Chauhan dynasty: Difference between revisions
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'''Chauhan''', '''Chouhan''', '''Chohan''', or '''Chohhan''', is a |
'''Chauhan''', '''Chouhan''', '''Chohan''', or '''Chohhan''', is a clan name found in the [[Rajput]]<ref>{{cite book|title=Social Sciences Research Journal - Volume 19 - Page 73|publisher=Panjab University|date=2011|url=https://books.google.co.in/books?id=Q1LtWAOAiBoC&q=Chauhan+is+a+rajput+clan&dq=Chauhan+is+a+rajput+clan|quote="Among the thirty six of Rajput clans, there flourished a clan of Chauhan in early medieval times in northern India."}}</ref> and [[Gujjar]]<ref>{{cite book|editor-first=Kumar Suresh |editor-last=Singh |editor-link=Kumar Suresh Singh |title=India's communities|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Jw9uAAAAMAAJ|year=1998|publisher=Oxford University Press|isbn=978-0-19-563354-2|quote=The Hindu Gujjar have a number of clans (gotra), such as Bainsale, Bhati, Bankar, Chauhan, Korri, Dhame, Godhane, Khari, Nangari, Khatana Pedia, Peelwar, Tanwar, Fagna, Vidhuri, Vasatte and Lomor}}|p.1126</ref> communities from [[North India]] and [[Pakistan]]. |
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== Origin == |
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The word ''Chauhan'' is the vernacular form of the [[Sanskrit]] term ''Chahamana''. Several Chauhan inscriptions name a legendary hero called Chahamana as their ancestor, but none of them state the period in which he lived.{{sfn|Singh|1964|p=10}} |
The word ''Chauhan'' is the vernacular form of the [[Sanskrit]] term ''Chahamana''. Several Chauhan inscriptions name a legendary hero called Chahamana as their ancestor, but none of them state the period in which he lived.{{sfn|Singh|1964|p=10}} |
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The earliest available copies of ''Prithviraj Raso'' do not mention the Agnivanshi legend.{{sfn|Majumdar|1956|p=9}} It is possible that the 16th-century bards came up with the legend to foster Rajput unity against the [[Mughal Emperor|Mughal emperor]] [[Akbar]].{{sfn|Singh|1964|pp=17-18}} Adaptions of the ''Prithviraj Raso'' occur in several later works. The ''Hammira Raso'' (1728 CE) by Jodharaja, a court poet of prince Chandrabhana of [[Neemrana]], states that once the [[Kshatriya]]s (warriors) became extinct. So, the great sages assembled at Mount Abu and created three heroes. When these three heroes could not defeat the demons, they created Chahuvanaji.{{sfn|Singh|1964|p=15}} A slight variation occurs in the writings of Surya Malla Mishrana, the court poet of [[Bundi State|Bundi]]. In this version, the various gods create the four heroes on Vashistha's request.{{sfn|Singh|1964|p=16}} According to the bardic tale of the [[Khilchipur State|Khichi]] clan of Chauhans, the Parwar (Paramara) was born from [[Shiva]]'s essence; the Solankhi (Solanki) or Chaluk Rao (Chalukya) was born from Brahma's essence; the Pariyar (Parihar) was born from Devi's essence; and the Chahuvan (Chauhan) was born from Agni, the fire.{{sfn|Seth|1978|p=6}} |
The earliest available copies of ''Prithviraj Raso'' do not mention the Agnivanshi legend.{{sfn|Majumdar|1956|p=9}} It is possible that the 16th-century bards came up with the legend to foster Rajput unity against the [[Mughal Emperor|Mughal emperor]] [[Akbar]].{{sfn|Singh|1964|pp=17-18}} Adaptions of the ''Prithviraj Raso'' occur in several later works. The ''Hammira Raso'' (1728 CE) by Jodharaja, a court poet of prince Chandrabhana of [[Neemrana]], states that once the [[Kshatriya]]s (warriors) became extinct. So, the great sages assembled at Mount Abu and created three heroes. When these three heroes could not defeat the demons, they created Chahuvanaji.{{sfn|Singh|1964|p=15}} A slight variation occurs in the writings of Surya Malla Mishrana, the court poet of [[Bundi State|Bundi]]. In this version, the various gods create the four heroes on Vashistha's request.{{sfn|Singh|1964|p=16}} According to the bardic tale of the [[Khilchipur State|Khichi]] clan of Chauhans, the Parwar (Paramara) was born from [[Shiva]]'s essence; the Solankhi (Solanki) or Chaluk Rao (Chalukya) was born from Brahma's essence; the Pariyar (Parihar) was born from Devi's essence; and the Chahuvan (Chauhan) was born from Agni, the fire.{{sfn|Seth|1978|p=6}} |
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== Ethnographic status == |
