Patial

Rajput Clan
Patial
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Maharana Pratap, a Sisodia ruler

,

Claim Descent From Suryavansha
Descended from: Koshal
Branches (Gotras): Kaundals, Kondals, Kaundinyas,
Ruled in Patiala, Hamirpur, Bhota, Paplah, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan
Princely states: Ayodhya, Awadh, Koshal, Rajputana
Population Location: Himachal, Punjab, Jammu, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand
Languages: Hindi, Rajasthani, Dogri, Pahari, Braj Bhasa, Awadhi

Patial is a suryavanshi Rajput clan of Chattari lineage in North India that claims solar origin by direct descent from Sri Rama Chandra of Raghav (Raghuvanshi) Rajput clan. Their traditional areas of residence are Rajputana, Trigarta Kingdom (the modern Jalandhar District), i.e. the areas of residence are mainly in the Indian states of Punjab, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh. They are a branch of Sisodya Rajputs of Rajputana who moved out of Mewar during the reign of Rana Amar Singh as he accepted the Mughal Supremacy of Jehangir and settled in Eastern Hills. They are considered to be high class rajputs who only perform marriages in few selected rajput clans like Katoch, Jamwal, Rathore, Jaswal, Guleria, Jasrotia, Bhangalia, Mandial, Chandel, Manhas, Parmar, Pathania, Dadwal, Parihar, Chauhan, and others.[1] [2]

History and origin

Patial Rajputs are the followers and descendent's of Emperor Raghu of Ikshavaku dynasty hence they belong to Raghukul and are also called Raghuvanshi Rajputs.

Emperor Raghu was a valorous king of the Ikshvaku dynasty. The name in Sanskrit translates to the fast one, deriving from Raghu's chariot driving abilities. So celebrated were the exploits of Raghu, that his dynasty itself came to be known as the Raghuvamsha or the Raghukula after him. The history of his dynasty is elaborated upon by Kalidasa in his Raghuvamsha. The lineage described in the Raghuvamsha goes thus Dilipa was the father of Raghu, who was the father of Aja, who was the father of Dasaratha, who was the father of Rama.

Raghuvamsa aka the Raghu race, is believed to be a lineage of warrior kings tracing its ancestry to Surya. Kalidasa's famous work, Raghuvamsha describes the greatness of this race. This was a race which produced great kings like Harishchandra, Dilipa, Raghu, Aja, Dasaratha and Rama.

It is believed that Patials alike other rajputs originally belong to Rajasthan and The Patials chose to die rather than to submit to the supremacy of the Muslim kings. Many Patials were put to death for not giving their daughters to Muslim rulers had to leave Rajasthan as they decided not to marry their daughters to the Muslim or Mughal rulers and they settled in Punjab and Himachal. This branch of raj puts is considered to be very ruthless but loyal and always preferred by rulers in their armies.

Rulers amongst Patial

Patials originally belong to Rajputana, they did not accept the Mughal Supremacy and left Rajputana around 1600 A.D., they migrated to the neighboring state of Punjab and settled in Patiala.

Patials ruled the princely state of Patiala and got the title or surname Patial, Patials were dethroned by the Sikh's around the 1700 A.D., Patials then moved and settled and ruled Kot Patial in Distt. Hoshiarpur Punjab.

After moving from Patiala, Patial's settled in Hoshiarpur district Punjab. They settled and ruled Kot Patial. Kot means Fort hence Kot Patial means Fort of Patials so the name itself suggests that the place was once ruled by rulers of Patial clan, they later on migrated to and ruled Hamirpur.

The history of Hamirpur is closely associated with the Patial and Katoch dynasty which ruled the area between the Ravi and Satluj rivers in the olden days. the area was under the control of Patials and ‘Ranas’ (Feudal hill chiefs). Some of the prominent Ranas were ranas of Mewa, Ranas of Mehalta and Dhatwal. There was no time when Patials and Rana chiefs were not in quarrel against each other. However later on only the Katoch dynasty ruled the complete area.

