The Annals of Rajputana

Col. James Todd’s Annals and Antiquities of Rajasthan describes Rajputana through History, Geography, Mythology, Folklores, Veer Gathas, Traditions, Cultures, Heritage, Rules, Valour and its people. However, one must remember that he was commissioned to write the narrative and his resources are not based on historical evidence. However, it is worth a read and very interesting. The following excerpts are from his book. Please take note that Todd's accounts are based on hearsay, stories and commissioned by royals and hence aren't treated as historically accurate. However, his book is important as it is the first English-language book to have extensive work done on Rajputana.

Rajputs are commonly believed to be people from Rajasthan, however, their branches have spread far and wide into Punjab, Gujrat, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Maharastra and even parts of Bengal. The initial origination-based clans/tribes had been subdivided first in the book Prithvirajraso by Chand Bardai, but however, James Todd, in his Annals and Antiquities of Rajasthan had made extensive research from various sources to conclude the subdivisions as follows.

Image result for historical map of Rajputana

The 36 Tribes of Rajputana (Land of the Rajputs)

1. Ishkvaku/ Ishku/ Suryavansh/ Raghuvansh

2. Indu/Soma/Chandravansh

3. Yadu Vansh

4. Twar

5. Rathores

6. Cushwaha/Kutchwaha

7. Pramara/Parmers/Punwars

8. Chahomans/Chauhans

9. Chalukya/Solanki

10. Parihars/Parihara

11. Chawura

12.Tak/Tauks/Takshak-Naga

13. Jitt/Jatt/Gete

14. Huns/Hoons

15. Kalti

16. Bhalla

17. Jhalla

18. Jaitwa/Kamari

19. Guhils

20. Sarvuya

21. Silars

22. Dabi

23. Gor

24. Doda/Dor

25. Gherwal

26. Birgoojur

27. Sehgar

28. Sikerwal

29. Byce

30. Dahiya

31. Johya

32. Mohil

33. Nicoompa

34. Rajpali

35. Dahima

36. Hool/Dahiryas

We are here by mentioning some tribes and their relevant info as found in the book.

Image result for yadu vansh

Puranic Lineages

Yadu Clan:

The Subdivisions of the Yadu Clan:

1. Yadu – from Kerowli, Rajasthan.

2. Bhatti/Bhattiyani – Jaisalmer, Rajasthan.

3. Jareja – Kutch/Bhuj, Gujrat

4. Sumaitcha – Sindh, Now Pakistan.

5. Mudaicha

6. Bidmun

7. Budda

8. Soha

The last four tribes are believed to have merged with other tribes and lost their uniqueness with time hence, the places of existence remain untraceable.

Suryakulas (Mewar, Marwar, Amber):

Marwar:

Genealogically, they claim that they are the descendants of Kush, the second son of Rama. However, they claim to be descendants of Rishi Kashyap from his wife Diti, mother to the tribe of Devtas. Seoji founded the Rathore Dynasty in Marwar on the ruins of the Pariharas of Mandore, which derives its name from its princess Mandodari, wife to Ravana. Rao Jodha had decided to move the dynasty from Madnore and founded Mehrangarh, the city of the sun, the present Jodhpur fort.

The Rathores have 24 sub tribes, some of them are as follows:

1.Dhandul

2. Bhadail

3. Chachit

4. Doohuria

5. Kokra

6. Baddora

7. Chajira

8. Ramdev

9. Kabria

10. Hatoondia

11. Malavat

12. Soondu

13. Kataicha

14. Muholi

15. Gogadeva

16. Mahaicha

17. Jaisingha

18. Moorsia

19. Jobsia

20. Jora

Meera Bai, the saint Poetess, Rao Dudha, Rao Maldeo Rathore, Jaimal Rathore, Kalla Rathore (Chittor seize) are all from this clan.

