>Arjayay at 09:42, 6 July 2021

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{{short description|Samraat of Dhillikapuri (Delhi)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2021}}
{{Use Indian English|date=November 2016}}

'''Anangpal II''', popularly known as '''Anangpal Tomar''', was a ruler from the Tomara dynasty. He is known to have established and populated [[Delhi]] in the 11th century. The Tomar empire reached its zenith during his reign.<ref>{{Cite book|last=|first=|title=Tomars of Delhi by Harihar Niwas Dwivedi|publisher=Vidya Mandir Publications|year=1983|isbn=|location=Gwalior|pages=236}}</ref>
{{Infobox royalty
|name = Anangpal Tomar II
|title =Samraat of Dhillikapuri (Delhi)
| image = Round Bations of Rai Pithora.jpg
| caption = Lal Kot - The fortress built by Anangpal II
||succession = 16th Emperor of the Tomar Empire
|reign = c.1051 - c.1081 CE
|predecessor = Kumarpala
|successor = Tejpala
| dynasty = [[Tomara dynasty]]
|religion = [[Hinduism]]
}}
He is often confused with Anangpal I, the founder of Tomar Dynasty of Delhi, who had reigned during the 8th century.<ref>{{Cite book|last=|first=|title=Tomars of Delhi by Harihar Niwas Dwivedi|publisher=Vidya Mandir Publications|year=1983|isbn=|location=Gwalior|pages=236}}</ref>

== Ancestry ==

[[File:Sourabh475123 01.jpg|thumb|Statue of Arjuna in Kurukshetra, Haryana]]

He was descendant of Samrat Parikshit of Mahabharta fame.<ref>{{Cite book|last=|first=|title=Tomars of Delhi by Harihar Niwas Dwivedi|publisher=Vidya Mandir Publication|year=1983|isbn=|location=Gwalior|pages=188}}</ref>

== Territory ==

The territory ruled by the Tomars was called ''Hariyana'' (Literally - Abode of God). This ''Hariyana'' was many folds in size compared to the current state of [[Haryana]]. The Tomar Empire during the reign of Anangpal II extended over various parts of [[Delhi]], [[Haryana]], [[Punjab, India|Punjab]], [[Himachal Pradesh]], [[Uttar Pradesh]], [[Madhya Pradesh]] and [[Rajasthan]]. <ref>{{Cite book|last=|first=|title=Tomars of Delhi by Harihar Niwas Dwivedi|publisher=Vidya Mandir Publications|year=1983|isbn=|location=Gwalior|pages=}}</ref>

The capital of Tomars changed a few times during the course of 457 years they ruled in the northern India. The first capital of the Tomar empire was [[Anangpur]] while the last one was [[History of Delhi|Dhillikapuri]]. <ref>{{Cite book|last=|first=|title=Tomars of Delhi by Harihar Niwas Dwivedi|publisher=Vidya Mandir Publications|year=1983|isbn=|location=Gwalior|pages=}}</ref>

Other parts of the Kingdom of political importance were as follows:

[[Pathankot]] - [[Nurpur, Himachal Pradesh|Nurpur]] , [[Patan, Rajasthan|Patan]] - Tanwarawati, Nagarkot ([[Kangra, Himachal Pradesh|Kangra]]) , Asigarh ([[Hansi]]), Sthaneshwar ([[Thanesar]]), [[Mathura]], [[Taragarh Fort, Ajmer|Taragarh]], Gopachal([[Gwalior]]), Tanwarhinda ([[Bathinda|Bhatinda]]), Tanwarghaar <ref>{{Cite book|last=|first=|title=Tomars of Delhi by Harihar Niwas Dwivedi|publisher=Vidya Mandir Publications|year=1983|isbn=|location=Gwalior|pages=175}}</ref> <ref>{{cite book |title=The Princely and Noble Families of the Former Indian Empire: Himachal Pradesh |volume=1 |first=Mark |last=Brentnall |publisher=Indus Publishing |year=2004 |pages=350–358 |isbn=978-8-17387-163-4 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ayYbAvECXQwC&pg=PA350}}</ref>

