Bundela

Rajput clan: Bundela
Vanshi	Chandravanshi
Descended from:	Vindhya Range
Branches:	-
Ruled in	Bundelkhand
Princely states:	Orchha (1501-1950) Datia (1626-1950) Panna (1732–1950) Ajaigarh (1765–1950) Charkhari (1765–1950) Chhatarpur (???-1785) Jaso

The Bundelas are a Rajput clan of Chattari lineage who ruled several states in central India, in Bundelkhand region from the 16th century.The Bundelas are the most prominent Rajputs hailing from Central India. They are the most fearless and matchless of all the contemporary Rajputs and have proved the same through the various battles which they fought manifesting their unique combination of valour and strategy. The present Member of Parliament Shri Jeetendra Singh Bundela representing Khajuraho constituency is one of the descendants from Maharaja Chhatrasal who is actively assisted by his nephew Shri Deependra Singh Bundela. The History of Bundelkhand has been compiled by Shri Prithvi Singh Bundela, which is an encyclopedia depicting the Geography and History of Bundelas and runs into approximately 1400 pages which is divided into 4 volumes. The present district of Chhatarpur, which owes its name from the Maharaja Chhatrasal, continues to be the nerve centre of the entire Bundelkhand. The present day Bundelkhad comprises Seven district of Southern Uttar Pradesh and Six district of northern Madhya Pradesh. The area is rich in Forest wealth, Mines and Minerals and is traversed by various small and big rivers and hills cutting the country side. The present day Tourist destination of Khajuraho which is a 1000 years old world heritage is globally well connected by Air and is part of District Chhatarpur.

The most dominant community from this area is of Chandravanshi Kshatriyas called as Bundelas, Chandrauls, Chandelas or Chandravashi Kshatriya.

The Bundelas of Bundelkhand trace their ancestry to Maharaja Hemkaran (Pancham Singh Bundela), who was driven from his kingdom by his four elder brothers. While in exile, he propitiated the goddess Vindyhavasini, and with her assistance established a kingdom at Mahauni in the Vindhya Range of central India. His descendants were known as the 'Vindhyalas', after the mountain range.

The Bundelas moved south from the Vindhya Range into the Bundelkhand region, People who moved far south in to Maratwada and deep south are called Bondili which now bears their name.

Portrait of Rao Vir Singh

Bondili is the corrupted name of Bundela in south India after their move. Here we need to know the reason why they moved to south. Its happened in the ruling time of Veer Singh Dev / Beer Singh Deo (1592–1627). Bundelas always revolted against Mughals and fought for independence. After so many attacks Jahangir captured the kingdom of Veer Singh and the king made alliance with the mughal emperor. Because of loss of soldiers of mughal army, Jahangir got 3 thousand bundela soldiers from Veer Singh Dev 1 thousand is cavalry and 2 thousand are infantry. The victorious Jahangir Only 16 years of age, ordered the completion of the Jahangir Mahal a famous Mughal citadel in Orchha to commemorate and honor his victory.

Also, some other Bundela Rajput kings have worked as army heads in Mughal army and moved to south India. In the process of mughal empire expansion they fought sincerely and become kings for some of the south Indian kingdoms. For example Tamil people still remember the legendary Raja De Singh (Tej Singh) S/o Swarup Singh for his bravery in the area of Gingee or Chenji.

And also we can find out from the book of "Srisaila Charitra" of Srisailam (Kurnool district, Andhra Pradesh) Raja Bheem Singh worked as Governor for some Rayala Seema regions for 20 years Under Mughal rule.

It has also suggested that the Bundela may be the inheritors of the Pulinda non-Aryan aboriginals of modern Bundelkhand; the Pulindas disappeared from historical record in the 13th century, and the Bundela entered it in the 14th, so some scholars have theorised that Bundela is a variant on the term Pulinda.^{[citation needed]}

The Capital of Bundel Dynasty Orchha still remains as evidence of the glory of rajput bundela rulers.

Rule at Bundelkhand

Bundela rulers received constant military support from Ahirs. In the 14th century Sahanpal Bundela, together with Parmars, and Chauhans captured Garhkundar, near Damoh from a Khangar king. The Bundela chief Rudra Pratap (ruled 1501–1531) founded the state of Orchha. He was succeeded by his son Madhukar. The Bundelas captured the city of Chanderi in 1586. Madhukar's son Virsingh Dev succeeded to the throne of Orchha, and Chanderi went to Madhukar's son Ram Sab. Virsingh Dev's son Jujhar Singh succeeded as ruler of Orchha, but was killed by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan in 1636, and Orchha was briefly annexed to the Mughal Empire, although it was later restored to the Bundelas. Bhagwan Rao, another son of Virsingh Dev, became ruler of Datia.

