You might be aware of the wars of Rajputs. But few of us may be knowing about their love and romance. Our history has plenty of love stories one of them is Prithviraj Chauhan and Sanyogita’s love story. Their love story is one of love, war, and courage.
Even after being married twice, why did Prithviraj Chauhan fall in love for the third time with Sanyogita? What was so special about her? What drew Prithviraj Chauhan to Sanyogita?
Prithviraj Chauhan was Sanyogita’s father’s biggest rival, then why did she fall in love with him? Did she go against her father’s wishes to build a life with Prithviraj Chauhan? To know all these details, read our article below!
Who was Prithviraj Chauhan?
Prithviraj Chauhan is also famously known as Prithviraja III and also Rai Pithora. He is one of the most eminent figures from the Chauhan/Chauhamana dynasty. His reign started in 1177 and lasted till 1192 CE. Prithviraj Chauhan ruled the territory of Sapadalaksha along with his capital Ajmer. Very bravely he defeated the Chandelas.
He led a coalition of many powerful Rajput kings who charged against the Ghurid Army that was led by Muhammad Ghuri which took place near Taraori in 1191 AD. Again in 1192 CE, Ghuri returned with Turkish-mounted archers who defeated the Rajput army. Prithviraj ran away but he was caught in Sirsa and then executed.
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Who was Sanyogita?
Sanyogita was also known as Samyukta/Sanjukta. She was the daughter of the infamous king of Kannauj, Jaichand. Prithviraj and Sanyogita’s love story is one of the most popular romances of the medieval period. She was one of the three wives of Prithviraj.
Just like her father, Jaichand, Sanyogita was a very strong person who was always clear about what she wanted and when she wanted it. When she came to know about Prithviraj’s incredible adventures and brave personality, she lost all of her heart to him.
One of the most interesting facts is that Prithviraj Chauhan and Raja Jaichand’s mothers were each other’s sisters. This suggests that Prithviraj and Jaichand were cousin brother. Further, this makes Sanyogita, Prithviraj’s niece, so he married his niece, not cousins.
Prithviraj Chauhan & Sanyogita’s love story started because of Prithviraj’s bravery
There was not a single soul in India and even the neighboring nations like Afghanistan who did not know about the tales of bravery of Prithviraj Chauhan. During his rule, Prithviraj reached incredible heights and kept on winning more and more battles. He was constantly winning and adding more and more territories under his rule.
Just like everyone else the world-famous beauty Sanyogita also came to know about all the deeds of Prithviraj Chauhan and ended up giving all of her heart to him. She was no less as she was one of the prettiest women to be ever born. But she was just not a pretty face. She was a strong-willed woman who knew what she wanted.
Even though Prithviraj Chauhan was married to two women before, named Shashivrata, and Padmavati, he too fell for Sanyogita and admired her brains and beauty. The flame of love was ignited in both of their hearts. But it was not easy for the two of them to become one because of Sanyogita’s father, Jaichand.
Panna Ray, a painter acted as a catalyst in Prithviraj Chauhan & Sanyogita’s love story
Sanyogita was already deeply in love with Prithviraj Chauhan because of his bravery but her feelings deepened even more when she was visited by Panna Ray, who was an infamous painter of Prithviraj Chauhan’s courtroom.
Panna Ray planned on visiting Kannauj with the painting of Prithviraj Chauhan and he did so! He took Prithviraj’s painting to Kannauj and shows it to Sanyogita. After looking at the painted face of the man of her dreams Sanyogita fell even harder for Prithviraj.
But this exchange did not stop there. Panna Ray painted Sanyogita’s portrait too and took it back to the courtroom of Prithviraj Chauhan who also felt his feelings deepening for the woman of his dreams. This is how an exchange of paintings acted as a catalyst in driving Prithviraj Chauhan & Sanyogita’s love story forward.
Raja Jaichand became the villain of Prithviraj Chauhan and Sanyogita’s love story
Like wildfire the words of his strength, bravery, and heroism spread all around and many kings, and rulers started getting envious of him. Many big powers were jealous of Prithviraj Chauhan. Unfortunately, one of such big powers was Raja Jaichand, Sanyogita’s father, and king of Kannauj.
When Raja Jaichand came to know that Sanyogita has fallen in love with one of the biggest enemies Prithviraj Chauhan he was obviously very infuriated. The fact was that they both belonged to rival Rajput clans. There was no way that he could digest the fact that under the roof of his own kingdom, his own daughter was thinking of spending her life with his enemy.
Soon he devised a plan to shame Prithviraj Chauhan and break the love between Sanyogita and him. Raja Jaichand was in no mood to make his enemy his son-in-law and marry his daughter off to him. So he took a huge step to break Prithviraj Chauhan’s pride.
Raja Jaichand organized Sanyogita’s swayamvara to break her & Prithviraj Chauhan’s relationship in 1185 CE
Since Raja Jaichand was furious at Prithviraj Chauhan’s audacity to woe his daughter from him he decided to organize a swayamvara to break the union of these two souls. The swayamvara was organized in 1185 CE. As the father of the bride, he invited many kings and princes from all around and even far away places to participate in the swayamvara.
Just to shame Prithviraj, Raja Jaichand invited every possible match for Sanyogita but not the man she truly loved. To hurt Prithviraj Chauhan’s pride even more he took a really low step. Raja Jaichand made a statue of Prithviraj Chauhan and put it in front of his kingdom’s door so that it looked like a doorman.