Amber:

The dynasty at Amber is of the Kacchwaha Rajputs. They are also the lineage of Kush, as per their records however their pedigree trace back is very vague to conclude them as Suryavanshis. Notable are Bhagwan Das, Raja Man Singh, Harka Bai (wife to Akbar), Maan Bai (wife to Jehangir) Raja Jai Singh (founder of Jaipur)

Mewar:

The lineage claims to trace back to Rama’s eldest son Labh, who founded Lah-kot (present Lahore). The lineage of the Mewaris trace back to Kanaksen who moved to Dwarka, Saurashtra from Lah-Kot. After their expulsion from the Sultanate in Saurashtra, the clan moved to the Ahar Valley (Aravallis). Kanaksen wrestled dominance of the Pramaras and founded Birnagar in 144AD. Four generations hence, Vijay Sen founded Vijaypura (Present Dholka, Saurashtra) and Vidurba (Seehor) His capital was at Balabhipura/Balbhi, 10 miles northwest of Bhoonager.

It is after the sack of Balbhi around 524AD that the Guhilot branch moved to the Aravalllis near Kumbhalmer (Kumbhalgarh). Bappa Rawal established Chittorgarh as the capital while Rana Kumbha extended the seat of power back to Kumbhalgarh. Rana Udai Singh shifted it to modern Udaipur.

The Mewar Royals used "Sen" after their name till the Guhilots started using Aditya, meaning sun which was changed by Kal Bhoj to Rawat. The term Rana came much later in the late 12th Century from a Parihara prince of Mandore who surrendered both title and capital to the ruler of Mewar. Rawal is still used in Dungerpura and Jaisalmer states.

Legend says that Shiladitya fell to the Sultan of Gajni (Present Khambat) and his pregnant queen Parmer princess Pushpavati escaped from Balbhi to the Aravallis where he gave birth to Guha, and handed him to a Brahmin lady from Birnagar, Kamlavati. After Guha, the dynasty came to be known as Guhilots. Guha with the help of Bhils founded his empire. However, until the 8th generation from Guha after the Bhils assassinated Nagaditya, Bappa Rawal, his son became the founder of a new Mewar after a brief rule of the Mori - Parmer Rajputs.

The Sisodia branch springs from a prince of Chittor who had managed to hunt a hare (sissoo) a hard-to-catch animal. They are also known as Ranawat or the “Royal Blood” but Seesodia made itself famous through its’ brave sons.

Rana Ratan Singh, Rana Kumbha, Rana Sanga, Rana Pratap Singh, Rana Raj Singh, Patta are all Bravehearts from this dynasty. Presently this dynasty is the oldest surviving dynasty in India. Shivaji Raje Bhosale's family to is a direct offspring of one of Bappa Rawal's branches.

AgniKulas (Parmers, Solankis and Chauhans):

The following tribes/Sub tribes are considered Agnikulas.

1. Parmers/Punwars

2. Pariharas

3. Chaluk

4. Solanki

5. Chauhans

Parmars:

The Parmers were the first Agnivanshis to become warriors from their original professions of trade. The family name moved all over Maheswar, Dhar, Mandu, Oojain (Ujjain), Chandrabhaga, Chittorgarh, Mt. Abu, Chanravati, Parmavati, Umarkot, Bekher, Lodurva, and Pattan leaving its traces of names everywhere. However, the Parmers never became significant rulers like the Chauhans or Solankis.

The Prince of Umarkot, who had sheltered Humayun and in his fort Akbar was born, was also a Parmer Rajput.

The Rao of Bijoli (Bijolia, Rajasthan) was one of the 16 superior nobles in the court of Mewar’s Rana. They are regarded as “Dhar”Punwars and are the most respected clan of Punwars.

The Mori dynasty or Mauryas are also an off branch of the Parmers, from the maternal side. They ruled Chittorgarh, along with the Parmers ruling Bhilwara before Bappa Rawal’s rule.

