History of Chauhan

CHAUHAN

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 anali kund or  ’fountain of fire’ onMountAbuto fight against the Asuras or demons. Chauhan is also one of the 36 (royal) ruling races of the Rajputs.

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. The Chauhans dominatedDelhi,Ajmer, Ranthambhor. They were also prominent at Sirohi in the southwest of Rajputana, and at Bundi andKotain the east. Inscriptions also associate them with Sambhar, the salt lake area in the Amber (later Jaipur) district. Chauhan politics were largely 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

YamunaRiver. Prithviraj III has become famous in folk tales and historical literature as the Chauhan king ofDelhiwho 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 a second battle at Tarain the following year. This failure ushered in Muslim rule inNorth Indiain the form of the SLAVE DYNASTY, the first of the Delhi Sultanates.