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			A '''Rajput''' ( ]: {{Unicode\|राजपूत}} ''rājput'', ]: {{Unicode\|راجپوت}} ''rāǧpwt'' from ] राजपुत्र ''rāja-putra'', "son of a king") is a ]. Rajputs claim descent from royal dynasties of India. Rajputs reside mainly in ], ], ] and central ] of India. It is estimated that there are 40 million Rajputs.
	'''Rajputs''' (from the ] ] compound ''{{IAST\|rājaputra}}'', "son of a king") are people who belong to a loose grouping of clans or tribes originating in ] and ] that claim descent from the ancient royal dynasties of the region. Among ], Rajputs are the principal group generally regarded as belonging to the ] ] within the Hindu ].
			<!--Census breakdown is
			These are estimates from an evengeligacal organization.
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			==Definition==
	The use of the term ''{{IAST\|rājaputra}}'' is first found in the ]. Evidently, the use of the term "Rajput" originated in the areas that form the present-day states of ] (formerly named ]) and ] and spread only gradually to other parts of North India and Pakistan; the Kshatriyas of ] and eastern ] still do not generally self-describe as rajputs. The association of this term with ] and ] is definite; even in areas where the term is used widely, the people referred to as "Rajputs" tend to ascribe an origin in those areas to themselves.
			The term ''Rajputra'' has been used since the time of ] and it refers to the descendants of the 36 major clans who ruled western and northern India. Names of these clans are mentioned in several texts including the ''Kumarpala Charita'' of Jayasimha and the '']'' of ].

			The term Rajput ordinarily refers to the group's "]" which is an endogamus group within the traditional ] social system. The Rajputs are considered to be the descendants of the ] warriors, who were known as ]s in ]. However, Rajputs vary in profession from aristocrats to farmers.
	Rajput dynasties played a very prominent role in the history of northern India. Furthermore, the rajputs developed an ethos of warlike chivalry that served as the benchmark, in past centuries, for other Indian communities as they ascended to regional dominance. This martial ethos did not preclude patronage of the arts: distinctive forms of painting and architecture developed under the aegis of rajput courts, and ] found support. Thus, the rajputs have contributed directly and indirectly to many facets of the Indian crasis; a detailment of some of these should be of interest to historians, sociologists, political scientists and Indologists among others.

			The ] kingdom of ] is currently ruled by a Rajput clan who are believed to be the descendants of Ranas of ].
	==Demographics==
	Rajputs in India are mostly ]. There are some Rajputs who follow the ] path, and they often intermarry with Hindu Rajputs. In Pakistan, and to a lesser extent also in India, there are many ] Rajputs (Siddiqui 2004) descended from Hindus who converted to Islam, who do not normally intermarry with Hindus or Sikhs of any caste, but who may intermarry with Muslims of any caste although they usually tend to marry other Muslim Rajputs.

			A number of sub-castes, or ''jatis'', claim to be Rajputs. Some of them have a historical basis for the claim. Some are considered to be descendants of the Rajputs but are not generally accepted by the main Rajput community (for example, Girasia). Some branches of ]'s and ]'s had rajput forefathers but none of them are considered Rajputs today.
	Neither the Indian census nor the Pakistani census has recorded caste affiliation since 1931 (except in the case of Backward or Scheduled Castes) and any estimates of those claiming Rajput lineage or caste are necessarily inexact. Estimates range around 40 million Indians claiming Rajput descent as of 2001.

			Ancient Rajput kings have permitted all faiths to flourish in their domains. Rajputs practice ], ], ], ] and occasionally ] traditions; they supported Buddhists, ] and Sufi traditions as well.
	The ] census reported a total of 9,712,156 Rajputs in all of ]. Some 7.9 million were reported as Hindu and some 1.8 million as Muslim. Only 620,229 were living in ]. The largest clan were the Rahtor with 122,160 members.

			The vast majority of Rajputs practice Hinduism. There are some Rajputs also known as ''Jatts'' who follow the ] panth, and they often intermarry with Hindu Rajputs even today.
	The ] census reported a total of more than 11 million Rajputs, of whom some 9 million were Hindus, about 50,000 Sikhs, and 2.1 million Muslims.

			==The Rajput Rule of India==
	Some Hindus believe that the Muslim faith is incompatible with the nature of a Rajput, which they conceive of as being determined by ] religious teachings concerning ], and thus believe that the people self-describing as ], who do not subscribe to those teachings, should instead be described as Muslim descendants of Rajputs. However, Muslim Rajputs do not concede that those Hindus have any authority to dictate to them what their identity is. For Muslim Rajputs, their Rajput identity is a matter of lineage and descent, not of a religiously prescribed caste role.

			], Rajasthan, which was built by ] Rajputs]]
	In fact, there is no person or group possessing authority to either validate or invalidate anyone's claim to being a Rajput, so whether any particular individual or clan is or isn't Rajput is essentially a matter of self-identification by that individual or clan and of acceptance by others.
			Rajput kings are mainly remembered as warriors and as influential rulers. They were responsible for emergence of the modern-day society in northern India.

			Archaeological evidences and contemporary texts suggest that the Indian society had achieved significant prosperity during the Rajput rule. Most of the archaeological remains in several regions of the ] are from the Rajput period.

			It was also a period of spread of literacy. Numerous inscriptions from this period have been found. A significant fraction of them are by people who were unaffiliated with the nobles, suggesting that education was spreading among the common people. The literature composed in this period in ] and in ]s constitutes a large segment of the classical Indian literature. The ] king ] of ] was not only a patron of scholars, but was himself a distinguished and prolific scholar. His ] deals with architecture and ] is a famous commentary on ]-].

			The intermarriage among the Rajput clans interlinked different regions of India, making it easier for the trade and scholarship to flow from one part of the country to another.

			===Social hierarchy===
	Most Rajputs are speakers of ], ], or ]. Rajputs of Rajasthan may speak ]. ] lists dialects particularly associated with Rajputs, ] (a Scheduled Tribe in Rajasthan, 100,000 speakers), ]/Gade Lohar (20,000 speakers in Pakistan and about 1,000 (nomadic blacksmiths) in Rajasthan) and the ] of ], a Scheduled Tribe of nomadic pastoralists (120,000 speakers, bilingual in Hindi).
			Rajputs supported ] as scholars and priests. However, Rajputs had their own family priests, known as the ]s. Some ]s of noble Rajput families would officiate themselves as priests in their Hindu temples. For example, the ] kings of ] considered themselves as the regents of the ], a manifestation of ], and serve as the high priest of the deity as well as ruler of the state.

