Prithviraj Chauhan

Prithviraj Chauhan Biography

Prithviraj Chauhan was a king of the Hindu Chauhan dynasty, who ruled the kingdoms of Ajmer and Delhi during 12^th century. He is still popular among the masses through the epic poem written by Chand Bardai, praising him. This Rajput was the last independent Hindu king of Delhi before Hemu. His elopement with Samyukta in 1175 is a popular romantic tale in India and it gained popularity through the epic work, Prithviraj Raso written by his court poet and friend, Chand Bardai. His battles with Muslim ruler Shahabuddin Muhammad Ghori are very famous. Finally he lost life in his battles against this Afghan ruler, though able to kill him. His stories still remind us about this brave warrior from Delhi.

Prithviraj Chauhan was born in the year 1149. He ascended the throne after the death of Vigraha Raja in 1165. He conquered several neighbouring kingdoms and made the Chauhan kingdom Hindu dominant kingdom in northern India. He campaigned against the Chandela Rajputs of Bundelkhand. He fell in love with Samyukta (Sanyogita), the daughter of Jai Chandra Rathod of the Gahadvala king of Kannauj. Their elopement is popular with the epic poem written by his friend, Chand Bardai.

Chauhan defeated the Muslim ruler Shahabuddin Muhammad Ghori in the First Battle of Tarain in 1191. But he set him free. But in the second battle of Tarain in 1192, Prithviraj lost and was captured by Mohammad Ghori. Chand Bardai accompanied him to Ghazni. Prithviraj was cruelly tortured and made blind. But with the help of his dearest friend, who gained faith of Mohammad Ghori, Chauhan killed him with an arrow. But as both of them were sure of its consequences, the true friends stabbed each other. Last phase of Chauhan’s life was later compiled by Chand Bardai’s son. Chauhan was buried near to that of Mohammad Gori and one has to stab on to Chauhan’s grave to reach Gori’s.  Even today Afghans vent their anger by stabbing on the grave of Chauhan.

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Updated: September 24, 2017