A Show down between Gujarats Solanki Kings and Mohammed

Ghuri over 1000 years ago.

By: Bipin Shah

Sur Tribe of Afghanistan:

Sur in Pashto language means the red color. Sur is also called Zur in Pashto dialect. This
Suri tribe was a historical Pashto tribe residing for several centuries and once was staunch
followers of Hinduism, Buddhism and Zoroasterism. They were and sun and fire worshipper
tribe of Indi-Iranian people.
Previously, I have given a broad sketch on the rise of Islam from Saudi Arabia and its conquest
of Central Asia. The forced conversion followed after conquest of the followers of non-Islamic
faiths like the Buddhism, Zoroasterism and Hinduism under the threat of execution. Please
see my article:
https://www.academia.edu/3551325/The_First_Incursion_Of_Islam_to_Indian_Subcontinent
The central Asian rulers were swept away by the Islamic invaders due to lack of internal
unity, discords and absence of confederacy among the powerful Hindu kingdoms of India.
Once Islam overran Sassanian Empire which was the mightiest of their time, the buffer state
protection between Hindu states and Islam disappeared. The Geopolitical sense of impending
danger was lacking among smaller kingdoms of Afghanistan. Rajtarangni describes the
military help sent by Hindu kings of Kashmir to Kabul that was late and small and was largely
ineffective, and middle Hindu kingdom took no notice of the danger coming their way or
showed benign selfish neglect.
The ruling authority of ancient India was a hereditary in nature and it is still being followed
by modern day people of the subcontinent, sometimes to their own perils due to competency
levels of rulers. The Islamic army was on a raid and rampage to collect booty to hire more
soldiers of fortune and undoubtedly wanted to create a word wide caliphate to subjugate the
entire human race. On Western front, after capturing eastern Roman Empire, the country of
Christian Spain was overrun and it was the question of time, Islam would have knocked on
the door of the Vatican. This fall of Byzantium happened when Islamite Turks overran
Armenia, Turkey and sacked Hagias Sophia, the Christian Vatican of east.
If Pope Urban II would not have undertaken a Reverse jihad by sending in the crusaders, no
one can predict how far sharia laws would have spread with perpetual bondage of burqa
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bound European women of the west. On the eastern front, Hindu Kings fought and blunted
Islams advance but lack of unity played a decisive role in allowing Islam to establish a
foothold in subcontinent. Many Rajput queen committed Johor or suicide ritual to escape
the conversion and Muslim harems. The Indians and Persians missed several opportunities to
chase the Islam to its origin that was in the desert of Saudi Arabia. If they could perceive what
was coming, sparing some moments away from drinking and womanizing, the world map
today would have looked much more different. Once Persian Empire fell, the rest of the
vassals of central Asia became an easy plum to be picked one by one.

Christian crusades and Jihad in West Asia

As a result the great Aryan civilization of Cyrus the Great and Vedic India became diluted and
went through unnecessary hard suffering. Although, India has still retained its Hindu cultural
identity but the fight to maintain the faith lasted over several centuries. The Iranian took an
easy way out that was surprising and shocking and made the mockery out of Behistan
inscription. Iran continues to remains under Islamic rule by forfeiting their ancestral belief
and religions. However, a note should be made that the Iran is a follower of reformist Shia
sect of Islam that is considered not fundamentalist when compared to Sunni version.

Conquest of Asia by Islam during the middle ages up 780 AD

Mandesh was the earlier Hindu name of province of Ghor, a mountainous country and still
displays many archeological Hindu and Buddhist sites, shrines and monasteries where
Mahayana Buddhism schools were established.

Hindu Governor and Turki Shahi Kingdom of Kapisa(Kabul):

Amir Mahuy Suri was the Hindu King of the region of Ghor (Sur) , originating from the ancient
dynasty of Suren of Gondophares lines of kings and satraps who ruled and controlled
Afghanistan for Sassanian Empire. It is said that Amir Suri was a great king and a great patron
of Hinduism and Buddhism and he ruled as a Governor of the province of Ghor (Mandesh) in
Afghanistan prior to Islamic Invasion and conquest.
After Mahuys defeat by Islamic army and its conversion to Islam, Amir Mahuy Suri was
appointed as an Amir (equivalent to Viceroy or Governorship) of Khorasan by Caliph Hazrat
Ali. This was a reward for murdering the Iranian Sassanian king Yazdgerd III and accepting
conversion to Islam.
According to the Shahnamah a Persian history classic, the Lord of Khorasan, Mahuy Suri
treacherously asked one of his soldiers to kill Yazdgerd III, the last Sassanian king, following Suris surrender and
conversion to Islam.

