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| A Rajput ( from Sanskrit r&# |
A '''Rajput''' (possibly from ] ''rāja-putra'', "son of a king") is a member of a prominent ] who live throughout northern and central ], primarily in the northwestern ] of ]. They are thought to number about 12 million. The Rajputs believe themselves to be descendants of the ancient warrior caste, the ]s, but Rajputs vary in profession from aristocrats and warriors to farmers. Most Rajputs are ], although a minority are ]; most of the Muslim Rajputs presently live in ]. | ||
| ⚫ | Rajasthan is located in northwestern India, near the ] route used by most foreign invasions of ], including the ]s, ]s, ]s, ]s, and other ]ic invaders of the ]. The Rajputs are traditionally martial in spirit, fiercely proud and carry a long history of lineage and tradition. Rajputs are known for their sense of honour, chivalry and love of tradition and revelry. They celebrate weddings, festivals and feasts to the Gods with great enthusiasm, customs which are now fading against the scenario of Indian culture which is now being rapidly urbanised and modernised. | ||
| The Rajputs are said to be descendants of the ancient ] warriors of the vedic era, the ] However some scholars believe that some of them could also be the descendants of the pagan foreign tribes who entered the Indian subcontinent from the eurasian regions of the Oxus and Jakartesaround the time of the birth of christ. Viz- The hepthalites,the parthians and the Scythians ( Shaka in sanskrit ). | |||
| The theory propounded by some scholars that they could be descended from the ] is so far been found to be unvalidated, because the physcial anthropology of the rajputs is very different from the mongoloid ethnic characteristics of the huns. | |||
| Rajput origins are obscure, but some historians think that they are in part the descendants of ], who invaded India at the end of the fifth century, and ruled northwestern India until their defeat by the ] emperors of northern India in 542. The Huns and their allies may have assimiliated with the local population, as well as remnant populations of earlier invaders like the ]s (''Shaka'' in Sanskrit) giving rise to the Rajputs. It has been argued that because many Rajputs are tall, relatively fairer-skinned than the other communities and have sharp grecian/mediterranean/caucasian features, they are likely descended from invaders from the northwest. | |||
| The Rajputs are divided into 36 clans, claiming three basic lineages: the Surya Vansi (Solar Race), the Chandra Vansi (Lunar Race), and the Agni kula (Fire Born). | |||
| The Rajputs are divided into 36 clans, claiming three basic lineages: the ''Surya Vansi'' (Solar Race), the ''Chandra Vansi'' (Lunar Race), and the ''Agni kula'' (Fire Born). One version of the story of ''Agni kula'' origins is that four warriors, Agnikul, Yadaukul, Suryakul and Odak, whose names are given to the Rajput clans, sprang from the sacred fire in a ceremony performed by ] ] near ]. Historically the Rajputs refused to accept the spiritual authority of ] priestly caste, and some scions of their noble families even officiate as priests in their Hindu temples; for example, the regent of the House of ] is also the high priest of his clan deity, the form of ] known as "Ekling ji”. | |||
| '''the Surya Vansi (Solar Race):---'''These Rajputs claim descent from the Aryan Vedic Sun god through the emperors Manu and Ikshvaku. (Lord ram of the Hindu Pantheon and Buddha belonged to this lineage ) | |||
| The Rajputs rose to prominence in Indian history in the ninth and tenth centuries. The four ''Agni kula'' clans, the ]s (Pariharas), Chauhans (Chahamanas), Solkanis (Chaulukyas), and Paramaras (Pamars), rose to prominence first. The Pratiharas established the first Rajput kingdom in southern Rajasthan, with the Chauhans at ] in eastern Rajasthan, the Solkanis in ], and the Paramaras in ]. The Pratiharas rebuffed the Arab invasion of the ninth century. Clans claiming descent from the Solar and Lunar races, who were originally vassals of the other clans, later established independent states. The Chandella clan ruled from the city of ] in the tenth century, building the famous temples there. The Tomaras established a state in ], founding the city of Dhiliki (later ]) in 736. The Guhilas established the state of Mewar (later ]), and the Kachwaha clan came to rule ] (later ]). The Rajputs fought each other in the eleventh and twelfth centuries, but managed to pull together to resist the incursion of the Turks, who later established the ] in the early part of the thirteenth century. | |||
| '''the Chandra Vansi (Lunar Race):-----'''These Rajputs claim descent from the Aryan Vedic moon god. (Lord Krishna of the Hindu Pantheon belonged to this lineage) | |||
