Something abt PRC

Prithviraj Chauhan (1168-1192 CE) Prithviraj Chauhan was a king of the Rajput Chauhan (Chauhamana) dynasty, who ruled a kingdom in northern India during the latter half of the 12th century.

Prithviraj Chauhan was the second last Hindu king to sit upon the throne of Delhi (the last Hindu king being Hemu). He succeeded to the throne in 1179 CE at the age of 11, and ruled from the twin capitals of Ajmer and Delhi. He controlled much of Rajasthan and Haryana, and unified the Rajputs against Muslim invasions. His elopement with Samyukta, the daughter of Jai Chandra, the Gahadvala king of Kannauj, is a popular romantic tale in India, and is one of the subjects of the Prithviraj Raso.

Prithviraj fought and defeated the Afghan ruler Muhammad Ghori in the First Battle of Tarain in 1191 CE but was later defeated at the Second Battle of Tarain in 1192 CE. After his defeat, India was open to invasion by Muslim invaders, and Delhi came under the control of the Muslim rulers. Qila Rai Pithora in Delhi, also known as Pithoragarh, is named after him.

Biography

Prithviraj Chauhan's succession had been rather confused since the death of Vigraha-raja in 1165; Prithviraj reconsolidated control of the Chauhan kingdom and conquered several neighboring kingdoms, which made his state the leading Hindu kingdom in northern India. Delhi was captured from the Tomara Rajputs during the early years of his reign, and was renamed Qila Rai Pithora. He campaigned against the Chandela Rajputs of Bundelkhand. His kingdom included much of the present-day Indian states of Rajasthan and Haryana, and parts of UP and Punjab. Princely Nabha jewel in the crown of India and families from Nabha has close relations with the Great Prithviraj Chauhan.

Prithvi Raj Chauhan, also called Rai Pathora, was the ruler of Ajmer and Delhi, by far the strongest of all the rulers of Northern India at the end of the twelfth century. He was brave, powerful, haughty and considered the flower of Rajput chivalry. His brother KHANDEY RAI (or GOBIND RAI - some historians called him Prithvi's relative whose daughter was married to Prithvi) was the viceroy of Delhi. Prithvi's first cousin Jaichand, Raja of KANAUJ, had strained relations with Prithvi because their grandfather (father of their mothers) had allowed Prithvi to inherit the throne of Delhi. Also because Prithvi had married the beautiful daughter of Jaichand against his wish.

Lineage

Anangpal Tomara II , the King of Delhi, had two daughters, Roopsundari and Kamaladevi. Roopsundari married Vijaypal, King of Kannauj. They had a son Jai Chandra. His daughter was named Sanyogita. Kamaladevi married Someshwar Chauhan, the King of Ajmer. Prithviraj was their son, born after 10 years of marriage. Pratha, his sister marries his friend Samar Singh (King of Chittor). His uncle Kanh's daughter was married to Raja Pajawan or Pajjun of Amber.

Early life

Prithviraj was born c. 1168 to king Someshwara Chauhan and his wife Karpurawali (or, Kamaladevi?). He was renowned to be the sharpest among all the princes in the household.

At gurukul , Prithviraj learnt shastra vidya (weaponry, armed combat), sahitya (literature), kala (arts) and rajniti shastra (politics).It was here that he learned the art of "shabd bhedi baan vidhya" that is hitting a target without seeing the target, that is only on the basis of sound.

With the stories of Prithviraj's courage, valour and intelligence spreading far and wide, Anangpal the King of Delhi decided to make him the king of delhi instead of jai chandra. Thus he was crowned prince of Delhi at the young age of 13 years.

Prithviraj Chouhan at the age of 13 killed Bheemdev Solanki, the king of Gujarat, who betrayed his father Someshwar Chauhan.

Important Battles

Muhammad Ghori, hailing from Ghor in present-day Afghanistan, grew increasingly powerful. He conquered Ghazni and subsequently defeated the Ghaznavid governor of Punjab. Muhammad Ghori's domain now touched upon that of Prithviraj Chauhan. A clash was inevitable.

First Battle of Tarain (1191 CE)

Muhammad Ghori invaded Prithviraj's domains and laid siege to the fortress of Bhatinda in Punjab, which was at the frontier between the two kingdoms. Prithviraj's appeal for help from his father-in-law was scornfully rejected by the haughty Jaichandra. Undaunted, Prithviraj marched on Bhatinda and gave battle to the invaders at a place called Tarain near the town of Thanesar.

In face of the Rajput onslaught, the invading Muslim army was defeated. The invador was brought in chains to Qila rai pithora where Mohammad Ghouri pleaded for mercy and Prithviraj Generously allowed him to go back

Mohammud Ghori had reconciled a bigger army and prepared for another war shortly after he was released and had attacked again, this time unexpectadely on the second battle of terrein. Both armies were huge but Ghori tacticfully yet decietfully attacked the Rajputs in the night and the the Rajput army's order broke loose. Prithviraj chauhan was thencaptured after this epic war. It was a war where millions of men died.

Not the end yet. Prithviraj managed to still obtain victory by using shabd baan vidhya to kill ghori.

Some Facts

The greatest fact lies in the stories that mention certain incidents in the local Rajasthani language stating that PrithviRaj Chauhan actually defeated Mohammad Ghori more than twice but rather seventeen times & he generously allowed him to return back. Also after the defeat of Prithvi Raj Chauhan in the eighteenth battle, he was taken to Ghor, where he was blinded for not accepting the supremacy of Mohammad Ghori. Chand Bardai a poet cum friend of Prithviraj came to his rescue by devising a plan to kill the sultan of Ghor. Chand approached the Sultan of Ghor & informed him that Prithviraj was an excellent archer & could hit any target just by hearing the sound & would only accept this order by a king.This proposal was accepted by Ghori. On the said day, Ghori sitting in his royal enclosure had Prithiviraj brought to the ground and had him unchained for the event. On Ghori's ordering Prithviraj to shoot, Prithiviraj turned in the direction from where he heard Ghori speak and struck Ghori dead with his arrow. This event is described by Chand Bardai in the couplet, "Char bans, chaubis gaj, angul ashta praman, Ete pai Sultan hai (Taa Upar hai Sultan). Ab mat chuko Chauhan."(Ten measures ahead of you and twenty four feet away, is seated the Sultan, do not miss him now, Chauhan).

Thereafter, both the emperor and Chand Bardai reportedly committed suicide. The emperor was buried near the tomb of Mohammad Ghazni, which also has the tomb of Mohammad Ghori. According to reports, it is now a part of the tradition in Afghanistan that those who pay visit to the tomb of Mohammad Ghazni and Mohammad Ghori first desecrate the place where the emperor's mortal remains are buried. The inscription on the tomb reads: "Here lies the Kafer( Non Believer of Islam) king of Delhi."