According to Minhaju-S Siraj, Amir Suri was later captured and defeated by Mahmud of
Ghazni who made him the prisoner along with his son and taken to Ghazni, where Amir Suri
died by poisoning himself. Banji Baharan was another Hindu Suri who was appointed by
Caliph Harun Al-Rashid as a king of Ghor in a later period. Ghor was also the last stronghold
of Hindu and Buddhist habitants of Afghanistan as archeological finding below suggests prior
to their migration to India. Pakistani Taliban, a violent offshoot of the Inter service agency of
Government of Pakistan managed to destroy Bamiyan Buddha, an Unesco Heritage site and a
disgraceful mean act that Pakistan have made no effort to rebuilt or repair it.

Hindu Shahi kingdom and Amir Suris last defense

Ghor Province of Afghanistan enlarged showing various tribal and clan names

The Province of Ghor(Mandesh) as marked in Red in Present day Afghanistan

Amir Suri and Hinu Shahis Fall:

After all of the Afghan Hindu and Buddhists neighbors had fallen to swords of Islam, Suri of
Ghor had no choice but to follow the rule of Domino and fell in line and adopted Islam. In
spite of that, Caliph sent no help to him against Ghazni. This is a perfect illustration if
hardcore Muslim can be even trusted.
The omission by Hindu secularist to omit this important part of the Hindu history in Indian
Text book is not only tragedy but to draw the curtain to keep the people of India ignorant.
The collaborating Indian media have made no efforts to explain the plight of the Kashmiri
Pundits who are rooted out of their community. If vote bank politic is not the issue, why
these secularist are afraid off making their citizens know the true history of their ancestors?.

Islams Army of caliph on march to attack Amir Suri

Amir Suri was called a Hindu by Minhaju-s Siraj; the author who knew and wrote eyewitness
account. These events are described in details. The final overthrow and suicide of Amir and
mass migration of Hindu and Zoroastrian followers to India to escape the Islam was
treacherously executed by caliphs using Ghazni as surrogates. Islamic historians Tarikh-IGuzida of Hamdu-lla-Mustaufi, Towareekh Yumny, as well as Ferishta similarly record the fall
of Surs to the Islam and calls them Hindus and Buddhist, who were attacked by Mahmud of
Ghazni and converted to Islam and that ultimately brought the end to Hindu Shahi and Zunbil
non-Islamic dynasty and civilization of Afghanistan.
Suris failed defense of Afghanistan- see below.

Relics of Indo-Iranian Aryan civilization of Afghanistan

5th century AD marble Ganesha-Gardez (AF) Mes-Ayank Buddha in Logar Provine near Kabul-Afghanistan

The Suri clans have resided in the Ghor Province of modern-day central Afghanistan and are
also spread out in Pakistan and Indian Punjab. Their prior history and linkage to house of
Suren is not well documented however it can be assumed. The Pasto tribes and Iranians were
closely interconnected linguistically and genetically and their ancestors followed either
Buddhism or Hinduism during early era of satrapy and during Kushan rule of India. Suri is a
non-Muslim, Hindu tribe born in the region of Ghor as per Muslim historians.
It is very suggestive to many historians that the word suri or red is the color of flame. The
selection of crimson or red color emblem of sisodiya clans flag also symbolizes the Iranian
connection. They were similarly fire and sun worshipper like Maitraka of Saurashtra and this
fact is also well known in Rajput history of India.

Warrior and Crimson-Red color Rajput warrior flag with embedded sun God

Sher Shah Suri

Let us not forget another suri clan hero who was Sher Shah Suri of Afghanistan who ruled
India for a short period of time after overthrowing Turkish slave sultanate. Sher Shah Suri was
Muslim by faith due to family destiny of Amir Suri but he displayed his Hindu traits being a
good ruler and administrator. Therefore, he is respected in Indian history. He treated his
fellow Hindu and others with equality. He ruled from the Delhi from 1540 AD, until Suri
dynasty was removed from power in 1556-57 by the Mughal with the final defeat of Hemu
Vikramaditya by Akbar, the Great. Hemu was born in a humble Jain merchant family and rose
to become Chief of the Army and a Prime Minister to the last ruler Adil Shah Suri of the Suri
Dynasty. He fought Afghan rebels across North India from the Punjab to Bengal and the
Mughal forces of Akbar and Humayun in Agra and Delhi, winning 22 consecutive battles. He
finally fell to the swords of Akbar who seized the power from him by capturing Agra Fort.
Today, Sur is the part of the Pashtu tribal system and known as the sub-groups of the
Ghilzais. Ghuri is believed to be a Turkic corruption of the word Suri.