	==Origins==		==Origins==
			The Rajputs are divided into 36 ], claiming three basic lineages: the ] (Solar Race), the ] (Lunar Race), and the '']'' (Fire Born). Some scholars also include ''Rishi vanshi'', ''Nag Vanshi'' and ''Vayu Vanshi'' as separate classes. House of ], ], ] are Suryavanshi rajputs. Rulers of ], ], ], ] are Agnivanshi. ] and ] are from the same line which bifurcated at king yadu when his father banished him from becoming the king. House of ] are yaduvanshi rajputs.
	The traditional occupations of the rajput are war and agriculture. As many scholars have pointed out, these areas lend themselves uniquely to the ingress of groups that were not formerly affiliated with those professions. The gradual accomodation of the new entrants into the social and family circle of the traditional community is the essential ''quid pro quo'' of the ] that the aspirant community essays. This phenomenon of gradual inclusion has indubitably obtained in the case of the Rajputs, with certain ] and ] dynasties being among the most recent to venture the claim of affiliation with the rajput community. In view of this, to seek a single and common, definitive origin for every present-day rajput is widely recognised as being an exercise in futility. However, we present both the traditional view and certain scholarly speculations made by researchers on the origin of the rajputs.

			The Suryavanshi trace their lineage to the Vedic Sun -Surya(Lord ] was also born in this lineage) Somvanshi to ] (the vedic deity Soma or Moon) and Agnivanshi orginated from fire. The Yaduvanshi trace there lineage to Lord ].
	====Traditional====
	{{main\|Rajput clans}}
	As ]s, the rajputs regard themselves as being descended from the ] warrior class. Legend ascribes to the Rajputs an origin springing from certain ] deities; every rajput must eventually belong to one of three great patrilineages, being:
	*the ] lineage, claiming descent from ], the ] Fire-god;
	*the ] lineage, claiming descent from ], the ] Sun-god;
	*the ] lineage, claiming descent from ], the ] Moon-god.
	Some scholars also count ''Nagavanshi'', ''Rishivanshi'' and ''Vayuvanshi'' as traditional lineages. The ''Yaduvanshi'' lineage, claiming descent from the ] god ], are in fact a great sept of the ''Chandravanshi'' lineage.

			Each ] has many ] and each ] has ]. Rathores are divided into these ] : ], ], ], ] etc. Gehlote ] is subdivided into these shakhas: ] (at ]) , ] (at ]), ] (at ]) etc. ] are divided into these ]: ], ], ], ] etc. Similarly there are various shakha in ], ] and rest of the 12 clans described below. For a pictorial description please see page 27 of
	The aforementioned three patrilineages (''vanshas'') sub-divide into 36 main clans (''kulas''), which in turn divide into numerous branches (''shakhas'') to create the intricate ] of the rajputs. The principle of patrilineage is staunchly adhered to in determining one's place in the system and a strong consciousness of clan and lineage is an essential part of the Rajput character. Authoritative listings of the 36 rajput clans are to be found in the ''Kumārpāla Charita'' of Jayasimha and the '']'' of ].

			Each ] has its ], a genealogical creed, describing the essential peculiarities, religious tenets and pristine locale of the clan. It is a touchstone of affinities and guardian of the laws of intermarriage.
	====Scholarly speculations====
	{{main\|Origin of Rajputs}}

			Rathore Gotra Acharya -- ''Gautam gotra, Mardwunduni Shakha, Shukra-Acharya Guru, Garroopata Agni, Pankhini Devi''.
	Among the origin-legends mentioned above, the one which addresses the origin of the '']'' rajputs is particularly interesting, not least because they were the earliest to rise to political prominence. This legend begins with the ] legend wherein the traditional '']'' of the land were exterminated by ], an ] of ]. Later, sage ] performed a great ''Yagya'' or fire-sacrifice, to seek from the gods a provision for the defense of righteousness on earth. In answer to his prayer, a youth arose from the very flames of the sacrifice -- the first ''Agnivanshi'' rajput. In some versions of the legend, ''all'' the rajput lineages rose from the sacred flames in this manner.

			Twelve of 36 ] of ] further subdivide. These 12 are ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ]. These 24 clans are 'Eka' and do not divide further. ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ] and ].
	This legend is interesting in suggesting the possibility that people who were not hitherto regarded as kshatriyas/rajputs could come to be regarded as such after the customary fire-sacrifice based purificatory rituals. This legend has been used as the basis for many scholarly speculations on the origin of the rajputs. ] uses this legend as a basis for speculating upon a ] origin for the Rajputs. He suggests that Scythian (], ]) tribes which invaded India in the ] and disappeared into the population soon afterwards were the forbears of present-day rajputs.{{ref\|Tod}}

			===Myths===
	==Political history==
			One version of the story of ''Agni kula'' origins is that four warriors, Agnikul, Yadaukul, Suryakul and Odak, whose names are given to the Rajput clans, sprang from the sacred fire (]) in a ceremony performed by ] ] near ].
	{{main\|History of Rajputs}}
	], Rajasthan, which was built by ] Rajputs]]
	Rajput history, being a part of the broader ]n, can be classified classified easily into several distinct periods.

