The Dynastic History of Northern India (Early Mediaeval Period) v2.c32.s4.190

v2.c32.s4.190

The last of the Yamīnīs, Khusrau Malik Tāj ud-Daulah (1160-86 A.D.) whose dominion had so long separated the leader of this new horde of invaders from the Cāhamānas, had been removed. The Ghurī and the Cāhamāna now stood face to face. The Muslim knew that the wealth of the rich cities and temples in the Jumna-Ganges valley and beyond could only be secured by the destruction of this Hindu power which held the key of the Dehlī gate. The Cāhamāna knew, and expected no quarter. The *Pṛthvīrāja-vijaya* tells us that hearing of the activities of the 'Mleccha Ghorī,' he vowed to exterminate the Mlecchas. The Muslim chief, we are told, hearing of this vow, sent an ambassador to Ajmer. This man "had a wide forehead but no hair on his head. The colour of his beard, eyebrows and the eyelashes was of the grapes that came from Ghazni, and his speech was like that of the wild birds; it had no cerebrals. His complexion was like that of a leper, and he wore a long *coga*. Rājās took shelter in fortress in fear of him. When these fiends in the shape of men took possession of Nadūl (Nadol), the warriors of Pṛthvīrāja took up their bows and arrows and the emperor became angry and resolved to lay the Ghori's glory in the dust." But his *Pratīhāra* soon brought the welcome news that the king of Gujarat had utterly destroyed the 'Ghorī' forces.² This Muslim invasion is no doubt the same as that which was undertaken by Mui'zz ud-Dīn Ghūrī in A. H. 574 (A.D.