Emerging of the Rajput States

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Rajput is a large multi-component cluster of castes, kin bodies, and local groups, sharing social status and ideology of genealogical descent originating from the Indian subcontinent. The term Rajput covers various patrilineal clans historically associated with warriorhood: several clans claim Rajput status, although not all claims are universally accepted. Rajputana, meaning "Land of the Rajputs", was a region in India that included mainly the present-day Indian state of Rajasthan, as well as parts of Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat, and some adjoining areas of Sindh in modern-day southern Pakistan. The Rajput political system was mainly based on feudalism. Specific territories were given to various chiefs. Each chief or feudal lord collected faxes from the farmers and other people. The first major Rajput kingdom was the Sisodia-ruled kingdom of Mewar. The Rajput period was an era of chivalry and feudalism. The Rajputs weakened each other by constant fighting. This allowed the foreigners (Turks) to embark on victorious campaigns using duplicity and deceit wherever military strength failed against Rajputs. The Rajput Rulers had a keen sense of beauty in Art and Architecture which is seen in the artistic excellence of their temples, forts and palaces. The present book is an effort to explore the historical details of Rajput dynasties and their kingdoms in India. This book will be proved to be an important resourceful guide for graduate students and general readers.

Dheeraj Poddar is Head in the Department of History at Mahatma Gandhi College, Chalantapara, Bongaigaon, Assam. His several research papers have been published in reputed journals. He has attended many national seminars.

Rajput (from Sanskrit raja-putra, "son of a king") is a large multi-component cluster of castes, kin bodies, and local groups, sharing social status and ideology of genealogical descent originating from the Indian subcontinent. The term Rajput covers various patrilineal clans historically associated with warriorhood: several clans claim Rajput status, although not all claims are universally accepted. The origin of Rajputs is the topic of argument. Leaders and aristocrats from the intruders were called as the Kshatriya in the Hindu caste system, although others who trailed and helped them such as the Jats, Ahirs and Gurjars were ranked as Shudra. At the similar time, some congenital communities were graded as Rajput. Few examples of these are the Chandelas, Rathors and Bundelas. There are several major subdivisions of Rajputs, known as vansh or vamsha, the step below the super-division jäti These vansh delineate claimed descent from various sources, and the Rajput are generally considered to be divided into three primary vansh: Suryavanshi denotes descent from the solar deity Surya, Chandravanshi (Somavanshi) from the lunar deity Chandra, and Agnivanshi from the fire deity Agni. The Agnivanshi clans include Parmar, Chaulukya (Solanki), Parihar and Chauhan, Several Rajput-ruled kingdoms played a significant role in many regions of central and northern India until the 20th century.

The Rajput population and the former Rajput states are found in northern, western, central and eastern India as well as southern and eastern Pakistan. The first major Rajput kingdom was the Sisodia-ruled kingdom of Mewar. However, the term "Rajput" has also been used as an anachronistic designation for leading martial lineages of 11 and 12 centuries that confronted the Ghaznavid and Ghurid invaders such as the Pratiharas, the Chahamanas (of Shakambhari, Nadol and Jalor), the Tomaras, the Chaulukyas, the Paramaras, the Gahadavalas, and the Chandelas. Although the Rajput identity did not exist at this time, these lineages were classified as aristocratic Rajput clans in the later times. Rajputana, meaning "Land of the Rajputs", was a region in India that included mainly the present-day Indian state of Rajasthan, as well as parts of Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat, and some adjoining areas of Sindh in modern-day southern Pakistan. The Rajput political system was mainly based on feudalism. Specific territories were given to various chiefs. Each chief or feudal lord collected taxes from the farmers and other people. The Rajput period was an era of chivalry and feudalism. The Rajputs weakened each other by constant fighting. This allowed the foreigners (Turks) to embark on victorious campaigns using duplicity and deceit wherever military strength failed against Rajputs. The Rajput Rulers had a keen sense of beauty in Art and Architecture which is seen in the artistic excellence of their temples, forts and palaces. The Indo-Aryan style of architecture developed in North India and Upper Deccan and the Dravidian style in South India during the Rajput period. Both sculpture and architecture attained a high degree of excellence. The Rathas of Mahabalipuram or Mamallapuram, the Kailash temple at Ellora and the sculpture of Elephanta belonging to the early Rajput period (600 AD to 900 AD).

The present book is an effort to explore the historical details of Rajput dynasties and their kingdoms in India. This book will be proved to be an important resourceful guide for graduate students and general readers.

**Contents and Sample Pages**