Mahmud Ghaznis father was Abu Mansur Sabuktigin, who was a Turkic slave-soldier of the
Samanid Emirs of Bukhara, yet another creation of caliph. His mother was the daughter of a
Persian aristocrat from Zabulistan. The Persian aristocrat was probably the follower of
Buddhism or Zoroasterism. Mahmud of Ghazni was infected with small pox virus thus
disfiguring his face but for most part he managed to cover that with his beard. It is interesting
to note that all roads in the search of ancestry of Afghanistan and Pakistan leads you back to
India, and vice-versa. The home of Hinduism or Buddhism were the ancestral religion of all
the Muslims of the sub-continent and their ignorance of this facts keeps them in perpetual
darkness due to propaganda machinery used by certain institutions who pictures their land of
origin to camel riding nomads of Saudi Arabia.

Sher-shah Suri (1540-1545 AD

Suri Empire at height

Hemu Vikramaditya (1501-1556 AD)

Ghuri (Suri) Clans of Afghanistan:

Muhammad-i-Suri, said to be the great-great-grandfather of the Sultans Ghiyasuddin and the
elder brother of Muizzuddin (Muhammad of Ghor) was descended from the elder branch of
Suri clan as described above and never forgotten the unfair treatment handed out by
Mohammed of Ghazni.
Over the centuries, the Persians became mixed origin people with Turks, Mongols, Indians,
Greeks, Turks, Pashto and other Saka tribes. The Great Satrap King of Taxila, Gondophares
who was featured in Christian biblical stories of Magis, Jesus and Thomas was the satrap from
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the house of Suren. Suri clan is suspected to be descended from house of Suren through
marriages and intermixing with the Pashtun group of Afghanistan.
Suri is a Hindu name and the word Suri in many Indian languages implies courageousness
valor and victor associated with military duties. This was always displayed by the House
of Suren as a satrap, governor and commander of the Sassanian armies. The Sassanian rulers
granted them the first right of the ritual of blood offering at the time of their inauguration,
a symbolic gesture to attest their loyalty to the crown. The members of the house of Suren
always held either Military satrap (commander) position or administrative advisory position.
One hundred years after the death of Mahmud of Ghazni who killed the ancestor of Ghuri or
Suri clan-Amir Suri, the blood feud and score was finally settled by one of the Amir Suris
decedents from province of Ghor. The city of Ghazni was mercilessly sacked by the prince of
Ghor, a fellow Muslim in 1150 AD, and burned for seven days and nights. All of the
magnificent Ghazni palaces and halls built with the loots from Afghanistan, Sindh and
Pakistan were destroyed and plundered by the prince of Ghor. The Brahmins of Somnath who
sacrificed their life to give enough time to Vimal Shah and Bhimdeva Solanki-1 of Gujarat to
spare Somnaths treasure were now avenged by a fellow Muslim convert from neighboring
province. The British made their final contribution to Ghaznis ill fated adventure to India by
removing the Somnath door from his tomb and refitting it to the Agra fort. (Please see the
details of my article on story of Somnath at this link.
https://independent.academia.edu/BipinShah1
The Muslim historian further elaborates on the devastation and slaughter heaped on at the
city of Ghazni by Ghuri. The Ghazni clan were of Turkish origin and their tribal feud continued
for some time. This prince of Ghuri earned the title of Burner of Ghazni. This Prince was
known as Ghiyasuddin, none other than the elder brother of Muizzuddin. Muizzuddin was
simply known as Muhammad of Ghor or Mohammed Ghuri to Indians.
Ghori must have known that the Mahmud of Ghazni always hid the real truth of his failure of
Somnath expedition from caliph. The Caliph himself was mesmerized by the Arabian
travelers tales of journey (Arabian Nights) how much treasure the temple of Somnath
possessed but they never knew where the treasure stored. This important missing
information led to his ill fated adventures that took lives of his soldiers and innocent
Brahmins and gave enough time for Gujarati to outmaneuver the invaders.
For more information, see the following link;
https://www.academia.edu/3629172/Story_Of_Somnath
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Ghuris expeditions to India:

Indian subcontinents continue to display their propensity of learning nothing from these
disastrous adventures of invaders of the past history. The Indians, Afghans, Pakistanis and
Bangladeshis have one thing in common. Their common DNA linkage continue to exhibit Negligent and forgiving Attitudes against the Lessons of past History.
Just to illustrate the above point, the Indians keep electing corrupt politicians to the office,
Pakistanis after losing three wars to India; continue to engage in fanciful dreams of
conquering Delhi and installing Mugalistan that will dominate Hindus while their own
fellow Muslims citizens languish in the poverty. Through the deeds of hates they have earned
themselves worldwide label of epicenter of terrorism. Bangladeshis are still too busy
purging extremist version of Islam knowing full well that their bright future lies ahead with
thriving commerce with Hindu Bengali who are their Kins. Afghan Taliban after devastating
defeat and foreign occupation chooses to dwell on imposing sharia laws of the 6th century AD
that is long replace by the information age. How thick headed the subcontinents have
become is a cause for alarm to everyone.
Mohammed of Ghuri launched his expeditions into India in the same way as Mahmud of
Ghazni did. Perhaps he learned after his sack of Ghazni that the loot of Somnath amounted to
nothing but it was exaggerated version to appease the Caliph of Bagdad to cover up his
heinous deed of killing Amir Suri who was appointed as the Governor of caliph. Ferishta
supports this assumption. This article shows various depictions of images to illustrate the
narrative.