There are 35 Sub Tribes of the Parmers. The chief ones are :

1. Mori/ Mauryas – Rulers of Chittorgarh prior to the Guhilots.

2. Soda- Sogdi of Alexander, Prince of Dhatt

3. Sankla – from Poogul, Marwar

4. Khyr – From Kyraloo

5. Umra/Sumra/ Amra – branch of Mahamadans

6. Vehil/Behil – Chandravati

7. Maipawut – The chiefs of Bijolia

8. Bulhar – The northern desserts.

9. Kaba – from Saurastra/ Sirowi

10.Omuta – From Malwa

Maharani Ajabdeh Baisa, wife to Rana Pratap Singh, and mother to Rana Amar Singh was an offspring of the Punwar Rajputs of Bijolia. Ranisaheb Saibai Nimbalker Bhosale's family too was a part of the Panwar dynasty. She was wife to Shivaji Raje Bhosale and mother to Sambha Ji.

Chauhans:

The Chauhans were originally the chieftains of Ajmer, Rajasthan. They rose to power as prominent chieftains of the Hindu rulers of Delhi, and Prithviraj Chauhan, whose mother was a princess, was chosen to rule by his heirless maternal grandfather thus uplifting the status of the Chauhans.

The Sub tribes of the Chauhans are:

1.Chauhans

2. Hada

3. Khichi

4. Songara

5. Deora

6. Pabia

7. Sanchora

8. Goelwal

9. Bhadoria

10. Nurbhan

11. Malani

12. Purbaii

13.Sura

14.Madrachetcha

15.Sanraetcha

16. Bhooratcha

17. Balatcha

18. Tussairah

19. Chacharah

20. Rosaiah

21.Chundu

22. Nacoompah

23. Bhawur

24. Bankut

Solankis:

Originating from Lahkut they are sometimes believed to be actually subdivisions of the Rathore clan in Kanauj. In Mewar, they rank second as a class of chieftains from Roopangarh, only after the Chundawats.

The Subdivisions of Solankis are:

1. Bhagela – Bhagelkhand, Bandugarh, Pitapura, adalauj

2. Beerpura – Lunawarra

3. Behila – Kubanpura in Mewar (Rao of Salumber)

4. Bhoorta

5. Kalachi – Baru, Tehra, Chahir in Jaisalmer.

6. Langaha- Multan

7. Togru- Muslim clan in Punjab

8. Briku

9. Surki – Dekkhan (Deccan)

10. Sirwureah- Girnar (chief rulers)

11. Raoka – Jaipur

12. Ranibia – Daisoori, Mewar

13. Kharura – Malwa

14. Tantia – Salumbari

15. Almetcha

16. Kulamor - Gujrat

Comments

The Groom Abductor

She was sitting inside the Palace at Dwarka. Her brothers were busy attending to guests. The Prince of Hastinapur had arrived that day with a proposal for her elder brothers. Being aloof from political scenarios the young princess, the only sister to her two brothers was not bothered. She hated the sight of the prince who troubled her aunt and cousins back in Hastinapur. But he was her brother's student and hence a favourite at Dwarka. A maid came in a hurry and informed, " There is good news Rajkumari. Your wedding has been fixed to the Prince of Hastinapur, Suyodhan by your eldest brother" Shocked she could not speak. Her brother did not bother to ask for her opinion. Her childish anger overcame her as she rushed to her other brother, the one who always had the way. Crying she reached his chambers where his wife Rukmini was present. Seeing his dearest sister cry Rukmini got up worried from her seat. "What is wrong, sister? Why are you crying?" " Where ...

