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THE ANCIENT TOWN OF RAJORGARH
Dr. Kailash Chand Jain Alwar
DAJORGARH, the old capital of have founded it after the seventh cen
ILBadagurjaras, is a place of great tury A. D. The Baghola embankment. antiquity. It is situated on a lofty range which spans the valley near the palace of hills 28 miles to the south west of is believed lo have received this name Alwar. It is a large fortified city and from him. In course of time, the rulers was once inaccessible. In the tenth of this place became feudatories of the century A. D. it was known by the imperial Pratiharas of Kanauj. In 959 name of Rajyaputra' but it began to be A. D.. Mathanadeva was governing this called Paranagra in mediaeval times. place as feudatory of Vijayapaladeva It appears that the town Paranagara of Kanauj. His predecessor was Savata derived its name from the Jaina Tirthan- residing at Rajaur. Ajayapala and kara Parasanatha. A large number of Lachchha are known to have ruled over Jaina monuments found at Rajorgarh this place in the 10th century A. D.3 prove that it was a great centre of Jain- Ajabgarh, a place of great antiquity ism. Alwar in the neighbourhood of in Alwar district, seems to have been Rajorgarh was also the famous Tirtha of founded by Ajayapala. Lachchha is said Ravana Parsvanatha in medieval times. to have constructed an old tank called In this way, Paranagara may have assu- Lachoro. An inscription of 1152 A. D. med such name.
refers to the reign of Prithvipala. Most Rajorgarh was ruled by the Bada probably, he is a Badagurjara ruler. Gurjara rulers in early times. It is said The badagurjara rulers of Machari who that Bada Gurjara Raja Baghasimha started to rule from the 13th century, founded this town in about 145 A. D.?
were descendants of the rulers of RajoThis time seems to be doubtful because
rgarh. Matsyadeva started his separathe Bada Gurjara Pratiharas actually
te dynasty at Machari. began to rule from the seventh century After the Badagurjaras, Rajorgarh A. D. Therefore, Baghasimha may was occupied by the Khanzadas. From
1. EI, III, p. 263. 2. ASC. XX, pp. 121-122. 3. EI, III, p. 263. 4 Marg. March, 1959. p. 63. 5 ARRMA, 1919, p. 2.
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