			==Character==
	===Early history (7th-11th centuries AD)===
			The Rajput ethos is martial in spirit, fiercely proud and independent, and emphasizes lineage and tradition. Rajput ] is legendary, an ideal they embodied with a sometimes fanatical zeal, often choosing death before dishonour. Rajput warriors were often known to fight until the last man. The practice of '']'' and '']'' was followed only in rajput communities. When the outcome of a battle was against the Rajputs, ''jauhar'' would be committed by Rajput women and children in the night and next morning men would commit ''saka''. Brahmin priests would chant Vedic ]s and Rajput women wearing their marriage dresses, along with their young children, would embrace ] flames. The next morning after taking a bath, the men would wear ] and apply the ash from the ] ] ''of their wives and children'' on their foreheads and put a ] leaf in their mouth. Then the palace gates would be opened and men would ride out for complete annhiliation of the enemy or themselves. Rajput men and women could not be captured alive. When ]s fought against other ]s there were never any '']'' or ''saka'' because the defeated were treated with dignity. However, history records very few instances wherein a Rajput king sued for peace after a battle reversal and the Muslims initially agreed to the peace terms, only for the Rajputs, and their women and children, to be slaughtered upon surrender and once the ''pols'' or gates of their mighty fortresses were opened. One example of this is war between Puran Mal of ] and Sher Shah Suri.
	The first Rajputs kingdoms are attested in the ], and the Rajputs rose to prominence in Indian history in the ninth and tenth centuries. The four '']'' clans, the ]s (Pariharas), ]s (Chahamanas), ]s (Chaulukyas), and ]s (Parmars), rose to prominence first. The Pratiharas established the first Rajput kingdom in ] in southwestern Rajasthan, with the Chauhans at ] in central Rajasthan, the Solankis in ], and the Paramaras in ]. The Rai dynasty ruled ] during the 6th and 7th centuries AD. Sindh was conquered by an Arab Muslim army of the ], led by Bin Qasim, in the 8th century. According to some sources, Bin Qasim also attacked ], and was defeated by ]. Certain other invasions by murauding ''"Yavvanas"'' are also recorded in this era. By this time, the terms ''"Yavvana"'' (literally: "Greek") was applied any tribe that resided to the west and north-west of present-day ]. ] of ] defeated one such invasion in the 8th century and the Pratiharas rebuffed another in the 9th century. The Pratiharas initially established themselves at ] and ruled ]. Later, they established themselves at ], from which they ruled much of northern India, from ] in the west to ] in the east, in the 9th century.

			Rajputs honour their word more then their life and are renowned for their loyalty.
	Archaeological evidences and contemporary texts suggest that the Indian society had achieved significant prosperity during the Rajput rule. Numerous inscriptions from this period have been found. The literature composed in this period in ] and in ]s constitutes a large segment of the classical Indian literature. The early 11th century also saw the reign of the ] king Bhoj, Paramara ruler of Malwa. He was not only a patron of scholars, but was himself a distinguished writer. His ] deals with architecture and ''Raja-Martanda'' is a famous commentary on ]-].

			], which has a very high concentration of ], is located in northwestern ], near the ] route used by most foreign invasions of India, including the Arabs, Afghans, Turks, Mughals, and other Islamic invaders of the Middle Ages. In his ''New History of India'', ] wrote "The Rajputs were the vanguard of Hindu India in the face of the Islamic onslaught."
	'''Early kingdoms:''' The ] organization first become crystallized in this period. Intermarriage among the Rajput clans interlinked the various regions of India, facilitating the flow of trade and scholarship. Clans claiming descent from the Solar and Lunar races, who were originally vassals of the other clans, later established independent states. The ]s (later called the ]s) established the state of ] (later ]) in the 8th century, under Bappa Rawal, who ruled from Chittorgarh. The ] clan came to rule ], with their capital at ], and later ]. The ] clan ruled ] after the tenth century, occupying the fortress-city of ] and building the famous temple-city of ]. The ]s established a state in ], founding the city of Dhiliki (later ]) in 736. The Kachwahas, Chandelas, and Tomaras were originally vassals of the Pratihara kingdom.

			==History==
	===Islamic invasions (11th-16th c.)===
	] fort in Rajasthan was the site of several battles between the Rajputs and the Islamic invaders.]]		] fort in Rajasthan was the site of several battles between the Rajputs and the Islamic invaders.]]
			The first Rajputs kingdoms are attested in the ], and the Rajputs rose to prominence in Indian history in the ninth and tenth centuries. The four '']'' clans, the ]s (Pariharas), ]s (Chahamanas), ]s (Chaulukyas), and ]s (Parmars), rose to prominence first. The Pratiharas established the first Rajput kingdom in ] in southwestern Rajasthan, with the Chauhans at ] in central Rajasthan, the Solankis in ], and the Paramaras in ]. The Rajput ] ruled ] during the 6th and 7th centuries. Sindh was conquered by an Arab Muslim army of the ], led by Bin Qasim, in the 8th century. Bin Qasim attacked ], and was defeated by ] ]. ] of ] defeated Arabs in the 8th century. The Pratiharas rebuffed another Arab invasion in the ninth century. Significant Muslim invasions were then not attempted until the eleventh century, largely due to the formidable reputation of the Rajput clans. The Pratiharas later established themselves at ] and ruled ], and afterwards at ] in the ]-] ], from which they ruled much of northern India, from ] in the west to ] in the east, in the ninth century. Clans claiming descent from the Solar and Lunar races, who were originally vassals of the other clans, later established independent states. The ]s (later called the ]s) established the state of ] (later ]), under Bappa Rawal, who ruled at Chittorgarh, which was given in dowry to Bappa in 734 for his bravery. The ] clan came to rule ], with their capital at ], and later ]. The ] clan ruled ] after the tenth century, occupying the fortress-city of ] and building the famous temple-city of ]. The ]s established a state in ], founding the city of Dhiliki (later ]) in 736. The Kachwahas, Chandelas, and Tomaras were originally vassals of the Pratihara kingdom.
	In the early 11th century, ] conquered the Hindu ] kingdom in the ]. His raids into northern India weakened the Pratihara kingdom, which was drastically reduced in size and came under the control of the Chandelas. In 1018 AD, Mahmud sacked the city of ], seat of the ] kingdom. He later withdrew to Ghazni, being interested in loot rather than empire. In the ensuing chaos, the ] dynasty established a modest state centered around Kannauj, ruling for about a hundred years until they were defeated by ] in 1194 AD; the city was again sacked.
			In the early 11th century, ] conquered the Hindu ] kingdom in the ], and his raids into northern India weakened the Pratihara kingdom, which was drastically reduced in size and came under the control of the Chandelas. Mahmud sacked temples across northern India, including the temple at ] in Gujarat, but his permanent conquests were limited to the Punjab, and Somnath was rebuilt after the raid. The early 11th century also saw the reign of the ] king Bhoj, the Paramara ruler of Malwa.
			The ]s, as the ] dynasty, reestablished the kingdom of Kannauj, ruling the Ganges plain from the late ] through the ], and conquering Marwar in the ]. The Rajputs fought each other in the eleventh and twelfth centuries. ], ruler of Delhi, crushed ] in ] at the ] and Ghori was captured. After Ghori begged for life he was let go despite strong resistance by Prithviraj's generals. Ghori treacherously defeated Prithviraj the following year at the ], and the attacks of Muhammad's armies brought down the Gahadvala kingdom of Kannauj in ]. The ] was founded by ], Muhammad of Ghor's successor, in first decade of the 13th century.

