RAJPUT CHAUHAN

CONTENTSRAJPUTPRITHVIRAJ CHAUHANMONUMENTSLANGUAGERELIGIONCLOTHESGAMESFIRST BATTLE OF TARAIN SECOND BATTLE OF TARAIN FOLKLORE LEGACY

*RAJPUTRajput (from Sanskrit raja-putra, "son of a king") is a member of one of the patrilineal clans of western, central, northern India and some parts of Pakistan. They claim to be descendants of ruling Hindu warrior classes of North India. Rajputs rose to prominence during the 9th to 12th centuries. Until the 20th century, Rajputs ruled in the "overwhelming majority" of the princely states of Rajasthan and Surashtra, where the largest number of princely states were found.

The Rajput population and the former Rajput states are found spread through much of the subcontinent, particularly in north, west and central India. Populations are found in Rajasthan, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Jammu, Punjab, Sindh,Uttarakhand, Madhya Pradesh and Bihar.

This Rajput dynasty was founded by Simharaj, who is famously known as the founder of the city of Ajmer. 

PRITHVIRAJ CHAUHAN

Rai Pithora, commonly known as Prithviraj Chauhan (1149–1192 CE), was a king of the Chauhan dynasty, who ruled the kingdoms of Ajmer and Delhi in northern India during the latter half of the 12th century. He was the most prominent Rajput ruler. Prithviraj Chauhan was the last independent Hindu king, before Hemu, to sit upon the throne of Delhi. He succeeded to the throne in 1169 CE at the age of 20, and ruled from the twin capitals of Ajmer and Delhi which he received from his maternal grandfather, Arkpal or Anangpal III of the Tomara dynasty in Delhi. He controlled much of present-day Rajasthan and Haryana, and unified the Rajputs against Turkic invasions. His elopement in 1175 with Samyukta (Sanyogita), the daughter of Jai Chandra Rathod, the Gahadvala king of Kannauj.

MONUMENTS

Prithviraj Chauhan has also built many monuments and forts . ex: taragarh fort , asigarh fort , etc.

LANGUAGE

Rajputs speak the language or dialect of their region. In Rajasthan, Rajputs speak one of the dialects of Rajasthani, which sounds a little like Hindi. Some Prithviraj Chauhan’s dialects include Jaipuri, spoken in Jaipur, and Marwari, spoken in Marwar.

RELIGIONMost Rajputs and Prithviraj Chauhan are Hindu. They were known for protecting Hinduism against Buddhism and Islam. Today, in their religious practices, Rajputs differ little from other high-caste Hindus. They use Brahmans (priests and scholars) for ceremonial and ritual purposes. They worship all major Hindu deities.They are devotees of the god Shiva. Many also worship Surya (the Sun God), and Durga as Mother Goddess. In addition, nearly every Rajput clan has its own patron god to whom it turns for protection.

CLOTHES

Rajput men wear the dhoti (loincloth consisting of a long piece of white cotton wrapped around the waist and then drawn between the legs and tucked into the waist), often with a cotton tunic. Rajput men may also wear a short jacket, or angarhkha, that fastens on the right side. Rajput men wear turbans that are tied to represent their particular clan. Rajput women wear either the sari (a length of fabric wrapped around the waist, with one end thrown over the right shoulder) or loose, baggy pants with a tunic. The lengha (long, flowing skirt) is also associated with the traditional dress of Rajasthan.

GAMES

Rajputs such as Prithviraj Chauhan used to hunt tiger, panther, deer, and game birds. Also popular was pig-sticking, the dangerous sport of riding on horseback to hunt wild boar by sticking them with a lance. Polo sharpened riding skills.

FIRST BATTLE OF TARAIN

In 1191, Shahabuddin Muhammad Ghori captured the fortress of Bhatinda in East Punjab, leaving a garrison of 1200 men, which was located on the frontier of Prithiviraj Chauhan's domains. Prithviraj marched to Bhatinda and met his enemy at a place called Tarain (also called Taraori) near the ancient town of Thanesar. The Ghurid army initiated battle by attacking with cavalry who launch arrows at the Rajput center. The forces of Prithviraj counter-attacked from three sides and dominated the battle, pressuring the Ghurid army into a withdrawal. Meanwhile, Mu'izz al-Din was wounded in personal combat with Prithviraj's brother, Govind Tai. Prithviraj succeeded in stopping the Ghurid advance towards Hindustan in the first battle of Tarain. He did not pursue Ghori's army either not wanting to invade hostile territory or misjudging Ghori's ambition, instead electing to retake the fortress of Bhatinda.

SECOND BATTLE OF TARAIN

In 1192, Ghori reassembled an army of 120,000 men and returned to challenge Chauhan at the Second Battle of Tarain. When he reached Lahore, he sent his envoy to demand surrender but Chauhan refused to comply. Chauhan then appealed to his fellow Rajput rulers and the aristocracy to come to his aid against Ghori.Chauhan assembled a very large army with the aid of approximately 150 Rajput rulers and aristocrats. According to the Persian historianFirishta, it consisted of 3,000 elephants, 300,000 horsemen, and considerable infantry. The army was larger than that of Ghori. The armies met in Tarain, where Ghori delivered an ultimatum to Chauhan that he convert to Islam or be defeated. Chauhan countered with an offer that Ghori should consider a truce and be allowed to retreat with his army. Ghori decided to attack.Ghori divided his troops into five parts and attacked in the early morning hours, sending waves of mounted archers. They retreated as the Chauhan elephant phalanx advanced. Ghori deployed four parts to attack the Rajputs on four sides, keeping a fifth part of his army in reserve. General Khande Rao of the Chauhan forces was killed. At dusk, Ghori himself led a force of 12,000 heavily armored horsemen to the centre of the Rajput line, which collapsed into confusion. Chauhan attempted to escape but was captured. The Rajput army broke ranks and fled, thereby conceding victory to Ghori.Chauhan was put to death.

FOLKLOREPrithviraj Raso, a folkloric poem written by Chand Bardai, says that the death of Mu'izz was caused by Prithviraj with the help of Chadravardai and that afterwards they killed each other but which is not borne out by historical documents.

LEGACYEVEN TODAY AFGHANS VENT THEIR ANGER BY STABBING

ON THE GRAVE OF CHAUHAN BECAUSE ACCORDING TO

THEM PRITHVIRAJ HAD KILLED GHORI. SHER SINGH RANA,

A MEMBER OF RAJPUT COMMUNITY, VISITED

AFGHANISTAN TO TRACE GRAVE OF PRITHVIRAJ CHAUHAN,

HE DUG CHAUHAN'S "GRAVE" AND COLLECTED SAND FROM

IT. THIS INCIDENT CREATED SENSATION IN INDIAN NEWS

AND PUBLIC MEDIA – AS HE SAID HE DID IT TO GET BACK

INDIA'S PRIDE & RESPECT.

*PRESENTED BY –

*SHIKHAR AGRAWAL

*PRABAL SHARMA

*SHOBHIT SHUKLA

*SHREYANSH CHATURVEDI

*ARYAN CHANDANAN

*AYUSH VISHWAKARMA

*PRANSHU MISHRA

*PRABHANSHU SHUKLA