Naikadevi Queen Warrior Mother

Uncle Bhimdeva II

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Boy King Mulraj II

During early 8th century AD, caliph army failed to conquer and subjugate Al-Hind following
the defeats handed down by confederacy of Royal Gurjara-Pratihara of India who chased
them all the way to Afghanistan-Persian border. If they had the support of the rulers of
Persians and Christians of Constinopole, then they have been able to push them back to Saudi
desert.
Ghazni was a brilliant warrior and tactician. After killing Caliphs viceroy Amir Suri, he wanted
to avoid the punishment by caliph. After promising the loots of Somnath he delivered only
Golden chain that rang the bell of the Somnath temple and half cut Shiva lingam.
Ferishta was a great and honest historian and gave an unbiased and independent account of
Somnath. He travelled extensively to collect on hand accounts. He would not have done that
if the questions were not raised of his boastful success.
Ghazni himself hired many Arab and Persian court historians to exaggerate and doctor his
expedition and accomplishment with one purpose in mind to convince caliph that the mission
was accomplished. One of his historians wrote Ghazni loved to stay in Nehrwala (Patan) India and rule
Hindustan but some urgent matters required his immediate attention in Ghazni. Ghazni had a greater
success in plundering Sindh and Punjab provinces that are now part of Pakistan. In short he
was a thug and nothing more than that.

Ghazni killer of Amir Suri (Ghuri)

Fellow Muslim Avenger Mohammed Ghuri (Suri)

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On the other hand, the different version can be written about Sam Ghuri. His ambition was
derived more to live in Hindoostan than just the plunder. His alliance with Vijay Dev shows
that he was not particularly Hindu haters. Pakistani mindset is so much anti Indians that
defies the common sense and logic. Anything to do with the defeat of Hindu is somehow
viewed as victory for Pakistan. The history text books of Pakistan are littered with these types
of distortions of facts. On the other hand, the Indians bend backward to look secularist and
try to hide true identity of past Hindu history. The Pakistani text books hail Kassim, Ghazni
and others as a god sent liberators who in facts stole more from Pakistanis own ancestors
than anyone living in India. When you closely examine the writings of contemporary Arabic
and Persian scholars, none of these facts tally as reported in the Pakistani history books.
A note should be made that all invasion did not always cause the mass exodus, Killings or
migration of Hindu until after 14th century AD, when Turkish slaves Allauddin Khillji and
others who were to follow and were able to penetrate Hindu heartlands cause major harms
and damage.
The major exceptions to the Khilljis success and occupation were the incursion of Ghazni and
Ghuri. In both of these instances, the invasions were raids and there were no permanent
presence of invaders and instability was very temporary and life returned to normal.
Since the early invaders were unfamiliar with the geography, they followed the same path
and advance information gained from northern kingdoms and travelers give the occupants of
the major cities on route of the invasion enough time to flee to the countryside or hide in
mountain . The Invading armies found empty town and cities and valuable were well hidden.
Like the locust , the armies just moved on. The longer logistic line for the ancient armies did
not leave enough time for plunder, wherever nothing of value was found they were quickly
abandoned and the main target always remained the temple of Somnath, where they
believed the ancient treasure trove of Hindus was stored and that amounted to the entire
fortune of Hindustan worth the long march through terrible heat of dessert of Thar and
Kuchha.

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Ruined and destroyed Temples of salt range and Thar region along Ghuris march

Muslim Invading Army Depiction

Chronology of Solanki (Chalukya) and Chawda of Gujarat:

There are some disagreements among experts on the origin of Chawda but they once resided
in southwest corner of Saurashtra Peninsula and controlled the pirate trade by collecting
taxes or portion of revenue. Some claim their name derived from local tongue Chowra
meaning pirates. Vanraj who established his first dynasty was known to have been involved
into this trade until asked by his Jain mentor to give up this unethical trade and be part of
ruling class. He established his capital at Annilwara now know as Patan in Mehasana
district. Over the period of over two hundred years, his empire grew with trades and
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settlement. Initially, he exercised a regional control over North Gujarat and part of Vagad
district bordering Kuchha. After successive generation, one of the daughters of Chawra king
married a prince of the Chalukya of Badami (near Thane, Mumbai). The Chalukya became
solankya to Solanki to the people of the Gujarat. In a short narrative, one young nephew
Mulraj Solanki usurped his uncle Chavda King and assumed the power thus establishing
Solanki rule of Gujarat. There were successive Solanki rulers who expanded the frontiers with
thriving sea ports and conquering most of the Gujarat, Kuchha and Saurashtra until last
successor Vaghela ruler was defeated by Allauddin Khillji thereby establishing Muslim rule in
Gujarat until defeated by Hindu Maratha under Shivaji. Maratha were followed by British
who bought most of them out by paying a portion of collection of taxes.

