Rajput clans
Rajput (from Sanskrit raja-putra 'son of a king') is a large multi-component cluster of castes, kin bodies, and local groups, sharing social status and ideology of genealogical descent originating from the Indian subcontinent. The term Rajput covers various patrilineal clans historically associated with warriorhood. All these Rajput clans are descended from the Vedic Kshatriyas. There are four major branches of Vedic Kshatriyas which are Suryavansh, Chandravansh, Agnivansh and Rishivansh.[1][2][3][4][5][6]
Lineages
This section's factual accuracy is disputed. (January 2022) |
There are three basic lineages (vanshas or vamshas) among Rajputs. Each of these lineages is divided into several clans (kula) (total of 36 clans).[8] Suryavanshi denotes descent from the solar deity Surya, Chandravanshi (Somavanshi) from the lunar deity Chandra, and Agnivanshi from the fire deity Agni. The Agnivanshi clans include Parmar, Chaulukya (Solanki), Parihar and Chauhan.[9][10]
Lesser-noted vansh include Udayvanshi, Rajvanshi,[11] and Rishivanshi[citation needed]. The histories of the various vanshs were later recorded in documents known as vamshāavalīis; André Wink counts these among the "status-legitimizing texts".[12][13]
Beneath the vansh division are smaller and smaller subdivisions: kul, shakh ("branch"), khamp or khanp ("twig"), and nak ("twig tip").[14] Marriages within a kul are generally disallowed (with some flexibility for kul-mates of different gotra lineages). The kul serves as the primary identity for many of the Rajput clans, and each kul is protected by a family goddess, the kuldevi. Lindsey Harlan notes that in some cases, shakhs have become powerful enough to be functionally kuls in their own right.[15][16]
Suryavanshi (Ikshvaku) lineage of Rajputs
The Suryavanshi lineage (also known as the Raghuvanshies or Solar Dynasty) are clans who claim descent from Surya, the Hindu Sun-god.[17]
Suryavanshi Rajput Clans
Chandravanshi lineage of Rajputs
The Chandravanshi lineage (Somavanshi or Lunar Dynasty) claims descent from Chandra, The lineage is further divided into Yaduvansh dynasty descendants of King Yadu and Puruvansh dynasty descendants of King Puru.[17]
Chandravanshi Clans
- Baruwar (बरुवार)/Barwar[20]
Yaduvanshi Clans
Agnivanshi lineage of Rajputs
The Agnivanshi lineage claim descent from Agni, the Hindu god of fire.[17]
Agnivanshi Clans
Battalion (Regiment) Clans of Rajputs
In medieval Indian history, Rajputs made several regiments, special battalions and mercenaries specially during Rajput Era to fight against foreign invaders which consisted of Rajput soldiers from some or all Rajput clans. Their descendents still use those regiment Rajput surnames. [27][28][29]
Regiment Clans
Purbiya (or Purabia) are Rajput led mercenaries and soldiers from the eastern Gangetic Plain – areas corresponding to present-day western Bihar and eastern Uttar Pradesh.[29][30]
36 royal races
The 36 royal races (Chathis Rajkula) is a listing of Indian social groups purported to be the royal (ruling) clans of several states and Janapads spread over northern Indian subcontinent. Among the historical attempts at creating a comprehensive listing of the 36 are the Kumarapala Prabandha of Acharya Jinamandan Gani of 1435 AD,[31] Prithviraj Raso of uncertain date, and Colonel James Tod, writing in 1829.
Kumarapala Prabandha list
The Kumarpal Prabandha (about the reign of Kumarapala Solanki of Chaulukya dynasty r. 1143-1172 CE) list gives 36 clans. It starts with dynasties mentioned in the classics, Surya and its Ikshvaku sub-branch, Chandra and its Yadu ( Yadava ) branch. It also mentions some of the later famous clans: Parmar, Chauhan, Chaulukya (Solanki), Pratihara Ratt, Chandela and Pala. It also mentions other Deccani dynasties like Shilahara, Chapotkata, Nikumbh etc. Many of the names are less known. Notably, it includes the Mourya. Kumarpal Prabandha was consulted by Tod,[32] he refers to it as Kumarpal Charit.[33]
Tod's list
A listing of the 36 was attempted by Tod in his 1829 work Annals and Antiquities of Rajasthan (volume 1). The "races" are further subdivided into 157 branches ( i.e. sakhas), and genealogical, cultural, and geographic information given for each, though some of the sakhas are extinct.[34]
The principal ones like the Ghilote having 24 sub-branches, the Tuar or Tanwar or Toor 17, the Rathor 13, the Parmara 35, the Chamhan or Chauhan 26, the Challook or Solanki 16, and the Pratihara 12. Each sakha has its Gotracharya of genealogical creed describing the characteristics, religious practices, and the locale of the clan.[35]
As early as 1872, Tod's list was criticised in the Calcutta Review:
It seems a pity that Tod's classification of 36 royal races should be accepted as anything but a purely ornamental arrangement, founded as it was on lists differing considerably both in the numbers and names of the tribes included in it...[36]
Tod listed the Jats as one of the 36 royal races. The Persian form of the ancient term Jit is Jatt (जट्ट) with short vowel and double short ‘t’.[37] Tod included "Raj Pali" on the list and described them as Aheer or Ahir.[38][39]
See also
References
- ^ Kumar Cheda Singh Verma. Kshatriyas and Would-be Kshatriyas.
