Prithviraj Chauhan III was the last of the great Chauhan rulers of Ajmer who left a deep imprint in the sands of time and redefined the concept of valour in its noblest form. The Chauhans traced their origins to Sambhar or Sapadlaksh as it was then called. Some contend that the Chauhan descended from the solar dynasty of Rajputs. The historical work Hammir Maha Kavya on this issue quotes. " He (the Chauhan ruler) rules over the heads of kings as his ancestor, the sun, ruled over the heads of Mountains. " However certain stone inscriptions (Hansi Inscription of 1167 A.D. and the Achleshwar temple inscription of 1320 A.D.) assert that the Chauhans belonged to the Lunar dynasty. The town of Ajmer, as per popular belief, was founded by Ajaipal Chauhan in early sixth century. The final transformation of Ajmer into a major city and center of political power probably took place after the tenth century in the time of kind Ajaideva II.

Prithviraj Chauhan III came from a distinguished line of rules who had elevated Ajmer to the position of the premier power in north Indian when even the Tomar rulers of Delhi paid homage to them. Prithviraj was the son of Someshwara who died in 1179 A.D. As Prithviraj was a minor, his mother Karpuridevi, a wise and sagacious lady, acted as regent and guided the destinies of the Chauhan empire with great tact and understanding. Prithviraj reigned for thirteen years and had aptly been hailed as the last Hindu Emperor of India. His whole life was one unbroken chain of chivalrous deeds and glorious exploits, which have won for him eternal fame and a name that will last as long as chivalry itself. Among his major military exploits could be termed the defeat of king of Gujarat and the sack of Mahoba whose generals, Ala and Udal, fought with great valour. The neighbour, King Jaichand of Kanauj could not digest his increasing power and influence and conspired against him constantly. Relations with Jaichand reached a low ebb when Prithviraj eloped with the former's beautiful daughter, Samyogita. Prithviraj sprinted away Samyogita from a 'Swayamber' held to choose a husband for her and Prithviraj's name was deliberately omitted from the list of invitees. That she preferred to garland a statue of Prithviraj in the latter's absence and the subsequent elopment has fired the imagination of bards over the years who have woven this tale into lyrical prose.

However, the day of recknoing was drawing close for Prithviraj. Shahabuddin Ghori, the Muslim ruler of Ghur, had been eying India and its fabulous wealth for quite some time. Initial invasions were repulsed and he was defeated in a signal encounter at Tarain in 1191 A.D. Even here the magnanimity and chivalry of Prithviraj was evident. When asked to pursue the retreating muslim forces, in true traditions of Rajput valour, he refused to attack the retreating armies as this did not conform to norms of fair warfare. The following year in 1192 A.D., at the same battlefield of Tarain, Prithviraj was defeated after a heroic a struggle. His end was equally heroic-he died as a brave man, battered in body but not in spirit.

Prithviraj's court was adorned with many gifted and learned men. A Jain manuscript, Khartargachha Gurvavli by Jainpalodaya contains the account of a 'sastrartha'(academic debate) between Jain scholar Acharya Jinpati Suri of Khartargachha and Padmaprabha of Ukeshgachha. Prithviraj Vijay of Jayanak and Prithviraj Raso of Chand Bardai have immortalised the deeds of Prithviraj. Notwith-standing the latitude due to bards, it is a fact that the Rajput tradition of chivalry and valour drew great inspiration from the deeds of Prithviraj.