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DULEEP SINGH.

were disturbed by malignant sprites and demons, who defiled their sacred places and sacrifices, and could not be overcome. Wearied out, they at length prayed to Siva (Mahadeo) at their fire fountain, to raise a warrior for their defence. First Prithidwara emerged from the fire, but proved unequal to the task. Next Chalooka and Pramara succeeded, who also failed. Prayers and incantations were renewed, and as the final libations were poured, a warrior of reslendent aspect with four arms, and of terrific power, appeared. He was Anhul, to whom the appellation of Chohan was attached. Divine energy was bestowed upon him by the Goddess Sacti, and he was blessed by her under her appellation of Asa Poorna, or Hope Fulfilled, by which she is still worshipped as the tutelary deity of the tribe. Anhul Chohan attacked the demons, slew many, and, aided by his three fire brothers, drove the remainder into the infernal regions. Henceforward, the four agni kulas, or fire races, were recognized as the re-establishers of Brahminical power. The Chohans subsequently attained sovereignty, and ruled over a large portion of India. Their wide sway may be traced as far south as Golconda, northwards to the Himalaya, and westwards to Lahore, Mooltan, and Sinde.

This legend has its real foundation in the depression which the Brahminical faith experienced in India for a long period, consequent upon the ascendancy of Buddhism, and the transition of Brahminism from the Vedic to the Puranic period of belief; and when in their extremity, foreign aid was invited by the Brahmins. Then bodies of Aryan warriors, probably Scythic, entered India in succession under different leaders, as denoted in the legend, and under the appellation of Agni Kulas or Agni Kools, not only reinstated Brahminism, but exterminated the Buddhists. Upon the ruins of their empire Hindu sovereignties again arose, under whose protection the Brahminical faith attained its highest power. It is difficult to fix a date for these transactions, but the best authorities assign to them an era nearly approaching to the Christian. 

In A.D. 685, Hegira 63, Manik Rae, the Chohan King, met the first Mahomedan invaders of India, who were part of an army sent into Sinde by the Caliph Omar. He was killed, as also his son and heir Lot, the anniversary of whose death is still observed by the Chohans. The family then retired to Sambur, in Rajpootana, where they prospered; and most of the great Rajpoot families descended from it are known by the distinctive appellations of Hara, Kheechee, Mohil, Narbhana, Bhadorea, Bhowreecha, Dhunarea, Bhagrecha, &c., and of these the Haras, Mohils, Bhadoreas, and Dhanareas, established independent kingdoms in various localities. 

In A.D. 1170, the Chohans wrested Delhi from the Tüars, as recorded in inscriptions on a Jain temple at Morakuro, and on the column at Delhi. The family then professed the Jain faith, which, about this period, had attained great power. Throughout the subsequent vicissitudes of the Mahomedan conquest of