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{{short description|Indian dynasty who ruled parts of present-day Delhi and Haryana during 9th-12th century}}
#REDIRECT [[Tomaras of Delhi]]
{{for|the 14th-16th century dynasty|Tomaras/Tanwars of Delhi}}


{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2020}}
{{Redirect category shell|
{{Use Indian English|date=November 2016}}
{{R from move}}
{{Infobox country
| conventional_long_name = Tomara dynasty
| common_name            = Tomara dynasty
| capital                = {{plainlist|
*[[Anangpur]] (c.736 - c.1052 CE)
*[[Qila Rai Pithora|Lal Kot]], [[Delhi]]}} (c.1052 - c.1152 CE)
|common_languages = {{plainlist|
*[[Apabhraṃśa]] }}
|religion          = [[Hinduism]] 
| government_type        = [[Monarchy]]|
| year_start            = c.736 CE
| year_end              = c.1152 CE
|status = *[[Vassal state]] of the [[Gurjara-Pratihara dynasty]] (8th-10th century CE)
*[[Sovereign state|Sovereign]] [[monarchy]] (10th-12th century CE)
| p1                    = Gurjara-Pratihara dynasty
| s1                    = Chahamanas of Shakambhari
| today                  = India
| image_map = Outer Wall of Lal kot and Rai Pithora.jpg
| image_map_caption = Lal Kot - The fort built by [[Anangpal Tomar]]
| image_flag            =
| area_km2              =
}}
}}
The '''Tomara''' (also called '''Tanwar''' in modern vernaculars because of [[Schwa deletion in Indo-Aryan languages|schwa deletion]]) dynasty ruled parts of present-day [[Delhi]] and [[Haryana]] in India during 8th-12th century. Most of the information about them comes from medieval [[Bhats|bardic legends]], which are not historically reliable. They were displaced by the [[Chahamanas of Shakambhari]] in the 12th century.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Tomara dynasty {{!}} Indian dynasty|url=https://www.britannica.com/topic/Tomara-dynasty|access-date=19 August 2020|website=Encyclopedia Britannica|language=en}}</ref>
== Territory ==
[[File:Haryana in India (claims hatched).svg|thumb|right|Location of Haryana in present-day India]]
The Tomara territory included parts of the present-day [[Delhi]] and [[Haryana]].{{sfn|Upinder Singh|2008|p=571}} A 13th century inscription states that the Tomaras ruled the Hariyanaka (Haryana) country before the [[Chahamanas of Shakambhari|Chahamanas]] and the Shakas ([[Delhi Sultanate|Muslims]] in 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 called [[Qila Rai Pithora|Lal Kot]] built by [[Anangpal Tomar]]. It is also known that the Tomara kingdom stretched to [[Asigarh Fort]] and areas at [[Thanesar]].{{sfn|P. C. Roy 1980, pp. 93-94}} The Tomara's rule was followed by that of the Chahamanas and the [[mlechchha]] Sahavadina ([[Muhammad of Ghor|Shihab ad-Din]]).{{sfn|D. C. Ganguly|1981|p=704}}
== 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.{{sfn|D. C. Ganguly|1981|p=704}}
=== As feudatories ===
The earliest extant historical reference to the Tomaras occurs in the [[Pehowa]] inscription issued during the reign of the [[Gurjara-Pratihara]] king [[Mahendrapala I]] (r. c. 885-910 CE).{{sfn|Sailendra Nath Sen|1999|p=339}} 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 three [[Vishnu]] temples by Gogga and his step-brothers Purna-raja and Deva-raja. The temples were located at Prithudaka ([[IAST]]: Pṛthūdaka; [[Pehowa]]), on the banks of the [[Sarasvati river]].{{sfn|Dilip Kumar Ganguly|1984|pp=116-117}}