== Founding of Delhi ==

[[File:QtubIronPillar.JPG|thumb|right|250px|The [[iron pillar of Delhi]] was established in Delhi by Anangpal Tomar.
<ref>Balasubramaniam, R. 2002</ref><ref name="WI">{{Cite book
|author=Arnold Silcock; [[Maxwell Ayrton]]
|title=Wrought iron and its decorative use: with 241 illustrations
|publisher=Dover
|location=Mineola, N.Y
|year=2003|edition=reprint
|pages=4
|isbn=0-486-42326-3
}}</ref>]]

Anangpal Tomar founded Delhi in 1052. A [[Vikram Samvat|VS]] 1383 inscription in [[National Museum, New Delhi|Delhi Museum]] states the founding of Delhi by the Tomars:

देशोऽस्ति हरियानाख्यो पॄथिव्यां स्वर्गसन्निभः | 
ढिल्लिकाख्या पुरी तत्र तोमरैरस्ति निर्मिता ||

Translation: In a country called Haryana, which is equivalent to heaven on earth, Tomars built a city called Dhillika.<ref name="Richard J. Cohen 1989. , p. 513-519">{{cite journal | last1 = Cohen | first1 = Richard J. | title = An Early Attestation of the Toponym Ḍhillī | journal = Journal of the American Oriental Society | volume = 1989 | pages = 513–519 }}</ref>

An inscription on the iron pillar also names the founder of Delhi as Anangpal Tomar. Alexander Cunningham read the inscription as follows:

"Samvat Dihali 1109 Ang Pāl bahi"

Translation: In Samvat 1109 [1052 CE], [Anang] Pāl peopled Dilli.<ref name="Richard J. Cohen 1989. , p. 513-519">{{cite journal | last1 = Cohen | first1 = Richard J. | title = An Early Attestation of the Toponym Ḍhillī | journal = Journal of the American Oriental Society | volume = 1989 | pages = 513–519 }}</ref>

The name Delhi is said to be derived from the word '[[Dhillika]]'.
Pasanaha Chariu of [[Vibudh Shridhar]] ([[Vikram Samvat|VS]] 1189–1230) an [[Apabhramsha]] writer, provides the first reference to the legend of the origin of the name Dhilli for [[Delhi]].

हरियाणए देसे असंखगाम, गामियण जणि अणवरथ काम| 
परचक्क विहट्टणु सिरिसंघट्टणु, जो सुरव इणा परिगणियं| 
रिउ रुहिरावट्टणु बिउलु पवट्टणु, ढिल्ली नामेण जि भणियं|

Translation: There are countless villages in [[Haryana]] country. The villagers there work hard. They don't accept domination of others, and are experts in making the blood of their enemies flow. Indra himself praises this country. The capital of this country is Dhilli.<ref name="Richard J. Cohen 1989. , p. 513-519">{{cite journal | last1 = Cohen | first1 = Richard J. | title = An Early Attestation of the Toponym Ḍhillī | journal = Journal of the American Oriental Society | volume = 1989 | pages = 513–519 }}</ref>

[[Prithviraj Raso]] also has the founding by the Tomars and the legend of the loose nail:

हुं गड्डि गयौ किल्ली सज्जीव हल्लाय करी ढिल्ली सईव | 
फिरि व्यास कहै सुनि अनंगराइ भवितव्य बात मेटी न जाइ ||

Translation: Anangpal established the “Killi” (nail) in Dhilli. This tale cannot be removed from history ever.<ref name="Richard J. Cohen 1989. , p. 513-519">{{cite journal | last1 = Cohen | first1 = Richard J. | title = An Early Attestation of the Toponym Ḍhillī | journal = Journal of the American Oriental Society | volume = 1989 | pages = 513–519 }}</ref>

== Military career ==

Anangpal's empire was surrounded by many powerful kingdoms but records of conflicts with only two of them is available. As per his contemporary Shridhar’s Parshwanath Charit, he defeated Turks led by [[Ibrahim of Ghazna|Ibrahim Ghaznavi]] in Himachal pradesh and thereafter [[Harsha of Kashmir|Kalashdev]] of Utpala dynasty in kashmir. <ref>{{Cite book|last=|first=|title=Tomars of Delhi by Harihar Niwas Dwivedi|publisher=Vidya Mandir Publications|year=1983|isbn=|location=Gwalior|pages=240–241}}</ref>

