History Features of Folklores about Chauhan Chieftains (Gadhpati) of Garhwal and Haridwar

History of Garhwal (1223- 1804 AD) –part -22

 History of Uttarakhand (Garhwal, Kumaon and Haridwar) -267

                       By: Bhishma Kukreti (A History Student)

               Lack of Historical Records

      The folklores state that by thirteenth century, there were Chauhan chieftains (Gadhpati) were ruling major Gadhis of Garhwal. No records, inscriptions, coins are available in support of these folklores.

  It seems that Chauhan Kings of Delhi replaced Tomar commanders of western Uttar Pradesh Garhwal and Haridwar by Chauhan commanders. When Ghori (1192) captured Delhi and Rajasthan, Chauhan commanders took shelter in Shivalik foot hills and into Garhwal.

                   Chauhan Chieftains of Sapadlaksh

  Around and after 1192, Ghori, his successors and commanders were busy in administrating and reconciling their rule over Punjab, Delhi, Ajmer and Yamuna-Ganga Doab. The northern parts Himachal and Uttarakhand did not have much importance for Ghori’s successors.  

Below Himalayan foot hills, there was Shivalik hills and its foothills. Muslim historian mentioned it Sivalik and Bodh Gaya inscription of Sahanpal mentioned this region as Savalak.

 There is no mention of Sapaldaksh in Mahbharat. There is no mention of Sapaldaksh mountain series in Kalidas, Ban, Barahmigiri and Raj Shekhar literature.

 There is mention of Sakambhar-Sapaldlakshdes in Kumari Khand of Skandh Puran. The first record of mentioning Sapdalkshgiri name is in rock inscription of Sahanpal (1194). Historians guess that Chauhan named this region as Sapadlaksh.

             Establishing Ajmer in South Garhwal

  Ajmer was capital of Chauhan Kings before Ghori killed Prithviraj Chauhan. There is Gangasalan region within smaller Himalaya and Shivalik hills. There is one Patti (administrative region) called Ajmer. There is Ajmer Garh. Most probably, Chauhan who were in search of safer territory from Ghori and his successors might have established Ajmer. Later on, a Payal chieftain capture Ajmer Garh.

** Read more about  Chauhan clan connection with Garhwal and Haridwar History Features in next chapter …..

Copyright@ Bhishma Kukreti Mumbai, India, bckukreti@gmail.com21/2//2014

                                      References

1-Dr. Shiv Prasad Dabral, 1971, Uttarakhand ka Itihas Bhag-4, Veer Gatha Press, Dogadda, Pauri Garhwal, India 

2-Harikrishna Raturi, Garhwal ka Itihas

3-Dr. Patiram, Garhwal Ancient and Modern

4-Rahul Sankrityayan, Garhwal

5- Oakley and Gairola, Himalayan Folklore

6- Bhakt Darshan, Garhwal ki Divangit Vibhutiyan

7-Foster, Early Travels in India William Finch

8-Upadhyaya, Shri Shankaracharya

9-Shering, Western Tibet and British

10-H.G. Walton, Gazetteer of British Garhwal

11-B.P.Kamboj, Early Wall Paintings of Garhwal

12-H.g Walton, Gazetteer of Dehradun

13- Vimal Chandra, Prachin Bharat ka Itihas

14-Meera Seth, Wall Paintings of Western Himalayas 

15-Furar, Monumental Antiquities

16-Haudiwala, Studies in Indo-Muslim History

17- Rahul Khari 2007, Jats and Gujjar Origin, History and Culture

18- Upendra Singh, 2006, Delhi: Ancient History, Barghahan Books

19- B.S. Dahiya, 1980, Jats the Ancient Rulers (A Clan Study) , Sterling Publications

20- Maithani, Bharat –Gotrapravardeepika

21 Prem Hari Har Lal, 1993 , The Doon Valley Down the Ages

22-Dashrath Sharma, Early Chauhan Dynasties

(The History of Garhwal, Kumaon, Haridwar write up is aimed for general readers)

History of Garhwal from 1223-1804 to be continued in next chapter          

History of Garhwal – Kumaon-Haridwar (Uttarakhand, India) to be continued… Part -268  

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History Features of Folklores about Chauhan Chieftains (Gadhpati) of Garhwal and Haridwar; History Features of Folklores about Chauhan Chieftains (Gadhpati) of Ajmer Garhwal and Haridwar; History Features of Folklores about Chauhan Chieftains (Gadhpati) of Gangasalan Garhwal and Haridwar; History Features of Folklores about Chauhan Chieftains (Gadhpati) of Pauri Garhwal and Haridwar; History Features of Folklores about Chauhan Chieftains (Gadhpati) of Chamoli Garhwal and Haridwar; History Features of Folklores about Chauhan Chieftains (Gadhpati) of Rudraprayag Garhwal and Haridwar; History Features of Folklores about Chauhan Chieftains (Gadhpati) of Tehri Garhwal and Haridwar; History Features of Folklores about Chauhan Chieftains (Gadhpati) of Uttarkashi Garhwal and Haridwar; History Features of Folklores about Chauhan Chieftains (Gadhpati) of Dehradun Garhwal and Haridwar;