Bijolia: Her Home

Bijolia is situated in the current Bhilwara district of the state of Rajasthan, 55KMs from Bundi town and 105 km from Chittorgarh on the Bundi-Chittor Road. Previously, a part of Mewar this small town has its own history and tales. For a start, it was ruled by the Punwars or Parmer Rajputs from the 11th to the 13th Century. In the 13th Century, it went under the rule of the Chauhan dynasty who made a fort at Bhilwara and thus the capital of Bijolia shifted from Bijolia town to Bhilwara fort. The Punwars sought refuge in Mewar. The Chauhan rule ended soon and Rana Kumbha brought Bijolia under Mewar's rule. The Parmers served as Rao in Bijolia as a representative of the Mewar Royals. The Bijolia Inscriptions are equally famous but sadly the town is not a tourist site especially if you travel by bus or car. The Jain Temples that are made around the 14th and 15th centuries are an example of Mewar's rich architecture. There is no good place to stay in Bijolia. A few hotels and guest...

Symphony of Love

A week was enough for the master to be pleased enough with the new student to tell the Sultan that she was ready for her first performance. The Sultan was extremely pleased and rewarded him with a gold chain. As the master bowed to leave, the guards announced the arrival of the chief queen. Sultan Baz Bahadur sat upright. She was his first bride, a childhood alliance his father had forced upon him when he did not even know what marriage implied. Now he only saw her face when she had complaints about the inner palace and its inhabitants. Honestly, he expected her to be there since Roopmati arrived. His queen did not like changes, especially if those changes were threatening to her position. The Chief Queen arrived with her maids, dismissed them at the threshold and came up to her husband to bow and greet him. “What brings you here?” Baz Bahadur asked, with a lingering smile on his lips. The queen could hear the hint of taunt in his voice. She forced a smile. Her marriage to this r...

The Reva Cries

Roopmati had watched the troops leave. She had stood behind the chief queen as she traditionally bid goodbye to her sons. She had waited for the Sultan to come to her. He did. He was confident that the sudden advancement of Akbar’s foster brother Adham Khan could be curbed. It was not war, just precaution. He reassured her. Malwa would never bow to the Timurids. And he would not let anything happen to her. To Her. Roopmati felt suffocated by her husband’s affectionate hug. She felt trapped in the scrutinising eyes of all the people in the palace. Angry, blaming eyes. She tried to pace herself and sing, but her voice cracked in fear. Her melody was drowned in tears. Every evening, a messenger would come to the chief queen with the news of war. Roopmati was kept in the darkness. She was not told about anything. She knew the rumours. She was a witch. A temptress who caused doom to the Sultan of Malwa. She was a spy of the enemy planted in his life to destroy him. She wondered if he came b...

Jauhar: All You Need to Know

“We have no Knowledge of the beginning and end of the world, the first and last of this ancient book has fallen out” Abu Talib Karim Rightly said by the poet laureate of Emperor Shah Jahan above, we do not actually know the beginning and end of anything in the universe, be it the traditions, culture or human race, or the world. What we know are fragments of the past we extract out of evidence. It is in vain to try and determine the first and last of something. For the past few months owing to some media hype on Jauhar, many of you had asked me questions. I tried to answer most of them. However, a lot remained unsaid and unwritten. Mostly because some things are impossible to put into words. But here I try my best. Today is a very significant day in history. On the 23 rd of February 1568, the world saw the last “Jauhar” of Chittorgarh, recorded in the medieval history of India. Akbar had invaded Mewar and the siege of four months ended in the Saka. There was no better day for...

One Bullet? Not Enough!

“NOTHING COMES WITHOUT SELF SACRIFICE... NEVER GIVE UP, EVEN IF WE FACE OUR OWN END...” ~ Matangini Hazra The year was 1869. For most of India, it is famous as the year when Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi was born to change the face of India's struggle for freedom. But in a corner of Undivided Bengal, the villagers of Hogla in Tamluk, the district capital of Medinipur, witnessed the birth of a girl child to Thakurdas Maity and his wife Bhagabati Devi. One can only imagine the birth of a girl child to a loan-ridden poor peasant in a village back then perhaps meant no celebration. It meant the burden, of having no heir, providing for this child and of course arranging for her dowry. She was named Matangini literally meaning “The Female Elephant” but a name attributed to the consort of Lord Shiva, Adi Shakti. The Birth Place of Matangini is now renovated into this building. Courtesy: Midnapore. in The official records show her date of birth as the 17th of Novem...