			The Chauhans reestablished themselves at ], led by Govinda, grandson of Prithviraj III. ] was ruled by another branch of Chauhans, the Songaras. Another branch of the Chauhans, the ]s, established a kingdom in ] in the mid-13th century.
	Meanwhile, a nearby state centered around present-day ] was ruled successively by the ] and ] clans. The Rajputs fought each other in the eleventh and twelfth centuries. ], ruler of Delhi, defeated ] in ] at the ], who however defeated Prithviraj the following year at the ]. As we have seen, Muhammad's armies later brought down the Gahadvala kingdom of Kannauj in ] AD. Some surviving members of the Gahadvala family are said to have refugeed to the western desert, where they formed the ] clan and founded the state of ]. The Chauhans led by Govinda, grandson of Prithviraj III, later established themselves a small state at ]. The ] sept of the Chauhan clan later ruled the town of ], while and ] sept established their rule over the ] region in the mid-13th century. The Tomaras later established themselves at ], and the ruler Man Singh built the fortress which still stands there.

	~~The ] was founded by ], Muhammad of Ghor's successor, in first decade of the 13th century.~~ Sultan ] (1296-1316) conquered ] (1297) and ] (1305), and captured the fortresses of Ranthambore in ~~1301~~, ] (~~capital of Mewar~~) ~~in 1303~~ and ] in 1311~~, all of these~~ after long sieges with fierce resistance from their Rajput defenders. In ~~particular,~~ the ~~seige~~ of Chittor, ~~its~~ ~~brave~~ ~~defence~~ by ~~the~~ ~~]s,~~ ~~the~~ ~~saga~~ of ] ~~and~~ ~~the~~ ~~''Jauhar''~~ ~~she~~ ~~led~~ ~~are~~ ~~the~~ ~~stuff~~ of ~~immortal~~ ~~legend~~. ~~Ala~~ ud ~~din~~ ~~Khilji~~ ~~delegated~~ ~~the~~ ~~administration~~ of ~~the~~ ~~conquered~~ ~~areas~~ to ~~his~~ ~~principal~~ ~~rajput~~ ~~collaborator~~, ~~based~~ at ~~Jalore;~~ ~~the~~ ~~latter~~ ~~was~~ ~~soon~~ ~~displaced~~ by ~~his son-in-law~~ ], a ~~scion~~ of the ~~Guhila~~ ~~clan~~, ~~who~~ ~~re-~~established ~~the~~ ~~state of~~ ] and ~~was progenitor of~~ the ] ~~clan~~. ] emerged as the leading Rajput state; Rana Kumbha expanded his kingdom at the expense of the sultanates of Malwa and Gujarat.		Sultan ] (1296-1316) conquered ] (1297) and ] (1305), and captured the fortresses of Ranthambore (1301) by bribing generals in Hammir Deo Chauhan's army, Mewar's capital ] (1303) and ] (1311) after long sieges with fierce resistance from their Rajput defenders. ] resestablished there supremacy within 50 years of the sack of Chittor under Maharana Hammir. Hammir defeated Muhammad Tughlaq and captured him. Tughlaq had to pay huge ransom and relenquish all of Mewar's lands. After this Sultanate did not attack Chittor for a few hundred years. Rajputs reestablished their independence, and the Rajput states were established as far east as ] and north into the ]. The Tanwar, Tomaras established themselves at ], and the ruler ] built the fortress which still stands there. ] emerged as the leading Rajput state, and ] expanded his kingdom at the expense of the sultanates of Malwa and Gujarat. The Delhi Sultanate recovered somewhat under the ]. Babur defeated Ibrahim Lodi at the ] on ], ], and the Rana Sangha rallied a Rajput army to challenge Babur. Babur, like his predecessors resorted to treachery and managed to bribe a general in Sanga's army and managed to defeat the Rajputs at the ] on ], ]. The Rajput rulers agreed to pay tribute to Babur, but most retained control of their states.

			Humayun's successor ] consolidated control of the empire and sought to expand it by realising that wars with Rajputs will not allow him to rule India and he used marriage diplomacy. Kachwahas were the first to give a daughter to Akbar. This prompted Maharana Pratap to ban marraiges between his loyal rajputs with other rajputs of rajasthan. The Kachwaha rulers of ] and Rathore rulers of ] became tributaries of the empire. The Sisodias of Mewar and their vassals, the Hadas of Bundi, continued to refuse Mughal hegemony, and Akbar invaded ], capturing ] in ] after a long siege. The Sesodias of Mewar moved the capital to the more defensible location of ] and carried on fighting the Mughals. Akbar respected the martial prowess of the Rajputs, and he married a Rajput princess, and Rajput generals, particularly the Kachwahas of Jaipur, commanded some Mughal armies.
	===Mughal era (16th-18th c.)===
	] was founded by the Kachwaha clan of Rajputs.]]

			] was founded by the ] clan of Rajputs.]]
	] defeated ] at the ] on ], ]. ] rallied an army to challenge Babur. He was betrayed by one of his rajput generals, and was defeated by ] at the ] on ], ]. While the rajput rulers had to submit to Babur, they retained control of their states. Babur's son Humayun was an ineffectual ruler and lived long periods in exile.
			The Mughal emperor ], who was far less tolerant of Hinduism than his predecessors, put a Muslim on the throne of ] when Maharaja Jaswant Singh, ruler of Marwar, died without a child. This enraged the rathores. Ajit Singh, Jaswant Singh's son was born after his death. Marwar nobles asked Aurangzeb to give the throne back to Ajit but Aurangzeb refused and instead tried to kill the infant Ajit. Durgadas Rathore and others smuggled Ajit out of Delhi and did not let pursuing Mughals capture them and reached Jaipur safely. This started the 30 year rajput rebellion against Aurangzeb. This cemented all the Rajput clans into a bond of union, and a triple alliance was formed by the three states of Marwar, Mewar, and Jaipur, to throw off the Mughal yoke. One of the conditions of this alliance was that the rulers of Jodhpur and Jaipur should regain the privilege of marriage with the ruling Sesodia dynasty of Mewar, which they had forfeited by contracting alliances with the Mughal emperors, on the understanding that the offspring of Sesodia princesses should succeed to the state in preference to all other children. The quarrels arising from this stipulation lasted through many generations, and led to the invitation of ] help from the rival aspirants to power, and finally to the subjection of all the Rajput states to the Marathas. Jodhpur was conquered by ], who levied a tribute of 60,000 rupees, and took from it the fort and town of ]. Internecine disputes and succession wars disturbed the peace of the early years of the century, and the Rajput princes asked for ] protection from the Marathas during the ] of ]-]. At the conclusion of the war in 1818, 18 states in the ] region, of which 15 were ruled by Rajputs, became ]s of the ], while the British took direct control of Ajmer, which became the province of ]. A number of other Rajput states in central India, including ], ], ], ], ], ], and ], became princely states as well, and were placed under the authority of the ]. Rajput rulers of Rajputana and Central India acceded to newly-independent India after ], and Rajputana, renamed Rajasthan, became an Indian state in ].

