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Rajput clans

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File:RadheShyam07.jpg
Lord Krishna was from chandravanshi lineage

The Rajputs are a a martial race and are the Hindu Princely Caste belonging to the Kshatriya or warrior varna. Apart from being an important factor in the social life of the Rajputs themselves, their clan system is also of interest for certain other reasons: land tenure studies in the Indian state of Rajasthan and tracing of ancient population shifts are only two fields where this topic would be of interest.

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,The Chandravanshi or Lunar dynasty lineage claims descent from Chandra (Moon or Budh). Hindu Chandra-Dynasty in English is known as Lunar Dynasty;
    1. The Yaduvanshi lineage are the major sub-branch of the Chandravanshi lineage. Lord Krishna was born a Yaduvanshi, who in turn ware from Chandravanshi dynasty.
    2. The PuruVanshi lineage, are sub branch of chandra vanshi rajputs. The Kurus and Pandus of Mahabharata war were Puruvanshis.
  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.

The Hindu God Rama belonged to Raghuvanshi kula /Raghav (one of the main branch of Suryavansha or Sun Dynasty) and God Krishna belonged to Chandravanshi or Lunar Dynasty. There were other dynasties also at the time of Rama and Krishna and Buddha. It is not necessary for every Rajput to belong to any particular one of these dynasties. They are listed and recorded for their outstanding record. There are many dynasties in India and out of it of Kshatriyas who were later known as Rajputs Some scholars also include Nagavanshi and Rishivanshi as separate lineages. The "Yaduvanshi"(yadav) lineage is actually a major branch of the "Chandravanshi" lineage: the Hindu god Krishna belonged to the Chandravansha, and his supposed descendents from the Yadav clan; others who claim descent from the moon-god but not from Krishna form the existing chandravansha lineage.

Clan organization

Maharana Pratap, a Sisodia ruler

Each of these Vanshas 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 Vansha. Some of these thirty-six main clans are further subdivided into shakhas or "branches", again based on the same principle of patrilineage.

Each shakha or basic sub-clan has its individual genealogical creed, describing the essential peculiarities, religious tenets and original domicile of the clan. This creed is a touchstone of traditional affinities and also provides all information governing the laws of intermarriage.


There are thirty-six rajput clans. The following are further subdivided:Bargujar (Raghav), Bais, Guhila (Gehlot), Parmar, Chauhan, Nirwan, Paramara or Panwar,Solanki, Rathore,Tomar/ Tanwar, Kachwaha. 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, Dodiagh

Major clans

Mair Rajputs

Mair Rajput or Mede Rajput (Punjabi language pronunciation) is the name of a oldest warriors from Aryan community of India. Mair, Meyer, Meir, Mayr, Medes and Khmer are same surname all over the World, many of them are Catholic, Jews and Muslim. In India Mair Rajputs are Hindu/Sikh by religion and comprise of the warrior race of Rajputs who had migrated from the regions of Ajmer-Merwara and Rajputana thousands of years ago. originally related to Mehrgarh, (Urdu: م‍ﮩ‍رگڑھ ) one of the most important Neolithic (7000 BCE to c. 2500 BCE) sites in archaeology, with the movement of the armies that brought Rajput rule over many parts of the country many in other times due to Islamic invasions on their homeland of Ajmer-Merwara (in present day Rajasthan) and had settled down in all over world several hundred years ago. According to Bhagvata, Mair Kshatriyas are one of the oldest. Mair Kshatriyas from Brahamaji vanshavali King Ajmeerd, Ajmer Jesalmer Badmer are some of ancient cities of mer or mair kshatriyas. After Golden age the Mahabharat fall of the Mairs Empire a power vacuum shortly existed in the region.(In the Sanskrit Mahabharat The Word MAIRBHUTI used for Rajas so many times), Kurukshetra War against the Kauravas which is detailed in the Hindu epic, the Mahabharata. In this war, the Kshatriyas assumed the role of warriors for either side of the battle,Dispersal and dissolving of Mairs resulted in a foreign forces invasion of most of India Many Kshatriyas/rajput were unemployed and wanted in the country by the Semitic intruders, so many were arrested and thereafter they were killed or kept as slave. Ancient Median Empires also belongs Indian mair kshatriyas.The Medes are credited with the foundation of the first Iranian empire, the largest of its day until Cyrus the Great established a unified Iranian empire of the Medes and Persians, often referred to as the Achaemenid Persian Empire, by defeating his grandfather and overlord, Astyages the shah of Media.

