जहिं असिवर तोडिय रिउ कवालु, णरणाहु पसिद्धउ अणंगवालु ||
वलभर कम्पाविउ णायरायु, माणिणियण मणसंजनीय ||
The ruler Anandapal is famous, he can slay his enemies with his sword. The weight (of the Iron pillar) caused the Nagaraj to shake.
What is missing is the earlier history of our land. So in this post let us explore the last hindu ruling family of the Punjab, before islamic horde looted and flattened the region, the then rulers were the last of the Hindu Shahi dynasty.
We know that the Hindu Shahi ruler, known in some descriptions as the Kabul Hindu Shahi, ruled over the lands that stretched from Kabul to Ghandara right up to the Salt Ranges. The ruler was Maharaja Jayapala who was a wise and powerful ruler. His Prince Anandapala ascended his father's throne (in about March/April AD 1002) already proved an able warrior and general in leading many battles prior to his ascension. According to 'Adáb al-Harb' (pp. 307–10) in about AD 990, it is written, "the arrogant but ambitious Raja of Lahore Bharat, having put his father in confinement, marched on the country of Jayapála with the intention of conquering the districts of Nandana, Jailum (Jehlum) and Tákeshar" (in an attempt to take advantage of Jayapala's concentrated effort with defence against the armies of Ghazni). On hearing the cruelty of the Chach’s of Lahore, "Jayapala instructed Prince Anandapala to repel the opportunist Raja Bharat and bring the cruel ruler to him. Anandapala defeated Bharat and took him prisoner in the battle of Takeshar and marched on Lahore and captured the city and extended his father's kingdom yet further." So it was in the year 999 AD that Lahore became the eastern capital of Jayapala’s Hindu Shahi dynasty.
At this stage the Hindu Shahi had three capital cities, the others being Peshawar and Waihind to the north in the Upper Indus region. By the year 999 AD when the once Kabul Hindu Shahi were defeated by Subaktigin in the Battle of Laghman near Kabul, the Hindu Shahi established their capital at Peshawar. Later on his son Mahmud defeated Jayapala in the Battle of Peshawar in the year 1001. Hence the territory of the Ghazni Dynasty started stretching eastwards. Also the Hindu Shahi territory started shrinking and they were also moving eastwards.
When Jayapala reached Lahore after his defeat, the Kshatriya Rajputs of Lahore felt that their ruler needed to pay for the humiliation at the hands of Mahmud. So a proud Rajput Jayapala walked out of Lahore’s Mori Darwaza in the year 1002 and stood by the bank of the River Ravi and after pouring ‘ghee’ on himself and on the sandal wood around him, set himself alight. The exact spot is where today stands an ancient ‘pipal’ tree.
His son Anandpal took over the reins of power of Lahore in 1002. Just like his father, the king was well aware of the dangers that lurked his kingdom. Mehmud of Ghazni had been busy in subjugating the fort of Bhatiya and Multan and had even appointed a man named Nawasa Shah to oversee his conquered territories in India. Nawasa was a new convert to Islam, earlier named Sukhpal, he was a maternal grandson of Jaipal and had been “taken prisoner at the battle of Peshawar in 1001-02 C.E.” Although, later he had tried to renounce Islam and rule as an independent ruler, however he remained unsuccessful. But, discussion of these events are for another day.
Bottomline is Mehmud knew that the Hindu Shahis were “the most formidable stumbling block” if he wanted to invade further inside India and Anandpal was aware of the situation.Anandpala who after succeeding his father immediately increased his military strength. However, during his reign as king many losses were inflicted on his kingdom by the Ghaznavids.
According to one account by Firishta (book I, page 24), within a few years Mahmud again wanted to march through the Punjab to loot the wealth of middle India. In 1006, he requested passage, which Anandpal refused. So a battle ensued at Sodhra on the Chenab, where Mahmud defeated Anandpal, who escaped northwards towards Kashmir. Instead of pursuing him Mahmud moved southwards towards Multan. He was on a campaign of butchering the Ismaili Muslims because they owed allegiance to the Ismaili Imamate.
The victories of Mahmud began to disturb Anandpal, who decided to advance towards Peshawar. Maharaja had demanded help from other rulers of India. Rulers of Gwalior, Kannauj, Kalinjar didn’t dissappoint and provided some help, some aid to the Maharaja. Effort was quite comprehensive to face the invader. In 1008-09 C.E., Mahmud invaded the kingdom with all his might.
Mehmud had made his own preparations. “With back to the Khyber Pass firmly secured and made safe for retreat in case of defeat, he entrenched his main army in the plain of Chhachh near Hazru on the east of the Indus.” But, there was a long wait. Both the armies weren’t ready to make the first move. For nearly forty days, no one moved and the armies remained encamped and on the 31st of December 1008 at Waihind a battle ended in confusion. Mahmud returned to Ghazni and Anandpal returned to Lahore, with Nandna being a Salt Range headquarter.
In 1013, Anandpal died and there is considerable confusion on the reasons. Most scholars claim he died a natural death, while Al-Biruni hints at another ‘Johar’. Where that took place is not mentioned by anyone. Most likely at Lahore, if that was the case.
As this another Alexander-Raja Porus situation with both sides claiming victory, this needs research.
These days it seems some of the best scholars claim Porus won, no wonder Alexander agreed to return home. Here we see Mahmud returning to Ghazni instead of consolidating.
But R.C Majumdar (D.V. Potdar Commemoration Volume, Poona 1950, p. 351) compared him ironically to his dynastic ancient famous ancestor "King Porus, who bravely opposed Alexander but later submitted and helped in subduing other Indian rulers". And Tahqíq Má li'l-Hind (p. 351) finally revered him in his legacy as "noble and courageous" .
It is funny how a myth has been created that it was an easy path for the barbaric Islamic hordes into this ancient landmass by completely neglecting the strong resistance put up by son and successor of Maharaja Jayapala Deva–
Anandpala Deva the guardians of the north-west of our civilization
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