Dynasty of Hindu Kings Of Gujarat ( source Abdul Fazal-Akbars historian)

Chawda
Van Raj 748-806 AD (60 yrs)

Solanki (Chalukya of Gujarat)

Mul Raj 942-997 AD (53yrs)

Vaghela
Visual Dev 1244-1262 (18yrs)
Founded Vishnagar

Yoga Raj 806-841 AD( 35 yrs)

Chamunda 997-1010(13 yrs)

Arjun Dev 1262-1275 (13 yrs)

Kshama Raj 841-866AD(25 yrs)

Vallabha Sen 1010-1010(8 mos)

Sarong Dev 1275-1296( 21yrs)

Behooved 866-895 AD (29 yrs)

Durlabhsen 1010-1022(12 yrs

Karan Dev 1296-1297 (1 year)

Attacked and killed by Allauddin
Khillji due to inside help from his
Nagar Brahmin minister. Karan Dev
forced him to leave the state by
forcibly marrying his wife. The
minister betrayed him to avenge
this insult.

Vir sinh 895-920 AD (25 yrs)

Bhim Dev 1 1022-1072AD(50 yrs)

encountered with Ghazni

Muslim Rule was established from

Delhi Sultanate and when sultanate
fell, the Governor Begda declared
himself independent and
established Shahi dynasty until
over thrown by Hindu Maratha and
later taken over

Ratna Ditya 920-935 AD (15 yrs)

Karan Dev (1072-1094)(22 yrs)

By British.

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Samant Sinh 935-942 AD ( 7 yrs)

who was dunk as skunk and
usurped by nephew Mulraj

Sidhraj Jayasinh 1094-1143 ( 49 Yrs)

Gujarat enjoyed unprecedented
trades and prosperity)

Total 196 years per Abdul Fazal

Akbars Historians

Kumar Pal 1143-1174 (31 yrs)

The province was merged with

independent India in 1947.

Indias Jain king of Gujarat

Ajay pal 1174-1177 AD assassinated
due to evil deeds by body guard.
Mull Raj II 1117-1179 (2 yrs)
He was a child when he
Encountered Ghuri with his queen
mother and Lavan Prasad Vaghela
and Vastupal.
Bhim Dev II encountered with
Ghuri and Balaban and won the
war with the help of same allies.
(63 yrs) aided by Vastupal-Tejpal
two Jain Minister and commander.
Tribhovan Pal 1242-1244 (2yrs)

Mohamed Ghuris struggle in Pakistan (Formerly Part of India)

In 1175 AD, Ghuri captured Multan, Pakistan from the Hamid Lodhi (a Pashtun) who was
alleged to be un-Islamic or non-believers on the account of their association with Hindu
and Shia sects of Islam. In spite of the reason given by Ghuri historian, the real reason to
remove all the surrogates of Gazanivad. He followed up his victory with conquest of Uch in
1175 AD. He also annexed the Ghaznivads principality of Lahore in 1186 AD ruled by Ghazni
clan. That settled the final family feud, a real Pashtun style. After the death of Ghiyasuddin in
1202 AD, he became the successor of the Ghuri Empire. Shahbuddin Ghuri is credited with
the decimation of the Gazanivad, his ancestral enemies. Surprisingly, unexpected help from
Hindu king of Jammu who was seeking the same reason to settle the score for removal of
Shahi dynasty of Kabul. Shahi name was derived from Hindu Shahiya or Kshahriya
meaning Kshatriya. Vijay Dev and Ghuris combined forces succeeded in capturing Lahore in
1187 AD. Both of them succeeded in settling the ancestral score with the liar Turkish tribe of
Ghazni who Mahmud of Ghazni belonged to. Ghuri and Vijay dev of Kashmir made all Ghazni
their prisoners and dished out the same treatment that was given to Amir Suri. Thus
Mahmud of Ghazni's line of Sultans and Governors became extinguished by descendents of
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Amir Suri and Jaypala Shahiya dynasty of Kapisa. Finally, the Lord of Somnath delivered the
verdict of the Brahmin.

