Rajput clans

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The Rajputs are a community of Hindus belonging to the Kshatriya or warrior varna.

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, Paramara, Solanki and Pratiharas.

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.

There are thirty-six rajput clans. The following are further subdivided:Raghav/Bardbujjar, Bais, Guhila (Gehlot), Parmar, Chauhan, Paramara or Panwar, Solanki, Rathore, Tomar/ Tanwar, Kachwaha, Khanzada, Raizada.The various subdivisions of these clans are detailed below.

The other twenty-four clans are not divided further. These are: Sengar, Balla, Khurwur, Chawura, Dahima/Dayma/Pundir, Dahiya, Byce, Gherwal, Nikumpa, Dewut, Johiya, Sikarwar/Sikerwal, Dodia.

Rajput clans & their main centers

  • Agnivanshi

References

  • A. K. Warder (1972), "An Introduction to Indian Historiography".
  • Upendra Thakur (1974), "Some aspects of Ancient India History and culture"

External links

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