Tomaras of Delhi
Tomara dynasty | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| c. 736CE–c. 1152CE | |||||||||
Location of the Tomaras and neighbouring South Asian polities in 1000 CE.[1] | |||||||||
| Status |
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| Capital | |||||||||
| Common languages | |||||||||
| Religion | Hinduism | ||||||||
| Government | Monarchy | ||||||||
| History | |||||||||
• Established | c. 736CE | ||||||||
• Disestablished | c. 1152CE | ||||||||
| |||||||||
| Today part of | India | ||||||||
TheTomaras of Delhi(also calledTomar dynastyin modern vernaculars due toschwa deletion) ruled parts of present-dayDelhiandHaryanain India during 8th-12th century. Their rule over this region is attested to by multiple inscriptions and coins. In addition, much of the information about them comes from medievalbardic legends.They belonged to theTomar clanof theRajputs.[2][3]
They were displaced by theChahamanas of Shakambhariin the 12th century, who took over their capital in Delhi, but who were themselves soon displaced by theGhuridrulerMuhammad of Ghorin 1192 CE.[4]
Territory
The Tomara territory included parts of the present-dayDelhiandHaryana.A 13th century inscription states that the Tomaras ruled the Hariyanaka (Haryana) country before theChahamanasand the Shakas (Turksin this context). A 14th century inscription states that they built Dhillika (modern day Delhi) a city in the Haryana region. Around that city is a fortified wall calledLal Kotbuilt byAnangpal Tomar.It is also known that the Tomara kingdom stretched toHansiand areas atThanesar.[5]The Tomara's rule was followed by that of the Chahamanas and themlechchhaSahavadina (Shihab ad-Din).[6]
History
The Tomaras are known from some inscriptions and coins. However, much of the information about the dynasty comes from medieval bardic legends, which are not historically reliable. Because of this, the reconstruction of Tomara history is difficult.[6]
As feudatories
The earliest extant historical reference to the Tomaras occurs in thePehowainscription issued during the reign of thePratiharakingMahendrapala I(r. c. 885-910 CE).[7]This undated inscription states that Jaula of the Tomara family became prosperous by serving an unnamed king. His descendants included Vajrata, Jajjuka, and Gogga. The inscription suggests that Gogga was a vassal of Mahendrapala I. It records the construction of threeVishnutemples by Gogga and his step-brothers Purna-raja and Deva-raja. The temples were located at Prithudaka (IAST:Pṛthūdaka;Pehowa), on the banks of theSarasvati river.[8]
No information is available about the immediate successors of Gogga.[9]The Pehowa inscription suggests that this particular Tomara family was settled around theKarnal area.However,F. Kielhornsuggested that this Tomara family actually resided in Delhi: they may have visited Pehowa on pilgrimage, and built a temple there.[10]
As sovereigns
As the Pratihara power declined, the Tomaras established a sovereign principality around Delhi by the 10th century.[11]According to the bardic tradition, the king Anangapal Tuar (that is Anangapala II Tomara; not to be confused with the founder of the Tomara dynasty Anangpal I) founded Delhi in 1052 CE.[6]A 1526 CE source names the successors of Anangapala as Tejapala, Madanapala, Kritapala, Lakhanapala and Prithvipala. TheDravya-Pariksha(1318 CE) ofThakkura Pherumentions the coins of Madanapala, Prithvipala and another ruler, Chahadapala.[12]
Soon after gaining independence, the Tomaras became involved in conflicts with their neighbours, theChahamanas of Shakambhariand later on theGahadavala dynasty.[13]According to a 973 CE inscription of the Chahamana kingVigraharaja II,his ancestorChandana(c. 900 CE) killed the Tomara chief Rudrena (or Rudra) in a battle.[11]TheHarshastone inscription states that Chandana's descendantSimharaja(c. 944-971 CE) defeated a Tomara leader called Lavana or Salavana. Historian R. B. Singh identifies the defeated ruler as Tejapala.[14]Another fragmentary Chahamanaprashasti(eulogistic inscription), now at theAjmermuseum, mentions that the Chahamana kingArnoraja(c. 1135-1150 CE) invaded theHaritanakacountry. This country is identified with the Tomara territory. According to the inscription, Arnoraja's army rendered the waters of the Kalindi river (Yamuna) muddy and the women of Hartinaka tearful, but Arnoraja's victory over the Tomaras was not decisive and as his sonVigraharaja IVhad to fight the Tomaras. This may have been because Anoraja was unsuccessful of getting through the fortLal Kotwhich had been built by the Tomara rulers.[15][16]
The writings of the medieval Muslim historians suggest that a king named Mahipala was ruling Delhi in the 11th century. Although these medieval historians do not mention the dynasty of this king, he is identified as a Tomara ruler by some modern historians. Some coins featuring crude depictions of a horseman and a bull, and bearing the name "Mahipala", have been attributed to this king. These coins are similar to those ofMawdud of Ghazni(r. 1041-50 CE), confirming that Mahipala must have ruled in the 11th century. The horseman-and-bull were a characteristic of theKabul Shahicoinage; Mawdud probably adopted this style after capturing the Shahi territories. Mahipala probably imitated the same style after capturingAsigarh FortinHansiandThaneshvararegions from Mawdud. Some fragmentary Tomara inscriptions have been discovered from Mahipalpur near Delhi. Historian Y. D. Sharma theorizes that Mahipala established a new capital at Mahipalapura (now Mahipialpur).[5]
