Anhal

Anhal was the first Chauhan King. Prithvi Raj Chauhan (1149–1192 CE) was 39th from Anhal.

Genealogy of Anhal

Anhal → → → Ajaipal (Maheshwar - Ajmer) → Pirthi Pahar (had 24 sons) → Manika Rae (lord of Ajmer and Sambhur, S. 741 = AD.685) → Lot → Harsharaja (S. 812 = AD 755) → Dujgan-deo (Bhatner) → Eleven princes from Manakrao to Visaladeva (A.D. 1153-1163) → → → Prithvi Raj (1149–1192 CE) (39th from Anhal)

Visaladeva → Anuraj (Hansi) (d.1022 AD) → Ishtpal (Hansi: 1025 AD) (founder of Haras) → Chandkarn → Lok Pal → Rao Hamir (+ Gambbir) → Kalkurna → Mah Mugd → Rao Bacha → Rao Chand (Asir) → Rainsi (Asir) → Kolun (+Kankal) → Bango → Rao Dewa (S. 1398 = A.D. 1342) (Bundi founded) →

Samarsi → Napuji → Hamuji (S. 1440) → Birsing → Biru (d. S. 1526) → Rao Bando (famine in S. 1542 = A. D. 1486) → Narayandas → Rao Surajmal (S. 1590 = A.D. 1534) → Soortan (S. 1591 = A.D. 1535) → Nirboodh (son of Rao Bando) →Rao Arjun → Soorjun (S. 1689 = A.D. 1633) →

Koolun → Jaipal (=Bango) → Deva-Raj (Bundi:S. 1398 = A.D. 1342) → Hara-Raj (Bumaoda) → Ritpal → Kelhan → Kuntal (+ young brother Deda-Raj) → Rao Mahadeva (S. 1446 = 1389 AD) → Durjan (=Jiva-raj) + Subatsal+ Kumbhakarn

Note - We need to search continuous genealogy of early Chauhans. The last mentioned names are based on Menal Inscription of Mahadeva Hara (Chohans) S. 1446 (1389 AD).

History

Ram Swarup Joon writes that the Chauhan gotra is found among the Rajputs, Jats and Gujars. They are mentioned in the Jat history because historians have proved that the Chauhan belong to the Takshak dynasty and some Jat gotras do belong to the Chauhan dynasty. According to Colonel Todd's Rajasthan, the ancestor of the Chauhan dynasty was Anhal Raja, who was a Takshak, an old gotra of the Jats.

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Ram Sarup Joon quotes Todd, who writes that the Chauhan King Anhal I, who ruled 39 generations before Prithvi Raj was a Takshak.

Agnikula Creation of Chauhan

James Todd writes that.... Chahuman or Chauhan. — On this race so much has been said elsewhere,¹ that it would be superfluous to give more than a rapid sketch of them here.

This is the most valiant of the Agnikulas, and it may be asserted not of them only, but of the whole Rajput race. Actions may be recorded of the greater part of each of the Chhattis-kula, which would yield to none in the ample and varied pages of history ; and though the ' Talwar Rathoran ' would be ready to contest the point, impartial decision, with a knowledge of their respective merits, must assign to the Chauhan the van in the long career of arms.

Its branches (sakha) have maintained all the vigour of the original stem ; and the Haras, the Khichis, the Deoras, the Sonigiras, and others of the twenty-four, have their names immortalised in the song of the bard.

The derivation of Chauhan is coeval with his fabulous birth : 'the four-handed warrior' (Chatur-bhuja Chatur-bahu Vira). All failed when sent against the demons, but the Chauhan, the last creation of the Brahmans to fight their battles against infidelity.

A short extract may be acceptable from the original respecting the birth of the Chauhan, to guard the rites of our Indian Jove on this Olympus, the sacred Abu : " the Guru of mountains, like Sumer or Kailas, which Achaleswara made his abode. Fast but one day on its summit, and your sins will be forgiven ; reside there for a year, and you may become the preceptor of mankind."

The Agnikunda Fire-pit. — Notwithstanding the sanctity of Abu, and the little temptation to disturb the anchorites of Bal, " the Munis, who passed their time in devotion, whom desire never approached, who drew support from the cow, from roots, fruits, and flowers," yet did the Daityas, envying their felicity, render the sacrifice impure, and stop in transit the share of the gods. " The Brahmans dug' the pit for burnt-sacrifice to the

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1 See Transactions of the Royal Asiatic Society, vol. i. p. 133, ' 'Comments on a Sanskrit Inscription.'

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[p.113]: south-west (nairrit) ; but the demons¹ raised storms which darkened the air and filled it with clouds of sand, showering ordure, blood, bones and flesh, with every impurity, on their rites. Their penance was of no avail."

Again they kindled the sacred fire ; and the priests, assembling round the Agnikunda,² prayed for aid to Mahadeo [95]. " From the fire-fountain a figure issued forth, but he had not a warrior's mien. The Brahmans placed him as guardian of the gate, and thence his name, Prithivi-dwara.³ A second issued forth, and being formed in the palm (challu) of the hand was named Chalukya. A third appeared and was named Pramara.⁴ He had the blessing of the Rishis, and with the others went against the demons, but they did not prevail. Again Vasishtha,⁵ seated on the lotus, prepared incantations ; again he called the gods to aid : and, as he poured forth the libation, a figure arose, lofty in stature, of elevated front, hair like jet, eyes rolling, breast expanded, fierce, terrific, clad in armour, quiver filled, a bow in one hand and a brand in the other, quadriform (Chaturanga),⁶ whence his name, Chauhan.

" Vasishtha prayed that his hope⁷ might be at length fulfilled, as the Chauhan was despatched against the demons. Sakti-devi⁸ on her lion, armed with the trident, descended, and bestowed her blessing on the Chauhan, and as Asapurna, or Kalika, promised always to hear his prayer. He went against the demons ; their leaders he slew. The rest fled, nor halted till they reached the depths of hell. Anhal slew the demons. The Brahmans were made happy ; and of his race was Prithwiraja."⁹

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1 Asura-Daitya, which Titans were either the aboriginal Bhils or the Scythic hordes.

2 I have visited this classic spot in Hindu mythology. An image of Adipal (the ' first-created '), in marble, still adorns its embankment, and is a piece of very fine sculpture. It was too sacred a relic to remove.

3 ' Portal or door (dwar) of the earth ' ; contracted to Prithihara and Parihara.

4 ' The first striker.'

5 [In the Hara version of the legend the presiding priest is Visvamitra.]

6 Chatur ; anga, ' body' ( chaturbahu).

7 Asa, ' hope,' purna, to ' fulfil ' ; whence the tutelary goddess of the Chauhan race, Asapurna.

8 The goddess of energy (Sakti).

9 Cunningham points out that in the original story only the Chauhan was created from the fire-pit, the reference to other clans being a later addition (ASR, ii. 255).]

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[p.114]: The genealogical tree of the Chauhans exhibits thirty-nine princes, from Anhal, the first created Chauhan, to Prithwiraja, the last of the Hindu emperors of India.¹ But whether the chain is entire we cannot say. The inference is decidedly against its being so ; for this creation or regeneration is assigned to an age centuries anterior to Vikramaditya : and we may safely state these converts to be of the Takshak race, invaders of India at a very early period.

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1 Born in S. 1215, or A.D. 1159. Anhala or Agnipala is here the head of the Chauhan line ; but a different list appears in the Hammira Maha-kavya of Nayachhandra Suri (I A, viii. 55 ff.).]

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