Katiyar
Katiyar (Katiyar Hindi:कटियार Urdu: کاتیار ) is a Brij or Awadhi language word.Katiyar surname has origin from the word Katara or Sword.The Indian nobility often wore ornamental katara as a symbol of their social status. Katiyars are mostly populated in western Uttar Pradesh, most of them are still involved in their traditional occupation of agriculture. Katiyar is same as Swordsman in English or Gladiator in Latin. Katiyars are dominant in Districts of Farrukhabad, Kannauj and Kanpur. Katiyars belong to Kshatriya caste of Hinduism. Vinay Katiyar, founder of Bajrang Dal is a prominent leader of the community. Katiyars descent from Lord Rama of the Suryavanshi Kshatriya clan.They are descendents of lord ram's son Luv.
This clan served as soldiers and sardars in the army of chhatrapati Shiva Ji and other Maratha Sardars and had taken part in the Maratha missions of Rohilkhand to crush the Rohilla Pathans before and after the 3rd war of Panipat This clan was the part of Maratha mission 1771 AD and later settled around the Ganges in Uttar Pradesh hence the surname seems of Maratha origin. They are mainly speakers of the Kannauji a dialect of Hindi language.
| Kshatriya Clan: Katiyar | |
| Vansh | Suryavanshi |
| Descended from: | Kannauj (Gaharwar) |
| Royal Seats: | Ahichatra, Gangawadi, Kampil, Kanpur and Kannauj) |
| Kul Devi: | Ganga Mata, Jwala |
| Language: | Kannauji |
| Locality: | Farrukhabad, Bareilly, Pilibhit, Kanpur, Rampur |
Kampil was ruled in 9th century by Rastrakuta kings and later on the social group established a powerful empire in Kannauj as Gaharwar Dynasty around 1050 AD. Copperplate Instructions found in Badaun also confirms that Rastrakutas Kshtraps of this region established a Rathore or Gaharwar empire in Kannauj under the leadership of Buddhist King Chandradeva around 1090 AD.Latter Kings were patron of both Hindu temples and Buddhist monasteries. A grand temple was built by Govindachandra at the birthplace of Bhagwan Shri Ram Chandra in Ayodhya.Now their royalty has degraded very much.
The people of this clan switched their positions between north and south India many times in the history. The Famous Ganga Vansh (गंग वंश) reported as Western Ganga Dynasty and Eastern Ganga Dynasty of South India were established by the ancestors of this clan.
“The origin of the Gangas is derived from Iksvaku and trace back to Ayodhyapuri Under Visnugupta the seat of government was moved to Ahichhatra (in Panchalya region near Bareilly), which, it is hinted, as Vijayapura. With the arrival of Dadiga and Madhava in the South, at Ganga-perur and the establishment of the Gangavadi kingdom in Mysore aided by Simhanandi, we seem to come to historical events.”
References
- Hukam Singh Bhati (1990), Maheca Rathaurom ka mula itihasa: Ravala Mallinatha ke vamsaja - Maheca, Baramera, Pokarana, Kotariya aura Khavariya Rathaurom ka sodhapurna itihasa. Publisher: Ratan Prakashan, Jodhpur.
- Mahendra Singh Nagar (2004), The genealogical survey: Royal house of Marwar and other states. Publisher: Maharaja Man Singh Pustak Prakashan, Jodhpur.
- Bruyne, J.L. DE. (Rudra Kavi). The Great Poem of the Dynasty of Rastraudha. Leiden, E.J. Brill, 1968.
- From the inscription of Jainaguru Simhanandi, compiled by B. Lewis Rice. Source S. N. Rajaguru, History of the Gangas Part-I, P. 19
- Hindu-Pad-Padshahi, Savarkar pp-136
- Hindustan Times
- History of Kanauj: To the Moslem Conquest