			==Rajputs and Invasions of India==
	During this time, Mewar, which was under the regency of Rani Karmavati, widow of Rana Sanga, was menaced by Bahadur Shah, ruler of Gujarat. Karmavati importuned the assistance of Humayun, son of her late husband's foe. The help arrived too late; Chittor as reduced by Bahadur Shah. This is the occasion for the second of the three ''Jauhars'' performed at Chittor. Karmavati leads the ladies of the citadel into death by fire, while the menfolk sally out to meet the beseiging muslim army in a hopeless fight to the death.
			The Rajputs suffered the brunt of the aggression from various ]-]-] warlords who repeatedly invaded the Indian subcontinent, then known as ]. Hindustan was one of the most economically prosperous regions in the world till 18-th century and had grabbed the attention of several neighbouring ] kingdoms.

			===Organization of Indian kingdoms during invasions===
	Humayun's son ] consolidated control of his inheritence and expanded what had been the "Delhi sultanate" into a wide empire. One main factor in this success was indubitably his co-option of native rajput chiefs into his empire-building project; his reign countenenced, for the first time, the involvement of Indians in the affairs of the empire. The rajput chiefs collaborated with alacrity, an alliance cemented by marriage alliance, with numerous rajput noblewomen being wed to mughal grandees. The Kachwahas were the first to give a daughter to Akbar; they pioneered a trend that soon turned pervasive and played no small roile in extending rajput influence to the far corners of India, as also to the north-west frontier and to Afghanistan. Rajput chiefs served as mughal officers and administrators and enjoyed much influence in the government. Two successive mughal emperors, ] and ], were born to rajput mothers. The period is one where the rajput identity, as aristocrats, can be said to have finally crystallized, and caste-divisions became rigid. The trend of political relations between rajput states and the central power was the precursor for similar relations between them and the british.
			] Agency and Ajmer-Merwara province, 1909]]
			W.W. Hunter goes on to describe in Chapter X of his book, ''The Indian Empire, Its People, Histort And Products'', the organization of Indian kings and how they thwarted the invasions.

			"Within a hundred years after his (Muhammad's) death, his followers had invaded the countries of ] as far as the ]. Here there progress was stayed and Islam had to consolidate itself during three more centuries before it grew strong enough to grasp the rich prize of ]. But almost from first the Arabs had fixed eager eyes upon that wealthy country. Fifteen years after the death of prophet, Usman sent a sea expedition to ] and ] on the ] coast (] ? AD). Other raids towards ] took place in ] and ] with no results.
	However, these relations were not universally approbated. ], which justly enjoys a unique position in the rajput mind, held out and valiantly gave battle to Akbar. However, after a brave struggle, during which the ladies of the fort perfomed ''Jauhar'' for the third and last time in the history of that citadel, ] finally fell to Akbar in ]. The ruler, Udai Singh, had however retired to the nearby hills prior to this event; he was succeeded, while in exile, by his son ] as head of the Sisodias. Even in exile, the Sisodias knew no rest, and harassed the mughal administrators of the land enough to cause them to make overtures. ], a present-day rajput icon, refused all such overtures of friendship and alliance from Akbar, and rallied an army to meet the mughal forces. He was defeated at the battle of ] on ], ]; however, he carried out a relentless guerilla struggle from his hideout in the Aravalli hills. He also banned marraiges between his loyal rajputs with other rajputs of rajasthan, who has entered into matrimonial alliance with the muslims. Rana Pratap's son, Amar Singh, entered into the vassalage of the mughals and thus regained control of his state. The rajputs remained loyal to the mughal dynasty and empire even until the 19th century; in all their official ''communiques'' and documents, the rajput courts rarely failed to formally affirm their loyalty to the (by now entirely powerless) mughal emperor.

			The armies of Islam had carried the crescent from the ] westwards, through ], ] and ], to distant ] and ], before they obtained a foothold in ]. This long delay was due, not only to the daring of individual tribes, such as ] Rajputs, just mentioned but to the military organization of the ] Kingdoms.
	===Maratha and British suzerainty (18th-20th c.)===
	Jodhpur was conquered by ], who levied a tribute of 60,000 rupees, and took from it the fort and town of ]. Internecine disputes and succession wars disturbed the peace of the early years of the 19th century, and the Rajput princes asked for ] protection from the Marathas during the ] of ]-]. At the conclusion of the war in 1818, 18 states in the ] region, of which 15 were ruled by Rajputs, became ]s of the ], while the British took direct control of Ajmer, which became the province of ]. A number of other Rajput states in central India, including ], ], ], ], ], ], and ], became princely states as well, and were placed under the authority of the ]. Rajput rulers of Rajputana and Central India acceded to newly-independent India after ], and Rajputana, renamed Rajasthan, became an Indian state in ].