Sisodia

The Sisodias suryavanshi Rajputs were also known as the Ranas of Mewar, old Ranas states are to be found in many parts of India, and Nepal. The earliest history of the clan calims that they had moved from Lahore that was also known as 'Lohkot' or 'Lavasthali' to Shiv Desh, or Chitor in V.S 191. In V.S 193 their ancestor Maharaja Kanak sen whose 21 had ruled over Lahore. Later he also defeated the Kushan Satrap Rudradama who ruled over Gujarat had moved to Gujarat on a punitive expedition against Dihraj Dev Parmar the ruler of Idar (Gujarat). There he established his capital Vallabhi. They trace their descent from Bappa Rawal, purported scion of the Guhilot or Guhila or Gehlot or Gahlot clan, who established himself as ruler of Mewar in 734 AD, ruling from the fortress of Chittor (or Chittorgarh). According to legend and clan history, Bappa grew up as a cowherd in the town of Kailashpuri (now Eklingji) but spent much of his time studying the Vedas in the hermitage of the sage Harita Rishi. He learned to respect Lord Eklingji, and later Harita Rishi gave him the title of the Diwan of Eklingji, one that has become a legacy for the succeeding maharanas. When he was 15 Bappa came to know that he was the nephew of the ruler of Chittor who had been ousted by the ruler of Malwa. He left Kailashpuri, went to the fortress city of Chittor and snatched his kingdom back from the prince of Malwa, Man Singh Mori. In the 9th century bad luck fell upon the Gehlots who were driven away by the Pratiharas who in turn made way for the Rashtrakutas and Paramaras

Bhati

Bhati Rajputs are a chandravansh Rajput clan from the Jaiselmer region of western Rajasthan. The Maharajas of Jaisalmer trace their lineage back to Jaitsimha, a ruler of the Bhati Rajput clan. The major opponents of the Bhati Rajputs were the powerful Rathor clans of Jodhpur and Bikaner. They used to fight battles for the possession of forts, waterholes or cattle. Jaisalmer was positioned strategically and was a halting point along a traditional trade route traversed by the camel caravans of Indian and Asian merchants. The route linked India to Central Asia, Egypt, Arabia, Persia, Africa and the West.Bhati Rajputs were proficient horse riders,marksman and warriors. Their reign spread to the Punjab,Sindh and beyond, to Afghanistan. The City of Ghazni was named after a brave Bhatti warrior. In Lahore, a monument exists to this day, which is called the Bhati Gate, named so probably because it opens in the direction of the "Sandal Bar", an area ruled by Rai Sandal Khan Bhati Rajput.They earned too much by imposing the taxes levies on the passing Carvans.they were known as a great shooter with Gun.

Jadeja

Jadeja(Gujarati: જાડેજા Hindi: जाडेजा) is the name of a major clan of (Yadav)[1] Yaduvanshi[citation needed][1] or Chandravanshi Rajputs. The Chandravanshi[2], claiming descent from Chandra, the Hindu Moon-god, in English known as the Lunar Dynasty. They ruled huge parts of Kathiawar peninsula and Kutch as kings and princes for several centuries.

Rathore

Rathore(राठौड़) The Rathore or Rathor or Rathod is a Rajput tribe of India. Rathors in India are a Suryavansh Rajput clan from the Marwar region of western Rajasthan, inhabiting Idar state of Gujarat and also the Chhapra and Muzaffarpur districts of Bihar in very small numbers. In India, their native languages are Hindi and its dialects (such as Rajasthani, Marwari and other languages of Rajasthan, Gujarati and Kutchi in Gujarat, as well as Punjabi in the Punjab a dialect of Punjabi called Rathi spoken in Ratia and Tohana in present day Haryana.Rathore are the people from the west Rajasthan. Rathore's have many gotras, most of these gotras are from the name of the great warriors of the past and gotras are being used by their family members. Some of these gotras are: Jodha, Bidawat, Banirot, Champawat, mertiya and so forth. Rathore's were said to be the worshipers of sun. To understand the huge clan of Rathore's we will have understand their areas they occupy. Rathore's of Jodhpur were supreme in present districts such as - Jodhpur, Pali, Ajmer, Nagaur, Barmer, Sirohi. Rathore,s of Bikaner were occupant of the area that included districts Bikaner, Churu, Ganganagar, Hanumangarh. Dynasties belonging to this clan ruled a number of kingdoms and princely states in Rajasthan and neighbouring states before India's independence in 1947. The largest and oldest among these was Jodhpur, in Marwar and Bikaner. Also the Idar State in Gujrat. The Maharaja of Jodhpur, is regarded as the head of the extended Rathore clan of Hindu Rajputs. Even in the modern times the clout of this clan in the democratic world is such that a large number of MLAs and MPs have been elected from among them.

