Origins
According to the Rajput bards, Chauhan is one of the four Agnikula or ‘fire sprung’ clans that 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. The Agnikula origin was perpetuated by Raso from the 16th century onwards. Chauhan gotracharya: Samved, Somvansh, Madhyandini Shakha, Gotracharya is used for marriage relationships and has not changed from time immemorial. Chauhans are termed as Agnivanshi Kshatriyas.
History
Chauhan is one of the four Agnikula or ‘fire sprung’ tribes that 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 Asura named Dhunda at Mount Abu whom all Rajputs of the world were unable to kill. Then Guru Vashistha made a Yagya at Mount Abu. In the agni of that Yagya, four Rajputs took Birth; the first was Solanki, the second was Parmar, the third was Parihar, but those three were also unable to kill the Asura Dhundha. Then the fourth birth from that Kund was Anhil, whose name was Anhil. Guru Vashishtha took the four Swear from Anhil which were Satya, Dharma, Karm, and Daya. These were the four Aans for Anhil so he was named as The follower of charaans i.e. Chauhan. Anhil killed that Asur Dhundha and freed the Earth from Asuras. 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.
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 the 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 folktales 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 faced defeat in the war at the battle 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 Sisodia rulers of Mewar, and Ajmer was then returned to the Chauhans. A branch of the Chauhans, led by Govinda, the grandson of Prithviraj III, established themselves as rulers of Ranthambore from the thirteenth to the fifteenth centuries until Ranthambore was captured by Rana Kumbha of Mewar. A 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 Kota. The Dhanetiyas of Shahabad, which by a singular fatality has at length come into the possession of Kota, are descended from them.
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. Chauhans 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, Uttarakhand, 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. 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. Suraj Mal 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 proprietorship of Mundetti. One of the very few Chauhan Rajput villages in Doaba Bist, Punjab, 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) 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, the 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 Chauhan’s army and fell a martyr in the second battle against Muhammad of Ghor, commonly known in history as Muhammad Gauri.
Religion
In India, Real (Rajputs) Chauhans are only Hindu not Muslims, nor Sikhs or any other religion. They belong to General Caste in India.
By some strange genetic coincidence for such a small village, a large number of men have excelled in military service right from WWI & II with The British East Indian Army then with The Pakistan Army post-partition.
Chauhan rulers of Ajmer:
– Ajay Pal – founded the city Ajaymeru which came to be called as Ajmer in modern times.
– Prithviraja I
– Jagdeva
– Vigraharaja IV
– Apara Gangeya
– Prithviraja II
– Someshwara
– Manu Pratap Singh Chauhan
Chauhan rulers of Mainpuri:
– Pratap Rudra Ji left Neemrana in 1310 Samvat and established Mainpuri as the 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:
– MANIK RAE S. 741, or A.D. 685, founder of Chauhans
– Prithvi Raj Chauhan, Ruler of Ajmer
– Vagbhatta, Ruler of Ranathambore
– Jaitrasinha, Ruler of Ranathambore
– Hammir Dev Chauhan, Ruler of Ranathambore
– Akheraj Singh Songara, Ruler of Pali Marwar
– Hada Hameer Chauhan, Ruler of Ranthambore
– Devi Singh Dhanetiya, Ruler of Shahabad Kota (Rajasthan)
– Bhagwan Singh Chauhan, Ashapurna Sansthan, Rajasthan [Social Worker].
– Kanhad Dev Sonigara, Ruler of Jalor
– Maharaja Vikram Dev Chauhan, Ruler of Jalor
– Gogaji Dev Chauhan, Jahar Veer Goga, Ruler, now worshipped as a saint
– Rani Padmavati Chauhan, Queen of CHITTOR
– Rani Karmavati Chauhan, Princess of Mewar, widow of Rana Sanga
– Maharani Javanta Bai Songara (Chauhan), Mother of Maharana Pratap
– Subhadra Kumari Chauhan, poetess of “Jhansi ki Rani”
