THE ROYAL CLANS OF INDIA

The Raj Kuls of Aryavrat

There are 36 Royal Clans of Kshatriya Rajputras known as 'Chhatis Raj Kul' in India as per Chandrabardai's work Prithviraj Raso, biography of Samrat Prithviraj Chauhan, Emperor of India. Rajputras - meaning princes and princesses in Sanskrit is often used in ancient texts to describe princes of Kshatriya Raj Kul. This term is now called as Rajputs and includes lakhs of Indians who trace their ancestry to ancient martial clans of India, and are recognised as the legitimate progeny of Hindu Raja-Maharajas. They are extremely proud of their ancestry, religion and culture, and follow the custom of Rajput endogamy and Clan exogamy for the purpose of succession. They are have been classified as follows:

THE MAIN RAJPUT CLANS:

The Rajput clans are spread all over north India - from the Indus in the west to Bihar in the east and from the Terai in the north to the Vindhyas in the south. Many families migrated to the Deccan and in course of time gave rise to two great families - the Bhosales and the Ghorpades. In the north they were distinguished as the Western Rajputs (see below) and the Eastern as Purbaiya Rajputs.

Chauhans:

The Chauhans are one of the four Agnicul, or fire born, families. There were a number of the Chauhan ruling families in northern and north eastern Rajasthan, the most famous of them all being the Chauhans of Delhi. The decline of the family started with the death of Prithviraj at the Battle of Tarain in 1192. After this debacle the Chauhans regrouped and the prominent families ruled at Ajmer, Ranthambor and Jalor. But even these families could not withstand the attack of Ala-ud-din Khalji in the 14th century. Some other states of Chauhans in Rajasthan are Makrana (Mokala) and Nimrana.

The Deora sept of the Chauhans defeated the Parmars at Abu and set up a kingdom there. The capital was shifted from Chandravati (Abu) to a fort near Siranwa and still later to Sirohi. However, the conflict with Mewar was their undoing and they lost the eastern part of their kingdom to Rana Kumbha in 1437. The present forts of Achalgarh and Basantgarh were built by him.

The Hada branch or sept of the Chauhans were powerful rulers at Bundi and Kotah. The area was known as Haravati after them.

Rathor or Rathod:

They claim to be from the Solar race. The son of Kusha, Mahadoya is a semi-historic figure. A descendant, Kanyakubja founded Kannauj, or to give its ancient name Gadhipura. Rathods trace their direct ancestry to the kings of Kannauj, (though they appear to be maternal descendants of Parihars and paternal descendants of the Rashtrakutas). From about the 5th century AD, the sun of history breaks through from the mists of myth, legend and uncertainty. When Prithviraj Chauhan was defeated at the battle of Tarain in AD 1192, the Chauhan kingdom disintegrated, and the wrath of the invader fell on Kannauj. Jaichand, the King of Kannauj, had remained aloof and had not gone to the help of the Chauhans. He now paid the penalty and while escaping from Kannauj is said to have been drowned. His son (should be grandson), Sihaji migrated to Marusthali. West of the Aravallis, about 1194 AD and established his seat, and the Rathod dynasty, at Mandor.

Mandor was once under the control of the Pratiharas a family descended from the Brahmin King Harishchandra and his Kshatriya wife Bhadra. They must have been conquered and assimilated by Sihaji.

The subclans of Rathore dynasty:

Jodha
Bika
Bidawat
Mertia
Kumpawat
Champawat
Mahecha

Kachhwahas:

The name of the clan comes from the Sanskrit kachchapa, i.e., a tortoise which was probably a tribal god or totem. The Kachhawahas claim descent from Kusa, the second (twin) son of Lord Rama (see Solar Dynasty). One branch migrated to Lahar where in course of time he celebrated Raja Nal built the fortress of Narwar. This place, however, went under Maratha influence and became a dependency of the Scindian. Another branch shifted to the area around the present Ajmer and founded Amber. They were almost always vassals of the kings of Delhi. A sub branch, the Shaikhawats, later came into prominence and their land came to be known as Shaikhawati. They were chiefly centred at Jaipur, Alwar and the two districts of Jaipur - Shekhawati and Torawati.

Guilot or Guhilot:

The Guhilots are said to be the direct descendants of Lord Rama (see Solar Dynasty). Kanaksen in the 2nd century left Koshala and settled in Saurashtra. They established themselves and became sovereign at Vallabhi. Ages later, Prince Grahaditya obtained the small kingdom of Idar. His name becoming the patronymic Grahilot, later corrupted to Guhilot. The wilds of Idar had to be abandoned and the clan settled at Ahar, and the name Aharya came into use. Sometimes in the 12th century Rahup established himself at Dungarpur whilst his younger brother Mahup established himself near the village Sesodia. From now onwards the term Sesodias supplanted both Guhilot and Ahrya.

There is some evidence to show that the Ghuils were originally Brahmanas but political imperatives made them take up arms. Prince Grahaditya is considered to be the founder of the family, about 721 AD. In the north, however, the ancestry is normally traced to Dhanika in about 684 AD who had established himself at Chatsu, a town 40 kilometers south of Jaipur. (There is another clan GOHIL, not to be confused with Guhilots. Originally from Marwar, they migrated to Saurashtra and their descendants founded Bhavnagar and Ghoga.)

