Ajayaraja I (r. c. 721–734 CE) was a king belonging to the Chahamana dynasty of Shakambhari (modern Sambhar). He ruled parts of present-day Rajasthan in north-western India. He is also known as Jayaraja, Ajayapala Chakva or Ajayapala Chakri.[1]
| Ajayaraja I | |
|---|---|
| King of Sapadalaksha | |
| Reign | c. 721–734 CE |
| Predecessor | Naradeva |
| Successor | Vigraharaja I |
| Dynasty | Chahamanas of Shakambhari |
Life
editAjayaraja I succeeded Naradeva as the Chahamana king.[2] According to the 12th century chronicle Prithviraja Vijaya, he was a great warrior who defeated several enemies.[1]
According to one theory, Ajayaraja I founded the city of Ajayameru (modern Ajmer). The Prabandha-Kosha states that he commissioned the Ajayameru fort, which later came to be known as the Taragarh Fort of Ajmer.[3] The Akhbar ul-Akhyar calls it the first hill fort of India. However, the Prithviraja Vijaya attributes the establishment of Ajmer to his descendant Ajayaraja II (12th century CE).[3] According to historian R. B. Singh, Ajayaraja I is more likely to be the founder of Ajmer, considering the fact that inscriptions dated to 8th century CE have been found at Ajmer.[4] Singh theorizes that Ajayaraja II later significantly developed the town and moved the kingdom's capital from Shakambhari to Ajmer.[5] Others, such as Shyam Singh Ratnawat and Krishna Gopal Sharma, believe that it was Ajayaraja II who founded Ajmer.[2]
Ajayaraja I was succeeded by his son Vigraharaja I.[6]
References
edit- ^ a b R. B. Singh 1964, p. 86.
- ^ a b Shyam Singh Ratnawat & Krishna Gopal Sharma 1999, p. 95.
- ^ a b R. B. Singh 1964, p. 87.
- ^ R. B. Singh 1964, p. 88.
- ^ R. B. Singh 1964, pp. 131–132.
- ^ R. B. Singh 1964, p. 55.
Bibliography
edit- R. B. Singh (1964). History of the Chāhamānas. N. Kishore. OCLC 11038728.
- Shyam Singh Ratnawat; Krishna Gopal Sharma (1999). History and culture of Rajasthan: from earliest times upto 1956 A.D. Centre for Rajasthan Studies, University of Rajasthan.