The Dynastic History of Northern India (Early Mediaeval Period) v2.c31.168

v2.c31.168

The only authorities who supply us with the names of important stages of Maḥmūd's advance from Multan to Anhilvada are the *Ta'rīkh-i-Firishta* and *Ta'rīkh-i-Alfī*. The former relates that "having passed the desert the army reached the city of Ajmeer......The Rāja and the inhabitants abandoned the place. Conceiving the reduction of the fort of Ajmeer would occupy too much time, he left it unmolested, and proceeding on his expedition took by assault some smaller forts on the road till at length he arrived at Nehrwāla.' "¹ It is clear that by the 'Raja of Ajmeer' Firishta meant the Cāhamāna ruler of Sākambharī. It seems a little strange that Maḥmūd, whose main object was to plunder the treasure of Somnāth, should by his attack on the powerful Cāhamānas' capital unnecessarily incur their hostility. It may be therefore that Firishta was wrong in holding that Maḥmūd followed the Ajmeer route.² It seems to me that the *Ta'rīkh-i-Alfī* is perhaps more correct in representing him as passing through Jaisalmer.³ It is not unlikely that he went through Bahawalpur, crossed the dry bed of the Hakra, passed through Jaisalmer and Mallani, and suddenly appeared before Anhilvada. An attack on the Cāhamānas would have certainly given a warning to the Caulukyas, which would have led to some fighting before the walls of that city before Māhmūd was allowed to pass on his way to Somnath. The fact that all the Muslim authorities are unanimous in asserting that he fought no engagement at or near Anhilvada shows that his strategy was brilliantly successful. By carrying ample water and provisions from Multan to last him for months he was able to cross the *Thar* by its western and less frequented routes, and take the Caulukya king completely by surprise. Finding resistance hopeless, the king must have evacuated the city; but once Maḥmūd had passed on his way, he found time not only to organise measures for the defence of the city, but took steps which greatly increased the difficulties of the Yamīnī raider.