Bhota is a beautiful small town of Distt Hamirpur located on Dharamshala-Shimla road at a distance of 15 km from Hamirpur towards Bilaspur. The place is famous for Radha Swami Satsang and one of the largest charitable hospital of the state have been constructed by the same religious trust.This small town is a stronghold of Patial rajputs. It is believed that it is the place where Patial rajputs settled after moving from Hoshiarpur Punjab, this is the first town ruled by Patial rajputs in Himachal Pradesh. this is the town from where Patials moved to other towns and villages of the state. still Patial's are found in majority in the town and are the most dominant rajputs in the area

Paplah : Paplah Village is situated between two rivers called Moull and Mandh in Distt (Kangra) H.P., this village is at a distance of 35 k.m from a prominent places called Palampur and JaiSinghpur. Jaisinghpur is also the Tehsil of Distt Kangra. A prominent river "Moull" flows through this village, Nearby villages to "Paplah" and "Bhodda".

Last Chieftain or ruler of Paplah Estate was Jagirdar Mahan Singh Patial also known as Raja Mahan Singh Patial. He ruled Paplah and surrounding villages up to Bandahu, and today Patial Rajputs are found in majority in these villages. Jagirdar Mahan Singh Patial had continuous battles with Katoch clan who controlled maximum area of surrounding hills. later on fed up with never ending feuds with Katoch Raja of Lambagaon and quarrel with British people as he refused to provide fodder to the British army horses, he along with his family shifted to interiors of the hills and established in village Tappa. One of his sons Sahib Singh Patial joined the British army, fought for Britishers in Afghanistan, Baluchistan and Africa for two decades. Recognizing his services, he was given commission in the British army and was first to be decorated with the title of 'Sardar Bahadur' order of British India. During partition of the country this family saved the life of hundreds of Muslim families which sought shelter from the rioters. Quintels of the silver and gold which was deposited by fleeing Muslim families with the family and never returned to collect it was deposited in the treasury later on.

Draman : Draman is situated in Distt (Kangra) H.P, this village is at a distance of 25 km from a prominent places called Palampur and Jaisinghpur. Jaisinghpur is also the Tehsil of Distt Kangra. A prominent river "Mand" flows through this village, Nearby villages to "Draman" and "Bhoura", "Langa" and "Bhodda". Once Katoch dynasty got the firm control over Hamirpur, Patial rajputs moved in huge numbers and settled in the villages of "Draman", "Bhoura", "Langa", "Tappa" and "bhodda". when Patial rajputs settled in Draman village, Maharaja Katoch of Lambagoan was fed up of quarrels with Raja Mahan Singh Patial of Paplah and in order to avoid further battles and in fear of losing more territory of the state to Patials appointed Laila Ram Patial of Draman as prime minister of his court and their family is still honoured and called as Wazirs by the locals.

Marriage

Patial rajputs only perform marriages in few selected rajput clans like Katoch, Jaswal, Guleria, Jasrotia, Jamwal, Manhas, Pathania, Dadwal, Jarial, Rathore and Parmar .

A mare was given in dowry in marriage. Married women still follow Purdah, which amongst Hindus is only followed by royal families.

Patial women wear Gold jewellery on their feet as a tradition. Maharani Gayatri Devi of Jaipur explains:

Because they respected Gold, ordinary (Rajput) women did not wear gold on their feet. Only if you were of royal blood did you wear gold on your feet and if you were that class you never put on silver.[3]

Ordinarily, Rajput women and women of all other Kshatriya groups use silver jewellery on their feet.

In considering proposals for marriage, four gotras are excluded by Patial families:

Descent

Coronation of Rama with Sita (center on the throne), surrounded by his brothers and other deities including Hanuman. Rama comes from Suryavanshi dynasty with symbolic Chattari over his head.

The descent of the Patial clan from Ikshvaku dynasty, the Suryavanshi lineage is as follows:-

Ikshvaku dynasty - The Suryavanshi lineage

Distribution

Patial rajputs have settled in groups in the Kangra and Hamirpur districts of Himachal Pradesh and Jammu.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Punjab Castes by Denzil Ibbetson
  2. ↑ A Glossary of the tribes & castes of Punjab by H. a Rose
  3. ↑ Lives of the Indian Princes, by Charles Allen and Sharada Dwivedi. ISBN 81-86982-05-1, Pub: Business Publications Inc, Page 168.