Tuesday, January 18, 2011

Rajput & Rajputana

Sunday, January 9, 2011

Original royal Rajput clans

The following is a list of the 36 major royal Rajput clans as listed by James Tod in 1829. Some ancient clans do not have any living members.

Ahirs

Agnipala

Balla

Bargujar

Bhati

Byce

Chauhan

Chawura

Dahima

Dahiya

Doda

Gahlot

Gaur

Gherwal

Gora

Hun

Jaitwar

Jhala

Jat

Johiya

Kachwaha

Kirar

Mohil

Nicumpa

Pala

Paramara

Pratihara

Rathore

Solanki

Sarwaiya

Sengar

Sikarwar

Silar

Sisodia

Taank

Tomara


Major Suryavanshi clans

Clans of Rajput - Agnivanshi lineage: fire

The Agnivanshi lineage claims descent from Agni, the Vedic God of Fire. They were the earliest lineage to rise to political prominence. The legend which addresses the origin of the Agnivanshi Rajputs is disputed. The sage Vasishtayagna performed a great a yagna (ritual of sacrifice) at Mount Abu, at the time of emperor Ashoka's sons (Ashoka died around 232 BCE). From the influence of mantras of the four Vedas, four kshatriyas were born. They were the founders of the four Agnivanshi clans:

Only these four clans out of the many Rajput clans are considered to be Agnivanshi.



Clans of Rajput - Chandravanshi lineage: the moon

The Chandravanshi, which means Moon Dynasty, claim descent from Chandra, the lunar deity. This Lunar Dynasty is very ancient, but is younger than the Sun Dynasty. Som was the first king of this dynasty.The Yaduvanshi lineage, claiming descent from the Hindu god Krishna and from Yadu, eldest son of Yayati, are a major sect of the Chandravanshi. Rajput Chandravanshi clans that claim descent from Krishna and Yadu are the Bhati, Doad, Jadaun, Jadeja,Yadu and Sonia Tanwar.

Clans of Rajput - Suryavanshi lineage: the sun

The Suryavanshi, which means Sun Dynasty, claim descent from Surya, the solar deity. The Sun Dynasty is oldest among Kshatriyas. The first person of this dynasty was Vivasvan, which means the Fire Bird.Rajput Suryavanshi clans that claim descent from Rama are the Raghav (Raghuvanshi)s, Lohanas, Jamwals, Bedis, Pundirs, Sisodias, Rathores, Bargujars, Minhass and the Kachwahas.

Identity of Rajput

Rajput is from the Sanskrit word Raja-Putra (son of a king).Vedas, the Ramayana, and the Mahabharata. It was used by the ancient Sanskrit grammarian Pāṇini in the 4th century BCE.The word Kshatriya ("warrior") was used for the Vedic community of warriors and rulers. To differentiate royal warriors from other Kshatriyas the word Rajputra was used. Rajputra eventually was shortened to Rajput; gradually it became a caste. Rajputs belong to one of three great patrilineages, which are Suryavanshi, Chandravanshi and Agnivanshi. Further, many Rajputs also claim patrilineage from Nagavanshi clan.

Thursday, January 6, 2011

Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj


Shivaji Bhosle, also known as Chhatrapati Shivaji Raje Bhosle (Marathi: छत्रपती शिवाजीराजे भोसले) (Born:February 19, 1627, Died: March 4, 1680) was the founder of Maratha empire in western India in 1674.
He raised a strong army and navy, constructed and repaired forts, used guerilla warfare tactics, developed a strong intelligence network, gave equal treatment to the people from all religions and castes based on merit, and functioned like a seasoned Statesman and General. He appointed ministers with specific functions such as Internal security, Foreign affairs, Finance, Law and Justice, Religious matters, Defense etc. He introduced systems in revenue collection and warned the officials against harassment of subjects. He thought ahead of times and was a true visionary. In his private life, his moral virtues were exceptionally high. His thoughts and deeds were inspired by the teachings of his mother Jijabai, teacher Dadaji Konddev, great saints like Dnyaneshwar & Tukaram and the valiancy and ideals of the Lords Rama and Krishna

Prithviraj Chauhan

Prithvi Raj III, commonly known as Prithviraj Chauhan (1149-1192 CE),was a king of the Hindu Kshatriya Chauhan (Chauhamana) dynasty,who ruled the kingdom of Ajmer and Delhi in northern India during the latter half of the 12th century.Prithviraj Chauhan defeated the Muslim ruler Shahabuddin Muhammad Ghori in the First Battle of Tarain in 1191. Ghauri attacked for a second time the next year, and Prithviraj was defeated and captured at the Second Battle of Tarain (1192). Sultan Ghauri took Prithviraj to Ghazni, where he was executed. After his defeat Delhi came under the control of Muslim rulers.

Maha Rana Pratapsinhji - The Lion of Mewar

It was in Udaipur that legendary Maharana Pratap was born. .Rana Pratap who fought against Emperor Akbar in 1576 is remembered throughout India for his bravery on the battlefield. The rulers of Udaipur never gave any of their women in marriage to the Mughals unlike some of the other royal houses of Rajputana. Of the original eleven gates of the Udaipur City,only five remain. The Suraj Pol the original or Sun Gate on the eastern side is the main entrance to the city Maharana the title of the Udaipur rulers means Light of the Hindus.