Ghuri Coin

Ghor Province of Afghanistan

Depiction of Ghuri

Mohamed Ghuri attacked Gujarat three times: 1178AD, 1194AD, and 1197 AD
twice he was defeated but third time he sacked the city of Nehrwalla (Patan)
and left.
Persian author Farista and Jain Muni Merutunga writes very similar accounts of a faceoff
between Mohamed Ghuri and young king Mulraj II. Mulraj II was a Boy king and his uncle
Bhimdeva II was the regent of the throne and commander of the army. While Bhimdeva II
with Parmar and other allies led the charge against Ghuri, the Bards sang the ballads of young
king Mulraj II, who sat next to his mother queen Naikadevi, the Daughter Of Shivchitta
Permadi - Kadamba King Of Goa. Naikadevi was a brace Kshatriya woman warrior of Gujarat
and Sun worshipper. Mulraj II after two years of nominal rule died from natural causes and
Bhimdeva II took over his reign. Bhimdeva II ruled for several years after Mulrajs death as
per the chronology compiled by Akbars historian Abdul Fazal. During 1178 AD, The armies of
Gujarat and Muslims met face to face after 160 years from Ghaznis disastrous Somnath
venture.
Source: Arab and Persian records: Elliot and Dawsons translation-The history of India as told
by its own historians.

Round-1 Gujarat wins, Ghori is defeated-1178 AD

Farista records the Ghuris movement:
Then in the year 574 Hizra (1178 AD) proceeding by way of Multan he brought an army against Guzerat, and
suffered defeat at the hands of Ri Bhm Dev (Bhimdev-II) who was uncle and commander of Gujarat army
during the rule of young Mulraj II, a boy king. And with great difficulty Ghuri reached Ghazni and obtained relief.

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He further states that the king of Gujarat advanced with an army to resist the Mohammedans and defeated
them with great slaughter. They suffered many hardships before they reached Ghazni.

Some of the employed Ghuri court historians have deliberately omitted certain parts of this
disastrous adventure but this deficiency is made up by Jaina sources. Acharya Merutunga,
famous Jaina Acharya and writer gives details of this encounter in his work called Prabandha
Chintanami, he writes:
Muhammad Ghuri advanced upon Gujarat in AD 1178 with a large army by way of Multan. The mother of
young Mulraja, queen Naikadevi, the daughter of Parmardin of Goa, taking her son in her lap, led the Solanki
army against the Turushkas and defeated them at Gadararaghatta near (Kayadra) at the foot of Mount Abu.
Mulraja II was a minor at that time. There are two Sanskrit inscriptions of Gujarat, where Mulraja-II is invariably
mentioned as the conqueror of Garjanakas [dwellers of Ghazni].
One inscription states that even a woman could defeat the Hammira [Amir], during the reign of Mulraja II.
obviously a boastful proclamation by victorious Gujarati while taking the swipe at Mohammed Ghuri.

The battle of Gujarat at Kayadra near Gardar Ghats-mountain pass in 1178 AD was a
decisive defeat suffered by Muhammad of Ghor during his first campaign against Bhimdeva II,
a great grandson of Bhimdeva I who faced off Ghazni.

Bhimdeva II depiction Elephant dual with Muslim cavalry

Battle scene at Kayadra near Patan

In 1178 AD, he met forces of Paramara of Abu, Bhimdeva II Solanki forces and vaghela allies.
Naikadevi, queen mother of Mulraj II, boy king mounted with her son on royal elephant to
face the Ghuri army. Ghuri army utterly exhausted marching through desert and lack of
supplies had already suffered greatly. Naikadevi, a Kshatriya woman, delivered the final blow
at the village of Kayadra (near Mount Abu and just about forty miles to the north-east of
Anihilwara Patan). The invading army with heavy casualties retreated back across the desert
to Multan. After that nightmarish experience, Muhammad of Ghur never returned back to
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Gujarat. For next 12 years , he stayed away from Gujarat but never abandoned his ambition.
His experience in Gujarat was too traumatic to be forgotten in a fit of megalomania. He
relegated the future tasks to his slave General Kutubudin Aibak. He limited his personal
ventures to cities of present day Pakistan but infuriated a member of Mehr clan who lost his
family in one of the raid. The brave young Mehr Rajput of Khokhar tribe took a great personal
risk and mounted an underwater commando type (Navy Seal) attack when he was in his own
tent camped at river Jhelum and assassinated him in 1206 AD through long swim in frigid
water. His fate followed the Ghazni clan; and it was his turn to receive his payback.

Mounted Gujarati soldiers waiting for Ghuris forces Nearby Parmar regiment at mountain pass to trap.

Depiction of Ghuris retreat on full throttle

His slave Governor Turkish Aibak in Delhi

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Round-2 Gujarat Vs Aibak-1194 AD

There are various Persian Sources that describe this follow-up struggle between Gujarat and
Ghuri Turks with slightly differing versions as how when Gujarat Senapati was killed and
Aibak was also wounded by Gujarat forces. Ferishta version is most often considered reliable
and neutral representing the facts is given below while purging the unrealistic boastful
accounts of bards and Ghuri court historian. In this event, the city of Hansi were sacked first
and looted by Ghuri slave Turks (Aibak). This is also at the time that Mongols were advancing
in Central Asia distracting Ghuri clans in protecting their home turfs in Khorasan and
Afghanistan.

