Chauhan

Glossaries

Term	Definition
Chauhan	The Chauhans, also known in earlier sources as the Chahamanas, were one of the major Rajput dynastic groups of north western India. Their history is closely linked with medieval Rajasthan, especially Shakambhari, Ajmer, Nadol, Jalore, Ranthambore, Chandravati and Abhaneri. The name Chauhan refers to an important Rajput dynastic tradition known in older sources by the Sanskrit form Chahamana. This political lineage became prominent in western and north western India during the early medieval period. It is mainly associated with Rajasthan, although its influence also reached Delhi, Haryana, Gujarat, western Madhya Pradesh and several contact zones between northern and western India. The principal branch was the Chahamanas of Shakambhari. Its early centre lay around Shakambhari, near present day Sambhar, before the political focus gradually shifted toward Ajayameru, present day Ajmer. This branch played a major role in the politics of Rajasthan and northern India during the twelfth century. It is especially associated with Vigraharaja IV and Prithviraj III, better known as Prithviraj Chauhan. The defeat of Prithviraj III by the Ghurids in 1192 ended the dominance of the main branch over Ajmer and Delhi, but it did not bring the wider Chauhan world to an end. Several regional branches continued to exercise political power after the weakening of the principal line. The Chahamanas of Naddula, centred on present day Nadol, were active in south western Rajasthan. The Chahamanas of Jalor ruled the Jalore region until the early fourteenth century. The Chahamanas of Ranastambhapura, associated with Ranthambore Fort, became important after the loss of Ajmer. The Chahamanas of Chandravati were connected with the region of Mount Abu, Chandravati and Sirohi, in a zone closely linked with medieval Gujarat. Abhaneri is a more local and cautious case: the tradition of the site associates Chand Baori and the Harshat Mata Temple with a ruler named Chand or Chandra, sometimes described as a Nikumbha connected with the Chahamana world. Another important branch from the Chauhan world was the Hada line, established in south-eastern Rajasthan. From Bundi and later Kota, they gave their name to Hadoti and played a lasting role in the political and cultural history of this region. The importance of the Chauhans is political, cultural and patrimonial. Politically, they illustrate the rise of Rajput regional powers in medieval India and the fragmentation that followed the decline of larger imperial formations. Culturally, they are associated with the patronage of temples, forts, reservoirs and stepwells. Their historical memory is also strongly linked with Rajput heroic traditions, especially those surrounding Prithviraj Chauhan. For the history of architecture and visited sites, the Chauhans provide a useful framework for understanding several monuments of medieval Rajasthan, from the forts of Ajmer, Ranthambore and Jalore to the monumental traditions of Abhaneri. India • \|0550/1947\| • Rajput dynasty India • \|0650/1192\| • Chauhan dynasty India • \|1100/1949\| • Hada dynasty India • \|0750/0900\| • Chahamana (or Nikumbha) of Abhaneri dynasty India • \|0684/1192\| • Chahamana of Shakambhari dynasty India • \|0950/1197\| • Chahamana of Naddula dynasty India • \|1160/1311\| • Chahamana of Jalor dynasty India • \|1192/1301\| • Chahamana of Ranastambhapura dynasty India • \|1311/1949\| • Chahamana of Chandravati dynasty Synonyms: Chahamana, Chahamanas, Chauhans

Term

Definition

The Chauhans, also known in earlier sources as the Chahamanas, were one of the major Rajput dynastic groups of north western India. Their history is closely linked with medieval Rajasthan, especially Shakambhari, Ajmer, Nadol, Jalore, Ranthambore, Chandravati and Abhaneri.

The name Chauhan refers to an important Rajput dynastic tradition known in older sources by the Sanskrit form Chahamana. This political lineage became prominent in western and north western India during the early medieval period. It is mainly associated with Rajasthan, although its influence also reached Delhi, Haryana, Gujarat, western Madhya Pradesh and several contact zones between northern and western India.

The principal branch was the Chahamanas of Shakambhari. Its early centre lay around Shakambhari, near present day Sambhar, before the political focus gradually shifted toward Ajayameru, present day Ajmer. This branch played a major role in the politics of Rajasthan and northern India during the twelfth century. It is especially associated with Vigraharaja IV and Prithviraj III, better known as Prithviraj Chauhan. The defeat of Prithviraj III by the Ghurids in 1192 ended the dominance of the main branch over Ajmer and Delhi, but it did not bring the wider Chauhan world to an end.

Several regional branches continued to exercise political power after the weakening of the principal line. The Chahamanas of Naddula, centred on present day Nadol, were active in south western Rajasthan. The Chahamanas of Jalor ruled the Jalore region until the early fourteenth century. The Chahamanas of Ranastambhapura, associated with Ranthambore Fort, became important after the loss of Ajmer. The Chahamanas of Chandravati were connected with the region of Mount Abu, Chandravati and Sirohi, in a zone closely linked with medieval Gujarat. Abhaneri is a more local and cautious case: the tradition of the site associates Chand Baori and the Harshat Mata Temple with a ruler named Chand or Chandra, sometimes described as a Nikumbha connected with the Chahamana world.

Another important branch from the Chauhan world was the Hada line, established in south-eastern Rajasthan. From Bundi and later Kota, they gave their name to Hadoti and played a lasting role in the political and cultural history of this region.

The importance of the Chauhans is political, cultural and patrimonial. Politically, they illustrate the rise of Rajput regional powers in medieval India and the fragmentation that followed the decline of larger imperial formations. Culturally, they are associated with the patronage of temples, forts, reservoirs and stepwells. Their historical memory is also strongly linked with Rajput heroic traditions, especially those surrounding Prithviraj Chauhan. For the history of architecture and visited sites, the Chauhans provide a useful framework for understanding several monuments of medieval Rajasthan, from the forts of Ajmer, Ranthambore and Jalore to the monumental traditions of Abhaneri.