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[[Denzil Ibbetson]], an administrator of the [[British Raj]], classified the Chauhans as a tribe rather than as a [[Caste in India|caste]]. He believed, like [[John Nesfield]], that the society of the [[Northwest Frontier Province]]s and [[Punjab, British India|Punjab]] in [[British India]] did not permit the rigid imposition of an administratively defined caste construct as his colleague, [[H. H. Risley]] preferred. According to Ibbetson, society in Punjab was less governed by [[Brahmanical]] ideas of caste, based on [[Varna (Hinduism)|varna]], and instead was more open and fluid. Tribes, which he considered to be kin-based groups that dominated small areas, were the dominant feature of rural life. Caste designators, such as [[Jat]] and Rajput, were status-based titles to which any tribe that rose to social prominence could lay a claim, and which could be dismissed by their peers if they declined. [[Susan Bayly]], a modern [[anthropologist]], considers him to have had "a high degree of accuracy in his observations of Punjab society ... [I]n his writings we really do see the beginnings of modern, regionally based Indian anthropology."<ref>{{cite book |title=Caste, Society and Politics in India from the Eighteenth Century to the Modern Age |first=Susan |last=Bayly |author-link=Susan Bayly |publisher=Cambridge University Press |year=2001 |isbn=978-0-52179-842-6 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HbAjKR_iHogC&pg=PA139 |pages=139–141}}</ref> |
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== History == |
== History == |
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* [[Sonepur State]] |
* [[Sonepur State]] |
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* [[Ambliara State]] |
* [[Ambliara State]] |
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== Notable people == |
== Notable people == |
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*[[Prithviraj Chauhan |
*[[Prithviraj Chauhan]] (1178–1192), Chahamana ruler of Ajmer |
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* [[Gugga]], a warrior, minor king and [[Nāga]] demigod<ref>{{cite book |title=Naga Cults and Traditions in the Western Himalaya |first=Omacanda |last=Hāṇḍā |publisher=Indus Publishing |location=New Delhi |year=2004 |isbn=978-8-17387-161-0 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Xd50t19YpJEC&pg=PA317 |page=330 |access-date=17 October 2012}}</ref> |
* [[Gugga]], a warrior, minor king and [[Nāga]] demigod<ref>{{cite book |title=Naga Cults and Traditions in the Western Himalaya |first=Omacanda |last=Hāṇḍā |publisher=Indus Publishing |location=New Delhi |year=2004 |isbn=978-8-17387-161-0 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Xd50t19YpJEC&pg=PA317 |page=330 |access-date=17 October 2012}}</ref> |
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* [[Hammir Dev Chauhan]] (1283–1301), ruler of Ranathambore |
* [[Hammir Dev Chauhan]] (1283–1301), ruler of Ranathambore |
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* [[Rao Surjan Singh]] (1554–1584), ruler of Bundi state |
* [[Rao Surjan Singh]] (1554–1584), ruler of Bundi state |
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* [[Rao Raja Chattar Sal]] (1632–1658), ruler of Bundi state |
* [[Rao Raja Chattar Sal]] (1632–1658), ruler of Bundi state |
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* [[Chetan Chauhan]], former Indian cricketer |
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* [[Sonal Chauhan]], Indian film actress |
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== See also == |
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* [[Gajendra Chauhan]], Indian television actor |
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* [[Jagjit Singh Chohan]], former Sikh leader from Punjab, India |
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* [[Fayyaz ul Hassan Chohan]], Pakistani politician from Punjab province |
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== References == |
== References == |
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{{Rajput Groups of India}}{{Authority control}} |
{{Rajput Groups of India}}{{Authority control}} |
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[[Category:Indian surnames]] |
[[Category:Indian surnames]] |
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[[Category:Rajput clans |
[[Category:Rajput clans]] |
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[[Category:Rajput clans of Uttar Pradesh]] |
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[[Category:Demographic history of India]] |
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[[Category:Jat clans]] |
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[[Category:Gurjar clans]] |
[[Category:Gurjar clans]] |
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[[Category:Agnivansha]] |
[[Category:Agnivansha]] |
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[[Category:Surnames]] |
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Revision as of 16:39, 27 July 2021
Chauhan, Chouhan, Chohan, or Chohhan, is a clan name found in the Rajput[1] and Gujjar[2] communities from North India and Pakistan.
