab. According to ‘Census Report for Punjab 1883’ (Denzil Ibbetson) and ‘Census Report for Punjab 1892’ (E.D.Maclagan) and the book ‘A Glossary of the tribes and casts of Punjab and N.W.F’ written by H. A. Rose this village is populated by Chauhan Rajputs. The common belief is that the foundation of this village was laid by Gopal Chauhan - 6th generation of Lav Dev. Some argue that Lav Dev was not Prithvi Raj's but Krishna Chauhan's son who was a General in Prithvi Raj's army and fell martyr in the second battle against Muhammad of Ghor commonly known in the history as Muhammad Gauri.

A historic ‘Shiv Dawala’ and many old houses of small brick can roughly put the origin of this village back to as early as 16th century. It is quite probable that the ancestors of this village could be Ghorewaha Rajputs. Elders of this village also talk of ‘Bundi’ links which make them Hara (Hadha) Chauhan’s. Whatever may be the case Sarhal Mundi is one of the very few Rajput villages of Doaba besides Karnana and Sahlon which H. A. Rose’s book lists as Rajput.

This village is a nice mix of Sikh and Hindu Rajput families and many of its old inhabitants migrated to UK & USA. Just like most villages of this area Sarhal Mundi may be much older in historic terms than most of us think it is as the words ‘Mundi’ and ‘Lundi’ are found in ancient ‘Takka’ language. Old excavations of ‘Harrappa’ found around these villages of Phillaur also suggest that these areas have always been the hub of civilizations just the old has been replaced by the new. Some historians believe that from time to time Rajputs of these villages found new lands rather than submitting to invaders who ruled Northern India from time to time. Genealogical and physical attributes such as tall stature, good martial skills, fair colour as compared to others, stubborn nature, sense of adventure and travel and a belly full of fire makes Doaba Bist inhabitants of these villages more akin to Rajput ancestry. Sardar Gurdial Singh as quoted by H. A. Rose believes them to be of “good Rajput blood”.

Although some historians tend to follow the thinking that Rajputs are descendants of Huns but the controversial view that Rajputs are linked to Indus Aryans holds equally powerful logic, general sharp Grecian/Mediterranean/Caucasian features hint at an Aryan/Scythic decent. No matter what the argument it has to be admitted that North India was the melting pot out of which Rajputs kept their traditions alive.

Present day Sarhal Mundi is only a shadow of its old self with many houses under lock and key and disrepair as inhabitants live abroad. The total adult population of voting age is just 1152 (M 569 F583). There is a Government Elementary School but no medical hospital. The Shrine of Baba Uttam Das and the pond are still there reviving the old nostalgia. This village is easily accessible by going to Phagwara and traveling approximately 8 miles by the side of a canal, the route used by many buses and cars.


85 villages of chauhan's lies in western uttarpradesh, in the district of Bulandshahr, Aligarh, Agra Etc. Village Davkoura lies in Bulandshahr have 75% population of Chauhan's.

Chauhan rulers of Ajmer

  • Ajay Pal - founded the city Ajaymeru which came to be called as Ajmer in the modern times.
  • Prithviraja I
  • Jagdeva
  • Vigraharaja IV
  • Apara Gangeya
  • Prithviraja II
  • Someshwara
  • Manu Pratap Singh Chauhan
  • Prithviraj III

Chauhan rulers of Mainpuri

  • Pratap Rudra Ji left Neemrana in 1310 Samvat, and establish Mainpuri as capital
  • Dhaarak Dev ji
  • Pooran Chand Dev ji
  • Karan Dev ji
  • Ghaatam Dev Ji
  • Maharaj Tej Singh, the last Chauhan King who ruled in Mainpuri(U.P)

Notable Chauhans

See Also

  • kuvar shivmohan singh chouhan

ashwani singh chauhan (zamindaar of malwan state u.p.) Dr.Anurag chauhan (reknowed eye specialist,Allahabad)

References

  1. ^ http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=L5eFzeyjBTQC&pg=PA26&lpg=PA26&dq=muhammad+sam+prithvi+defeat&source=bl&ots=3q7YwSwvq4&sig=rZNn3EWbkCoLbgEH3TDJK7zDgLs&hl=en&ei=8exRSrGLNoWNjAfB26CiBQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=3 Medieval India: From Sultanat to the Mughals (1206-1526) - I By Satish Chandra
  2. ^ A History of India By August Friedrich Rudolf Hoernle, Herbert Alick Stark

The Glossary of Tribes and Castes of The Punjab and Northwestern Frontier Province The Glossary of Castes and Tribes of Punjab and the Northwestern Frontier Province Jullandur gazzete 1904 [[1]] Ithaas Doaba Rajput Annals and Antiquitiesof Rajasthan by James Tod Vol.I, II and III A Glossary ot the tribes and castes of Punjab and N.W.F

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