Ghuri was assassinated by Khokhar tribe of Mehr Rajput near river Jhelum, Glorification of Invader is salient
feature of Islamist in Afghanistan. See well constructed Tomb of Ghuri with loots from other countries.

Source: From Persian historian- Ferishta

In the year 589 AH (1194 AD), Jeewun Ray, a general of the Raja of Nehrwala (Patan), in Guzerat, advanced
with an army to besiege Hansy. Kootb-ood-Deen marched with his forces to relieve it, compelled him to raise
the siege, and pursued the Guzeraties to their own frontier. In the year following he (Aibak) crossed the Jumna,
and took the fort of Kole by assault, wherein he found a thousand fine horses, and much spoil; and being
informed of Mohamed Ghoory's approach towards Kunowj, he proceeded as far as Pishawur to meet him, and
presented him with a hundred fine horses, besides two elephants, the one loaded with gold and the other with
silver. At Pishawur, he mustered before the King 50,000 horses, and being honored with a dress, was preferred
to the command of the advance of the royal army.

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As you can see the Persian spelling of names are different such as Jeewun Ray was Jeewan
Ram. Kooth-ood-deen was Kutubudin Aibak, Ghoory is Ghuri, Pishawur is Peshawar in
Pakistan. Here as per Ferista, Aibak was provoked as bold sentence implies he was compelled
to defend Hansy. Due to Mongol invasion of central Asian home of Khorasan and
Turkmenistan, Kutubudin was recalled by his brother leaving his slave Aibak in charge as a
viceroy of Delhi. The general shortsightedness of Hindu kings not to form an alliance as Royal
Pratihara and Gupta kings did in the earlier centuries to repulse Arabs and Saka invasion of
India paid handsome dividends to Ghuri and Aibak. Prithiviraj Chauhan was a brave warrior
and excellent marks man with bow and arrows according to his Bard Chand (Raj Guru) but he
displayed foolish braveries with poor military strategies. First of all, it was a strategic mistake
to kidnap the daughter of an ally king Jaichand Rathod (Arjun style) that made it impossible
to join forces with Jaichand Rathod. The second mistake was when he had Ghuri in capture
and retreat mode; he should have killed him and eliminated his forces. This would have
stopped Islam right into its tract. This blunder will penalize the generation of Indians into
forced conversion, loss of territory and permanent degradation. This should never allow to
happen again.

Last stand of Prithiviraj in a battle scene, Ajmer still has his statue as a brave Hindu King.

Gujarat was a stronger state and should have played a diplomatic role in bridging the
difference between Kannauj and Ajmer. They had an unfinished business to remove the
Muslim Arabs living in Sindhi coast and they were never able to dislodge them. The
confederacy of three mighty kingdom would have done the job.

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The elephants once played a role of ancient tanks but no more with the introduction of big
cannons and gun powder. Hindu armies never caught up with this new technology that
Muslim had a free access.
Gujarat Jain ministers and strategist employed some proxy tactics to keep the invaders at
bay but after the fall of Prithiviraj Chauhan and Jaichand Rathod, it was the question of time.

Ferista ellaberates further on Gujarat and its Rajasthani allies strategy and
wounding of Aibak by Gujarati forces(Round-2):
At this time news arrived that the Raja of Nagoor and many other Hindoo rajas had entered into an alliance
with the Mehres (Mehr Rajput), a race of people in that country, and, together with the Raja of Nehrwala
(Gujarat), had formed a design to wrest Ajmeer from the Mahomedans. The army of Kootb-ood-Deen being
dispersed over his provinces, he was forced to march in person against these confederates with the few
troops present in Dehly, in order to prevent, if possible, the junction of the forces of Nehrwala; but he was
defeated. After having been frequently dismounted in the action, and having received six wounds, he still fought
with his wonted courage, till being forced at length by his attendants off the field; he was carried in a litter to
Ajmeer. The Mehres, rejoicing at this victory, now formed a junction with the forces of Guzerat, and sat down
before Ajmeer. Intelligence of this event coming to the ears of the King, he sent a strong reinforcement from
Ghizni to the relief of Kootb-ood-Deen. Again, provoking an enemy without matching proper

equipment and technology will not assure the victory.

Again the Persian spelling for Ajmer where Prithiviraj once ruled is spelled as Ajmeer, Gujerat
as Guzerat and Ghazni as Ghizni.

