Gautam Rajputs

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The Gautam belong to the Suryavanshi divisions of Rajputs, found in North India.

History and origin

Gautam Rajputs are said to have originated in the region above or around the doab area of the upper Gangetic plain. According to a very widely accepted tradition, the Gautam Rajputs once owned the whole of the present Fatehpur district(Uttar Pradesh), together with much adjoining territory on both sides of the Ganges. They claim descent from the Vedic Saint Gotama, who is also the reputed ancestor of the Sakya clan of Kshatriyas, of whom sprung the great Buddha ; whence, in many countries where his religion flourishes, he is popularly known by his patronymic Gautama. Pandu son of Amritodhan descendent of Gautam Buddha had founded the state of Argal after crossing Ganges in 794 A.D. The Gautam Rajas for many years had their principal seat at Argal, in the Kora pargana, buried in the ravines of the river Rind. Possibly the Fort was so named as forming a natural ' bar, ' or barrier (which is the meaning of the Sanskrit argala) against the approach of an invader. In the 11th century Gautam rajas ruled over a considerable tract of country on both banks of Ganges. In 1183 A.D they generously granted several villages to Parmal, the Chandel Raja of Mahoba, after he was defeated by Prithviraj Chauhan. In 1250 A.D the Gautam Rajas refused to pay tribute to Muhammadan kings of Delhi and their Governor in Oudh tried to seize Gautam Rani while she was bathing in Ganges at Buxar. She was rescued by two Bais adventurers.They were given 1,440 villages as dowry by the Gautam Raja.

In 16th century Gautam Rajput family of Argal fought many battles for Sher Shah against Humayun.[1] This brought upon them the vengeance of Humayun when he returned to India. Eventually the subsequent Mughal rulers caused utter destruction to their family properties.

Classification

Rawat Rajputs and Kandwar Rajputs are also branches of Gautam Rajputs. Gautam Khanzada are also descendents from Gautam Rajputs.

References

  1. ↑ Kolff, Dirk H. A. (2002). Naukar, Rajput, and Sepoy: The Ethnohistory of the Military Labour Market of Hindustan, 1450-1850. Cambridge University Press. p. 65. ISBN 9780521523059. 

Further reading

  • Fox, Richard Gabriel (1971). Kin, Clan, Raja, and Rule: Statehinterland Relations in Preindustrial India. University of California Press. ISBN 9780520018075. 
Rajput clans of Uttar Pradesh
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