Book Description

In the present volume, for the first time, a connected history of the Chauhans, from their beginnings in Bhrgukachchha in eight century A.D. to the time of Ala-ud-din Khalji and Hammira in the fourteenth century has been presented. The author has shown that the Agnikula myth goes back to the Ramayana and is, in fact, traditional to Aryan Hindus. He also establishes conclusively that contrary to the common belief that India fell an easy prey to Muslim invaders, and the resistance of the Hindu rulers broke down after the defeat of Prthviraja, the descendants of the Chauhan Emperor, even after they lost Ajmer, continued to fight with determination for two hundred years. Considerable new light is also thrown on the relations between the Chaulukya Empire and the Chauhans of Sakambhari, especially during the reigns of Siddharaja and Kumarapala. A valuable portion of the book is devoted to the social and economic condition of the Chauhan territory during the eleventh, twelfth and thirteenth centuries. The enumeration and identification of the towns and villages in the country collected from the literature of the time is especially important. The names of the coins in use, the weights and measures will also be found very useful.