The Annals of Rajputana

Col. James Todd’s Annals and Antiquities of Rajasthan describes Rajputana through History, Geography, Mythology, Folklore, 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, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Maharashtra and even parts of Bengal. The initial origination-based clans/tribes had been subdivided first in the book Prithvirajraso by Chand Bardai; however, James Todd, in his Annals and Antiquities of Rajasthan, had made extensive research from various sources to conclude the subdivisions as follows.

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, Gujarat

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 which 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, and 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 traces 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 the 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 the Guhilots. Guha, with the help of the 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, and Patta are all Bravehearts from this dynasty. Presently, this dynasty is the oldest surviving dynasty in India. Shivaji Raje Bhosale's family is a direct offspring of one of Bappa Rawal's branches.

Bappa Rawal

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 Parmars 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 Parmar 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 offshoot of the Parmars, from the maternal side. They ruled Chittorgarh, along with the Parmars 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 before 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 the wife of Shivaji Raje Bhosale and the mother of 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

Rakhi Tales

A Rakhi to the Enemy: The year was 1535 CE. The Rajmata of Mewar, widow of Rana Sanga, was in a dilemma. On one hand was an attack from Bahadur Shah of Gujarat as a threat to her capital, Chittorgarh, and the throne of her beloved teenage son Vikramaditya. On the other hand, there was the son of her husband's archenemy, Humayun, who could be of some help. Rani Karnavati wrote a letter to Humayun, who was in the east at that time. Along with it, she sent a Rakhi, a thread of brotherhood, asking him, as a sister, for protection against the enemy. But the road was too long, and time was of the essence. Humayun arrived at Chittorgarh, in response to her letter, keeping his end of the bargain but a little late. Rani Karnavati had already performed the Jauhar. They never met. Humayun established Rana Vikramaditya on the throne of Mewar, as he had promised as a brother, and returned to his post. Two dynasties, political rivals and sworn enemies, from Sanga-Babur to Pratap-Akbar and even R...

The Thirteenth Night

This is part of the "Uttara Series" You will find under the Mahabharata. The series is also available on Wattpad. The night of the Bhadra Amavasya saw a funeral pyre in the Pandavas' camp. Wails of the ladies filled the air as the young brave heart was turning into ashes. The ashes lit up a celebration in the Kauravas' camp. Duryodhan, Dushyasan, Shakuni, and Jayadrata all succeeded in their mission. Breaking the Pandavas' backbone, killing their favourite son. Karna joined in the celebrations reluctantly; he had released the boy from the pain. The face kept coming back to him. After all, he was his nephew. He shut his eyes in pain. The air tonight seemed cursed. The pyre burning made the teenage widow run towards it. She had no hope of living without him. Life was already tough; each day, he went to war with a smile on his face. She had already lost her brother. Now she had none to return home to her. "Stop!" His mother pleaded between the wails. "...

The Cortege That Shook The Raj: Kanailal Dutta

10th November, 1908 Around late morning, a procession of lacs made their way through the streets of Calcutta (Kolkata), India. Some were chanting “Vande Mataram”, others blew conch shells, and Ululation filled the air. Flowers were being showered from all directions, and garlands made their way through the crowd, being thrown at the procession in the middle. Bhagwat Gita and Ananda Math (Novel by Bamkim Chandra) were offered. No, this was no “ Sobha Jatra ” or celebration. There were no religious festivities either. That dawn, the Alipore Jail, which opened only two years back, witnessed the hanging of Kanailal Dutta, a twenty-year-old member of the “Jugantar Dol”, an anarchist group that was set up primarily by Aurobindo Ghosh (Later Rishi Aurobindo), his brother Barindra and their associates. Kanailal hailed from Chandannagore, and although he was not present in most of their meetings in Kolkata, he was still one of their early members from Chandannagore, then a French province. ...

Etched In Stone

This historical short story is a fictitious account of Ashoka, the Mauryan Emperor and his first wife Devi, who finds no place in Magadhan History. There is another fiction about her in the blog as well. This story stemmed from a merge of two ideas, one was to mention the cave inscription found in Saru Maru that mentions Asoka spending some days there with his lover (presumed to be Devi), the other idea of how if words did not immortalise a lot of battles and achievements, the names of many great men would be lost in time. The prince stood on the edge of the cliff, looking at the horizon. Dawn arrived as the birds started leaving their nests, wings fluttering, eager to discover the world. He looked up at them, the thought of once again going back to exploring the length and breadth of his state making him feel a little restless as he eyed his healing wounds. He was left to die; his enemies wished so. Yet by some miracle of fate, as if his purposes were yet to be fulfilled, here he was ...

