Agnivansha

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In Indian religion and culture, the Agnivanshi Kshatriyas are people descended from Agni, the Vedic god of fire. The Agnivanshi lineage, Agnivansha also known as Sub clan of Suryavansha Dynasty or descendants of Ikshvaku Dynasty i.e three of its major rajputs clan (Parmar,chauhan and Parihar are related and descents of Ancient Suryvanshi kshatriya So these three Clans also claim being Suryvanshi kshatriya. Agnivansha is one of the three lineages into which the Kshatriya caste of Hindus is divided, the other races being the Suryavanshi Itself (descended from Surya the Sun God) and the Chandravanshi (descended from Chandra, the Moon God). The Kshatriyas in India are "Rajputs" and "Rajus" and also the "Marathas" who were the descendants of "Rajputs".[1][2][3][4] Agnivanshi Kshatriyas are one of the three lineages of Kshatriyas.Agnivanshi are present in North India & North Eastern part of India. The Parmars (Parmar rajput also falls in Suryavanshi Kshatriya Rajput lineage) and Chauhans are considered to be the most superior lineages of Agnivanshi.[1][5][6][7][8][9]

The Agnivanshi Kshatriya Origin

The theory of Agnivanshi origin of the Gurjars is given in Prithviraj Raso of Chand Bardai. According to this Theory, Parsuram, an incarnation of Vishnu, destroyed all the Kshatriyas. However, the Brahmanas felt the need of warrior class to defend them. They offered prayers to God at top of Mount Abu. A great Havan was performed for about 40 days. The prayers of the Brahmanas brought forth fruit. Form that Agnikund or fire pit, there sprang up four heroes and each one of them created a separate Rajput class. Thus came into existence the Chauhans, the Solankis or Chalukyas, the Parmaars and the Praiharas.[5] Agnivanshi The group denoted by the name Kshatriya or Rajput depended on status, rather than on descent, and it was therefore possible for foreigners to be introduced into these tribes without any violation of the prejudices of the caste, which was then only partially developed. But it was necessary to disguise this admission of foreigners under a convenient fiction. Hence, arose the legend, how, by a solemn act of purification or initiation under the superintendence of the ancient Vedic Rishis, the fire born septs Known as Agnivanshi or fire born - viz., the Parmar, Parihar, Chalukya and Chauhan (Bhaduria, Dhanetiya, Nirvan)."[5][6]

Source: http://www.shvoong.com/books/mythology-ancient-literature/1919679-agnikula-origin/#ixzz2kzlxJ9vl

List of Agnivanshi(sub branch of Suryavanshi) Kshatriyas & their Gotras

As the Kshatriyas contain the Gotras named after Saptarishis & their sons and also named after other great sages i.e Maharishis as similar to the Gotras of Brahmins.[1][10][11] The List of Agnivanshi Kshatriyas are as follows:[1][5][5][6][6][12][13][14][15]

01."Parmar Kshatriya":(Descendants of Suryavanshi Parmar/Ujjain Rajput King Samrat Vikramaditya,ancient ruler of ujjain ,Madhya Pradesh). Pramar, Parmar, Pambubar.

Gothra - Vashishtha.

Ved - Yajurved.

Kuldevi - Sinchimaay Mata, Durga in North India, Kali in Ujjain.

Their ancient capital was Chandrawati, situated 4 miles away from Abu station. This vansha evolves out from the Agni Kunda of Yagya on the Abu mountain."Parajan Marithi Parmar" means "Vansha which defeats the enemy" hence it is called Parmar. Great Brave king Vikramaditya(Ujjaini Parmar/Ujjain Kshatriya), Raja Bhoj(Desdendants of Vikramaditya), Shalinivahan(Ujjaini Parmar/ujjaini Kshatriya), Suryavanshi King Gandharwasen Ujjaini Parmar/Ujjain were from this vansha.

States - Shahababad(now bihar),Malwa, Dharanagari, Dhar, Devas, Narsinghgarh, Ujjain. Samrat Vikramaditya was also recognised as a great ruler by the Muslim community. According to the book Shayar ul Okul at Makab e Sultania, His glory was written on a golden plate kept at Kaba. It is also mentioned in Shayar ul Okul that Khushnuba dhoop was the giving of Vikramaditya. The entire world knows that Shivling and Kutubminar were build in Kaba by Vikramaditya.

Parmar Kshatriya has 35 branches which includes Pawar, Baharia, Ujjainia/ujjaini parmar(most ancient clan,now found in bihar only ), Bholpuria, Sounthia, Chawda, Sumda, Sankla, Doda, Sodha, Bharsuria, Yashoverma, Jaivarma, Arjunvarma etc.