Ferista writes:
Gujarat Looses, Palli, Nadole and Patan were sacked and Jewan Ram gets killed
but Aibak hurries back to Delhi anticipating attacks of Mongols-Round#3, 1197
AD.
In the middle of the month of Safar, 593 H. (Jan. 1197AD), the world-conquering Aibak departed from Aijmeer,
and with every description of force turned his face towards the annihilation of the Rai of Nahrwala (Patan).
When he reached the lofty forts of Pali and Nandul (Nadol), he found them abandoned, became the abode of
owls, for they had fled at the approach of the Musulmans, and collected under their leaders Rai Karan (Dharan
Vaghela) and Dara (Dhruvarsh Paramar of Abu) in great numbers, at the foot of Mount Abu, and the mouth of a
pass Stood ready for fight and slaughter. The Musulmans did not dare to attack them in that strong position,
especially as in that very place Muhammad Sam Ghori (1178 AD) had been wounded, and it was considered a
bad omen to bring on another action there, lest a similar accident might occur to the commander. The Hindus
seeing this hesitation, and misconstruing it into cowardice and alarm, abandoning the pass, turned their faces

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towards the field of battle and the plain of honor and renown; for they were persuaded that fear had
established itself in the hearts of the protectors of the sacred enclosure of religion. The two armies stood face
to face for some time, engaged in preparations for fight, and on the night proceeding Sunday, the 13th of Rabi'ul awwal, in a fortunate moment the army of Islam advanced from its camp, and at morning reached the position
of the infidels. A severe action ensued from dawn to mid-day, when the army of idolatry and damnation turned
its back in flight from the line of battle. Most of their leaders were taken prisoners, and nearly fifty thousand
infidels were dispatched to hell by the sword, and from the heaps of the slain, the hills and the plains became of
one level. Rai Karan (Dharan) affected his escape from the field. More than twenty thousand slaves, and
twenty elephants, and cattle and arms beyond all calculation, fell into the hands of the victors. You would have
thought that the treasures of the kings of all the inhabitants of the world had come into their possession.

Strategic Blunder and miscalculation due to previous successes:

From the above description by Farista, one can conclude that Dharan Vaghela was more
interested in chivalrous demonstration than military success as he left hilltop proven
defensive position at Aravalli mountain range that provided natural defense and tried to
pursue the enemies without gaining enough intelligence on number, weapons and tactical
motives that gave military advantage to Aibak in the open field of the battle and he was able
to sack the city of Patan that was evacuated as before so Aibak did not stay there too long
but was able to dent previous victories that invited more trouble in the future. This left many
people wounded and left to die on the battle field. This was the poor execution by Dharan
Vaghela and his Rajput commander Jeewan Ram. We doubt any shrewd Jain ministers of the
previous Solanki kings like Vastupal-Tejpal brothers; Vimal Shah would entertain similar
ideas. After departure of these people, there was a big void to be filled with inexperienced
military commander. The Gujarat quickly recovered from this episode until Allauddin Khillji of
slave dynasty dealt a final blow and Rajput dynasty of Gujarat was extinguished for good.
With its last Vaghela king.
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REFERENCES:
1. Prabodh Chintanami of Merutunga by Jinavijaya Suri, Shantiniketan Publication.
2. History of India as told by its own historians-Volumes 1 & 2 by Elliot and Dowson, Oxford,
London.
3. Jain Itihas Parampara Vol-1 through 4 by Triputi Maharaj, Gujarati Edition, Palitana,
India.
4. Articles on Islamic history http://www.hinduwisdom.info/index_new.htm
5. Indian Monarchial history http://www.friesian.com/sangoku.htm
6. http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/islam/islamsbook.html
7. Ancient Cities and Towns of Rajasthan by K.C. Jain, Motilal Banarsidas, India
8. Temple Desecrations and Indo-Moslem States, Part 1& II by Richard Eaton, a Historical
Analysis, Front Line, January 5, 2001.
9. Sanitizing Temple Destruction by Islam, Meenakshi Jain, Sulekha Columns,
http://www.geocities.com/ifihhome/articles/mj005.html
10 History of India told by its own historians-Translated by Elliot and Dawson, Oxford,
London.
11. Tabakat-XIX Jurjani Minhaj Ibn Siraj-extract on Ghuri
12. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muhammad_of_Ghor
13 http://www.slideshare.net/sonalimoses/mahamud-of-ghazni-and-mohammad-of-ghur
14. Shahnamah by Firdausi and translated by Dickinson and Welch.
15. From Sultanate to the Mughal by Satish Chandra.
16. Tahqaat-e-Nasri; Qasim, Ahmed Yaha Sirshnidi,
17. Tarkh-e-Mubrak Shahi, Lahore by Shiraj Ninah.
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18 Tarikh-i Firishta -Genealogy of kings of Ghazni, Muhammad Qasim Hindu Shah, Translated
by John Brigg

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