Katoch

The Katoch clan is considered to be one of the oldest surviving clan in the world. They first find mention in the mythological Hindu epic The Mahabharta and the second mentions in the recorded history of Alexander the Great's war records. One of the Indian kings who fought Alexander on the river Beas was a Katoch king Parmanand Chandra famously known as Porus. In past centuries, they ruled several princely states in the region. The originator of the clan was Rajanaka Bhumi Chand. Their famous Maharaja Sansar Chand-II was a great ruler. The ruler Rajanaka Bhumi Chand Katoch founded the Jwalaji Temple (now in Himachal Pradesh).

Nirwan

The Nirwan (also spelled as Chauhan) Their state was initially centered around khetri, khandela, alsisar malsisar,srimadhopur, alwar, jhunjhunu, sikar, churu, According to legend and clan history, the Nirwan are with Maharana Pratap against Akbar in Haldighati Battle. Nirwan's have many gotras, most of these gotras are Baloji, Pithoraji, Kaluji.Nirwan gotra is also found in yadavs[2] and jats.[3]

Kachwaha

The Kachwaha (also spelled as Kachavāhā,Kacchavahas, Kachhawa, Kuchhwaha & Kushwah including Kacchapghata, Kakutstha, and Kurma) are a Suryavanshi Rajput clan who ruled a number of kingdoms and princely states in India such as Alwar, Maihar, Talcher, while the largest and oldest state was Amber (city) later known as Jaipur. The Pachrang flag of the former Jaipur state. Prior to the adoption of the Pachrang (five coloured) flag by Raja Man Singh I of Amber, the original flag of the Kachwahas was known as the 'Jharshahi' (tree-marked) flagJaipur(Jainagara), an extension of the old kingdom of Amber, was founded by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II in 1727.The Maharaja of Jaipur is regarded as the head of the extended Kachwaha clan. Overall, sub-clans of the Kachwaha number around 71. Prominent sub-clans of the Kachhawa clan include: Rajawat, Shekhawat, Sheobramhpota, Naruka, Nathawat, Khangarot and Kumbhani. The Kachhawas belong to the Suryavanshi lineage, which claims descent from the Surya and Sun Dynasty of the ancient Kshatriyas. Specifically, they claim descent from Kusha[1] younger of the twin sons of Rama, hero of the Ramayana, to whom patrilineal descent from Surya is in turn ascribed. Indeed, the name Kachawaha is held by many[2] to be a patronymic derived from the name "Kusha". Prominent Sub-clans are Shekhawat, Naruka, Rajawat, Nathawat, Kalyanot, Jamwal, Minhas, Manhas, Baghel, Jasrotia, Nindar.

Solankis

Solankis were descended from the Chalukyas of Karnataka who ruled much of peninsular India between the 6th and 12th centuries. In the 10th century, a local branch of the clan established control over Gujarat and ruled a state centered around the town of Patan. They went into decline in the 13th century and were displaced by the Vaghela.

Paramaras

Paramara were near-neighbours of the Solankis. They originated as feudatories of the Rashtrakutas and rose to power in the 10th century. They ruled Malwa and the area at the border between present-day Gujarat and Rajasthan. Bhoja, the celebrated king of Malwa, belonged to this dynasty. In the 12th century, the Paramaras declined in power due to conflict with the Solankis and succumbed to attack from the Delhi sultanate in 1305.

Dhudhi

Dhudhi is a sub-clan of Parmaras ,they are one of the bravest and turbulant clan of Rajputs.They are mostly found in the Bar regions of sutlej and beas now in pakistan. most of them are muslims.when Dehli empire was braking up they spread along the rivers , one of them Hazrat Haji Sher Muhammad was a saint whose shrine in multan division near burewalla is still renowned.Hazrat Shah Hussain Lahori also belongs to this clan.Many wars were waged by them during the time of Mughal emperors and in British Raj. According to the puranas their geneological tree starts from Raja Vikaramajeet and Raja Jagdev of Dharanagar and Raja Bhoj.

The Rever's were of the State of Tarangagadh. The sword of Rever is known in the history of war in 11th century. They ruled Taranga and the area at the border between present-day Gujarat and Rajasthan belonged to this dynasty.

