Chauhan Dynasty
| Rajput clan: Chauhan (चौहान) | |
| Vansh | Agnivanshi |
| Descended from: | Dhundhar |
| Branches: | Rajkumar, Bachgoti, Hadas, Deoras, Bhadurias... |
| Ruled in | Dhundhar, Ajmer, Delhi, Haryana, Hadoti, Godwar |
| Princely states: | Ajmer (11th c.-1365) Ranthambore (1236-???) |
Chauhan (चौहान - Hindi, چوہان - Urdu) - are a Kshatriya and Rajput clan in India and the Indian subcontinent. The Chauhan gotra 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.
Origins
According to the Rajput bards, 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 Punjab and Haryana.
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 North 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 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 Prithviraj Chauhan or Rai Pithora. Prithviraj III has become famous in folk tales 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 was defeated by the use of deception by 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 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. A 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) and Bachgoti (Diyara State of Awadh) are two other branches of Chauhans 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, India.
Chauhans in Western Uttar Pradesh
The Rajput Chauhans are also found around Thakurdwara in Moradabad, district Bijnor, districts Aligarh and Baghpat, Baraut, Muzaffarnagar & Meerut. Chauhans Rajputs of Chaurasi are found near Khair-Chandaus area of Aligarh district of Uttar Pradesh. They call themselves Chauhans of Chaurasi (gotra- Batchhas) and claim origin in Neemrana, Rajasthan and Gaddi (seat) Delhi. Some villages of these Chauhans in district Bulandshahr are Davkaura, Agauta, Surkhuru, Bhainsroli.
Chauhans in Haridwar
The Chauhan Rajputs have a dominant role in Haridwar district of Uttarakhand. Haridwar is also known as Chauhan Puri in the local area. All Chauhans are mostly found in the 52 villages near Rajaji National Park. Kuldevi of Chauhan Rajputs is Maa Shakumbari Devi in district Saharanpur. In the month of Bhadrapad, Chauhans go to worship Gogaji, Jahar Veer Goga Pir, an ancient great ruler of the Chauhans in Rajasthan. Chauhans of Haridwar have a big role in landholding and farming in the region. Chauhans of Haridwar belong to gotras Vats, Gahadwal and Budhwal. There are also Chauhans in Jaunsar Bawar area of Dehradun.
Chowhans in Bangladesh
The Chauhan in Bangladesh is mostly spelled as Chowhan. Most of the Chowhans live in those districts of Bangladesh which are closer to India. This certainly explain their migration from India. During British period they migrated from UP, Bihar and the main reason being economic hardship. At that time Bangladesh was a very good place to live because of it`s fertile land, abundant fish, good weather and amiable people.
Culture
Religion
In India, Chauhans are predominantly Hindu. By contrast, most Pakistani Chohans are Muslim.The tribe and descendants of Prithvi Raj Chohan were captured by Shahab ud din Ghori, while travelling through salt range on way to Afghanistan on night Gakhars of region attacked and killed the Ghori warrior and Chohans escaped to the hills and converted to Islam. The descendants of Chohan are found in Chakwal region and salt range.
Chauhan decedents also use the surname spelling of "Chohan" and are also of the Sikh religion.
Criteria for Marriage
| TAKE BRIDES FROM | GIVE BRIDES TO | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Parihar | Kachhwaha | ||
| Jadaun | Baghel | ||
| Tomar | Bhadauriya | ||
| Bais | Rathore | ||
| Gautam | Parmar | ||
| Badgujar | Gahlot | ||
| Pundir | Sisodiya | ||
| Sengar |
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
Notable Chauhans
India
- Prithvi Raj Chauhan, Ruler of Ajmer
- Subhadra Kumari Chauhan, poetess "Jhansi ki Rani"
- Shailendra Singh Chauhan, MCA Software Engineer
Pakistan
- Zauq Akhtar Chauhan, Advocate High Court, Islamabad
- Junaid Akhtar Chauhan, Advocate High Court, Islamabad
- Maula Dad Chauhan, Fomer mayor of Rawalpindi, Rawalpindi
usa khurshid ahmed chauhan, hospitality indstry.