King Umrav singh, Jaiprakashsingh, Babu Sahabzada singh were belongs to Ujjaini Kshatriya(Direct descendants of Samrat Vikramaditya and Raja Bhoj'S Family). The great Kunwar singh Mahaveer was the son of Babu Sahabjadasingh.[12]

02."Solanki Kshatriya":

Gothra - Bhardwaj, Manavya, Parashar.

Ved - Yajurved.

Kuldevi - Kali.

In South India they are also known as Chalukya or Choulukya. Kings Prithvidev, Madansingh was from this vansha. Madanakul was build by King Madansingh. King Chandradeep Narayan singh also from this vansha who build an ashram for Mahatma Gandhi on his own land. This ashram is known as Hajipur congress ashram.

States - Ayodhya, Kalyan, Andhra, Paatan, Gangatat. Solanki Kshatriya has 16 branches which includes Baghela, Baghel, Solanke, Kataria, Sikharia, Sarakia, Bharsuria, Tantia etc.

This vansha is existed from 1079.[12]

03."Parihar Kshatriya":

Gothra - Kashyap.

Kuldevi - Chamunda.

Isht - Lord Vishnu. The first king from this vansha was Nagbhatta.

The great king Harishchandra was also from this vansha. He has two wives, one was a Brahmin and the other was Kshatriya.

States - Kathiwarh, Ayodhya, Kurukshetra to Banaras, Bundelkhand, up to Himachal.

This vansha has 19 branches which includes Surawat, Chandrawat, Gajkeshar, Badkeshar, Chandrayan, Kalhansa etc. The state of Kalhansa Kshatriya was at Basti (U.P.). Many kings were born in this vansha. Chopra Kshatriya vansha is also one of its sub-branch. This vansha is existed from 894.[12]

04."Chouhan Kshatriya":

Gothra - Vatsa.

Ved - Samved.

Kuldevi - Ashipuri/Shakhambhari

Guru - Vashishtha.

Isht - Shiva

Devta - Shri Krishna

Samrat Prithviraj Chauhan, Hammirdev Chauhan, Bariarshah Rajkunwar, Lakha (1451) were from this vansha.[6]

States - Bundi, Kota, Sirohi, Asthir. Delhi, Ajmer, Bhaddaiyan Raj/Sultanpur, Bhadoch, Dholpur was also come under their regime. They build beautiful lakes. Samrat Prithviraj Chouhan defeated Mohammad Ghori several times and forgive him later 16 times. The coward Mohammad Ghori deceitfully arrested Prithviraj Chouhan and take out both his eyes. Like Arjun, Prithviraj Chouhan was very fluent in his verbal approach. There are many other kings also belongs to this vansha.

Chouhan Kshatriya Vansha has 26 branches, sub-branches includes Vihol,Hada, Khinchi, Bhadoria, Songar, Songara, Devra, Agniraj Rajkunwars/Rajkumar, Sambharia, Gadharia, Bhurecha, Balecha, Dhanetiya, Tassera, Chachera, Bhawar, Bankat, Bhople etc. Chouhan vansha existed from 1067.[6][12][16]

05."Hada Kshatriya":

Gothra - Vatsa.

Devi - Ashapuri.

Guru - Vashishtha.

Ved - Samved.

King Maniklal was from Hada vansha. One of the famous personality from this vansha is Ramdeva. Hada Kshatriya Vansha is also popularly known as Hadouti.

States - Bundi, Kota. There is a history of Brave Hada Rani.

Branches - Udawat, Devra, Devre, Jaitawat, Chandrawat.[12]

06."Songira Kshatriya":

Gothra - Vatsa.

Kuldevi - Chandi.

Ved - Samved.

King Kirtipal, Samarsingh, Udaysingh, Samantsingh, Kanhdev, Maldev belongs to this vansha. The fort of Jalor was captured by this vansha. The mother of Maharana Pratap was from this vansha.

Branch - Bhadoria. Songira Kshatriya is a branch of Chouhan Kshatriya.[12]

07."Baghel Kshatriya":

Baghela/Baaghela.

Gothra - Bhardwaj, Kashyap.

Ved - Yajurved.

Devi - Kali. This vansha derive its name from their ancistor Vyaghradev. Many brave perfonalities were born in this vansha.

State - Madarv, Pandu, Pothapur, Nayagarh, Ranpura etc. This is a branch of Solanki. Branch of Baghel Kshatriya is Pawar.[12]

08."Bhadoria Kshatriya":

Gothra etc. are the same as that of Chouhan Kshatriya. They ruled on Bhadawar and hence named as Bhadoria. This is a branch of Songara.[12]

09."Bachgoti Chouhan Kshatriya":

They derived misspelled name from Vatsa Gotri and called themselves as Bachgoti Kshatriya.[12]

10."Khinchi Kshatriya":

Gothra - Vatsa and Goutam is also found.

