Rajasthan is the
north-western region of India, and has remain independent from the
ancient days. According to the Hindu Mythology, the Rajputs of
Rajasthan were the descendants of the Kshatriyas or warriors of
Vedic India. The emergence of the Rajput warrior was in the 6th and
7th centuries.
Rajputs were divided into thirty-six races and twenty-one kingdoms
which gave rise to dynasties like Sisodias of Mewar (Udaipur), the
Kachwahas of Amber (Jaipur), the Rathors of Marwar (Jodhpur &
Bikaner), the Hadas of Jhalwawar, Kota & Bundi, the Bhattis of
Jaisalmer, the Shekhawats of Shekhawati and the Chauhans of Ajmer.
Emergence of the Rajputs
Rajputs were in Power after the decline in the Gupta Empire, for
nearly 300 years until the early 5th Century,. Stability was only
restored with the emergence of the Gurjara Partiharas, the earliest
of the Rajput (from 'Rajputra', or Sons of Princes) dynasties which
were later to hold the balance of power throughout Rajasthan.
This ancestry was divided into two main branches: the Suryavansa, or
Race of the Sun (Solar Race), which claims direct descent from Rama;
and the Induvansa, or Race of the Moon (Lunar race), which claims
descent from Krishna, Later a third branch was added, the Agnikula,
or 'Fire Born'. These people claim they were manifested from the
flames of a sacrificial fire on Mt.Abu From these three Principal
races emerged the 36 Rajput clans.
The Rajput clans gave rise to dynasties like Chauhans, Sisodias,
Kachhwahas and Rathores.
Chauhans of the Agnikula Race emerged in the 12th century and were
renowned for their valour. Their territories included the
Sapadalksha kingdom, which in the present known to be Jaipur,
Ranthambore, part of Mewar, the western portion of Bundi district,
Ajmer Kishangarh and even, at one time, Delhi. Branches of the
Chauhans also ruled territories know as Ananta (in present-day
Shekhawati) and Saptasatabhumi.
The Sisodias of the Suryavansa Race, Originally from Gujarat,
migrated to Rajasthan in the mid-7th Century and reigned over Mewar,
which encompassed Udaipur and Chittorgarh. The Kachhwahas,
originally from Gwalior in Madhya Pradesh, in 12th century. built
the massive fort at Amber, which was later shifted to the capital of
Rajasthan – Jaipur and now one of the hottest tourist spot. The
Bhattis, who belong to the Induvansa Race, had migrated from their
homeland in Punjab, settled at Jaisalmer in 1156. |
Introduction
