Rajput constitute one of the major Hindu Kshatriyas groups from India. They claim descent from ancient royal warrior dynasties of kshatriyas. They are identified with the word "Rajanya" found in ancient Indian literature and trace their roots to Rajputana. In ancient times the son of a king was referred as to Rajput- Raja-putra.The sanskrit word rajputra is found in the VEDAS, the RAMAYANA, and the MAHABHARATA. The word kshatriya was initially used for the community of warriors and rulers.
The Rajputs ruled more than four hundred of the estimated six hundred princely states at the time of India's independence. From those princely states, 121 were Salute States in which Rajputs ruled 81 of them at the time of India's independence.
RAJPUT CLANS
Rajputs belong to one of three great patrilineages (vanshas), which are sub-divided into 36 main clans (kulas), which in turn divide into numerous branches (shakhas), to create the intricate clan systems of the Rajputs.
The Suryavanshi lineage
Suryavamshi claim descent from Surya. The Sun Dynasty is oldest among Kshatriyas. The first person of this dynasty was "Vivaswan," who by the meaning of his name is considered to be "Surya." Ishakvaku was the first important king of this dynasty.Other important kings were Kakutsth Harishchandra, Sagar, Dileep, Bhagirath, Raghu Dashrath and Ram.
suryavansh clans: Balla, Bargujar, Gehlot, Hariwaha, Hul, jhala, Jamwal, Kachahwa,Rathor, Senghar.
The Chandravanshi lineage
Chandravanshi claim descent from Som which literally means "Moon." This Lunar Dynasty is also old but younger than the Sun Dynasty. Som was the first king of this dynasty. Other important kings were Pururawa, Nahush, Nayati, Dushyant, Bharat, Kuru, Shantanu and Yudhishthir.
The Suryavanshi lineage
Suryavamshi claim descent from Surya. The Sun Dynasty is oldest among Kshatriyas. The first person of this dynasty was "Vivaswan," who by the meaning of his name is considered to be "Surya." Ishakvaku was the first important king of this dynasty.Other important kings were Kakutsth Harishchandra, Sagar, Dileep, Bhagirath, Raghu Dashrath and Ram.
suryavansh clans: Balla, Bargujar, Gehlot, Hariwaha, Hul, jhala, Jamwal, Kachahwa,Rathor, Senghar.
The Chandravanshi lineage
Chandravanshi claim descent from Som which literally means "Moon." This Lunar Dynasty is also old but younger than the Sun Dynasty. Som was the first king of this dynasty. Other important kings were Pururawa, Nahush, Nayati, Dushyant, Bharat, Kuru, Shantanu and Yudhishthir.
The Suryavamsha as well as the Somavamsha originated from the common ancestor, the great Brahma. His sons were : Marichi; his son sage Kashyap; his son Vivaswan or Surya i.e. Sun, and the descendants vamsha was Suryavamsha.
The Agnivansha lineage
It claims descent from four persons who were born from fire or by the influence of Ved Mantras." According to Puranic legend, as found in purana , a yagna was held at Mount Abu, at the time of emperor ashoka's sons. From the influence of Mantras of the four Vedas, four Kshatriyas were born. They were:
It claims descent from four persons who were born from fire or by the influence of Ved Mantras." According to Puranic legend, as found in purana , a yagna was held at Mount Abu, at the time of emperor ashoka's sons. From the influence of Mantras of the four Vedas, four Kshatriyas were born. They were:
1. Parmar (parmara)
2.Chaphani (chauhan)
3.Chu (chalukya)
4.Pariharak (Pratihara)
But since fire cannot produce warriors, it should be understood that these four persons were either reconverted into Hinduism or revitalized to fight against invaders.
SHEKHAWATS
Shekhawat is a sub-clan of Kachwaha Rajputs found mainly in Rajasthan, India. The Shekhawat clan claims descent from the great rajput warrior Maharao Shekhaji. The Shekhawats were the most prominent among all sub clans of Kachwahas of Jaipur. Shekhawats were the rulers of Shekhawati. The Shekhawat Rajputs ruled over the Shekhawati region for over 500 years.
Shekhawat is a sub-clan of Kachwaha Rajputs found mainly in Rajasthan, India. The Shekhawat clan claims descent from the great rajput warrior Maharao Shekhaji. The Shekhawats were the most prominent among all sub clans of Kachwahas of Jaipur. Shekhawats were the rulers of Shekhawati. The Shekhawat Rajputs ruled over the Shekhawati region for over 500 years.
Sir Yadunath Sarkar in his book Fall of The Mughal Empire, wrote that Shekhawats were the bravest among the sub-clans of Kachawaha Dynasty of Jaipur. This is clear from the following poetry on Shekhawats in Rajasthani language -
"आम ज उमदा नीपजे गेंहू अर गुड़ ताड़।",
"नर नाहर तो नीपजे शेखा घर ढ़ूंढ़ाड़।।".
"आम ज उमदा नीपजे गेंहू अर गुड़ ताड़।",
"नर नाहर तो नीपजे शेखा घर ढ़ूंढ़ाड़।।".
The Shekhawat rulers constructed more than 50 forts and palaces in their Thikanas in shekhawati and other thikanas. The Shekhawati region has many beautiful kaleidoscopic forts and magnificent Castles. The walls of the palaces and castles are richly painted. Frescoes were introduced first of all by the Shekhawat Rajputs in their Forts in Shekhawati. They were the first patrons of the wall painting tradition in Shekhawati.
Maharao Shekha Ji from Dhundhar or Amer established his own independent kingdom with the capital at Amarsar. He was the first independent Ruler in Dhundhar after ruler of Amer. After him Rao Raimal, Rao Suja and Rao Lunkaran become the rulers of Amarsar.
Maharao Shekha Ji from Dhundhar or Amer established his own independent kingdom with the capital at Amarsar. He was the first independent Ruler in Dhundhar after ruler of Amer. After him Rao Raimal, Rao Suja and Rao Lunkaran become the rulers of Amarsar.
Shekhawati was the largest Nizamat of the Jaipur State, almost the whole of which is occupied by Shekhawats. The Shekhawat chieftains of the region retained a nominal loyalty to the Kachwaha Rajput’s capital state of Jaipur, who in turn honoured them with the hereditary title known as Tazimi Sirdars.
