Historical Figures

15. History story of Queen Chandravati Pundir of Emperor Prithviraj Chauhan!

In a poem called Prithviraj Raso, it is described that the princess Chandravati of King Chandra Pundir was married to Prithviraj Chauhan, from whose womb the successor of Sapadalaksha was born Ransi. We had discussed in the earlier episode that Ransi is a fictional character, the name of that prince was Govind.

There is no difference among historians that a daughter of Chandra Pundir was married to King Prithviraj Chauhan, but who was King Chandrapundir and where was the ruler, his history is hidden in the mist of merciless times.

The relationship between the Chauhans of Ajmer and the Pundir kings started from the time of Vigraharaj Raj (IV), the Chauhan ruler of Ajmer. The audience knows that King Vigraharaja (IV) was the maternal uncle of King Prithviraj (III). Vigraharaj (IV) was the first king who defeated the kings of Delhi and Tarain region and included them in the Chauhan Empire.

The ancient kingdom of Pundirs, Pundarak was situated in this region. From that time the Pundirs came under the control of the Chauhans of Ajmer. This kingdom of Pundir Rajputs was not far from modern Karnal. The battle ground called Tarain was also located near Pundarak. Historians have now started calling this plain of Tarain as Naraina and it is estimated that it was located near Panchkula in Haryana.

On the basis of various evidences, historians estimate that in the Shivalik campaign of Vigraharaja (IV), a prince of the Pundir dynasty was accompanied by King Vigraharaja (IV). It is identified with the 'Rajputra' named 'Salakshan Paldev' mentioned in the Shivalik pillar inscription, under whose direction this inscription was established.

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Dr. Dashrath Sharma has written in the Early Chauhan Dynasty that Chandraraj was the son of Gopal Pundir and Prithviraj was the frontier feudator of Chauhan. Chandravati, a daughter of this Chandra Pundir, was married to King Prithviraj Chauhan.

Jain Muni Nayanchand Suri has written in his treatise Hammir epic that when Muhammad Ghori captured the fort of Sirhind and started looting and destroying temples in the nearby region, many people of Sirhind region came to Ajmer to meet Rai Pithora. Chandrapundir was also included in these people.

Chandrapundir and the people of Sirhind who accompanied him presented an elephant to King Prithviraj and told him about the atrocities committed by Muhammad Ghori.

Muslim historians have addressed this fort of Sirhind as Tabarhind. Muhammad Ghori snatched the fort of Tabarhind from the fort of the Chauhans and gave it to his trusted Qazi Ziauddin Qazi and kept a small army under him in Tabarhind and went to Ghazni.

When Prithviraj got very angry on the actions of Muhammad Ghori after listening to Chandra Pundir and others. He marched for Sirhind with an army of three thousand elephants and several thousand horsemen. King Govind Rai of Delhi was also with King Prithviraj. Although no details are available about the role of Chandraraj Pundir in this war, but on the basis of the circumstances of the time, it can be said that certainly Chandraraj Pundir must have also been with Prithviraj in this war.

According to Prithviraj Raso, at the time of the abduction of Sanyogita by Chandra Pundir King Prithviraj Chauhan, Veergati was attained while fighting with the army of Kannauj.

After the death of Chandra Pundir, his son Dhir Pundir succeeded him. He was a very strong and brave warrior. Dhir Pundir had cut the head of King Hahuli Rai of Kangra and offered it to Prithviraj Chauhan.

Chandrapundir's grandson Pavas Pundir and his army participated in the Second Battle of Tarain and displayed amazing valor and sacrificed their lives on the battlefield itself.

There is only so much information in history about Raja Chandra Pundir and his daughter Chandravati. However, in Prithviraj Raso, it is said that a son named Renasi was born from the womb of this Chandravati, whereas historians consider the name of this son as Govindraj and consider him as the only son of Prithviraj. He operated the army during his father's time.

The Hammir epic also mentions the name of Prithviraj's son as Govindaraja. The then Muslim historians have not mentioned any son of Prithviraj. In Prithviraj Raso, Reneesi, Govindraj, Balabhadra Bharat, Akshay Kumar, Jodh and Lakhan are also mentioned as sons of Prithviraj Chauhan.

In the next episode, see the history-story of Padmavati, the queen of Emperor Prithviraj Chauhan!

Note- Kumudamani mentioned in the story of Raso was the king of Kumaon region. Been joining it. Please add space. Similarly make Ratan Singh to Ratansen. Thanks.

-Doctor. Mohanlal Gupta