Skanda (general)

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Skanda
BornChahamana kingdom
AllegianceChahamana kingdom
Years of service12th century
Commands heldSenadhipati of the Chahamana army
Battles/wars
Relations
  • Sodha (father)
  • Vamana (brother)

Skanda was a famed Brahmin[1] general serving under the Chauhan dynasty of Ajmer.[2][3] He took part in the successful First Battle of Tarain but according to the Viruddha Vidhi Vidhvansa and other sources, he could not participate in the Second Battle of Tarain due to some uncertain reasons.[2][4][5]

Early life[edit]

Skanda was born into a prestigious Nagar Brahmin family of kashyapa gotra he was in a designated position of commander-in-chief in the Chahamana court. His ancestors were advisors to the Chauhan kings, his father Sodha was the advisor to king Someshvara[disambiguation needed] and was succeeded by his son Vamana to the post.[6] Skanda was his younger son who was appointed as the Senadhipati.[7]

Military career[edit]

Skanda was a famous brahmin general serving under Prithviraj Chauhan, the powerful king of Ajmer. He participated in many of the king's campaigns with success. He materially contributed to the Rajput army in the First Battle of Tarain and took part in it himself, bringing success.[3] Between the years of 1182-1187, the Ghurid kingdom launched raids on the northern territories of the Chahamanas. There must have been some engagements of a large scale as Skanda is also mentioned to have repeatedly defeated these incursions.[2] Lakshmidhar, the author of the Viruddha Vidhi Vidhvansa, was a descendant of Skanda a few generations away from him. The text states that he was engaged in another campaign at the time[4][3] (specifics of which are not given) and was unable to take part in the Second Battle of Tarain. However, Lakshmidhar was naturally biased towards his ancestor's master Prithviraj Chauhan and keeping that in mind, the real reason for Skanda not participating in the battle is unclear.[2]

Hariraja, the dissatisfied brother of the deceased Prithviraj Chauhan, attacked and managed to recapture Ajmer, and became the new Chahamana king, with support from Prithviraja's former general Skanda.[4]

References[edit]

  1. ↑ Sharma, Dasharatha (1975). Early Chauhān Dynasties: A Study of Chauhān Political History, Chauhān Political Institutions, and Life in the Chauhān Dominions, from 800 to 1316 A.D. Motilal Banarsidass. ISBN 978-0-8426-0618-9.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Rathore, Virendra Singh (29 September 2020). Prithviraj Chauhan - a Light on the Mist in History. Virendra Singh Rathore. p. 107. ISBN 978-1-63640-019-8.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 India, United Service Institution of (1985). Journal of the United Service Institution of India. United Service Institution of India.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Singh, R. B. (1964). History of the Chāhamānas. N. Kishore. p. 217-218.
  5. ↑ Nehra, Air Marshal RK. Hinduism & Its Military Ethos. Lancer Publishers LLC. ISBN 978-1-935501-47-3.
  6. ↑ Kuppuswamy (Prof.), T. V. (1995). History of Tamilakam. Darkness at Horizon. Shri Bhagavan Vedavyasa Itihasa Samshodhana Mandira.
  7. ↑ R. B. Singh 1964, p. 283.
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