Origin
The word Chauhan is the vernacular form of the Sanskrit term Chahamana. Several Chauhan inscriptions name a legendary hero called Chahamana as their ancestor, but none of them state the period in which he lived.[3]
The earliest extant inscription that describes the origin of the Chauhans is the 1119 CE Sevadi inscription of Ratnapala, a ruler of the Naddula Chahamana dynasty. According to this inscription, the ancestor of the Chahamanas was born from the eye of Indra.[4]
The 1170 CE Bijolia rock inscription of the Shakambhari Chahamana king Someshvara states that his ancestor Samantaraja was born at Ahichchhatrapura (possibly modern Nagaur[5]) in the gotra of sage Vatsa. The 1262 CE Sundha hill inscription of the Jalor Chahamana king Chachiga-deva states that the dynasty's ancestor Chahamana was "a source of joy" to the Vatsa. The 1320 Mount Abu (Achaleshwar temple) inscription of the Deora Chauhan ruler Lumbha states that Vatsa created the Chahamanas as a new lineage of warriors, after the solar dynasty and the lunar dynasty had ceased to exist.[6]
The Ajmer inscription of the Shakambhari Chahamana ruler Vigraharaja IV (c. 1150–64 CE) claims that Chahamana belonged to the solar dynasty, descending from Ikshavaku and Rama. The 12th-century Prithviraja Vijaya mahakavya, composed by Prithviraja III's court poet Jayanaka, also claims a solar dynasty origin for the ruling dynasty. According to this text, Chahamana came to earth from Arkamandal (the orbit of the sun).[7]
The 15th-century Hammira Mahakavya of Nayachandra Suri, which describes the life of the Ranthambore branch ruler Hammira, gives the following account: Once Brahma was wandering in search of an auspicious place to conduct a ritual sacrifice. He ultimately chose the place where a lotus from his hand fell; this place came to be known as Pushkara. Brahma wanted to protect his sacrificial ceremony against interference from danavas (miscreant beings). Therefore, he remembered the Sun, and a hero came into being from the sun's orb. This hero was Chohan, the ancestor of the Hammira's dynasty.[8] The earliest extant recension of Prithviraj Raso of Chand Bardai, dated to 15th or 16th century, states that the first Chauhan king – Manikya Rai – was born from Brahma's sacrifice.[8] The 16th-century Surjana-Charita, composed by the Bengali poet Chandra Shekhara under patronage of the Ranthambore ruler Rao Surjana, contains a similar account. It states that Brahma created the first Chahamana from the Sun's disc during a sacrificial ceremony at Pushkara.[9]
Despite these earlier myths, it was the Agnivanshi (or Agnikula) myth that became most popular among the Chauhans and other Rajput clans. According to this myth, some of the Rajput clans originated from Agni, in a sacrificial fire pit. This legend was probably invented by the 10th-century Paramara court poet Padmagupta, whose Nava-sahasanka-charita mentions only the Paramaras as fire-born.[10] The inclusion of Chauhans in the Agnivanshi myth can be traced back to the later recensions of Prithviraj Raso. In this version of the legend, once Vashistha and other great sages begin a major sacrificial ceremony on Mount Abu. The ritual was interrupted by miscreant daityas (demons). To get rid of these demons, Vashistha created progenitors of three Rajput dynasties from the sacrificial fire pit. These were Parihar (Pratiharas), Chaluk (Chaulukya or Solanki), and Parmar (Paramara). These heroes were unable to defeat the demons. So, the sages prayed again, and this time a fourth warrior appeared: Chahuvana (Chauhan). This fourth hero slayed the demons.[11][12]
The earliest available copies of Prithviraj Raso do not mention the Agnivanshi legend.[13] It is possible that the 16th-century bards came up with the legend to foster Rajput unity against the Mughal emperor Akbar.[14] Adaptions of the Prithviraj Raso occur in several later works. The Hammira Raso (1728 CE) by Jodharaja, a court poet of prince Chandrabhana of Neemrana, states that once the Kshatriyas (warriors) became extinct. So, the great sages assembled at Mount Abu and created three heroes. When these three heroes could not defeat the demons, they created Chahuvanaji.[15] A slight variation occurs in the writings of Surya Malla Mishrana, the court poet of Bundi. In this version, the various gods create the four heroes on Vashistha's request.[16] According to the bardic tale of the Khichi clan of Chauhans, the Parwar (Paramara) was born from Shiva's essence; the Solankhi (Solanki) or Chaluk Rao (Chalukya) was born from Brahma's essence; the Pariyar (Parihar) was born from Devi's essence; and the Chahuvan (Chauhan) was born from Agni, the fire.[17]