			Each of these groups of kingdoms, alike in the north and in the south, had a certain power of coherence to oppose to a foreign invader; while the large number of groups and units rendered conquest a very tedious process. For even when the overlord or central authority was vanquished, the separate units had to be defeated in detail, and each state supplied a nucleus for subsequent revolt. We have seen how the brilliant attempt in ], to found a lasting Muhammedan dynsaty in ], failed. Three centuries later, the utmost efforts of two great Musalman invaders (''Mahmud of Ghazni and Mohammed Ghori'') from the north-west only succeeded in annexing a small portion of the frontier ] Province between ] and ] A.D. The ] power in ] was not completely broken till the battle of ] in ]; and within a hundred years, in ], the great Hindu revival had commenced which under the form of Maratha confederacy, was destined to break up the Mughal Empire in India. That Empire, even in the north of India, had only been consolidated by Akbar's policy of incorporating Hindu chiefs into his government(]-]). Up to Akbar's time, and even during the earlier years of his reign a series of Rajput wars had challenged the Muhammadan supremacy. In less than two centuries after his death, the succesor of Akbar was a puppet in the hand of the ] ]s at ].
	===Rajputs and invasions of India===
	{{main\|Rajputs and invasions of India}}
	Due to geographic reasons, rajput-ruled states suffered the brunt of aggression from various ]-]-] warlords who repeatedly invaded the Indian subcontinent. India was among the most prosperous regions in the world in that era, and had always been the prize for a string of invaders from the north-east. Incidentally, the last of these waves of invaders were of tribes who had previously converted to Islam. In his 1886 book, W.W. Hunter describes how the rajput kingdoms dealt with this aggression:
	:''"Within a hundred years after his (Muhammad's) death, his followers had invaded the countries of ] as far as the ]... almost from (the) first, the Arabs had fixed eager eyes upon (India). Fifteen years after the death of prophet, Usman sent a sea expedition to ] and ] on the ] coast (c.] AD?). Other raids towards ] took place in ] and ] with no results.''
	:''The armies of Islam had carried the crescent from the ] westwards, through ], ] and ], to distant ] and ], before they obtained a foothold in ]. This long delay was due, not only to the daring of individual tribes, such as ] Rajputs just mentioned, but to the military organization of the ] Kingdoms....Each of these groups of kingdoms, alike in the north and in the south, had a certain power of coherence to oppose to a foreign invader; while the large number of groups and units rendered conquest a very tedious process. For even when the overlord or central authority was vanquished, the separate units had to be defeated in detail, and each state supplied a nucleus for subsequent revolt. We have seen how the brilliant attempt in ], to found a lasting Muhammedan dynsaty in ], failed....(The mughal) Empire, even in the north of India, had only been consolidated by Akbar's policy of incorporating Hindu chiefs into his government. Up to Akbar's time, and even during the earlier years of his reign, a series of Rajput wars had challenged the Muhammadan supremacy.''

			The popular notion that ] fell an easy prey to the Musalmans is opposed to the historical facts. Muhammadan rule in ] consists of a series of invasions and partial conquests, during eleven centuries, from Usman's raid, ''circ''.647, to Ahmad Shah's tempest of invasion in ] A.D.
	In his ''Annals and Antiquities of Rajasthan'' ] wrote:
	:''"What nation on earth could have maintained the semblance of civilization, the spirit or the customs of their forefathers, during so many centuries of overwhelming depression, but one of such singular character as the Rajpoot? . . . Rajast’han exhibits the sole example in the history of mankind, of a people withstanding every outrage barbarity could inflict, or human nature sustain, from a foe whose religion commands annihilation; and bent to the earth, yet rising buoyant from the pressure, and making calamity a whetstone to courage. . . . Not an iota of their religion or customs have they lost. . . ".''

			At no time was Islam triumphant throughout the whole of ]. ] dynasties always ruled over large areas. At the height of the Muhammadan power, the ] princes paid tribute, and sent agents to the Imperial court. But even this modified supremacy of ] lasted for little over a century (1578-1707). Before the end of that brief period the ]s had begun the work of reconquest. The native chivalry of ] was closing in upon ] from the south; the religious confederation of the ]s was growing into a military power on the north-west. The ]s had cobmined the fighting powers of the low-castes with the statesmen ship of the ]s, and were subjecting the Muhammadan kingdoms throughout all ] to tribute. So far as can now be estimated, the advance of the English power at the beginning of the present century alone saved the Mughal Empire from passing to the ]s."
	==Culture and ethos==
	The Rajput ethos is martial in spirit, fiercely proud and independent, and emphasizes lineage and tradition. Rajput ] is legendary, an ideal they embodied with a sometimes fanatical zeal, often choosing death before dishonour. Rajput warriors were often known to fight until the last man. The practice of '']'' and '']'' was followed only in rajput communities. When the outcome of a battle was against the Rajputs, ''jauhar'' would be committed by Rajput women and children in the night and next morning men would commit ''saka''. Brahmin priests would chant Vedic ]s and Rajput women wearing their marriage dresses, along with their young children, would embrace ] flames. The next morning after taking a bath, the men would wear saffron-coloured garments and apply the ash from the pyres of their wives and children on their foreheads and put a ] leaf in their mouth. Then the palace gates would be opened and men would ride out for complete annhiliation of the enemy or themselves. Rajput men and women could not be captured alive. When ]s fought against other ]s there were never any '']'' or ''saka'' because the defeated were treated with dignity. However, history records very few instances wherein a Rajput king sued for peace after a battle reversal and the Muslims initially agreed to the peace terms, only for the Rajputs, and their women and children, to be slaughtered upon surrender and once the ''pols'' or gates of their mighty fortresses were opened. One example of this is war between Puran Mal of ] and Sher Shah Suri. Rajputs honour their word more then their life and are renowned for their loyalty.

			===]===
	], which has a very high concentration of ], is located in northwestern ], near the ] route used by most foreign invasions of India, including the Arabs, Afghans, Turks, Mughals, and other Islamic invaders of the Middle Ages. In his ''New History of India'', ] wrote "The Rajputs were the vanguard of Hindu India in the face of the Islamic onslaught."
			Muslims started attacking India within a few decades of the birth of Islam. For a few hundred years they had no success. Mohammed Bin Qasim was able to defeat ] in ] but was routed by ]. Qasim attacked ], which was ruled by ] Rajputs, via ]. Bappa, of ] dynasty, was a commander in Mori army and so was Dahir's son. Bappa defeated and pursued Bin Qasim through ] and back to ]. After this resounding defeat of the caliphate at the hands of Bappa, for next few hundred years there were no more Islamic incursions into India. (note Muslim historians rarely recorded the defeats of there kings) {{ref\|bappa}}

			Then Mahmud started his raids and was successful in looting ].
	The Rajput lifestyle was designed to foster a martial spirit. Tod (1829) describes at length the bond between the Rajputs and their swords. The double-edged scimitar known as the khanda was the favorite weapon of the Rajput. On special occasions, a primary chief would break up a meeting of his chiefs with khanda nareal, or a distribution of swords and coconuts (453). In order to attain a greater bond with one's sword, Rajputs revered their swords and conducted the ritual of Karga Shapna during the annual festival of Navratri.