Ved - Samved.

Devi - Bhagwati.

Kings Bhagwatrai, Gugalsingh and Jaisingh were from this vansha. Khinchipur was their state. Raja Bhagwatrai has translated 7 stories of Ramayana into poems very beautifully. He has also written Hanuman Pachhisi.

This is a branch of Chouhan Kshatriya.[12]

11."Dogra Kshatriya":

They are the natives of Kashmir.

Gothra - Kashyap.

States - Jammu, Balia.[12]

'Note:' Kshatriyas whether Suryavanshi,Chandravanshi or Agnivanshi,they only contain Rishi Gotras i.e. Gotras named after Saptarishis and also named after other Great Sages i.e. Maharishis.[1][10][11][17][18][19]

The Agnikunda legend

The Agnikunda legend gives an account of the origin of the Agnivanshi Kshatriyas. In fact, it attempts to explain the origin of some of the Rajputs.There are several versions of the legend.

The Bhavishya Purana version of the legend begins with the puranic legend wherein Parashurama, an avatar of Vishnu, exterminated the traditional kshatriyas of the land. Later, the legend says, sage Vasishta performed a great Yajna or fire-sacrifice, to seek from the gods a provision for the defense of righteousness on earth. In answer to his prayer, a youth arose from the Agnikunda or fire-altar—the first Agnivanshi Kshatriya. According to different versions of the legend, Kshatriya clans originated from the Agnikunda.

A Meena dynasty ruled Rajasthan in ancient times and their emblem was a fish, similar to that used by the Pandyan kingdom of the south.[20][21] It lay to south of the kingdom of Kurus and west of the Yamuna which separated it from the kingdom of Panchalas. It roughly corresponded to former state of Jaipur in Rajasthan, and included the whole of Alwar with portions of Bharatpur.[22] The capital of Matsya was at Viratanagar (modern Bairat) which is said to have been named after its founder, king Virata. Meenas are brothers and kinsmen of Virata, the ruler of Virat Nagar. They ruled this area(near to Virat Nagar) till 11th century.[23][24]

The most famous Matsya ruler was Virata, the ally of the Pandavas.[25] Upaplavya was a city in the Meena Kingdom ruled by king Virata. It was the city where the Pandavas camped and planned their strategy for the Kurukshetra War.[26] Kichaka Kingdom was a part of the Matsya kingdom ruled by the Meenas rulers. Kichaka Kingdom was allied to King Virata. The Kichaka king, known by the name Kichaka was the commander-in-chief of the Matsya-army under king Virata.[24]

The Meena Kingdom was known as “Matsya” as each of these Janapadas was named after the Kshatriya tribe (or the Kshatriya Jana) who had settled therein.[27] Around 300 BC, the Meena kingdom succumbed to the rising Mauryan empire.

D. B. Bhandarkar also believed that Pratiharas were a clan of Gurjars

The Pratiharas established the first Rajput kingdom in Marwar in southwestern Rajasthan in the 6th century the greatest kingdom after Ashoka and Harshvardhan, the Chauhans at Ajmer in central Rajasthan, the Solankis in Gujarat, and the Paramaras in Malwa Rahevar "Rever"Tarangagadh - Rajasthan.

The Bhavishya Purana text, as available today, is regarded to have later additions, some as late as 1850 CE.[28]

Fortunately, large number of inscriptions and texts have come to light in the past one and half centuries that allow us to trace the history of Kshatriya and the evolution of the legend in detail.

The Agni-kunda story was first given in Nava-sahasanka-charita of Padmagupta, a fictional romance where the hero is identifiable as Sindhuraj. In Nava-sahasanka-charita the progenitor Paramara is created from fire by Vashishtha.

Agnikunda chronology

  • 949 CE: Harsola copperplate grants of Siyaka, mention Paramara as belonging to the family of Rashtrakutas. There is no mentionof the Agnikunda.
  • 1005 CE: Padmagupta writes Navasahasanka-charita during the rule of Parmar Sindhuraj (about 995-1055) of Dhara. He mentions creation of Paramar from Agnikinda by Vashista, for the first time.[29]
  • 1000-1055: Bhoja: no mention of Agnikunda in his copperplates or inscriptions.
  • 1042: Vasantgarh inscription mentions Paramara origin from Agnikunda.
  • 1070-1093: Udayaditya, Udayapur prashasti mentions Paramara origin from Agnikunda.
  • uncertain date: Prithviraj Raso composed.[30] Oldest copies of do not mention the Agnikunda legend.
  • Uncertain date: Unknown text that was later consulted for Aine-Akbari.
  • Aine-Akbari by Abul Fazl (1551–1602) mentions creation of a Dhanji from an Agnikunda, somewhere in Deccan, to fight Buddhism. He came to Malava and established his rule. When Puraraj, fifth in line from him, died childless, a Paramara is selected to succeed him.
  • uncertain date: Agnikunda legend inserted in Prithviraj Raso, where three clans, Parihar, Chalukya and Parwar are mentions as having been created from the Agnikunda.
  • Uncertain date: Agnikunda legend in Bhavishya Purana. It mentions four clans Paramar, Chauhan, Chalukya and Parihar were created to annihilate the Buddhists during the time of Ashoka.[31]