Roopmati's Renewal

The entourage was too large and extravagant for a musician. Roopmati remembered that as a child, during festivities, she would ride on her father’s shoulder to see the entourages pass by the main streets of the town nearby. She had seen many a musician. None had such a huge entourage. Roopmati frowned a little, unsurely as she took her father’s leave. His warning rang in her ears. “Remember what you do, how you behave will all come back to me.” She nodded. The chief queen was at a loss for words. She had never seen the Sultan himself step into the Mahal to check the chambers to be allotted to one of the girls who were coming in. She was not one of the girls. She was a musician. The queens were curious. What would her position be then? She could not be a concubine, and she was not a queen. A musician in the royal palace of the ladies? Had the Sultan lost his senses? Or did he have some other agenda? If he wanted someone, he had them. He was the Sultan. There was no way he was tryin...

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 have been killed by him. Chittorgarh was in darkness. Around March 1540, Mewar once again saw hope as some trusted generals, along with Kunwar Udai Singh, attacked Chittorgarh, taking Banbir by surprise. He was soon t...

From Fire Altars to Forgotten Gods: The Chaotic Evolution of Hinduism

The Indian Subcontinent is a diverse mix of cultures, religions and traditions that make up its value system. The moment we discuss the early Indian subcontinent and its religions, long before Buddhism or Jainism came into existence or the Abrahamic religions were introduced on the western coasts by travellers and traders, long before any invasion proved any sign of forced conversion, a layman’s idea of the Indian Subcontinent is that of a single unified culture. Historically speaking, that is far from the truth. The Indian Subcontinent, since the evidence of early civilisation has been found in its river banks, like that in Bhirrana or Mehrgarh, dating back to around 6000 BCE, has never had one unifying belief through its geographic boundaries. The terms Hindu, Hindustan and many others come originally from attributed to primary sources of the Ancient West Asian civilisation. But our history starts much earlier than that. And where there is society and civilisation, there is bound to ...

Nawab E Bengal

Background: Nawab Alivardi Khan was ruling Bengal at the peak of Nawabi rule, expanding his strong empire. He had successfully suppressed the Marathas and had given a strong message to the British East India Company’s rising influence at Calcutta. Highly aware of the British Colonial policies across the globe, Nawab Alivardi Khan was strict with his policies and stronghold over Murshidabad, the then capital of Bengal (including present-day Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Orissa, and Bangladesh). He had two daughters and no sons. Amina Begum was the elder one, followed by Ghaseti Begum. Amina had three sons with her husband and courtier, Ahmed Khan. The second son, Mirza Mohammad, fondly called Siraj-Ud-Daulah (light of the country)by his grandfather, was born in 1733C.E. He was his grandfather’s favourite because he was born while he won over the Marathas. Alivardi Khan never let the “fortune child” of the family out of his sight. Siraj grew up accompanying...

The Naga Princess

The Nagas (symbolically snakes) were a tribe who were well acquainted with life in forests and on rivers. They were said to be the ones who ruled the waters. Historically speaking, the Nagas lived in the northeastern parts of Aryavarta, close to Manipur, and extended their villages up to the land of Burma. The Naga tribe staying in the current state of Nagaland are proof of this. Now, this brings us to the story. The Naga Chief was Kauravya, who ruled the waters of the Ganges. His daughter was Ulupi. Some say she was a widow at a tender age, and some say she was unmarried. The Pandava prince Arjun was roaming around Aryavarta in exile, for he had broken a promise and entered his elder brother's intimate room with their Shared wife. The punishment was this. He roamed all the way from Indraprastha to the mystic lands of Manipur and Nagaland. Ulupi, like any other princess of that time, desired the handsome and brave prince of Hastinapur. On hearing of his arrival in their land, she w...

Bijolia: Her Home

Journey to Bijolia: Lost Kingdoms and Timeless Temples of Mewar Bijoliya translates to a stop between two cities. Nestled in Rajasthan’s Bhilwara district, Bijolia sits 55km from Bundi and 105km from Chittorgarh on the well-travelled Bundi-Chittorgarh road. Once part of Mewar, this seemingly sleepy town guards a rich and layered past: it was ruled from the 11th to the 13th century by the Punwars (or Parmar Rajputs) before falling under the Chauhan dynasty, who shifted the region’s capital to Bhilwara and constructed the imposing fort there. After a brief Chauhan rule, Bijolia was reclaimed by Rana Kumbha and became an integral part of the Mewar kingdom, with the Parmars serving as local Raos, representatives and stewards of the royal house. Despite its history and the famed Bijolia inscriptions (a treasure for historians), Bijolia has never found a seat on Rajasthan’s primary tourist circuit, especially if you’re venturing out by public transport or private car. While a handful of...

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