No information is available about the immediate successors of Gogga.{{sfn|D. C. Ganguly|1981|p=705}} The Pehowa inscription suggests that this particular Tomara family was settled around the [[Karnal district|Karnal area]]. However, [[Lorenz Franz Kielhorn|F. Kielhorn]] suggested that this Tomara family actually resided in Delhi: they may have visited Pehowa on pilgrimage, and built a temple there.{{sfn|Dilip Kumar Ganguly|1984|p=117}}
=== As sovereigns ===
As the Pratihara power declined, the Tomaras established a sovereign principality around Delhi by the 10th century.{{sfn|Swati Datta|1989|p=102}} Later medieval bardic literature named the dynasty as "Tuar", and [[Anachronism|anachronistically]] classified them as one of the [[36 royal races|36 Rajput clans]], {{sfn|D. C. Ganguly|1981|p=704}}<ref>{{cite book|author=Peter Jackson|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=lt2tqOpVRKgC&pg=PA221|title=The Delhi Sultanate: A Political and Military History|publisher=Cambridge University Press|year=2003|isbn=978-0-521-54329-3|page=9|author-link=Peter Jackson (historian)}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|author=Cynthia Talbot|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=m3DjCgAAQBAJ|title=The Last Hindu Emperor: Prithviraj Cauhan and the Indian Past, 1200–2000|publisher=Cambridge University Press|year=2015|isbn=9781107118560|pages=33–35}}</ref> The word Rajput acquired modern meaning in the 16th century.<ref>{{cite book|author=Irfan Habib|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jUcu6uD5bU4C&pg=PA90|title=Essays in Indian History|publisher=Anthem Press|year=2002|isbn=978-1-84331-061-7|page=90|author-link=Irfan Habib}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|author=David Ludden|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=eHi62S7vZlsC&pg=PA4|title=An Agrarian History of South Asia|publisher=Cambridge University Press|year=1999|isbn=978-0-521-36424-9|page=4}}</ref>
According to the bardic tradition, the dynasty's founder Anangapal Tuar (that is Anangapala I Tomara) founded Delhi in 736 CE.{{sfn|Sailendra Nath Sen|1999|p=339}} However, the authenticity of this claim is doubtful.{{sfn|D. C. Ganguly|1981|p=704}} A 1526 CE source names the successors of Anangapala as Tejapala, Madanapala, Kritapala, Lakhanapala and Prithvipala. The ''Dravya-Pariksha'' (1318 CE) of [[Thakkar Pheru|Thakkura Pheru]] mentions the coins of Madanapala, Prithvipala and another ruler, Chahadapala.{{sfn|Buddha Prakash|1965|p=182}}
Soon after gaining independence, the Tomaras became involved in conflicts with their neighbours, the [[Chahamanas of Shakambhari]] and later on the [[Gahadavala dynasty]].{{sfn|R. K. Dikshit|1976|p=72}} {{sfn|Roma Niyogi|1965|p=51-52}} According to a 973 CE inscription of the Chahamana king [[Vigraharaja II]], his ancestor [[Chandanaraja|Chandana]] (c. 900 CE) killed the Tomara chief Rudrena (or Rudra) in a battle.{{sfn|Swati Datta|1989|p=102}} The [[Harsh, Sikar|Harsha]] stone inscription states that Chandana's descendant [[Simharaja]] (c. 944-971 CE) defeated a Tomara leader called Lavana or Salavana. Historian R. B. Singh identifies the defeated ruler as Tejapala.{{sfn|R. B. Singh|1964|pp=100-102}} Another fragmentary Chahamana ''[[prashasti]]'' (eulogistic inscription), now at the [[Ajmer]] museum, mentions that the Chahamana king [[Arnoraja]] (c. 1135-1150 CE) invaded the [[Haryana|Haritanaka]] country. This country is identified with the Tomara territory. According to the inscription, Arnoraja's army rendered the waters of the Kalindi river ([[Yamuna river|Yamuna]]) muddy and the women of Hartinaka tearful, but Arnoraja's victory over the Tomaras was not decisive and as his son [[Vigraharaja IV]] had to fight the Tomaras. This may have been because Anoraja was unsuccessful of getting through the fort [[Qila Rai Pithora|Lal Kot]] which had been built by the Tomara rulers. {{sfn|H. A. Phadke|1990|p=87}} {{sfn| Dasharatha Sharma|1959|p=45}}