It is proved in this book that Rajputs are the pure Vedic Kshatriyas. Rajput is a synonym of Rajputra, which is equivalent term used to denote Kshatriyas. This book proves that Rajputs are descended from Vedic Kshatriyas.
- ^ Eugenia Vanina 2012, p. 140:Regarding the initial stages of this history and the origin of the Rajput feudal elite, modern research shows that its claims to direct blood links with epic heroes and ancient kshatriyas in general has no historic substantiation. No adequate number of the successors of these epically acclaimed warriors could have been available by the period of seventh-eights centuries AD when the first references to the Rajput clans and their chieftains were made. [...] almost all Rajput clans originated from the semi-nomadic pastoralists of the Indian north and north-west.
- ^ Daniel Gold (1 January 1995). David N. Lorenzen (ed.). Bhakti Religion in North India: Community Identity and Political Action. State University of New York Press. p. 122. ISBN 978-0-7914-2025-6.
Paid employment in military service as Dirk H. A. Kolff has recently demonstrated, was an important means of livelihood for the peasants of certain areas of late medieval north India... In earlier centuries, says Kolff, "Rajput" was a more ascriptive term, referring to all kinds of Hindus who lived the life of the adventuring warrior, of whom most were of peasant origins.
- ^ Doris Marion Kling (1993). The Emergence of Jaipur State: Rajput Response to Mughal Rule, 1562–1743. University of Pennsylvania. p. 30.
Rajput: Pastoral, mobile warrior groups who achieved landed status in the medieval period claimed to be Kshatriyas and called themselves Rajputs.
- ^ André Wink (1991). Al-Hind the Making of the Indo-Islamic World: The Slave Kings and the Islamic Conquest : 11th-13th Centuries. BRILL. p. 171. ISBN 90-04-10236-1.
...and it is very probable that the other fire-born Rajput clans like the Caulukyas, Paramaras, Cahamanas, as well as the Tomaras and others who in the eighth and ninth centuries were subordinate to the Gurjara-Pratiharas, were of similar pastoral origin, that is, that they originally belonged to the mobile, nomadic groups...
- ^ Richard Eaton 2019, p. 87, [1]In Gujarat, as in Rajasthan, genealogy proved essential for making such claims. To this end, local bards composed ballads or chronicles that presented their patrons as idea warriors who protected Brahmins, cows and vassals, as opposed to the livestock herding chieftains that they actually were, or had once been. As people, who created and preserved the genealogies, local bards therefore played critical roles in brokering for their clients socio-cultural transitions to a claimed Rajput status. A similar thing was happening in the Thar desert region, where from the fourteenth century onwards mobile pastoral groups gradually evolved into landed, sedentary and agrarian clans. Once again, it was bards and poets, patronized by little kings, who transformed a clan's ancestors from celebrated cattle-herders or cattle-rustlers to celebrated protectors of cattle-herding communities. The difference was subtle but critical, since such revised narratives retained an echo of a pastoral nomadic past while repositioning a clan's dynastic founder from pastoralist to non-pastoralist. The term 'Rajput', in short, had become a prestigious title available for adoption by upwardly mobile clan in the process of becoming sedentary. By one mechanism or another, a process of 'Rajputization' occurred in new states that emerged from the turmoil following Timur's invasion in 1398, especially in Gujarat, Malwa and Rajasthan.
- ^ Kumar Cheda Singh Verma. Kshatriyas and Would-be Kshatriyas.
It is proved in this book that Rajputs are the pure Vedic Kshatriyas. Rajput is a synonym of Rajputra, which is equivalent term used to denote Kshatriyas. This book proves that Rajputs are descended from Vedic Kshatriyas.