| The Rajputs were ultimately conquered by the Delhi Sultanate. When the sultanate weakened in the early fifteenth century, the Rajputs reestablished their independence, and the Rajput states were established as far east as ] and north into the ]. Most of the Rajput states lost their independence to the ] in the sixteenth century, but many Rajput rulers retained local control of their states, and Rajput generals often led Mughal armies. When the Mughal empire declined in the early ], the Rajputs again reestablished their independence, but by the mid-eighteenth century they were under pressure from the ]. The Rajput princes asked for ] protection from the Marathas during the ] of 1817-1818, and the fifteen Rajput states in the region of ] became ]s in the ]. Rajput rulers of Rajputana and elsewhere in India acceded to newly-independent India after 1947, and Rajputana, renamed Rajasthan, became an Indian state in 1950. | |||
| '''the Agni kula (Fire Born):-----'''This lineage claims to have originated from a vedic sacrificial fire done by Hindu brahmins near Mount Abu. . (this myth is probably a metaphor for the vedic fire ritual being conducted for the pagan foreign tribes,wherein they were purified of their unclean foreign status and baptized as hindus into the kshatriya caste) | |||
| The Rajputs rose to prominence in Indian history in the ninth and tenth centuries. Rajasthan is located in northwestern India, near the Khyber Pass route used by most foreign invasions of India, including the Arabs, Afghans, Turks, Mughals, and other Islamic invaders of the Middle Ages. Hence most of the islamic incursions into India were faced by the Rajput clans ,who often fought to the very end of their lives and their kingdoms. | |||
| As is the norm elsewhere in India, the Rajputs refused to accept the spiritual authority of Brahmin priestly caste, and some scions of their noble families even officiate as priests in their Hindu temples; for example, The mewar dynasty--the oldest surviving royal dynasty of the world till date who are The noblest of the noble race of Rajputs, they represent the elder branch of the Suryavansi , the legitimate heir to the throne of Manu, Ikshwaku, Delipa, Raghu, Dasaratha, and Rama who is called the ''''Yavad aryakula kamladhivarkara' (Sanskrit-----sun of the entire Aryan race).''' | |||
| the regent of the '''Suryavanshi''' House of Mewar is also the high priest of his clan deity, the form of Shiva known as "Ekling ji”. This could be a throwback to the memory of the distant Indo-Aryan tradition where the King or Ruler was the symbol of divinity in the world and was supposed to have direct communion with the gods. | |||
| The Rajput kingdoms were always at siege from the Islamic Mughal empires and later from the British, yet few of them managed to hold on to their sovereignity and independence till the 17th-18th centuries AD. Rajput power finally ended when the last surviving kingdoms fell or became vassals to the British empire. Then the Rajput rulers acceded to newly-independent India after 1947, and Rajputana, renamed ], became an Indian state in 1950. | |||
| Most Rajputs are Hindu, although a minority are Muslim; most of the Muslim Rajputs presently live in Pakistan.There are also some Rajputs who are converts to Sikhism. | |||
| ⚫ | The Rajputs are traditionally martial in spirit, fiercely proud and carry a long history of lineage and tradition. Rajputs are known for their sense of honour, chivalry and love of tradition and revelry. They celebrate weddings, festivals and feasts to the Gods with great enthusiasm, customs which are now fading against the scenario of Indian culture which is now being rapidly urbanised and modernised. | ||
| No other race in India could boast of a finer feat of arms and martialdom than the rajputs in their hey-days.They are amongst the highest number of recuitments in the Indian Armed forces till date. | |||
| Most of the Rajputs are tall, relatively fairer-skinned than the other communities and have sharp grecian/mediterranean/caucasian features hinting at a definite Aryan/scythian bloodline. | |||
Revision as of 19:42, 15 August 2004
A Rajput (possibly from Sanskrit rāja-putra, "son of a king") is a member of a prominent caste who live throughout northern and central India, primarily in the northwestern state of Rajasthan. They are thought to number about 12 million. The Rajputs believe themselves to be descendants of the ancient warrior caste, the Kshatriyas, but Rajputs vary in profession from aristocrats and warriors to farmers. Most Rajputs are Hindu, although a minority are Muslim; most of the Muslim Rajputs presently live in Pakistan.