[[File:Lal Kot walls (3701543820).jpg|thumb
|Fortified walls of one of the first  fortresses in [[Delhi]], [[Qila Rai Pithora|Lal Kot]], was built by Raja [[Anangpal Tomar]] II of Tomar dynasty. Located in modern day Delhi, [[Haryana]]]]
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 of [[Mawdud of Ghazni]] (r. 1041-50 CE), confirming that Mahipala must have ruled in the 11th century. The horseman-and-bull were a characteristic of the [[Hindu Shahi|Kabul Shahi]] coinage; Mawdud probably adopted this style after capturing the Shahi territories. Mahipala probably imitated the same style after capturing [[Asigarh Fort]] in [[Hansi]] and [[Thanesar|Thaneshvara]] regions 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).{{sfn|P. C. Roy|1980|pp=93-94}}
[[File:Suraj Kund.jpg|thumb|The construction of the [[Suraj Kund]] is attributed to a Tomara king]]
The [[Suraj Kund]] reservoir is said to have been commissioned by a Tomara king named Surajpala.{{sfn|Upinder Singh|2008|p=570}}
Multiple (three) Tomara kings seem to have shared the name "Anangapala" ([[IAST]]: Anaṅgapāla). One of these is said to have established the [[Lal Kot]] citadel in the [[Mehrauli]] area. The construction of the Anang Tal tank and the [[Anangpur Dam]] is also attributed to him.{{sfn|Upinder Singh|2008|p=570}} 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 kings [[Someshvara (Chahamana dynasty)|Someshvara]] and [[Prithviraj Chauhan|Prithviraja III]], indicating that Anangapala was a contemporary of these 12th century kings.{{sfn|P. C. Roy|1980|p=95}} One of the several inscriptions on the [[Iron Pillar of Delhi]] mentions Anangapala. A medieval legend mentioned in a copy of ''[[Prithviraj Raso]]'' mentions a legend about the pillar: a [[Brahmin]] once told Anangapala (alias Bilan Deo) that the base of the pillar rested on the head of the [[Vasuki (snake)|Vasuki]] serpent, 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" (modern [[Delhi]]). This legend is obviously a myth.{{sfn|Upinder Singh|2008|p=570}}
=== Decline ===
The bardic legends state that the last Tomara king, [[Anangpal Tomar]] (also known as Anangapala), handed over the throne of Delhi to his son-in-law [[Prithviraj 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 father [[Someshvara (Chahamana dynasty)|Someshvara]].{{sfn|D. C. Ganguly|1981|p=704}} According to the [[Bijolia]] inscription of Someshvara, his brother [[Vigraharaja IV]] had captured Dhillika (Delhi) and [[Asigarh Fort|Ashika]] (Hansi). He probably defeated the Tomara ruler Anangapala III.{{sfn|Dilip Kumar Ganguly|1984|p=117}}
== List of rulers ==
Various historical texts provide different lists of the Tomara kings:{{sfn|Alexander Cunningham|1871|p=141-145}}
* Khadag Rai's history of [[Gwalior]] (''[[Gopanchala Akhyana|Gopācala ākhyāna]]'')<!-- retain readlink as per wikipedia guidelines to encourage growth of new article.--> names 18 Tomara kings, plus Prithvi Pala (who is probably the [[Chahamanas of Shakambhari|Chahamana]] king [[Prithviraja III]]). According to Khadag Rai, Delhi was originally ruled by the legendary king [[Vikramaditya]]. It was deserted for 792 years after his death, until Bilan Dev [Veer Mahadev or Birmaha] of Tomara dynasty re-established the city (in 736 CE).
