The Geographical Dictionary of Ancient and Mediaeval India c5.s2.259

c5.s2.259

Charanâdri—Chunar in the district of Mirzapur (Saktisangama Tantra, vii). The hill-fort of Chunar was at one time considered one of the most impregnable forts in India. It was built by the Pâla Râjâs, who reigned over Bengal and Behar from the middle of the eighth to the twelfth century of the Christian era. According to Buchanan (Martin's Eastern India) some of the Pâla Râjâs lived there, which implies that it was a place of much importance at that period. The portion of the fort, which is called Bhartrihari's palace, is the place where he performed asceticism. The tradition is that Bhartrihari after eating the immortal fruit travelled to various places and halted at Sehwan, Bhartewar, Chunar, Benares and other places (JASB., 1837, p. 852). Bhartrihari was the author of a celebrated work called Bhartrihari-Sâstra and of the Vairâgya-śataka. For the story of his birth, see Prabandhachintâmani (Tawney's trans.) p. 198. He entered seven times a Buddhist monastery as a priest and seven times returned to the laity and became Upâsaka. He died in 651-652 A. D. (I-tsing's Record of the Buddhist Religion by Takakusu, p. 180 and General Introduction, p. lvii). The fort is said to have been protected by the goddess Gaṅgâ Devî all the day, except in the first prahar of the morning, when it was by the English. It contains a state-prison where Trimbakji Danglia, the minister of Rao who was the adoptive father of Nana Saheb, was kept confined till his death (He Journal, Vol. I). The fort was strengthened by Sultan Mahmud before his desce Benares in 1017; in 1575, it held out against the Mughal army for six months and in ] it was taken by the English.