Jethwa (or Jethva, Jaitwa[1][2][3] Jethi[1] or Kamari[1][2] / Camari[3]) is a name of a Kshatriya, Rajput clan that claim descent from Makardhwaja son of Lord Hanuman who appears in the Hindu epic Ramayana. They are a branch of the Chandravanshi Rajput clan and are one of the oldest clans found in Rajput history.[4][5][6][7][8]
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Jethwa clan of Kshatriyas claim their descant from Makardhwaja, son of Hanuman.[4][5][6][7][9] As per folk tales of their clan, Makardhwaja had a son named Mod-dhwaja and he had a son named Jethi-dhwaja. Jethwas claim descant and name from Jethi-dhwaja and worship Hanuman as their Iṣṭa-devatā.[5]
Jethwa dyansty of Porbandar, therefore, had image of Hanuman on the Merchant Navy Flag adapted in 1923.[5]Also the Coat of Arms had the image of Hanuman in center.[10][5]
Further, it is said that Muslim Governors of Sindh in 8th century repeatedly sent naval armed ships to conquer the western and southern coast of Gujarat, which were again and again repulsed by the Saindhavas who called themselves "masters of the Western sea" (apara-samudr-ddhipati) . It has been suggested that the Saindhava ruling family is now represented by the Jethwa Rajputs.[11][5]
Captain Wilberforce Bell opines that their ancestors were probably Scythians from North. However, Gaurishankar Ojha opines Jethwas were probably a branch of Pratihars of Kannauj.[7]
Again one opinion says that Jethwas are of Agnikula origin and belong to Odak[12] branch of Kshatriyas.[13]
Again one story goes that one of the prince from Kashmir after having lost his Kingdom came to Gujarat near Porbandar and here with the blessings of Harsidhhi Mata, whose temple is located aroun35 km from Porbandar at Miani, established his kingdom in Saurashtra. His descendents later came to be known as Jethwa, the erstwhile rulers of State of Porbandar.[5]
One source says that the family took the name from one Jethaji[4] but that is highly unlikely because the title Jethwa is of ancient origin and usually a Kshatriya or Rajput family or clan changes its name only to be named after an illustrious fore-father or after a major migration or event or a victory in a war.[5] It is more likely that the Jethwa name is taken from name of Jethi-dwaja, the son of Mod-dwaja, the grandson of Makardhwaja and great-grandson of Hanuman, the hero of Ramayana, to whom they claim their descant.[5]
Further, many historians are of a view that Jethwa Rajputs have deep association with Mehars since time time immemorial, who are only the Senior (Jethwa) or rajakula (royal clan) of the Mehars.[14][15] The Mers have always been confidential and supported Jethwas in times of war and peace. It was the custom that when a Rana of Porbandar ascended the throne or Gaddi, the leader of the Mers would cut the tip of his little finger and make a tilak with his blood on the forehead of the Rana.[16][17][18]
Whatever may the fact, Jethwa's ancient history is still a mystery but Lord Hanuman has always been at the heart of their story. [3]
The Jethwas have had capitals at starting with Morvi in 900 AD, changing with times to Shrinagar, Dhank, Chhaya, Ghumli, Ranpur and lastly to Porbandar (from 1685 till 1947). They were the first rulers of the Saurashtra area of Western Gujarat.