			===]===
	===Clan, kinship and communities===
			Ghori attacked many times. First time he was routed in present day ] by Rajputs. ]-II was not even a teen yet and his mother organized the defences of ]. Battle was fought at ] near ] and Ghori was resoundingly defeated. After this defeat he never entered ] through ]. In first battle of ] (tarain is misspelledword) in ] ] captured Ghori and Ghori begged for his life. ] allowed him to go despite his generals asking him not to do so. Following year Ghori came again. ] advanced with his army and sent a letter to Ghori. In this letter ghori was asked to return as he had been defeated the previous year and was spared his life. Ghori replied that he was in ] on the orders of his brother, Ghiasuddin, and that he could only retreat after he got a word from his brother. This letter was sent in the evening and Ghori moved his camp back a few kilometers. On receiving this letter and seeing Ghori move his camp back ] assumed that Ghori was not interested in fighting. Ghori also knew that ] did not fight in the night and only started fighting after sun had come up. (This is an ancient ] practice e.g ] was also fought mostly in day time). He attacked in the early morning hours when ] and his army were sleeping and was able to win this war. {{ref\|chauhan}}
	By the late nineteenth century, there was a shift from an emphasis on questions regarding the political relations amongst the Rajputs to a concern with kinship (Kasturi 2002:2). According to Harlan (1992:27), many Rajputs of Rajasthan are nostalgic about their past and keenly conscious of their genealogy, emphasizing a Rajput ethos that is martial in spirit, with a fierce pride in lineage and tradition. These lineages were linked to different networks, both sacred and profane. Branches on a stratified lineage could be either Hindu or Muslim (Kasturi 2002:2). Some of the Muslim Rajput groups like Thakurais of East Champaran in ], and some other Muslims of Rajput extraction are notable among ] for their descent from a prestigious Hindu caste. Their marginality is sometimes self-imposed as they want to retain their exclusivity by deciding not to marry among other Muslims and preserve their distinction (Siddiqui 2004). A number of sub-castes, or ''jatis'', claim to be Rajputs. Some of them have a historical basis for the claim. Some are considered to be descendants of the Rajputs but are not generally accepted by the main Rajput community (for example, Girasia). Some branches of ]'s and ]'s had rajput forefathers but none of them are considered Rajputs today.

			===]===
	==Famous Rajput people==
			Prithviraj's descendant ] ruled ]. ] was ruled by another branch of ]s, the ]s. Ala ud din Khilji usurped ] from his father-in-law, Jalal-ud-din Khilji, by killing him in cold blood. In ] Ala ud din's ] general Ulugh Khan sought to quell ] resistance in ] and besieged ] and sacked the temple at ]. Ulugh Khan had broken the ] of ] and was carrying it back to ]. ], ruler of ], attacked and defeated Ulugh Khan. His son ] and ] ] were the generals who commandeered Kanhad Dev's army. They captured the fragments of the ]. ] had the ] washed in ]jal and had the fragments placed at various ] ]s around ]. One of Ala ud din's generals was a neo-Muslim, Muhammad Shah, who had helped ]. This general later went and stayed with ] in ]. Ala ud din wanted him dead, and asked ] to hand him over. ] replied that he knows how to draw his sword, and anyone who has taken shelter in his fort would not be turned over. ] did not consider Ala king of India. Ala ud din attacked ] in ], but his armies were defeated. He finally came himself in 1301, and there was a long siege. ] was very well prepared. When the fort would not fall after repeated bloody skirmishes khilji resorted to diplomacy. ] was very suspicious but he heeded to his councillors who told him that sword is not always the best recourse. Ratipal and Ranmal, who were close confidants of ], were sent to the khilji camp. Ranmal's father was hung by Hammir for treachery and his property was confiscated. Ranmal earned the trust of Hammir by being brave in battles that ] fought but perfidy was in his blood. Khilji bribed these two generals of ]'s army and consequently ] fell.
	The rajputs have contributed to many facets of Indian life, both historically and in the modern age. A few rajput stalwarts are mentioned here.

			===],],]===
	'''Historical heroes'''
			Khilji wanted to win ] because ]s of ] never accepted the rule of Islam. Another reason was ]. He laid a siege but ] would not fall. Then he requested ], husband of ], that if he is allowed a glimpse of Rani he would leave. By this time the situation inside the fort was getting bad. Rawal discussed this with his advisers and they agreed that they can show Padmini's face in a mirror to the sultan. The meeting took place and afterwards out of courtesy when Ratan Singh was walking Khilji out of the palace, Khilji's men captured ]. Khilji sent a message to the fort that Rawal can be spared by exchanging ]. Padmini discussed this with ], her maternal uncle, who was a ] rajput. Gora told her not to worry and that he would go and bring back ] and Sultan is not brave enough to stop him. Padmini's nephew ] who was just sixteen also assured her. A message was sent from the fort to Khilji that Padmini would come with 700 of her servants in "palanquins" (palki in ]) and that no Muslim soldier should peek inside the palki to outrage the modesty of the women. Letter also said that before Padmini meets khilji she would like to talk to Rawal. Khilji agreed. All the palki's had the best rajput warriors with two swords each. When Padmini's palki, which was occupied by Gora, reached Rawal's tent he asked Rawal to mount the horse and go back to the fort. Then Gora gave a signal and every rajput came out of the palki and attacked the Muslims who were cut to pieces. ] reached Khilji's tent and was about to kill the sultan when khilji moved his concubine in front of himself. Gora, being a rajput could not kill an innocent women and these few seconds were enough for Khilji's guards to kill Gora from behind.
	*]
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	'''Modern era'''
			], in ] ]]]
	* ], Prime Minister of India (Dec.2, 1989-Nov.10, 1990)
			After Ratan Singh's death his successor ] tried to capture ] and fought a battle with Tughlaq near ]. He died along with his son Ari. His second son Ajay was severely wounded but was taken away from the battlefield by other soldiers and survived. Ajay was not a powerful ruler and his sons were likewise. Ajay knew that Ari had a son ] and he called ] to come to him. ], along with his mother came to see his uncle. Ajay said that he had grown weak and a dacoit, Munja Balicha, was wreaking havoc in Rana Ajay's domain. ] vowed that he would take care of Munja. ] took seven warriors with him and set out to finish Munja. ] at this stage was just a teenager. Munja was tracked. When Munja was riding with his band to plunder a village, ] stood in his way on his white steed. Munja asked him to leave the way or die. ] challenged him to a duel and seeing that Hammir was just a teenager Munja readily agreed. ] killed Munja and brought his head and put it at Rana Ajay's feet and told his uncle that Munja will never be a problem again. Rana Ajay realized Hammir should be the ruler and he coronated Hammir as the new ruler of ]. Ajay's sons were unhappy with this and decided to move to ]. Do note that ] was called ] at this time as Ala ud din had renamed it after his son and at Hammir's coronation was ruled by Muhammad bin Tughlaq. Hammir captured ]. Tughlaq became very unhappy and launched a massive campaign against Hammir which he led himself. Hammir knew as soon as he captured ] that Tughlaq would attack him. He rallied all nearby rajput states to join him and they did. Battle was fought and Tughlaq was badly defeated and captured. After he paid a hefty fees and surrendered all of ]'s territory he was let go. After this defeat Mewar was never attacked by ].
	* ], Prime Minister of India (Nov.10, 1990-June 21, 1991)
	* ], Leader of Opposition, Rajya Sabha
	* ], Vice-president of India.
	* ], olympic silver medalist

