According to the Hindu Mythology, the Rajputs of
Rajasthan were the descendants of the Kshatriyas or
warriors of Vedic India. The emergence of the Rajput
warrior clans was in the 6th and 7th centuries. Rajputs
ancestry can be divided into two: the "solar" or
suryavanshi-those descended from Rama, the hero of the
epic Ramayana, and the "lunar" or chandravanshi, who
claimed descent from Krishana, the hero of the epic
Mahabharata. Later a third clan was added, the agnikula
or fire-born, said to have emerged from the flames of a
sacrificial fire on Mt Abu.
It has been accepted that the Rajputs were divided into
thirty-six races and twenty-one kingdoms. The Rajput
clans gave rise to dynasties like Sisodias of Mewar
(Udaipur), the Kachwahas of Amber (Jaipur), the Rathors
of Marwar (Jodhpur & Bikaner), the Hadas of Jhalwawar,
Kota & Bundi, the Bhattis of Jaisalmer, the Shekhawats
of Shekhawati and the Chauhans of Ajmer.
History
Rajasthan is the north-western region of India, and has
remain independent from the great empires. Buddhism
failed to make substantial inroad here; the Mauryan
empire (321-184 BC), whose most renowned emperor, Ashoka,
Converted to Buddhism in 261 BC, had minimal impact in
Rajasthan, However, there are Buddhist caves and stupas
(Buddhist Shrines) at Jhalawar, in Southern Rajasthan.
Ancient Hindu scriptural epics make reference to sites
in present-day Rajasthan. The Holy Pilgrimage site of
Pushkar is mentioned in both the Mahabharata and
Ramayana.
Emergence of the Rajputs
The fall of the Gupta Empire, which held dominance in
northern India for nearly 300 years until the early 5th
Century, was followed by a period of instability as
various local chieftains sought to gain supremacy. Power
rose and fell in northern India. Stability was only
restored with the emergence of the Gurjara Partiharas,
the earliest of the Rajput (from 'Rajputra', or Sons of
Princes) dynasties which were later to hold the balance
of power throughout Rajasthan.
Whatever their actual origins, the Rajputs have evolved
a complex mythological genealogy. This ancestry can be
divided into two main branches: the Suryavansa, or Race
of the Sun (Solar Race), which claims direct descent
from Rama; and the Induvansa, or Race of the Moon (Lunar
race), which claims descent from Krishna, Later a third
branch was added, the Agnikula, or 'Fire Born'. These
people claim they were manifested from the flames of a
sacrificial fire on Mt.Abu From these three Principal
races emerged the 36 Rajput clans.
The Rajput clans gave rise to dynasties such as the
Chauhans, Sisodias, Kachhwahas and Rathores. Chauhans of
the Agnikula Race emerged in the 12th century and were
renowned for their valour. Their territories included
the Sapadalksha kingdom, which encompassed a vast area
including present- day Jaipur, Ranthambore, part of
Mewar, the western portion of Bundi district, Ajmer
Kishangarh and even, at one time, Delhi. Branches of the
Chauhans also ruled territories know as Ananta (in
present-day Shekhawati) and Saptasatabhumi.
The Sisodias of the Suryavansa Race, Originally from
Gujarat, migrated to Rajasthan in the mid-7th Century
and reigned over Mewar, which encompassed Udaipur and
Chittorgarh.
The Kachhwahas, originally from Gwalior in Madhya
Pradesh, travelled west in the 12th century. They built
the massive fort at Amber, and later shifted the capital
to Jaipur. Like the Sisodias, they belonged to the
Suryavansa Race.
Also belonging to the Suryavansa Race, the Rathore
(earlier known as Rastrakutas) traveled from Kanauj, in
Uttar Pradesh. Initially they settled in Pali, south of
present-day Jodhpur, but later moved to Mandore in 1381
and ruled over Marwar (Jodhpur). Later they started
building the stunning Meherangarh (fort) at Jodhpur.
Rajasthan Culture
Hindi is the official language of the state. But the
principal language is "Rajasthani", and the four major
dialects are Marwari in the west, Jaipuri in the east,
Malwi in the southeast and Mewati in the northeast. But
Hindi language is replacing Rajasthani. Moreover, you
will find English speaking people in all the major
cities, and in remote villages also you will find
someone who can speak and understand English. But other
languages are completely unknown. You may ask Tour
Operators to help you on this and they do have guides
who knows almost all the languages. |