== Constructions by Anangpal II ==

=== Lal Kot ===

[[File:Outer Wall of Lal kot and Rai Pithora.jpg|thumb|Outer wall of Lal Kot]]

The [[Qila Rai Pithora|Lal Kot]] (as the [[Qila Rai Pithora]] was originally called) is believed to be constructed in the reign of Tomar king Anangpal II. He brought the [[Iron pillar of Delhi|iron pillar]] from some unknown location (possibly [[mathura]]) and got it fixed in [[Delhi]] in the year 1052 as evident from the inscriptions on it. After the fixing of Iron Pillar (Killi) in delhi, coins in the name of "''Shree Killi Dev Pal''" were also minted by him. By assuming the [[Iron pillar of Delhi|iron pillar]] as center, numerous palaces and temples were built and finally the fort [[Qila Rai Pithora|Lal Kot]] was built around them. The construction of the [[Qila Rai Pithora|Lal Kot]] finished in the year 1060. The circumference of the fort was more than 2 miles and the walls of the fort were 60 feet long and 30 feet thick.<ref>{{Cite book|last=|first=|title=Tomars of Delhi by Harihar Niwas Dwivedi|publisher=Vidyamandir Publications|year=1983|isbn=|location=Gwalior|pages=238–239}}</ref> [[Qila Rai Pithora|Lal Kot]] was Delhi’s original ‘red fort’. What we call Red Fort or [[Red Fort|Lal Qila]] today was originally called Qila-e-Mubarak. <ref>{{Cite web|date=22 January 2018|title=The cities of Delhi: From the legend of Indraprastha to Qila Rai Pithora|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/delhi-news/the-cities-of-delhi-from-the-legend-of-indraprastha-to-qila-rai-pithora/story-B9mKCh192j5aVEcBUzJnYI.html|access-date=24 January 2021|website=Hindustan Times|language=en}}</ref>

=== Asigarh ===

[[File:Asigarh-fort.jpg|thumb|Asigarh (Hansi Fort)]]

It is believed that Hansi was founded by Anangpal for his guru "''Hansakar''". Later, his son Drupad established a [[Asi (Mahabharata)|sword manufacturing]] factory in this fort, hence it is also called "[[Asigarh Fort|Asigarh]]". Swords from this fort were exported as far away as to Arab countries. As per ''Talif-e-Tajkara-e-Hansi'' by Qazi Sharif Husain in 1915, around 80 forts across the area were controlled from this centre "Asigarh".<ref>[http://www.bl.uk/onlinegallery/onlineex/apac/addorimss/t/019addor0004796u00000000.html The fort at Hansi, the Union flag flying from the top]</ref><ref>{{Cite book|last=|first=|title=Tomars of Delhi by Harihar Niwas Dwivedi|publisher=Vidyamandir Publications|year=1983|isbn=|location=Gwalior|pages=238}}</ref>

=== Other Forts ===

He constructed the Tahangarh fort (Tribhuvangiri) in Karauli district of Rajasthan and was also referred to as "''Tribhuvan Pal Naresh''". He is also credited to have established the Patan fort as the capital of his Tanwarawati kingdom in Rajasthan. Apart from these, he also built the forts of Ballabhgarh, Badalgarh & Mahendragarh (Narnaul).<ref>{{Cite book|last=Ross (C.I.E.)|first=David|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bH4BAAAAQAAJ|title=The land of the five rivers and Sindh|date=1883|publisher=Chapman and Hall|language=en}}</ref> <ref>{{Cite book|last=|first=|title=Tomars of Delhi by Harihar Niwas Dwivedi|publisher=Vidyamandir Publications|year=1983|isbn=|location=Gwalior|pages=238}}</ref>

=== Yogmaya Temple ===

[[File:Entry Door to the Yogmaya precincts.JPG|thumb|left|Yogmaya Temple]]