Three Tomara kings seem to have shared the name "Anangapala" (IAST:Anaṅgapāla). One of these is said to have established theLal Kotcitadel in theMehrauliarea. The construction of the Anang Tal tank and theAnangpur Damis also attributed to him.[citation needed]His coins also feature the horseman-and-bull figure, and bear the title "Shri Samanta-deva". These coins are very similar to those of the Shakambhari Chahamana kingsSomeshvaraandPrithviraja III,indicating that Anangapala was a contemporary of these 12th century kings.[19]One of the several inscriptions on theIron Pillar of Delhimentions Anangapala. A medieval legend mentioned in a copy ofPrithviraj Rasomentions a legend about the pillar: aBrahminonce told Anangapala (alias Bilan Deo) that the base of the pillar rested on the head of theVasukiserpent, and that his rule would last as long as the pillar stood upright. Out of curiosity, Anangapala dug out the pillar, only to find it smeared with the blood of Vasuki. Realizing his mistake, the king ordered it to be re-instated, but it remained loose ( "dhili" ). Because of this, the area came to be known as "Dhilli" (modernDelhi). This legend is obviously a myth.[20]
Decline
The bardic legends state that the last Tomar Rajput king,Anangpal Tomar(also known as Anangapala), handed over the throne of Delhi to his son-in-lawPrithviraj Chauhan(Prithviraja III of the Chahamana dynasty of Shakambhari; r. c. 1179-1192 CE). However, this claim is not correct: the historical evidence shows that Prithviraj inherited Delhi from his fatherSomeshvara.[6]According to theBijoliainscription of Someshvara, his brotherVigraharaja IVhad captured Dhillika (Delhi) andAshika(Hansi). He probably defeated the Tomara ruler Anangapala III.[10]
See also
References
- ^Schwartzberg, Joseph E. (1978).A Historical atlas of South Asia.Chicago: University of Chicago Press. pp. 31, 32.ISBN0226742210.
- ^Upinder Singh(2004).The Discovery of Ancient India: Early Archaeologists and the Beginnings of Archaeology.Permanent Black. p. 73.ISBN978-81-7824-088-6.
Discussion of the histories of various Rajput clans, such as the Chauhans, Kachhvahas, Chandelas, Pratiharas and Tomaras on the basis of a wide range of sources-literary, epigraphic, numismatic, bardic accounts and local traditions
- ^Kulke, Hermann;Rothermund, Dietmar(2004).A History of India.Psychology Press. p. 117.ISBN978-0-415-32919-4.
When Gurjara Pratiharas power declined after the sacking of Kannauj by the Rashtrakutas in the early tenth century many Rajput princes declared their independence and founded their own kingdoms, some of which grew to importance in the subsequent two centuries. The better known among those dynasties were the Chaulukyas or Solankis of Gujarat and Kathiawar, the Chahamanas (i.e. Chauhans) of eastern Rajasthan (Ajmer and Jodhpur) and the Tomaras who had founded Delhi (Dhillika) in 736 but had been displaced by the Chauhans in the twelfth century.
- ^Ray, Himanshu Prabha (5 September 2018).Decolonising Heritage in South Asia: The Global, the National and the Transnational.Taylor & Francis. p. 142.ISBN978-0-429-80285-0.
- ^abP. C. Roy 1980,pp. 93–94.
- ^abcdD. C. Ganguly 1981,p. 704.
- ^Sailendra Nath Sen 1999,p. 339.
- ^Dilip Kumar Ganguly 1984,pp. 116–117.
- ^D. C. Ganguly 1981,p. 705.
- ^abDilip Kumar Ganguly 1984,p. 117.
- ^abSwati Datta 1989,p. 102.
- ^Buddha Prakash 1965,p. 182.
- ^Roma Niyogi 1959,p. 51-52.
- ^R. B. Singh 1964,pp. 100–102.
- ^H. A. Phadke 1990,p. 87.
- ^Dasharatha Sharma 1959,p. 45.
- ^Ray, Himanshu Prabha (5 September 2018).Decolonising Heritage in South Asia: The Global, the National and the Transnational.Taylor & Francis. p. 142.ISBN978-0-429-80285-0.
- ^Arnold Silcock;Maxwell Ayrton(2003).Wrought iron and its decorative use: with 241 illustrations(reprint ed.). Mineola, N.Y: Dover. p. 4.ISBN0-486-42326-3.
- ^P. C. Roy 1980,p. 95.
- ^Upinder Singh 2008,p. 570.
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- D. C. Ganguly (1981). R. S. Sharma (ed.).A Comprehensive History of India (A. D. 300-985).Vol. 3, Part 1. Indian History Congress / Orient Longmans.
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- Jagbir Singh (2002).The Jat Rulers of Upper Doab: Three Centuries of Aligarh Jat Nobility.Aavishkar.ISBN9788179100165.
- P. C. Roy (1980).The Coinage of Northern India.Abhinav.ISBN9788170171225.
- R. B. Singh (1964).History of the Chāhamānas.N. Kishore.OCLC11038728.
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- Swati Datta (1989).Migrant Brāhmaṇas in Northern India.Motilal Banarsidass.ISBN978-81-208-0067-0.
- Dasharatha Sharma (1959).Early Chauhān Dynasties.S. Chand / Motilal Banarsidass.ISBN9780842606189.
- Roma Niyogi (1959).The History of the Gāhaḍavāla Dynasty.Oriental.OCLC5386449.
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