Prithviraj Chauhan & Sanyogita’s love story emerged victorious in 1185 CE
Sanyogita’s attention was clear from the start. She only wanted to be married to Prithviraj Chauhan. When Prithviraj came to know about Sanyogita’s swayamvara to which he wasn’t deliberately invited by her father, he devised a plan to free her soul.
When Sanyogita was called upon to choose the most eligible match for herself from a large crowd of kings and princes, she did an unimaginable thing. As she walked through the door with the ceremonial garland in her hands which she was supposed to put on her husband’s neck, she kept on walking and walking.
Sanyogita’s gaze didn’t waver even for a minute and she ignored every person who was waiting to marry her. Instead, she went right out of the door and put that ceremonial garland on Prithviraj Chauhan’s statue’s neck. This was a huge step that she took to announce her undying love for Prithviraj Chauhan.
She gave no attention or respect to her father’s petty actions and went against his decision to marry anyone other than Prithviraj Chauhan so openly. If that does not scream true love then what does?
Prithviraj Chauhan & Sanyogita’s love story led to eloping in 1185 CE
Just when Sanyogita put the ceremonial garland around the statue of Prithviraj Chauhan, she was swept into the arms of Prithviraj Chauhan. He was secretly hiding behind his own clay statue. He loved Sanyogita as much as she loved him. This grand gesture of stepping into Raja Jaichand’s house to take his bride away was everything.
Neither did Sanyogita succumb to her father’s forceful actions and nor did Prithviraj Chauhan give up on Sanyogita and come for her. Since Prithviraj Chauhan entered his enemy’s territory to take Sanyogita away, the escape was not exactly easy.
However, thousands of loyal soldiers of Prithviraj Chauhan sacrificed their lives for their king and his love. He came for one and one reason only. He took Sanyogita away with him and hence Prithviraj and Sanyogita eloped on his horse. This made their love story eternal.
Raja Jaichand’s alliance with Ghori ended Prithviraj Chauhan & Sanyogita’s love story in 1192 CE
On realizing the fact that his daughter, Sanyogita eloped with his enemy, Prithviraj Chauhan, Raja Jaichand was very infuriated. The blood was boiling in his veins due to the anger and betrayal he felt. He was driven by aggression and decided to take his revenge. He did the most unimaginable thing possible.
Raja Jaichand made an alliance with Muhammad Ghuri who was the biggest enemy of Prithviraj Chauhan. Ghuri was earlier defeated about sixteen times by Prithviraj Chauhan and his army whenever he attacked Delhi. The wounds were fresh in both Raja Jaichand & Muhammad Ghuri’s hearts. They were fueled by vengeance.
So, in 1192 CE they both together defeated Prithviraj Chauhan. However, Prithviraj Chauhan refused to bow down in front of Ghuri and was brutally blinded by Ghuri’s soldiers who used hot iron rods.
But after being blinded so mercilessly, Prithviraj Chauhan used the Shabd Bhedi Baan in the game of archery against Muhammad Ghuri and killed him. This game was suggested by Chand Bardai and soon Prithviraj Chauhan was executed too. When Sanyogita heard that Prithviraj died, she killed herself too, uniting with his soul in heaven.
Some sources say that Sanyogita committed Jauhar, which was the famous ritual of burning yourself upon one’s husband demise. Other sources suggest that she ran away from the battlefield with some of the servants and spent the rest of her life as Prithviraj’s widow.
Famous adaptations of Prithviraj Chauhan & Sanyogita’s love story
The love story was first adapted in a movie called Raani Samyuktha in 1962 which starred Padmini and M.G. Ramachandran. It was a historical film. Star Plus created the very infamous show called Dharti Ka Veer Yodha Prithviraj Chauhan in 2006. The series ended in 2009 with completion of 382 episodes.
In 2022 Akshay Kumar starred as Prithviraj Chauhan in Samrat Prithviraj movie along with Manushi Chhillar who took the role of Sanyogita. Sanjay Dutt, Sonu Sood, Manav Vij were also seen in the movie. The movie’s reception was not that well and was more criticized than loved.
FAQ’s
Some sources say that Sanyogita committed Jauhar, which was the famous ritual of burning yourself upon one’s husband demise. Other sources suggest that she ran away from the battlefield with some of the servants and spent the rest of her life as Prithviraj’s widow.
The kidnap would not be the right word to use here. Sanyogita also wanted to elope with Prithviraj Chauhan during her syamvara and consented to do so. So they both fled away from her syamvara to be with each other.
It is believed that either Sanyogita was the same age as Prithviraj or she was probably just two years younger than him.
Prithviraj Chauhan and Raja Jaichand’s mothers were each other’s sisters. This suggests that Prithviraj and Jaichand were cousin brother. Further, this makes Sanyogita, Prithviraj’s niece, so he married his niece not cousin.
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Thoughts on Prithviraj Chauhan & Sanyogita’s eternal love
Prithviraj Chauhan & Sanyogita’s love story is a story for decades. It is truly eternal and will always stay alive in our hearts. Both of them fell in love just by hearing about each other and not really even seeing each other properly. This just shows that their hearts connected first.
Even after having the whole world against them, Prithviraj Chauhan and Sanyogita never gave up on each other. They stood by each other’s side and loved each other wholeheartedly. Even death could not keep them apart and they still united in the afterlife with each other.
In a world where people are afraid to love, Prithviraj Chauhan and Sanyogita set the example that true love crosses all boundaries and only listens to the heart. It never fails and stays true for eternity.
