NAIKI DEVI

In a series of raids that rolled over the ancient civilization of India, various warriors defended the peninsula under the backdrop of the fall of other ancient cultures. The foreign raids over this soil did not choked the nation but molded more and more bravehearts, who flooded in to challenge the invaders.

RISE OF TERROR

Maharaja Suheldev Pasi had crushed the Ghaznavid rule of Afghanistan on the battleground of Bahraich. This victory paused the foreign invasion in India for a century and a half. By then Ghurid empire rose to power in Afghanistan under the leadership of Mohummad Ghori. Ghori had a strong ambition to rule over the Northern India. It didn't took much time for that ambition to unfold into a plan. It all begun with an attack at Multan. The important fortress of Uch fell under the grasp of Ghori.

Ahead of Multan a vast desert enveloped their way till the next target; Anhilwara Patan. Anhilwara's citadel amassed tremendous amount of wealth and power under the grasp of the Solankis (Chalukyas). The sight of wealth was enough to drive insane an invader like Ghori. The Chalukya empire amassed territory from present day Gujrat till Rajasthan. This meant capturing the Chalukyan territory would pose as a gateway for Ghori to repeat the steps of Mahmud Ghazni; loot the Somnath temple. The demise of Ajaypala handed over the throne of Anhilwara to the infant Mularaja-II. Ghori saw a ray of opportunity he couldn't lose. Attacking a kingdom ruled by an infant was an easy task, but perhaps didn't Ghori knew the real ruler of the Chalukyas.

THE SWORD OF SOLANKI

Rani Naiki Devi of Chandelas was married off to king Ajaypala of Chalukyas. After the demise of the king, Naiki Devi swore to lead the empire until her son grew till the right age. And the moment to prove herself arrived, when Mohummad Ghori and the Ghurid army marched across the Thar desert. Naiki knew that the Chalukyan forces could not withstand the might of the Ghurid army. Quick recruitment of soldiers under a short span of time was an impossible task. Hence, she asked out for support of the feudal lords. Chalukyan warlords Naddula Chahamana clan, the Jalor Chahamana clan, and the Arbuda Paramara clan joined in the fray. With the army at ready, the Chalukyans rode their way to intercept the Ghurids at Gadarghatta near Mt. Abu.

Ghori soon arranged his army inside the narrow pass of Gadarghatta. However, the Solankis held their position up high over the tall embankments. And what followed was an all out attack. The Solanki army didn't hold as many troops as the Ghurids, yet Rani Naiki Devi herself hopped in the battle to slay the invaders. Soon the colossal Ghurid army fell and Mohummad Ghori ran away from the battle scene.