Rajput clans

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Rajputs, c.1860 AD
Rajputs, c.1860 AD

The Rajputs are a community of Hindus belonging to the Kshatriya or warrior caste. Apart from being an important factor in the social life of the rajputs themselves, their clan system is also of interest for certain other reasons: land tenure studies in the Indian state of Rajasthan and tracing of ancient population shifts are only two fields where this topic would be of interest.

Contents

[edit] The main lineages

The rajputs are divided into 36 clans, each clan belonging to one of three basic lineages (vanshas or vamshas):

  1. the Suryavanshi lineage, claiming descent from Surya, the Hindu Sun-god or in English it is known as Solar Dynasty;
  2. the Chandravanshi lineage, claiming descent from Chandra, the Hindu Moon-god or in English it is known as Lunar Dynasty;
  3. the Agnivanshi lineage, claiming descent from Agni, the Hindu god of fire.Four Rajput clans are considered to be Agnivanshi.They are Chauhans,Chalukyas,Paramara and Pratiharas.


It is very clear from ancient records and beliefs that Hindu God Rama belonged to Raghuvanshi kula (one of the main branch of Suryavansha or Sun Dynasty) and God Krishna belonged to Chandravanshi or Lunar Dynasty. There were other dynasties also at the time of Rama and Krishna and Buddha. It is not necessary for every Rajput to belong to any particular one of these dynasties. They are listed and recorded for their outstanding record. There are many dynasties in India and out of it of Kshatrias who were later known as Rajputs Some scholars also include Nagavanshi, Rishivanshi, and Vayuvanshi as separate lineages. The "Yaduvanshi" lineage is actually a major branch of the "Chandravanshi" lineage: the Hindu god Krishna belonged to the Chandravansha, and his supposed descendents form the Yaduvansha clan; others who claim descent from the moon-god but not from Krishna form the existing chandravansha lineage.

[edit] Clan organization

Each of these Vamshas or lineages is divided into several clans (kula), all of whom claim direct patrilineage for a remote but common male ancestor who supposedly belonged to that Vamsha. Some of these thirty-six main clans are further subdivided into shakhas or "branches", again based on the same principle of patrilineage.

An example: Thus for instance, a present-day bearer of the surname "Chundawat" belongs to the Chundawat shakha of the larger Sisodia Kula, which in turn is a subset of the larger Gehlot or Guhilot clan, in turn part of the Suryavamshi lineage. Furthermore, all Chundawats belong to the patrilineage of a certain Rao Chunda, who was a direct male-line descendent of a definite male ancestor (in this case, Rana Hamir of Mewar) who belonged to the patrilineage of a certain Guha, believed to be the father of the Guhilot clan.

Each shakha or basic sub-clan has its individual genealogical creed, describing the essential peculiarities, religious tenets and original domicile of the clan. This creed is a touchstone of traditional affinities and also provides all information governing the laws of intermarriage.

There are thirty-six rajput clans. The following are further subdivided: Bais,Guhila (Gehlot), Parmara,Rever,Chauhan,Paramara or Panwar, Solanki, Rathore, Tomara, Birgoojur/Bargujar, Pratihara (Parihar), Jhala, Yadu,Janjua, Kachwaha, and Gor. The various subdivisions of these clans are detailed below.

The other twenty-four clans are 'Eka' and are not divided further. These are: Sengar, Balla, Khurwur, Chawura, Dahima/Pundir, Dahiya, Byce, Gherwal, Nikumpa, Dewut, Johiya, Sikarwar, Dabia, Doda, Mori, Mokarra, Abhirra, Kalchoruk, Agnipala, Aswariya, Hool, Manutwal, Mallia and Chhahil.

[edit] Prominent Rajput clans & their main centers

  • Suryavanshi
    • Birgoojur/Bargujar: also called Raghav at Bhondsi in Gurgaon & Tehsil Beri of Haryana, U.P,Himachal Pradesh
      • Lawtamia Tehsil Beri of Haryana
      • khadad
      • Madadh
      • Taparia


[edit] See also

[edit] External links

[edit] References

  • Thakur Udainarain Simha, "Kshatriya Vamshavali".
  • Jwalaprasad Mishra (1914), "Jati Bhaskara" published by Khemaraj Shrikrishnadas.
  • A. K. Warder (1972), "An Introduction to Indian Historiography".
  • Upendra Thakur (1974), "Some aspects of Ancient India History and culture"
  • "The Mair Rajputs of Punjab" by Mr. Rajesh K Verma
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