Jethwas seem to have entered from North West, that is, Sindh, Rajpootana and Kutch to Saurashtra in 9th Century AD and are oldest ruling clan of Peninsula. It is accepted by almost all historians that Jethwas established their rule in Saurashtra in around 900 AD and founded the city of Morvi as their Capital. Morvi was earlier known by name of Mayurpuri, named after its founder the Jethwa ruler Mayur-dhwaja. They spread further westward and captured Dwarka from Chawdas moved further and established the towns of Nagnah, Ghumli, Bhanvad, Chhaya, Dhank, Laodhva, Ranpur with colonies at Miani and Shrinagar on the coast. During the time of Mahmud of Ghazni, the Jethwas controlled all the west and north of the Kathiawar.[4][19][7][5]
James Tod in his famous book The annals and antiquities of Rajastʾhan:or the central and western Rajpoot states of India includes Jethwa among the 36 royal races of ancient India and also names Jethwa or Jaithwa as Camari.[3]Further, Colon James Todd opines that Jethwas come from old marital races of Indian Peninsula and were called Kanwar till 8th Century. Some Jethwa rulers suffixed Kanwar after their name and hence were also known as Kanwars or Kumars.[20][3]
Sangaji was a Jethwa ruler from 1120-1150[21], who defeated the army of Virdhaval Vaghela,(the founder of Vaghela dynasty) near Morvi in 1125. Virdhaval, defeated, married his daughter and surrendered his title of Rana to Sangaji Jethwa. The title of Rana has been held by Jethwas rulers ever-since till last Rana died in 1979 without a heir.[22][5]
Jethwas lost Morvi , when they were defeated by invading army of Qutb-ud-din Aibak in year 1193.[7]Jethwas shifted to Nagnah and they later established their rule and founded Ghumli, under Sal Kumar. The rulers of Ghumli were also called Kumarants.[4][23]
In later years Vajesinh Jethwa alias Wajosinh, who ruled from years 1220-1245[21], was a brave warrior, who was truly known as Sinh and held considerable influence on Vishaldeo Vaghela.[22]
Ghumli was declared as second Capital by Jethwa dynasty, in 1220 by Rana Shiyaji, who took the title of Rana Of Ghumli and shifted capital from Shrinagar[4] Ghumli remained their Capital till 1313, when Rana Bhanji Jethwa, was defeated at a war, he fled Ghumli & shifted to Ranpur. It is said that Ghumli was destroyed due to curse of a Sati named Sone with whom Rana Bhanji Jethwa fell in love.[19]Jadeja Jam Unaji of Jadeja clan came from Sindh and attacked Ghumli in 1309 but was defeated later in 1313 his son Barmaniyaji Jadeja attacked to avenge the defeat. He defeated Rana Bhanji Jethwa, who fled and Ghumli was completely destroyed and turned it into ruins.On the same night Goddess Ambaji came in his dream and told him that, as she has granted the wish ("Asha") of his father to conquer Ghumli, he should make a temple in her name. So Barmaniyaji built the Temple of Ambaji on the hill in the middle of Ghumli and named it as Ashapura Mata Temple, who is Kuldevi of Jedejas.[24][19][25]However, the temple of Ashapura still stands on top of Barda hill near Ghumli.
Rana Bhan Jethwa escaped to Ranpur, where he established his new capital and set about founding a new territories.[4] The Bhanvad is also named after Rana Bhan Jehtwa. However, after loss of Ghumli, they were confined to a district known as Barda.
In around 1525-35 Jam Ravalji conquered greater part of Halar from Jethwas and other Rajput rulers like Chawdas, Dedas and Vadhels. This lead to further decimating the Jethwa territories in which Nagnah was lost, which Jams renamed as Nawanagar.[20][26][18] Jam Ravalji’s son, however, gave his daughter to Jethwa ruler Khimooji. But in later years, Jam Ravaljis’s son Jam Sataji killed his own nephew Jethwa Ramdevji IV by a conspiracy and annexed further territory of Jethwas by force. This lead to a fierce enmity between Jethwa and Jams, which continued for 300 years and there was apiya between them.[7][5]Shri Khimoji II Bhanji Jethwa, Rana of Chhaya, elder son of Rana Shri Bhanji Ramdevji Jethwa, Rana of Ranpur, founded the state of Chhaya, after his expulsion from Ranpur in 1575.[4]During this turbulent times in history of Jethwa dynasty, the Mers again came in help of in protection of Jethwas and helped them recover their lost territories.[27][28]After the defeat at hands of Jams in 1525 the ruling Jethwa had to run from here to there till they found shelter at Chhaya. Later, the late Rana Bhanji's widow Rani Kalabai, a lady of out-standing courage and foresight raised an army of the Mers and Rabaris and regained her lost territory as far as Ranpur from Jams.[20][26][18][29]