Maharana Pratap: The Sun of Mewar

Many of you have read my fan fiction as well as historical representations of the life and times of Maharana Pratap Singh of Mewar. I provided small details of his life in many articles. But never have I ever made a separate historical post on him. It is very difficult to put together his life without the help of folklore because historical evidence is scarce. This one was requested and hence here it goes. Needless to say, this one is very special. This is a blend of history and folklore. Leave your love. ❤️ Background and Birth: The year was 1540. Mewar was under a cloud of uncertainty. Banbir, their ruler for four years now, was a very incompetent ruler who always spent his time in luxury, drinking and dancing with girls. The crown prince Udai Singh was rumoured to be killed by him. Chittorgarh was in darkness. Around March 1540, Mewar once again saw hope as some trusted generals along Mewar with Kunwar Udai Singh attacked Chittorgarh taking Banbir by surprise. He was soon to re...

The Kaali Effect

!!BOOM!! The shopping mall echoed with a noise. The buzz grew silent. Fear crept in. Until somebody shouted, " It's just a Baloon!" The buzz grew again, the shopping continued, the romantic couples continued their walks, and the food court filled up with the aroma of the orders... A few decades back people used to laugh carefree at a balloon bursting or a tyre booming in the streets or in various crowded areas. Now in the back of everyone's head, a loud noise always brings the same thoughts... Another year, Another city, Another crowded place, Several innocent lives. They don't spare religious places too. For the sake of mankind? Religion? Politics? Power? They only know. Who are they? Nobody knows. It is said the demon Kaali who ushered in KaliYug decided to reside in a few things. Addiction, Wealth, Desire, and Anger are some such things he resides in. This is KaliYug where an innocent child's balloon makes adults fear the extremes. What is dharma here? We...

Baz Bahadur's Decision

Upon the scenes of Malwa’s plains Reva meanders in ripples and waves, She witnesses stories only she could tell Of Love, revenge, lust and pain. The Reva blessed the land with her fertility and nurturing. She also stood witness to the thousands of stories, known and unknown, told and untold on its banks. Here is a tale the Reva tells hundreds of years later as she meanders still through the land that was once called Malwa. Hunting had from time immemorial been the pursuit of entertainment for many royals. The luxury of hunting for pleasure was only reserved for the rich and powerful and the king often accompanied by his friends would visit the forestlands on the bank of the Reva for the sighting of deer, boars and if they were lucky enough then even tigers. His ears were alert enough to observe the rustling of leaves in the winter afternoon or the call of a barking deer nearby. The chirping birds witnessed the hunting party galloping through the forest, trying to stay low a...

Bhangarh: Legend of a Ghost Town

The Legend: The city of Bhangarh was made of spectacular structures and wonderful architecture. The Prince of Amber, Madho Singh was gifted this city by his Uncle Bhagwan Das who was the ruler of Amber. The fort was originally built by Bhagwan Das in 1573A.D. during the rule of Akbar. Madho Singh was a cousin brother to Empress Mariam Ur Zamani (Harka Bai) and a courtier of his Brother-in-law Akbar. Madho Singh moved into this spectacular city with his family. The fort of Bhangarh was just ahead of Pratap Garh and Ajab Garh and its large gate was guarded by the Lord Hanuman Dev Temple. The year was 1613AD, Jahangir was the Emperor of the subcontinent. Madho Singh Madho Singh's family and lineage stayed back in the city of 200 households. The Princess of Bhangarh, Ratnavati was a mesmerizing beauty. Such was her beauty that upon entering her late teen marriage proposals flooded from all over Rajputana. Young competent and brave Princes and Kings of several kingdoms wan...

A Journey To Discover Life

Search This Blog