Tomara (also called Tomar, Tomer, Tanwar and Tuar) is a clan, some members of which ruled parts of North India at different times. People belonging to the Tomara clan are found among the Rajputs, Jats and Gurjars of northern India.
The area of Morena, Bhind and Gwalior in northern Madhya Pradesh is referred to as "Tomarghar" meaning "Home of Tomars" due to its large population of Tomar Rajputs.
History
The Tomara Rajput-Gurjar clan claim descent from the mythical Chandravanshi dynasty, numbering the Mahabharata warrior Arjuna among their forebears.
The earliest extant historical reference to the Tomaras (the Sanskrit form of "Tomar") occurs in the Pehowa inscription of the Pratihara king Mahendrapala I (r. c. 885-910 CE). This undated inscription suggests that the Tomara chief Gogga was a vassal of Mahendrapala I.
During 9th-12th century, the Tomaras of Delhi ruled parts of the present-day Delhi and Haryana. Much of the information about this dynasty comes from bardic legends of little historical value, and therefore, the reconstruction of their history is difficult. According to the bardic tradition, the dynasty's founder Anangapal Tuar (that is Anangapala I Tomara) founded Delhi in 736 CE. However, the authenticity of this claim is doubtful. The bardic legends also state that the last Tomara king (also named Anangapal) passed on the throne of Delhi to his son-in-law Prithviraj Chauhan. This claim is also inaccurate: historical evidence shows that Prithviraj inherited Delhi from his father Someshvara. According to the Bijolia inscription of Someshvara, his brother Vigraharaja IV had captured Dhillika (Delhi) and Ashika (Hansi); he probably defeated a Tomara ruler.
Anangpal's grandson Kosal Dev Singh is said to have established Kosli in 1193 A.D.
Members of the Tomar clan ruled an area north of Gwalior known as the Tonwarghar tract. The most notable of these rulers was Man Singh Tomar (1486-1517).