Later in 1671 Rana Vikmatji Khimoji Jethwa took possession of Porbandar from Moughals and built a fort there. He also took fort of Madhavpur. Though, he died at Porbandar, the capital remained Chhaya.[7] It was his son Rana Saratanji II, who permanently shifted the Capital to Porbandar in 1685. The Jethwas of Porbandar entered in to alliance with British in 1807 and agreement was entered in to year 1809 with East India Company.[7][5]
The princely state of Porbandar was a 13-Gun Salute State of British India.[4]The reigns of Rana Bhavsinhji Madhavsinhji (1900–1908) and Rana Natwarsinhji (1908–1979) both Maharaja of Porbandar gave the state of Porbandar first class status after many battles for the throne within the royal family in 1811, 1869 and 1886.[4]The Porbandar remained the Capital of Jethwa dynasty till the State of Porbandar was merged in to Union of India, when the last ruler of the kingdom, Rana Natwarsinhji Bhavsinhji signed the Instrument of Accession on 15th August 1947.[7][4][5] The last Rana and ruler of Jethwa dynasty of Porbandar, Shri Natwarsinhji died in 1979.[4] Before him in 1977, the successor to his throne the crown-prince Udaybhansinhji Natwarsinhji Jethwa died[4], leaving the throne of more than 2000 year old[4] dynasty vacant and uncertain, perhaps the longest continuous ruling dynasty of Indian Peninsula.[5] The grandfather of Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, Uttamchand Gandhi and later his father - Karamchand Gandhi and uncle - Tulsidas Gandhi, served as Dewan to Rana of Porbandar.[30]
The Jethwa Rajputs belong to the Gautam/Vajas Gotra and their Kuldevi is Vindhyavasini Devi.[43] Jethwas also worship Chamunda[8] and Harsidhhi, whose main temple was in Miani, one of their original colonies. In the temple of Harsiddhi at Miani, three lamps used to burn till dissolution of princely states, one lamp of the temple, one from Jethwa rulers of Porbandar and another from Jams of Nawanagar.[5] Jethwas also worship Brahmani[5][44] & Chamunda Mata as Kuldevi and their temples are located one at Anjar and another at Nagalpar. Some of them also claim themselves to be of Bhardwaja Gotra.[5]Many also worship Momai Mata, who again is an incarnation of Harsiddhi of Miani.[5]Again there is one aspect of devi, who is known as Jethwa Mata, who is identified as Gaur Matas or clan deities.[44]
The main villages from which Jethwa Rajputs hail from are Morana, Ratdi, Shrinagar, Pandavadar, Gosa, Chhaya, Rozda, Hathla, Gadu, Kantela, Baradiya, Katvana, Lodava, Bhanvad and and Ghumli in Saurashtra region of Gujarat. Jethwas are also found in Kutch in large numbers, where they seem to have migrated along with other Rajput / Kshatriya belonging to Kutch Gurjar Kshatriya group of warriors, who arrived in Saurashtra in early 7th Century from Rajasthan fighting and repealing attack from North West. Later a major group entered Kutch in 12th Century AD and established themselves at Dhaneti. At present population of Jethwa in Kutch is centralized around Anjar town and some villages of Anjar Taluka.
The author of the book Shree Kutch Gurjar Kshatriya Samaj : A brief history & glory of our fore-fathers, Raja Pawan Jethwa, further gives elaborate details of some known branches of Jethwas, citing references from a Gujarati book published in 1896 and records of Barots, as under[5] :-
The bardic tales of Jethwas are immortalized in folk tales like Rajasthani folk tale of immortal love between Jethwa and Ujali[45][5] and heroic tales of Bhan Jethwa and Vijo related to defeat of Kathis by them, in which the names of Jethwa territories of Bhanvad and Lodhva are mentioned in bardic folk-songs of Kathiawar.[46][5]Also the bardic songs of Bhan Jethwa, who fell in love with Son Kansari, who was in love with Rakhayata Babaria, his commander. Bhan got Rakhayat murdered by his servant Kumbha. Son became a Sati cursing that Ghumali will be destroyed in due course of time. Her prophecy came true when Ghumali was demolished by Jams in 1313. The Brahmins who gave shelter and also died for the cause of protecting Son built a temple in her memory later.[47][48][5]
At present, outside India, the Jethwas are mainly found among migrant population in East Africa, United Kingdom, Canada and United States of America, as well as far flung countries like Australia, New Zealand.