Chandelas

In the early 10th century, the Chandelas ruled the fortress-city of Kalinjar. A dynastic struggle (c.912-914 CE) among the Pratiharas provided them with the opportunity to extend their domain. They captured the strategic fortress of Gwalior (c.950) under the leadership of Dhanga (ruled 950-1008).

Tomars or Tanwars

Tomar or Tuvars, or Tanwars, are Chandravanshi Rajputs, and descended from Mahabharat's great hero, Arjun, through his son Abhimanyu, and grandson, Parikshat. Chakravarti Samrat (King) Yudhishtra, founded Indraprastha, present day Delhi. Tomars (King Anangpal Tomar) conquered and re-established the Delhi Kingdom in CE 792 and founded the city of 'Dhillika,' (modern Delhi). Besides Delhi, Tomar's rule covered western U.P. and most of present day Haryana and Punjab. Tomar's rule lasted until CE 1162 when last Tomar King Anangpal II appointed Prithviraj Chauhan, his grandson (his daughter's son), and King of Ajmer- as 'catetaker,' since his own sons were very young at that time. According to the accounts kept by Tomar/ Tanwar 'Jagas,' King Anangpal Tomar appointed Prithviraj Chauhan as caretaker only when he went on a religious pilgrimage. It is also said by Tanwar 'Jagas' that when King Anangpal returned, Prithviraj refused to hand over the kingdom to him. It is worth mentioning that 'Jagas' are a caste in Rajasthen who are hereditary keepers of genealogical records of Rajputs, and present 'Jagas' of Tomar/Tanwar Rajputs reside near Jaipur, Rajasthan.

Dhanetiya

In A.D.685 Chakravarti Manik Rae Chauhan who we consider as the founder of the great chauhan recovered Ajmer and Sambhar in Rajputana. Prithviraj chauhan , the descendant of Manik rae chauhan emperor of Northern India. He has many progeny, he established many dynasties throughout rajwaras father of the various tribes such as Dhanetiya,Bhaduria etc.these all are the descendant of Manik Rae Chauhan.These are all emerged from Agni that’s why known as Agnivanshi or Agnikulas. Mostly having the Vatsa gotras.Dhanetiya's setteled at shahabhad in kota laterly they came under hada's of koth or kota

Chauhans

Chauhans originated as feudatories of the Pratiharas and rose to power in the wake of the decline of that power. Their state was initially centered around Sambhar in present-day Rajasthan. In the 11th century, they founded the city of Ajmer which became their capital. In the 12th century, their the then King Prithviraj Chauhan acquired Delhi from his maternal grand father,the then Tomar King Anangpal II Tomar (see above under Tomars or Tanwars). Their most famous ruler was Prithviraj Chauhan, who won the First Battle of Tarain against an invading Muslim army but lost the Second Battle of Tarain the following year. This loss heralded a prolonged period of Muslim rule over northern India.

Suryavanshi

  • Ahra or Aharya
  • Bargujar :BARGUJARS originated from Ram's son lava Lavs son was badujjwal, after his name they were started to be known as badgujars(dettoriated pronucation of badujjwal) Till 11th century they ruled big part of Rajasthan including Dhundar, now called jaipur, Dausa, Alwar,JANGLADESH now called Bikaner and churu. Kachawas established them after snatching power from bargujars . They never compromised to mughal demands and fough many battels with them, thus reduced in great numbers* . sub branches are- khadad, madad, taparia, lawtamia

Bais Rajput|Bais

Rajgan Pathankot,Gurduspar,Nurpur,Kangra

Agnivanshi

[1], Ujjain, Kannauj, Nagod

Chandravanshi

File:Sursen.jpg
A portrait of Maharaja Šúraséna or Shoorsena, the grandfather of both Krishna and Pandavas.
Asia in 1200 AD, showing the Yadava Dynasty and its neighbors.

See also

References

  1. ^ http://www.experiencefestival.com/jadeja
  2. ^ http://yadavvivah.com/yadav_gotra
  3. ^ http://www.jatland.com/home/Gotras/N
  4. ^ http://www.bookrags.com/wiki/Dhangar
  5. ^ http://www.answers.com/topic/kshatriya#Chandravanshi
  • Thakur Udainarain Simha, "Kshatriya Vamshavali".
  • Jwalaprasad Mishra (1914), "Jati Bhaskara" published by Khemaraj Shrikrishnadas.
  • A. K. Warder (1972), "An Introduction to Indian Historiography".
  • Upendra Thakur (1974), "Some aspects of Ancient India History and culture"
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