- ^ Jai Narayan Asopa (1990). A socio-political and economic study, northern India. Prateeksha Publications. p. 89. Retrieved 26 May 2011.
- ^ Maya Unnithan-Kumar (1997). Identity, Gender, and Poverty: New Perspectives on Caste and Tribe in Rajasthan. Berghahn Books. p. 135. ISBN 978-1-57181-918-5. Retrieved 24 August 2013.
- ^ Kumar Cheda Singh Verma. Kshatriyas and Would-be Kshatriyas.
It is proved in this book that Rajputs are the pure Vedic Kshatriyas. Rajput is a synonym of Rajputra, which is equivalent term used to denote Kshatriyas. This book proves that Rajputs are descended from Vedic Kshatriyas.
- ^ Makhan Jha (1 January 1997). Anthropology of Ancient Hindu Kingdoms: A Study in Civilizational Perspective. M.D. Publications Pvt. Ltd. pp. 33–. ISBN 978-81-7533-034-4. Retrieved 24 August 2013.
- ^ André Wink (2002). Al-Hind, the Making of the Indo-Islamic World: Early Medieval India and the Expansion of Islam 7th-11th Centuries. BRILL. pp. 282–. ISBN 978-0-391-04173-8. Retrieved 24 August 2013.
- ^ Kumar Cheda Singh Verma. Kshatriyas and Would-be Kshatriyas.
It is proved in this book that Rajputs are the pure Vedic Kshatriyas. Rajput is a synonym of Rajputra, which is equivalent term used to denote Kshatriyas. This book proves that Rajputs are descended from Vedic Kshatriyas.
- ^ Shail Mayaram 2013, p. 269.
- ^ Lindsey Harlan 1992, p. 31.
- ^ Kumar Cheda Singh Verma. Kshatriyas and Would-be Kshatriyas.
It is proved in this book that Rajputs are the pure Vedic Kshatriyas. Rajput is a synonym of Rajputra, which is equivalent term used to denote Kshatriyas. This book proves that Rajputs are descended from Vedic Kshatriyas.
- ^ a b c Barbara N. Ramusack (2003). The Indian Princes and their States, The New Cambridge History of India. Cambridge University Press. p. 14. ISBN 9781139449083.
- ^ Valisinha, Devapriya (1948). Buddhist shrines in India.
- ^ Ansari, Saiyad Hasan (27 September 1986). ""Evolution and Spatial Organization of Clan Settlements: A Case Study of Middle Ganga Valley"".
- ^ A H Bingley (1986). Hand Book On Rajputs.
- ^ Rajesh Barange Pawar. The Pawar Rajput's: An Historical Journey from Malwa to Central India.
They are known as "Kshatriya Pawar" or "Pawar" or "Panwar" names in Betul and Chhindwara, and as "Bhoyar Pawar" or "Bhoyar" names in Wardha. The name "Bhoyar" is associated with their initial settlement in Bhorgarh fort, later becoming a part of their identity, although efforts were made to revert to the original name "Pawar" in the early 20th century.
- ^ Rajesh Barange Pawar. The Pawar Rajputs: An Historical Journey from Malwa to Central India.
The Pawar Rajput's: An Historical Journey from Malwa to Central India" is a detailed exploration by author Rajesh Barange Pawar. The narrative traces the Pawar Rajputs' lineage, their migration from Malwa to Central India between the 15th and 17th centuries, and their significant contributions to the Parmar dynasty. The account highlights their bravery, the pivotal event of migration post the 1305 defeat against Alauddin Khilji, and the establishment of the Pawar caste. The narrative also delves into their identity, cultural nuances, and the efforts to preserve their historical legacy. The work is substantiated with references to genealogists, research studies, and publications, offering readers a comprehensive understanding of the Pawar Rajputs' rich history. For further insights, readers can explore Rajesh Barange Pawar's blog.
- ^ Rajesh Barange Pawar. A Study of the Pawar Community Gotra (surnames) in central India.
- ^ Rajesh Barange Pawar. A Study of the Pawar Community Gotra (surnames) in central India.