* The Kumaon-Garhwal manuscript names only 15 rulers of "Toar" dynasty, and dates the beginning of their rule to 789 CE (846 [[Vikram Samvat]]).
* [[Abu'l-Fazl ibn Mubarak|Abul Fazl]]'s ''[[Ain-i-Akbari]]'' (Bikaner manuscript, edited by [[Syed Ahmad Khan]]) names 19 Tomara kings. It places the first Tomara king in 372 CE (429 Vikram Samvat). It might be possible that the era mentioned in the original source used by Abul Fazl was [[Gupta era]], which starts from 318 to 319 CE; Abul Fazl might have mistaken this era to be Vikrama Samvat. If this is true, then the first Tomara king can be dated to 747 CE (429+318), which is better aligned with the other sources.
As stated earlier, the historians doubt the claim that the Tomaras established Delhi in 736 CE.{{sfn|D. C. Ganguly|1981|p=704}}
{| class="wikitable"
|+ List of Tomara rulers according to various sources{{sfn|Alexander Cunningham|1871|p=149}}{{sfn|Jagbir Singh|2002|p=28}}
! rowspan="2" | #
! rowspan="2" | [[Abu'l-Fazl ibn Mubarak|Abul Fazl]]'s ''[[Ain-i-Akbari]]'' / Bikaner manuscript
! rowspan="2" | Gwalior manuscript of Khadag Rai
! rowspan="2" | Kumaon-Garhwal manuscript
! rowspan="2" | Ascension year in [[Common Era|CE]] (according to Gwalior manuscript)
! colspan="3" | Length of reign
|-
! Years
! Months
! Days
|-
| 1  || Ananga Pāla || Bilan Dev ||  || 736 || 18 || 0 || 0
|-
| 2  || Vasu Deva ||  ||  || 754 || 19 || 1 || 18
|-
| 3  || Gangya || Ganggeva ||  || 773 || 21 || 3 || 28
|-
| 4  || Prithivi Pāla (or Prithivi Malla) || Prathama || Mahi Pāla || 794 || 19 || 6 || 19
|-
| 5  || Jaya Deva || Saha Deva || Jadu Pāla || 814 || 20 || 7 || 28
|-
| 6  || Nīra Pāla or Hira Pāla || Indrajita (I) || Nai Pāla || 834 || 14 || 4 || 9
|-
| 7  || Udiraj (or Adereh) || Nara Pāla || Jaya Deva Pāla || 849 || 26 || 7 || 11
|-
| 8  || Vijaya (or Vacha) || Indrajita (II) || Chamra Pāla || 875 || 21 || 2 || 13
|-
| 9  || Biksha (or Anek) || Vacha Raja || Bibasa Pāla || 897 || 22 || 3 || 16
|-
| 10 || Rīksha Pāla || Vira Pāla || Sukla Pāla || 919 || 21 || 6 || 5
|-
| 11 || Sukh Pāla (or Nek Pāla) || Go-Pāla || Teja Pāla || 940 || 20 || 4 || 4
|-
| 12 || Go-Pāla || Tillan Dev || Mahi Pāla || 961 || 18 || 3 || 15
|-
| 13 || Sallakshana Pāla || Suvari || Sursen || 979 || 25 || 10 || 10
|-
| 14 || Jaya Pāla || Osa Pāla || Jaik Pāla || 1005 || 16 || 4 || 3
|-
| 15 || Kunwar Pāla || Kumara Pāla ||  || 1021 || 29 || 9 || 18
|-
| 16 || [[Anangpal Tomar|Ananga Pāla]] (or Anek Pāla) || Ananga Pāla || Anek Pāla || 1051 || 29 || 6 || 18
|-
| 17 || Vijaya Pāla (or Vijaya Sah) || Teja Pāla || Teja Pāla || 1081 || 24 || 1 || 6
|-
| 18 || Mahi Pāla (or Mahatsal) || Mahi Pāla || Jyūn Pāla || 1105 || 25 || 2 || 23
|-
| 19 || Akr Pāla (or Akhsal) || Mukund Pāla || Ane Pāla || 1130 || 21 || 2 || 15
|-
|  20  || [[Prithviraj Chauhan|Prithivi Raja (Chahamana)]] || Prithvi Pala ||  || 1151 ||  ||  || 
|}
== See also ==
* [[History of Delhi]]
* [[History of Haryana]]
* [[History of India]]
== References ==
{{reflist}}
=== Bibliography ===
{{ref begin}}
