Facts About Prithviraj Chouhan You Never Knew

We all have heard the legends of the great Rajput ruler, Prithviraj Chouhan. But what we all aren’t aware about is that all that we hear isn’t true.

We all have heard and read the stories of 17 wars between Mohd. Ghori and the Rajput ruler.

It is said that Mohd. Ghori had attacked 17 times and out of which he lost 16 times. It is said that every time the Rajput ruler pardoned his life and asked him to go back to Ghori/Gauri (presently in Afghanistan). But is it really true?

We’ve heard about the 1^st and the 2^nd Battle of Terrain/Tarain, but what about the left 15 battles? What if I say that those 15 battles never happened? How come such important battles have never been mentioned in any of the historical evidences?

It’s actually a myth. Yes! A myth. There weren’t 17 wars between them but only 2. I agree that 17 wars is what we’ve heard all our lives and it’s in the movie, many literature books etc. but its history here. We work on facts and not theories.

And the fact is that there were only two battles between Prithviraj Chouhan and Mohd. Ghori, initially, 1^st BATTLE OF TERRAIN IN 1191 AD, where Prithviraj defeated Ghori and then later the 2^nd BATTLE OF TERRAIN in 1192 AD where Mohd. Ghori defeated Chouhan.

Now, coming to some other famous tales. One of them is about what happened with Prithviraj Chouhan after losing the battle with Mohd. Ghori.

It is usually said that Prithviraj Chouhan was blinded with hot iron rods and then brought in front of the new sultan i.e. Mohd. Ghori. Then chand bardai, a famous eulogist, poet cum writer of Chouhan’s time came with an idea of killing the Sultan and he approached Ghori. He then told him that Prithviraj’s target is excellent and he could hit any target just by hearing the sound. Ghori accepted this proposal and then on the said day, Prithviraj was placed on the ground and ordered to shoot a target. Then chand bardai sung his lines-

“Charbans, chaubis gaj, angul ashta praman. Tau par sultan hai, mat chuko Chouhan”

This means that – ten measures ahead of you and twenty four yards away, is seated the Sultan, do not miss him now Chouhan.

And then Prithviraj shot Ghori dead. But is this true?

No! It is a myth! Actually, Prithviraj also ruled for some years after losing the Battle of Terrain as he had submitted himself to the sultan.

And about killing Ghori, he actually died in 1906 in Dhamiak, on the banks of river Sindh.

You can also read more about Prithviraj Chouhan’s love story with Sanyukta on my blog.