In particular, the study piece explores the Pawar community surnames in Central India, notably in the areas of Betul, Chhindwara, and Wardha. Known for its deep historical roots and wide-ranging geographical presence, the Pawar community expresses itself via a wide variety of surnames that have changed throughout time. This research, which takes a multidisciplinary approach, uses historical sources, language analysis, sociological viewpoints, genealogy data, community organization books, and the observations of community historians to track the history of Pawar surnames. The 72 surnames connected to the Pawar group are the main subject, especially those deriving from the Rajputs of the Malwa area. By analyzing the migration patterns and factors that have shaped the community's nomenclature, the study seeks to understand how these surnames have changed over time. A confederacy of 72 Kshatriya clans, including well-known ones like Parihar, Parmar, Solanki, Chauhan, Rathore, Kushwaha, Gahlot, Badgujar, Dangi, Gaur, Balla, Baghel, Tomar, Bhati, Jhala, Labana, Uthed, Ajana, Garg, Jethwa, Kanpuriya, Barodiya, Chawda, Dahima, and Tank Rajputs, are thought to be the ancestors of the Pawars, according to genealogists (bhatt/rao). The present study reveals the historical, cultural, and social factors that played a role in the development of Pawar surnames, providing valuable perspectives into the complex fabric of the community's identity.
- ^ Pawar, Rajesh Barange (1 January 2023). "" A Study of the Pawar Community Gotra (surnames) in central India"". Indian Research Journal of History and Humanities and Social Sciences (IRJHHSS). Retrieved 31 March 2024.
- ^ Pawar, Rajesh Barange (1 January 2024). ""Journey Through Time: Tracing the Ancient Roots of the Pawar Community in Central India "". The Journal of Indian History, an Indian Journal. Retrieved 31 March 2024.
- ^ History of Tomars, Part1 – Tomars of Delhi by Harihar niwas Dwivedi. Gwalior: Vidyamandir publications. 1983.
- ^ Tarikh-i-Firishta, tr. Briggs, Vol.1. p. 26.
- ^ a b Waltraud Ernst; Biswamoy Pati (18 October 2007). India's Princely States: People, Princes and Colonialism. Routledge. p. 57. ISBN 978-1-134-11988-2.
- ^ M. S. Naravane (1999). The Rajputs of Rajputana: A Glimpse of Medieval Rajasthan. APH Publishing. p. 23. ISBN 978-81-7648-118-2.
- ^ Jai Narayan Asopa (1990). A socio-political and economic study, northern India. Prateeksha Publications. p. 89. Retrieved 26 May 2011.
- ^ Some Medieval Sculptures of North Gujarat, H. A. Majmudar, Gujarat University, 1968, p. 155
- ^ Jai Narayan Asopa (1990). A socio-political and economic study, northern India. Prateeksha Publications. p. 94. Retrieved 26 May 2011.
- ^ Sir Chirravoori Yajneswara Chintamani (1901). Indian social reform: being a collection of essays, addresses, speeches, &c., with an appendix. Thompson. pp. 154–. Retrieved 26 May 2011.
- ^ Sir Chirravoori Yajneswara Chintamani, "Indian social reform: being a collection of essays, addresses, speeches", page 155
- ^ University of Calcutta (1872). Calcutta review. University of Calcutta. pp. 386–. Retrieved 26 May 2011.
- ^ Raza, S. Jabir (2004). The Jats of Punjab and Sind: Their settlements and migrations (c. 5th-12th AD). Vol. 1.
- ^ Tod, James (1832). "Annales and antiquities of Rajasthan, or the central and western Rajpoot states of Indian". Smith Original : Austrian National Library. p. 443. Retrieved 12 October 2014.
- ^ Association of Population Geographers of India (1988). "Population Geography: A Journal of the Association of Population Geographers of India, Volume 10, Issues 1-2". The Association Original : the University of California. p. xi. Retrieved 21 June 2017.
Bibliography
- Richard Eaton (2019). India in the Persianate Age: 1000-1765. Penguin Books Limited. ISBN 978-0-14-196655-7.
- Eugenia Vanina (2012). Medieval Indian Mindscapes: Space, Time, Society, Man. Primus Books. ISBN 978-93-80607-19-1.
- Shail Mayaram (2013). Against History, Against State: Counterperspectives from the Margins. Columbia University Press. ISBN 978-0-231-52951-8.
- Lindsey Harlan (1992). Religion and Rajput Women: The Ethic of Protection in Contemporary Narratives. Berkeley, California: University of California Press. ISBN 978-0-520-07339-5.
- Zimmer, Heinrich (1952), Joseph Campbell (ed.), Philosophies of India, London: Routledge & Kegan Paul Ltd, ISBN 978-81-208-0739-6
External links
- Rajasthan and the Rajputs
- The Thirty-six Royal Races of Rajput at Kipling.org