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

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