* {{cite book |editor=Alexander Cunningham |title=Archaeological Survey of India: Reports 1862-1884 |volume=I |year=1871 |publisher=Archaeological Survey of India |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SmgSvB5B9I4C&pg=PA149 |oclc=421335527 }}
* {{cite book |author=Buddha Prakash |title=Aspects of Indian History and Civilization |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=lKg5AQAAIAAJ |year=1965 |publisher=Shiva Lal Agarwala |isbn=9780842616812 |oclc=6388337 }}
* {{cite book |author=D. C. Ganguly |editor=R. S. Sharma |title=A Comprehensive History of India (A. D. 300-985) |volume=3, Part 1 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kXtDAAAAYAAJ |year=1981 |publisher=Indian History Congress / Orient Longmans }}
* {{cite book |author=Dilip Kumar Ganguly |title=History and Historians in Ancient India |url=https://archive.org/details/historyhistorian00gang |url-access=registration |page=[https://archive.org/details/historyhistorian00gang/page/117 117] |year=1984 |publisher=Abhinav |isbn=978-0-391-03250-7 }}
* {{cite book |author=H. A. Phadke |title=Haryana, Ancient and Medieval |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HxlIAAAAIAAJ |year=1990 |publisher=Harman |isbn=978-81-85151-34-2 }}
* {{cite book |author=Jagbir Singh |title=The Jat Rulers of Upper Doab: Three Centuries of Aligarh Jat Nobility |publisher=Aavishkar |year=2002 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9H9uAAAAMAAJ |isbn=9788179100165 }}
* {{cite book |author=P. C. Roy |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=f2Et2zZGJPUC&pg=PA69 |title=The Coinage of Northern India |publisher=Abhinav |year=1980 |isbn=9788170171225 }}
* {{cite book |author=R. B. Singh |title=History of the Chāhamānas |publisher=N. Kishore |year=1964 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=TKs9AAAAIAAJ |oclc=11038728 }}
* {{cite book |author=Sailendra Nath Sen |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Wk4_ICH_g1EC&pg=PA172 |title=Ancient Indian History and Civilization |publisher=New Age |year=1999 |isbn=9788122411980 }}
* {{cite book |author=Swati Datta |title=Migrant Brāhmaṇas in Northern India |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pKAb9DPUCCcC&pg=PA28 |year=1989 |publisher=[[Motilal Banarsidass]] |isbn=978-81-208-0067-0 }}
* {{cite book |author=Upinder Singh |author-link=Upinder Singh |title=A History of Ancient and Early Medieval India: From the Stone Age to the 12th Century |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=H3lUIIYxWkEC&pg=PA383 |year=2008 |publisher=Pearson Education India |isbn=978-81-317-1120-0 }}
{{ref end}}
* {{cite book |author=Dasharatha Sharma |title=Early Chauhān Dynasties |publisher=S. Chand / Motilal Banarsidass |year=1959 |isbn=9780842606189 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=n4gcAAAAMAAJ }}
* {{cite book |author=Roma Niyogi |title=The History of the Gāhaḍavāla Dynasty |publisher=Oriental |year=1959 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=EJQBAAAAMAAJ |oclc=5386449 }}
[[Category:Dynasties of India]]
[[Category:History of Delhi]]

Latest revision as of 18:36, 30 August 2024

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