See also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 http://www.worldorganisationofrajputs.com/all-india-kshatriya-federation.html
  2. ↑ http://www.kshatriyarajputs.org/history.aspx
  3. ↑ http://kshatriyaektamanch.com/blog/?p=79
  4. ↑ http://jyotheeswarraju.blogspot.in/2009/05/surnames-of-kshatriyas-in-andhrapradesh.html
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 http://books.google.co.in/books?id=b9ktWLud0oIC&pg=PA135&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q&f=false
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5 http://rajputanas.com/tag/agnivanshi-rajputs-history/
  7. ↑ http://www.kshatriyarajputs.org/history.aspx
  8. ↑ http://kshatriyaektamanch.com/blog/?p=79
  9. ↑ http://jyotheeswarraju.blogspot.in/2009/05/surnames-of-kshatriyas-in-andhrapradesh.html
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 http://rajputanas.com/tag/rajput-gotra-kuldevi-list/
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 http://kshatriyayouth.blogspot.in/p/rajus-surnames.html
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 12.3 12.4 12.5 12.6 12.7 12.8 12.9 12.10 12.11 http://agnivanshidhanetiyarajput.blogspot.in/2009/08/rajput-vansh.html
  13. ↑ http://www.kshatriyarajputs.org/history.aspx
  14. ↑ http://kshatriyaektamanch.com/blog/?p=79
  15. ↑ http://jyotheeswarraju.blogspot.in/2009/05/surnames-of-kshatriyas-in-andhrapradesh.html
  16. ↑ http://rajputanas.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/images1.jpg
  17. ↑ http://www.kshatriyarajputs.org/history.aspx
  18. ↑ http://kshatriyaektamanch.com/blog/?p=79
  19. ↑ http://jyotheeswarraju.blogspot.in/2009/05/surnames-of-kshatriyas-in-andhrapradesh.html
  20. ↑ Rizvi, S. H. M. (1987). Mina, The Ruling Tribe of Rajast.han (Socio-biological Appraisal). Delhi: B.R. Pub. Corp. 
  21. ↑ The Modern review, Volume 84, Ramananda Chatterjee, Prabasi Press Private, Ltd., 1948 - History. 
  22. ↑ Sukh Sampati Raj Bhandari: Bharat ke deshi rajya, Jaypur rajya ka Itihas, page 3
  23. ↑ Kanakasabhai, V. (1989). The Tamils Eighteen Hundred Years Ago. Asian Educational Services. ISBN 81-206-0150-5. 
  24. ↑ 24.0 24.1 Mahabharata of Krishna Dwaipayana Vyasa, translated to English by Kisari Mohan Ganguli. 
  25. ↑ The Sacred books of the Hindus, Volume 27, Part 1, By Baman Das Basu,p99. 
  26. ↑ C. Rajagopalachari, Mahābhārata, Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan. 1994
  27. ↑ India as Known to Panini: A Study of the Cultural Material in the Ashṭādhyāyī, 1963, p 427, Vasudeva Sharana Agrawala — India; India in the Time of Patañjali, 1968, p 68, Dr B. N. Puri — India; Socio-economic and Political History of Eastern India, 1977, p 9, Y. K Mishra — Bihar (India); Tribes of Ancient India, 1977, p 18, Mamata Choudhury — Ethnology; Tribal Coins of Ancient India, 2007, p xxiv, Devendra Handa — Coins, Indic - 2007; The Journal of the Numismatic Society of India, 1972, p 221, Numismatic Society of India — Numismatics .
  28. ↑ Bhavishya Purana, B.K. Chaturvedi, Diamond Books (P) Ltd.
  29. ↑ H.V. Trivedi, "Inscriptions of the Paramaras(Rahevars), Chandellas, Kachchhapaghatas and two minor Dynasties", part 2 of the 3-part Vol III of Corpus Inscriptionum Indicarum, 1974 (published in 1991).
  30. ↑ A. K. Warder "An Introduction to Indian Historiography", Popular Prakashan 1972
  31. ↑ Thakur Udaynarayan Singh , "Kshatriya Vamshavali" (in Hindi), Khemaraj Shrikrishnadas, 1989.

External links

Clans of the Rajput people
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Suryavanshi
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Agnivanshi
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