See also: Dauwa ahirs

Champat Ray, a descendant of Rudra Pratap, revolted against the Mughals. His fourth son Maharaja Chhatrasal (1649–1732) became the most prominent Bundela leader. In 1671 he started a rebellion against the Mughals, and soon captured Naugaon in present-day Chhatarpur District. In 1680 he conquered Mahoba, and went on to control much of Bundelkhand, ruling from Panna. He formed an alliance with the Maratha Peshwa Baji Rao I, who was challenging the Mughals for control of central India, and in 1729 Baji Rao sent a Maratha army to aid Chhatar Sal against the Mughals. Upon his death in 1732, Chhatar Sal left a third of his dominions, including Mahoba, Banda, and Jhansi, to his Maratha ally Baji Rao. Chhatar Sal's descendants ruled the states of Panna, Ajaigarh (founded 1765), Charkhari (founded 1765, Chhatarpur, and Jaso. Chhatarpur went to the Ponwar Rajputs in 1785.

In 1680 Devi Singh Bundela was made governor of the Chanderi, and the city remained in the hands of his family until it was captured in 1811 by Jean Baptiste Filose for the Maratha ruler Daulat Rao Sindhia of Gwalior.

After 1802, the Bundela rulers entered into treaties of subsidiary alliance with the British, and became princely states of the Central India Agency. Orchha, Datia, Panna, Ajaigarh, Charkhari, and Jaso were ruled by the Bundelas until 1950, shortly after Indian Independence, when the Bundela rulers acceded to the Government of India.

Rulers

At Orchha

The Mughal commander Khan Dauran receiving the heads of Jujhar Singh and his son Bikramajit on January 1636 after the Siege of Orchha.

• Raja Rudra Pratap (1501–1531)
• Raja Bharatichand (1531–1554)
• Raja Madhukarshah (1554–1592)
• Raja Vir Singh Deo (Bir Singh Deo) (1592–1627)
• Raja Jujhar Singh (1627–1636)
• Raja Devi Singh (1635–1641)
• Raja Pahar Sing 1641-1653)
• Raja Sujan Singh I 1653-1672)
• Raja Indramani Singh 1672-1675)
• Raja Jashwant Singh 1675-1684)
• Raja Bhagwat Singh (1684–1689)
• Raja Udwat Singh (1689–1735)
• Raja Prithvi Singh (1735–1752)
• Raja Sanwant Singh (1752–1765)
• Raja Hati Singh (1765–1768)
• Raja Man Singh (1768–1775)
• Raja Bharti Singh (1775–1776)
• Raja Vikramajit (1776–1817) died 1834.
• Raja Dharam Pal (1817–1834) died 1834.
• Raja Vikramajit (restored 1834)
• Raja Tej Singh (1834–1841)
• Raja Sajjan Singh (1841–1854)
• Maharaja Hamir Singh (raja 1854-1865, maharaja 1865-March 15, 1874)
• Maharaja Pratap Singh (June 1874-March 3, 1930) born 1854, died 1830.
• Maharaja Vir Singh (March 4, 1930-acceded January 1, 1950) born 1899, died 1956.

At Panna

• Chhatra Sal (died 1732)
• Raja Harde Sah (1731–1739)
• Raja Sabha Singh (1739–1752)
• Raja Aman Singh (1752–1758)
• Raja Hindupat Singh (1758–1778)
• Raja Anirudh Singh (1778–1779)
• interregnum 1779-1785)
• Raja Dhokal Singh (1785–1798)
• Raja Kishor Singh (1798–1834)
• Raja Harbans Rai (1834–1849)
• Maharaja Mahendra Nirpat Singh (1849–1870)
• Maharaja Rudra Pratap Singh (1870–1893) born 1848.
• Maharaja Mahendra Lokpal Singh (1893–1898)
• Maharaja Mahendra Madho Singh (1898–1902)
• Maharaja Mahendra Yadvendra Singh (1902-January 1, 1963) born 1893.
• Maharaja Mahendra Narendra singh (1963-...............) born 29 May 1915
• Maharaja Mahendra Manvendra singh

See also

• Bundelkhand
• Rajputs
• Dauwa ahirs
• Madhya Pradesh

References

• "Bundelkhand Agency". The Imperial Gazetteer of India, Vol. 9. Oxford at Clarendon Press. 1909. p. 74-77. http://dsal.uchicago.edu/reference/gazetteer/pager.html?objectid=DS405.1.I34_V09_080.gif. 
• "British Bundelkhand". The Imperial Gazetteer of India, Vol. 9. Oxford at Clarendon Press. 1909. p. 68-74. http://dsal.uchicago.edu/reference/gazetteer/pager.html?objectid=DS405.1.I34_V09_074.gif.