Indian Antiquary Vol 59

SR No.: 032551
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Richard Carnac Temple, Charles E A W Oldham, S Krishnaswami Aiyangar, Devadatta Ramkrishna Bhandarka
Publisher: Swati Publications
Publication Year: 1986
Total Pages: 380
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 16 MB

Page 12

THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY
[ JANUARY, 1930
FALSE STATEMENTS ABOUT KING JAYACHANDRA AND RAO SIHÂ.
BY PANDIT BISHESHWARNATH REU. JAYACHANDRA, king of Kanauj, has often been accused of having caused the downfall of the last Hindu kingdom in Northern India. His grandson Rao Siba also has been accused of having usurped Pali, by treacherously murdering the Palival Brahmans of that place. No reasons are, however, offered for these suppositions, but the only argument resorted to by these orities is that these stories are handed down from generation to generation or that they are so mentioned in the Prithviraj Raso and in Tod's Annals and Antiquities of Rajasthan. .
In fact, none has yet taken the trouble of investigating the truth or otherwise of the problem. For the consideration of scholars I lay down my views on the subject here. The brief story of the Prithviraj Raso may be told as follows. Once Kamdhaj Rai, with the assistance of king Vijaypal Rathor of Kanauj invaded Delhi. At this, Tunvar Anangpal, king of Delhi, requested king Someśvara Chauhan of Ajmer for help. Someśvara thereupon marched with all his foroes and joined Anangpål. A battle was fought in which the latter won a victory, and the bostile forces retreated. As a mark of gratitude for this timely succour, Anangpal married bis younger daughter Kamaldvati to Someśvara and simultaneously his another daughter to Vijaypal of Karauj.
In V.S. 1115 Kamalâvati gavo birth to Prithviraja. Onoe NAhad Rao, king of Mandor, had paid a visit to king Anangpal of Delhi, and beholding the handsome features of prince Prithviraja there, he declared his intention to marry his daughter to him. But later he abandoned the idea. On this Prithviraja invaded Mandor in about V.8. 1129, and having defested Nahad Rao, took his daughter in marriage. Later, in V.S. 1138, Anangpál, disregarding the right of his elder daughter's son Jayachandra, made over the kingdom of Delhi to Prithviraja. Subsequently Prithviraja having abducted the daughter of the Yadava king, Bhan of Deogiri, who was engaged to Virachandra, nephew of Jayachandra, the armies of Prithviraja and Jayachandra had to meet on the battlefield. Sometime after this, Anangpal also invaded Delhi to recapture it from Prithviraja, on the complaints of his former subjects being now oppressed by Prithviraja's coercive policy, but he did not succeed.
In V.8. 1144, when Jayachandra proposed to perform a Rajasûya-yajña and the evayamvara of his daughter Samyogita, Prithviraja, considering it inadvisable to confront him, thought out another plan to render both the above ceremonies abortive. He at first repaired to Khokhand. pur where he killed Jayachandra's brother, Baluk Rai, and afterwards eloped with Samyogita. Jayachandra was therefore obliged to wage war against Prithviraja. The latter managed somehow to escape, but as many as 64 of his generals were killed and his power was almost' annihilated. According to the Raso, Prithviraja was 36 years of age when this event took place. So the date of the event must be Vikrama-samvat 1151.
The bravery of the young general Dhirasen Pundir in the struggle with Jayachandra attract ed Prithviraja's attention, and the king favoured him most. At this his veteran generals Chamund Rai and others became jealous and carried on intrigues with ShibAbu'd-din. But Prithviraja, being too much engrossed with Samyogita, did not pay any heed to these affairs. His government, therefore, gradually showed signs of disintegration. This gave an opportu. nity to Shihabu'd-dîn to invade Delhi. Prithviraja was obliged to come out with his army to meet him. On this vooasion Raval Samarsî of Mewar, his brother-in-law, had also joined Prithviraja in the battle. But due to disorganisation of the army Shihabu'd-din eventually won a victory, and Prithviraja was captured and taken to Ghazni. Shortly after this, it is related, Shihabu'd-din met his death at the hands of Prithvir&ja a Ghazni, who immediately after kiled himself.' Shortly after, Rainsi, son of Prithviraja, attacked the Muhammadans of Lahore, to avenge his father's death, and drove them out. Thereupon Qutbu'd-din marched
1 Jayachandra was born to this lady. 3 According to the Rdoo Prithviraja had died at an age of 43; so the date of this event coincs to V.8. 1168.