Yogmaya Temple was built by Anangpal Tomar 2 for worshipping the Kuldevi of Tomars, Yogmaya. The temple lies 260 yards from the Iron Pillar and within the walls of the Lal Kot fort in Mehrauli. He also built a water body (johad) adjacent to the temple known as Anangtal Baoli. This is one of those 27 temples which were destroyed by Mamluks and it is the only surviving temple belonging to pre-sultanate period which is still in use. King Hemu reconstructed the temple and brought back the temple from ruins. According to local priests and native records, the original temple is believed to be built by the Pandavas at the end of Mahabharata war. 12th-century Jain scriptures also mention Mehrauli as Yoginipura, after the temple. The temple is also an integral part of an important inter-faith festival of Delhi, the annual Phool Walon Ki Sair. <ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=Qqei_Wo1qXwC&pg=PA67&dq=Jogmaya+Temple&as_brr=0 Jog Maya Temple] ''Pilgrimage Centers of India'', by Brajesh Kumar. Published by Diamond Pocket Books (P) Ltd., 2003. {{ISBN|81-7182-185-5}}. ''Page 67 ''.</ref> <ref>''Ancient Delhi'', by Upinder Singh. Oxford University Press, 1999. {{ISBN|0-19-564919-2}}. ''Page 104''.</ref> <ref name="ex">[https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/delhi/dda-fails-hc-gives-private-body-a-chance/ DDA fails, HC gives private body a chance] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120925002406/http://www.expressindia.com/latest-news/dda-fails-hc-gives-private-body-a-chance/457287/|date=25 September 2012}} [[Indian Express]], 11 May 2009.</ref> <ref name=cens>[https://books.google.com/books?id=T08Oe3MHJF0C&pg=RA1-PA323&dq=Jogmaya+Temple&as_brr=0 Jogmaya Temple at Mehrauli] ''Glossary of the Tribes and Castes of the Punjab and North West Frontier Province'', by H.A. Rose, IBBETSON, Denzil Ibbetson Sir, Maclagan. Published by Asian Educational Services, 1996. {{ISBN|81-206-0505-5}}. ''Page 323''."Based on the Census Report for the Punjab, 1883, By The Late Sir Denzil Ibbetson and the Census Report for the Punjab, 1892, By Sir Edward Maclagan And Compiled By H.A. Rose."</ref> <ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=8aIyc7_Q8JYC&pg=PA129&dq=Phool+Walon+Ki+Sair&as_brr=0 Phool Walon Ki Sair] ''India: A Splendour in Cultural Diversity'', by Paulias Matane. Published by Anmol Publications, 2004. {{ISBN|81-261-1837-7}}. ''Page 129''.</ref> <ref name="Chopra1976">{{cite book|author=Prabha Chopra|title=Delhi Gazetteer|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=acoBAAAAMAAJ|year=1976|page=1078|publisher=The Unit}}</ref>

=== Anangtal Baoli ===

[[File:Rajon ki Baoli's baoli.jpg|thumb|A Baoli in Mehrauli]]

The [[Baolis of Mehrauli|Anangtal Baoli in Mehrauli]] which is the oldest existing primitive form of Baoli in Delhi was built by him.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Singh|first=Upinder|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KkpdLnZpm78C&q=anangpur+dam+asi&pg=PA200|title=Delhi: Ancient History|date=2006|publisher=Berghahn Books|isbn=978-81-87358-29-9|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|last=|first=|title=Tomars of Delhi by Harihar Niwas Dwivedi|publisher=Vidyamandir Publications|year=1983|isbn=|location=Gwalior|pages=238–239}}</ref>

=== Surajkund ===

[[File:Suraj Kund.jpg|thumb|Suraj Kund]]

One of his son Surajpal is credited to have built the [[Surajkund]] where an yearly Mela (Fair) is held.<ref>{{Cite book|last=|first=|title=Tomars of Delhi by Harihar Niwas Dwivedi|publisher=Vidyamandir Publications|year=1983|isbn=|location=Gwalior|pages=238–239}}</ref>

== Patronage to Hindi ==

Anangpal II minted coins with two types of legend verses:
# 'श्री अनंगपाल' - a pure sanskrit version
# 'श्री अणंगपाल' - a local Haryanvi dialect version