History
The Chauhans were historically a powerful group in the region now known as Rajasthan. For around 400 years from the 7th century CE their strength in Sambhar was a threat to the power-base of the Guhilots in the south-west of the area, as also was the strength of their fellow Agnivanshi clans.[18] They suffered a set-back in 1192 when their leader, Prithviraj Chauhan, was defeated at the Second Battle of Tarain but this did not signify their demise.[19] The kingdom broke into the Satyapura and Devda branches after the invasion of Qutbu l-Din Aibak in 1197.[20]
The earliest Chauhan inscription is a copper-plate inscription found at Hansot.[21]
Dynasties
The ruling dynasties belonging to the Chauhan clan included:
- Chahamanas of Shakambhari (Chauhans of Ajmer)
- Chahamanas of Naddula (Chauhans of Nadol)
- Chahamanas of Lata[22]
- Chahamanas of Dholpur[23]
- Chahamanas of Partabgarh[24]
- Chahamanas of Jalor (Chauhans of Jalore); branched off from the Chahamanas of Naddula
- Chahamanas of Ranastambhapura (Chauhans of Ranthambore); branched off from the Chahamanas of Shakambhari
The princely states ruled by families claiming Chauhan descent include:[25][26]
- Bundi State
- Changbhakar State
- Korea State
- Kota State
- Sirohi State
- Sonepur State
- Ambliara State
- Dhami State
Notable people
- Prithviraj Chauhan (1178–1192), Chahamana ruler of Ajmer
- Gugga, a warrior, minor king and Nāga demigod[27]
- Hammir Dev Chauhan (1283–1301), ruler of Ranathambore
- Rao Surjan Singh (1554–1584), ruler of Bundi state
- Rao Raja Chattar Sal (1632–1658), ruler of Bundi state
- Chetan Chauhan, former Indian cricketer
- Sonal Chauhan, Indian film actress
- Gajendra Chauhan, Indian television actor
- Jagjit Singh Chohan, former Sikh leader from Punjab, India
- Fayyaz ul Hassan Chohan, Pakistani politician from Punjab province
References
Citations
- ^ Social Sciences Research Journal - Volume 19 - Page 73. Panjab University. 2011.
Among the thirty six of Rajput clans, there flourished a clan of Chauhan in early medieval times in northern India.
- ^ Singh, Kumar Suresh, ed. (1998). India's communities. Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-563354-2.
The Hindu Gujjar have a number of clans (gotra), such as Bainsale, Bhati, Bankar, Chauhan, Korri, Dhame, Godhane, Khari, Nangari, Khatana Pedia, Peelwar, Tanwar, Fagna, Vidhuri, Vasatte and Lomor
|p.1126 - ^ Singh 1964, p. 10.
- ^ Singh 1964, pp. 10–11.
- ^ Singh 1964, p. 89.
- ^ Singh 1964, p. 11.
- ^ Singh 1964, p. 12.
- ^ a b Singh 1964, p. 13.
- ^ Singh 1964, pp. 13–14.
- ^ Seth 1978, p. 10-13.
- ^ Seth 1978, p. 5.
- ^ Singh 1964, pp. 14–15.
- ^ Majumdar 1956, p. 9.
- ^ Singh 1964, pp. 17–18.
- ^ Singh 1964, p. 15.
- ^ Singh 1964, p. 16.
- ^ Seth 1978, p. 6.
- ^ Gupta & Bakshi 2008, p. 95.
- ^ Gupta & Bakshi 2008, p. 100.
- ^ Sen, Sailendra (2013). A Textbook of Medieval Indian History. Primus Books. p. 28. ISBN 978-9-38060-734-4.
- ^ Sharma, Dasharatha : "Early Chauhan Dynasties" (1959) by S.Chand & Co. Page 14.
- ^ Singh 1964, p. 105.
- ^ Singh 1964, p. 114.
- ^ Singh 1964, p. 115.
- ^ Memoranda on the Indian States. Government Of India. 1939. pp. 110–139.
- ^ C. S. Bayley. Chiefs and Leading Families in Rajputana. p. 51.
- ^ Hāṇḍā, Omacanda (2004). Naga Cults and Traditions in the Western Himalaya. New Delhi: Indus Publishing. p. 330. ISBN 978-8-17387-161-0. Retrieved 17 October 2012.
Bibliography
- Gupta, R. K.; Bakshi, S. R., eds. (2008). Studies In Indian History: Rajasthan Through The Ages: The Heritage of Rajputs. Vol. 1. Sarup & Sons. ISBN 978-8-17625-841-8.
- Majumdar, Asoke Kumar (1956). Chaulukyas of Gujarat: A Survey of the History and Culture of Gujarat from the Middle of the Tenth to the End of the Thirteenth Century. Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan.
- Seth, Krishna Narain (1978). The Growth of the Paramara Power in Malwa. Progress.
- Singh, R. B. (1964). History of the Chāhamānas. N. Kishore.