Bhattis:

They trace their descent from Yadu of the Lunar race. They were originally from the Punjab but were forced to migrate, came to the western part of Rajasthan, and established their capital at Tanot, Derawar and finally at Jaisalmer.

Bhattis were, really, a sept of the clan Jadus, but are of far greater importance and are generally recognized as a separate clan. The Bhatti kingdom once extended up to Kashmir and beyond with the capital at Gaznipur, near the modern Rawalpindi. They were driven out from the north west by Scythian invaders. They migrated to the wilds of Rajasthan but still managed to retain their influence in Kashmir till 1339 AD. Their rule is still preserved in certain place names like the modern Bhatinda. Those who remained were forcibly converted to Islam by Ala-ud-din Khilji.

A chief called Bhatti had two sons - Dusal and Jaissal. The formed founded Sirsa and Hissar. The latter migrated to the desert and founded Jaisalmer.

Jadu or Jadon:

Belonging to the Lunar race, these clans appear to have had their early home at Dwarka. After the death of the deified Krishna, the tribe crossed the Indus and settled in what is now Afghanistan and founded the capital of Gazani, which still survives. Driven back to the east of Indus once again, they settled in the Bikaner district and in the Doab - the land between two rivers, in this case the Yamuna and the Ganga. In Rajasthan they established themselves at Jaisalmer and at Karouli.

Over a period of time one branch seems to have lost social status due to their adopting the custom of karao or widow remarriage.

Tomars:

The Tomars, also known sometimes as Tuar or Tonwar, are a sub-division of the Yadus - i.e., Lunar race and are listed amongst the main 36 families. They, it is claimed, rebuilt the ancient Indraprastha (modern Delhi) in about 792 AD. In 1164 the king, Anangpal abdicated in favour of his grandson Prithviraj of Chauhan dynasty. Their presence is Rajasthan is not very significant, their stronghold being the small principality of Patan Tuarvati in Jaipur State.

Paramaras:

The Paramaras are one of the four Agnikul families. The name appears to have come from the Sanskrit Pramara or "first striker". They were sometimes referred to as Pramara or Pomwar. At one time they held sway over Dhar, Mandu, Ujjain, Chittor and Abu as well as a few other places like Sodha subclan of Thar-Parkar, Haveli and Amarkot-Pakistan, Panwars of Bijolia-Mewar, Sankhla subclan of Janglu-Bikaner, Run, Begti-Jodhpur etc. The family never acquired the same greatness, or riches, as the Solankis of Anhilwara. The chief settlements are now in Agra, Unnao and Bulandshahr. An inferior branch is called Khidmatiya or Chopdars, names indicating their lowly profession as servants.

Jhallas:

Jhallas are a minor clan but worth mentioning separately because of the special position they enjoy in Rajasthan's history. It appears that they were brought to Rajasthan from North India by the Ranas of Mewar. A Jhala chief, by a splendid act of devotion helped Rana Pratap when he was being attacked by the army of the mighty Akbar. The chief was bestowed with the highest honour that the Rana could, his daughter's hand in marriage and a seat on the right hand side of the throne.

Jhallas are to be found only in the state of Jhalawar, in south east Rajasthan. Their ancestors were petty chiefs of Halvad in the district of Jhalawar, in Kathiawar, who trace their ancestry to the Suryavanshi Kings of Kirtigarh near Parkar in Sindh, Pakistan.

ORIGIN OR ETYMOLOGY OF VARIOUS CLAN DESIGNATIONS:

Some of the explanations commonly given regarding the clan names are given below:

THE ORIGIN OF THE AGNIKULS (FIRE BORN):

In ancient times once the Brahmins were being greatly harassed by the demons who desecrated their shrines and spoilt their offering. The great sages- rishis- assembled at Mount Abu, in front of the sacred fire place - agnikund - and sought the help of the God Mahadev. Taking pity upon the harassed sages he made four humans issue from the fire. The first to emerge was a figure, noble and calm, and the Brahmins asked him to guard the gates. Hence his name pratihar the earth's door. After fresh invocation to the God, a second figure appeared and having manifested itself in the palm - chalu - of the hand, was named Chalukya. The third figure was the first to strike at the demons and was called Pramara - or 'first striker.' And the fourth figure to emerge was of lofty build and fierce expression and four armed. Each holding a weapon. Hence he was named Chauhan.

BAGHELA:

The word comes from the Sanskrit Vyaghra, a tiger. The Baghela or Waghela is a Rajput clan of the Royal House of Rewah in Madhya Pradesh, Jharia Raj in Jharkhand and several other states in Gujarat.

LIST OF PROMINENT HINDU ROYAL CLANS:

BACHGOTI Taluqdars of Oudh

BADGUJAR Jagirdars of Tasing

BAIS Chauhan

BANDHALGOTI Taluqdars of Oudh

BHATI Royal Family of Jaisalmer

BIDAWAT Rathore

BISEN Bisen Clan of Mankapur, Bhinga etc.

CHALUKYA Chalukya Rulers 566-1189

CHAUHAN Royal Family of Bundi and Kotah etc

CHAVDA

CHOLA EMPIRE