The use of this 'श्री अणंगपाल' is highly important. The actual Father of medieval Hindi is Anangpal ll and its birthplace is Haryana. The source of languages of [[Tulsidas]] and [[Amir Khusrau|Amir khusrau]] was this area only. The credit for the development of Hindi is given to [[Amir Khusrau]] but according to historian and epigraphist Harihar Niwas Dwivedi, the reality is that it was designed many centuries before him by [[Tomara dynasty|Tomars of Delhi]] and it's complete refinement was done by [[Tomaras of Gwalior|Tomars of Gwalior]]. <ref>{{Cite book|last=|first=|title=Tomars of Delhi by Harihar Niwas Dwivedi|publisher=Vidya Mandir Publications|year=1983|isbn=|location=Gwalior|pages=240}}</ref>

== Legacy ==

[[File:Carving at Quwwat ul-Islam Mosque.jpg|thumb|Pillars of ancient temples built around Iron pillar by Anangpal II]]

According to farishta, in Northern India, there existed a group of almost 150 kingdoms whose rulers considered the Tomar emperors of [[Delhi]] their Chief. This group of kings is believed to have existed during the reign of Anangpal II as well. The rulers of these kingdoms only later on participated in the 1st and 2nd Battle of Tarain under the leadership of Tomar emperor Chahadpal Tomar (better known as Govind Rai) who was the cousin and commander in chief of [[Prithviraj Chauhan]]. <ref>{{Cite book|last=|first=|title=Tomars of Delhi by Harihar Niwas Dwivedi|publisher=Vidya Mandir Publications|year=1983|isbn=|location=Gwalior|pages=283–285}}</ref>

To quote an 18th century oriental scholar, Anangpal Tomar was "justly entitled to be termed the paramount sovereign of Hindustan". An inscription in his praises is as follows -

जहिं असिवर तोडिय रिउ कवालु, णरणाहु पसिद्धउ अणंगवालु || 
वलभर कम्पाविउ णायरायु, माणिणियण मणसंजनीय ||

Translation: The ruler Anangpal is famous everywhere and break skulls of his enemies. He even caused the great Sheshnaag (on which earth is stable) to shake. <ref>{{cite book|title=Encyclopedia of Indian Archaeology|last=Ghosh|first=A.|publisher=BRILL|year=1991|isbn=90-04-09264-1|page=251|ref=https://books.google.com/books?id=law3AAAAIAAJ&pg=PA251&dq=Qutub+Minar&lr=#v=onepage&q=Qutub%20Minar&f=false}}</ref> <ref>{{Cite book|last=|first=|title=Tomars of Delhi by Harihar Niwas Dwivedi|publisher=Vidyamandir Publications|year=1983|isbn=|location=Gwalior|pages=238–239}}</ref>

The Indian government has recently formed the ‘Maharaja Anangpal II Memorial Committee’ to popularise the legacy of 11th-century Tomar Emperor Anangpal II. Its proposals include building a statue of Anangpal II at the Delhi airport and building a museum dedicated to his legacy in Delhi. An exhibition — comprising coins, inscriptions and literature — held on the sidelines of the seminar will be taken abroad through the Indian Council of Cultural Relations (ICCR) so that the narrative takes roots outside India as well. There is also a proposal to make Lal Kot an ASI-protected monument so that vertical excavation could be carried out to establish more links between Tomars and Delhi. “Anangpal II was instrumental in populating Indraprastha and giving it its present name, Delhi. The region was in ruins when he ascended the throne in the 11th century, it was he who built Lal Kot fort and Anangtal Baoli. The Tomar rule over the region is attested by multiple inscriptions and coins, and their ancestry can be traced to the Pandavas (of the Mahabharata)" said BR Mani, former joint director-general of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-03-22|title=Explained: The legacy of Tomar king Anangpal II and his connection with Delhi|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/tomar-king-anangpal-ii-legacy-delhi-7237182/|access-date=2021-04-11|website=The Indian Express|language=en}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[Ramshah Tomar]]
* [[Anangpur Dam]]
* [[Tomar clan|Tomar Clan]]
* [[Tomara dynasty|Tomar Dynasty]]
* [[Tomaras of Gwalior]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

[[Category:History of Delhi]]
[[Category:11th-century Indian monarchs]]
[[Category:Mehrauli]]

Anangpal Tomar - Revision history

>Arjayay at 09:42, 6 July 2021