Note 38 — C

Chauhân.—An important sept of Râjputs. The Brâhmanical legend of their origin is thus described by Colonel Tod38:—“Again the Brâhmans kindled the sacred fire, and the priests assembling round the fire-pit (agnikunda) prayed for aid to Mahâdeva. From the fire fountain a figure issued out, but he had not a warrior’s mien. The Brâhmans placed him as guardian of the gate, and hence his name Prithiha-dwâra. A second issued forth, and being formed in the palm (challu) of the hand was named Chalûka. A third appeared and was named Pramâra. He had the blessing of the Rishis, and with the others went against demons; but they did not prevail. Again Vasishtha, seated on the lotus, prepared incantations; again he called the gods to aid; and as he poured forth the libation, a figure arose lofty in stature, of elevated front, hair like jet, eyes rolling, breast expanded, fierce, terrific, clad in armour, quiver filled, a bow in one hand and a brand in the other, quadriform (Chaturanga), whence his name Chauhân.” Another account derives the name from the Sanskrit Chaturbâhu, the name of the first king of the tribe. General Cunningham39 shows from inscriptions that even as late as the time of Prithivi Râja, the Chauhâns had no claim to be sprung from fire, but were content to be considered descendants of the sage Bhrigu through Jamadagnya Vatsa, and he suggests another explanation of the fabled descent from fire, which does not seem very probable. According to tradition the famous city of Analpur, or Analwâra Patan, the capital of the Solankis, was said to have been founded by Vana Râja Solanki, who named it after Anala, a Chauhân cowherd, who pointed out the site to him. According to another version, the place was originally established by Anala Chauhân himself. As the date of the event was unknown, and was certainly remote, Anala was placed at the head of all the Chauhân genealogies as the progenitor of the race. Then, as Anala means “fire,” it naturally follows that the cowherd was dropped and the element of fire adopted as the originator of the race. He adds that in early times the name is written Chahuwân in agreement with the Chahumân of the old Shaikhâwati inscription of A.D. 961, and is pointedly derived from the Hindi châh “desire or choice,” which is an abbreviation of the Sanskrit ichchha. Dr. Buchanan40 derives the name from chintapavana, “the thought purifier,” and the low grade so-called Chauhâns of Bijnor say they are so named because when crossing the Indus with Mân Sinh’s army in 1586 A.D., they lost the four requisites (chau “four”, hân “loss”) of Hindu communion, religion (dharm), ceremonies (riti), piety (daya) and duties (karma).