Rajasthan is located in northwestern India, near the Khyber Pass route used by most foreign invasions of India, including the Arabs, Afghans, Turks, Mughals, and other Islamic invaders of the Middle Ages. The Rajputs are traditionally martial in spirit, fiercely proud and carry a long history of lineage and tradition. Rajputs are known for their sense of honour, chivalry and love of tradition and revelry. They celebrate weddings, festivals and feasts to the Gods with great enthusiasm, customs which are now fading against the scenario of Indian culture which is now being rapidly urbanised and modernised.
Rajput origins are obscure, but some historians think that they are in part the descendants of Huns, who invaded India at the end of the fifth century, and ruled northwestern India until their defeat by the Gupta emperors of northern India in 542. The Huns and their allies may have assimiliated with the local population, as well as remnant populations of earlier invaders like the Scythians (Shaka in Sanskrit) giving rise to the Rajputs. It has been argued that because many Rajputs are tall, relatively fairer-skinned than the other communities and have sharp grecian/mediterranean/caucasian features, they are likely descended from invaders from the northwest.
The Rajputs are divided into 36 clans, claiming three basic lineages: the Surya Vansi (Solar Race), the Chandra Vansi (Lunar Race), and the Agni kula (Fire Born). One version of the story of Agni kula origins is that four warriors, Agnikul, Yadaukul, Suryakul and Odak, whose names are given to the Rajput clans, sprang from the sacred fire in a ceremony performed by Sage Vashishtha near Mount Abu. Historically the Rajputs refused to accept the spiritual authority of Brahmin priestly caste, and some scions of their noble families even officiate as priests in their Hindu temples; for example, the regent of the House of Mewar is also the high priest of his clan deity, the form of Shiva known as "Ekling ji”.
The Rajputs rose to prominence in Indian history in the ninth and tenth centuries. The four Agni kula clans, the Pratiharas (Pariharas), Chauhans (Chahamanas), Solkanis (Chaulukyas), and Paramaras (Pamars), rose to prominence first. The Pratiharas established the first Rajput kingdom in southern Rajasthan, with the Chauhans at Ajmer in eastern Rajasthan, the Solkanis in Kathiawar, and the Paramaras in Malwa. The Pratiharas rebuffed the Arab invasion of the ninth century. Clans claiming descent from the Solar and Lunar races, who were originally vassals of the other clans, later established independent states. The Chandella clan ruled from the city of Khajuraho in the tenth century, building the famous temples there. The Tomaras established a state in Haryana, founding the city of Dhiliki (later Delhi) in 736. The Guhilas established the state of Mewar (later Udaipur), and the Kachwaha clan came to rule Amber (later Jaipur). The Rajputs fought each other in the eleventh and twelfth centuries, but managed to pull together to resist the incursion of the Turks, who later established the Delhi Sultanate in the early part of the thirteenth century.
The Rajputs were ultimately conquered by the Delhi Sultanate. When the sultanate weakened in the early fifteenth century, the Rajputs reestablished their independence, and the Rajput states were established as far east as Bengal and north into the Panjab. Most of the Rajput states lost their independence to the Mughal empire in the sixteenth century, but many Rajput rulers retained local control of their states, and Rajput generals often led Mughal armies. When the Mughal empire declined in the early 18th century, the Rajputs again reestablished their independence, but by the mid-eighteenth century they were under pressure from the Maratha empire. The Rajput princes asked for British protection from the Marathas during the Third Anglo-Maratha War of 1817-1818, and the fifteen Rajput states in the region of Rajputana became princely states in the British Raj. Rajput rulers of Rajputana and elsewhere in India acceded to newly-independent India after 1947, and Rajputana, renamed Rajasthan, became an Indian state in 1950.