Chauhan

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Prithvi Raj Chauhan

Chauhan (Chauhan - Punjabi,चौहान - Hindi, چوہان - Urdu, some Chauhans also choose to spell their name Chohan - ﮀﻮﮨﺎﻥ) - are an Arya clan in India. The Chauhan gotra is found among the Rajputs. The Chauhan Rajputs come from the region around the lakes of Sambhar and Pushkar in Rajasthan, near Amber and present-day Jaipur. Other seats of Chauhans are Mainpuri & Pratapner in Uttar Pradesh and Neemrana in Alwar District of Rajasthan.

There is a great village of the Chauhan clan by the name of Amin near Thanesar in Haryana. These Chauhans belong to the Ror community and they have provided many Volleyball players to the Indian national team. 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.

[edit] Origins

According to the Rajput bards, the Chauhan is one of the four Agnikula or 'fire sprung' clans who 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 (royal) ruling races of the Rajputs. Some Chauhan's are also considered part of the Jat clan as they have contributed for many generations to crop yielding and farming in the Punjab and Haryana.

[edit] History

Chauhan dynasty flourished from the 8th to 12th centuries. It was one of the four main Rajput dynasties (Agnivanshis) of that era, the others being Pratiharas, Paramaras and Chalukyas.

Chauhan dynasties established themselves in several places in Northern India and in the state of Gujarat in Western India. Inscriptions also associate them with Sambhar, the salt lake area in the Dhundhar region. Sakhambari branch remained near lake Sambhar and married into the ruling Gurjara-Pratihara, who then ruled an empire in Northern India.

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 12th century the Chauhans dominated Delhi, Ajmer, Ranthambhor. They were also prominent at Godwar in the southwest of Rajputana, and at Hadoti (Bundi and Kota) in the east. Chauhan politics were largely 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 Prithviraj Chauhan or Rai Pithora. Prithviraj III has become famous in folk tales and historical literature as the Chauhan king of Delhi who resisted the attack by Muslim ruler Mohammed of Ghor at the first Battle of Tarain (1191). Armies from other Rajput kingdoms, including Mewar, assisted him. The Chauhan kingdom collapsed after Prithviraj was defeated by Mohammed of Ghor in 1192 at the Second Battle of Tarain.

[edit] After Prithviraj III

Prithviraj's defeat and capture at Tarain ushered in Muslim rule in North India by the Delhi Sultanate. The Chauhans remained in Ajmer as feudatories of Muhammad of Ghor and his successors, the Sultans of Delhi, until 1365, when Ajmer was captured by the rulers of Mewar.

Son of Prithviraj III Chandrapal Dev came and established the state of Bhadawar and from there a new Rajput clan evolved that was called Bhadurias.

A branch of the Chauhans, led by Govinda, the grandson of Pritviraj III, established themselves as rulers of Ranthambore from the thirteenth to the fifteenth centuries, until Ranthambore was captured by Rana Kumbha of Mewar.

The Hadas,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 and ruled their till the merger of state in independent India.

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, UP) and Bachgoti (Diyara State of Awadh, UP) are two other branches of Chauhans (both are primarily in Uttar Pradesh). chauhan's are also found in Khurja Dasheri and Arnia.

The last Chauhan king, Raja Tej Singh, ruled in Mainpuri, a district in Uttar Pradesh of India.

[edit] Chauhans in Western Uttar Pradesh

The Rajput Chauhans are also populated around Thakurdwara (Moradabad),Distt. Bijnor U.P, Distt. Aligarh and Distt. Baghpat, Baraut, Muzzafarnagar & Meerut(there are many villages of chauhan's in Meerut). The mostly 'Chauhans', 'Chaudharys', Tomars', 'Vats' and 'Sisodia', 'Kachwaha', 'Gahlaut', clan is in popularity in the area. Chauhans are also from Punjab DASUYA Distt Hosiarpur. In Rajputs the marriages are held on the bases of the sub-cast systems. But most of the Chauhan's found in around Delhi to Haridwar arrange their marriages according to the Gautra system. Like Shailendra Chauhan Amroha, U.P.

[edit] Chauhans of Chaurasi in Western Uttar Pradesh

Chauhans Rajputs of Chaurasi are populated near Khair-Chandaus area of Aligarh district of Uttar Pradesh. They call themselves Chauhans of Chaurasi (gautra- batchhas) having origin in Neemarana Rajasthan and Gaddi(seat) Delhi. Some villages from these Chauhans are also in District Bulandshahr( Davkaura, Agauta, Surkhuru, Bhainsroli are some prominent villages)

[edit] Chauhans in Haridwar

The Chauhan Rajputs having a dominant role in Haridwar district of Uttrakhand. Haridwar is also known as ChauhanPuri in local Area.All Chauhans are among of 52 villages near Rajaji National Park.Kuldevi of Chauhan Rajputs is Maa Shakumhra Devi in District Sahranpur.In month of Bhadrpad Chauhans go to worship Gogaji (JAHAR VEER GOGA PEER, ANCIENT GREAT WARRIOR RULER OF CHAUHAN DYNSATY GOGAJI DEV CHAUHAN) in Rajasthan.Chauhans of haridwar having big role in Land and farming in District.Mostly Chauhans of Haridwar having gotras Vats,Gahadwal and Budhwal, Kachwaha, Gahlaut, Bhadauriya, Kashyap and solanki gotra etc and their marriage system is on the basis of the gautra.

[edit] Among Rajputs

There is also Chauahn so in Jaunsar Bawar area of Dehradun and from in Garwhal & Kumaoun

[edit] Religion

In Indian the Chauhans are predominantly Hindu. By contrast, most Pakistani Chohans are Muslims.

[edit] Chauhan rulers of Ajmer

• Ajay Pal - founded the city Ajaymeru which came to be called as Ajmer in the modern times.
• Prithviraja I
• Jagdeva
• Vigraharaja IV
• Apara Gangeya
• Prithviraja II
• Someshwara
• Prithviraj III
• Tej Singh Chauhan

GAURAV CHAUHAN

[edit] Notable Chauhans

[edit] India

• Prithvi Raj Chauhan, Ruler of Ajmer
• Subhadra Kumari Chauhan, poetess "Jhansi ki Rani"
• Gaurav Chauhan,software engineer,SYSCOM

[edit] Pakistan

• Zauq Akhtar Chauhan, Advocate High Court, Islamabad
• Junaid Akhtar Chauhan, Advocate High Court, Islamabad
• Maula Dad Chauhan, Fomer mayor of Rawalpindi, Rawalpindi

[edit] External links