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	==See also==
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			Later Rana Kumbha repeatedly defeated sultans of ] and ] and built 32 forts in ]. Even the combined armies of sultans of Malwa and Gujarat could not beat Kumbha. To commemorate his victory over these Muslim rulers of Malwa and Gujarat, Maharana Kumbha built the victory tower in 1440 A.D. The tower has nine-stories and is covered with exquisite sculputres of Hindu Gods and Godesses depicting episodes from Ramayana and Mahabharata.
	==References==
	<!--works referred to in the article body; general reading suggestions go to the next section-->
	*{{Harvard reference
	\| Surname1 = Harlan
	\| Given1 = Lindsey
	\| Year = 1992
	\| Title = Religion and Rajput Women: The Ethic of Protection in Contemporary Narratives.
	\| Publisher = University of California Press
	\| ID = ISBN 0520073398
	}} .
	*Kasturi, Malavika, '' Embattled Identities Rajput Lineages'', Oxford University Press (2002) ISBN 01956-5787-x
	*M K A Siddiqui (ed.), ''Marginal Muslim Communities In India'', Institute of Objective Studies, New Delhi (2004) ()
	*{{Harvard reference
	\| Surname1 = Tod
	\| Given1 = James
	\| Surname2 = Crooke
	\| Given2 = William (Editor)
	\| Year = 1994
	\| Title = Annals and Antiquities of Rajasthan (2 vols.).
	\| Publisher = Trans-Atl
	\| ID = ISBN 8170691281
	\| Comment = The way Surjan Hada was befriended by Man Singh and Akbar and the conditions that Surjan laid down for this friendship are chronicled. Surjan's leaving ] and living in ] because of this friendship is also documented by ] in this book. Treachery against Rana Sanga is also described in this book. (Treachery against Rana Sanga: Annals of Mewar, Chapter IX Vol-I: Pages 243-246. Surjan Hada: Page 381-385 volume II).
	}}.
	*W.W. Hunter, ''The Indian empire, its people, history and products.'' First published: London, Trubner & Co., Ludgate Hill, 1886. ISBN 81-206-1581-6.

	==~~External~~ ~~links~~==		===]===
			In Kumbha's lineage was ] or Sanga. Lodi was defeated by Man Singh ] of ] but being a Hindu Man Singh out of magnaninimity let Ibrahim go back to Delhi. Man Singh's descendants fought at ] along with Maharana Pratap against Akbar and showed exemplary bravery. Lodi was defeated by Babur later. Now Babur was having sleepless nights because of Sanga. Babur sent about 1500 choice cavalry to attack Sanga. These were butchered by Sanga's rajputs. Babur wanted to discuss peace terms. For discussions Sanga sent his general ] (Shiladitya). Babur won this general by promising him independent kingdom. Silhadi came back and reported that babur does not want peace and he wants to fight. Fight started and Babur's army was being knocked out of the field and victory was certain for Sanga. At this juncture Silhadi and his army just left the field and this tilted the war in favor of Babur and he won.
	* ], Sixth Edition; 2005
	* ]; 1911
	*

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			], Home of ] rulers of (], ])]]
			Humayun, Babur's son was defeated by SherShah Suri, a ]. Humayun was forced to leave India and Sher Shah became ruler of Delhi. The ] of ] were not yet recovered from ]'s treacherous defeat. In ] the ]s were becoming very powerful. The ] king Rao Maldeo had extended his territory to within a couple of hundred kilometers of ]. Sher Shah attacked Maldeo. Maldeo came with a force of 40 thousand and Sher Shah had 60 thousand. In the evening Sher Shah sent forged letters to Maldeo's camp. In these letters it was stated that few generals from Maldeo's army were buying arms from Sher Shah's army. This caused great consternation in Maldeo who thought there is treachery and that some of his generals had crossed over to Sher Shah. Maldeo left with 20 thousand men. In reality there was no treachery. Later when Maldeo's generals Kumpa (his progeny are ] ]s) and Jaita (his progeny are Jaitawat rathores) found out what happened they did not loose cool and decided they would not leave the field even though they just had 20 thousand men and had to face 60 thousand Pathans of Sher Shah. Finally battle of ] was fought and Sher Shah was shocked by what he saw. SherShah's top generals lost there lives and his army suffered heavy losses. After this Sher Shah commented that "for a few grains of ] ]] he had almost lost the entire kingdom of ]".It is a moot point now but had Maldeo not retreated because of the fake letter ]s/Rajputs would have defeated SherShah. In my bhoomi (Rajasthan) ]s are considered the most stubborn, ]s the most brave and ]s the invincible warriors on the battlefield (Ranbanka ]).

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	==Further reading==
			] of Udaipur]]
	'''English books'''

			Humayun's son Akbar was born in the palace of a Hindu king, at ], who had given Humayun shelter when he was being pursued by Sher Shah. Akbar realized that he can never subdue Rajputs and become sole ruler of India. He decided to pursue diplomacy and was able to convince the ] Rajput rulers of ](modern day ]) about a matrimonial alliance. King of ] agreed and Jodhabai became Akbar's queen and the mother of Prince Salim, who later became the Mughal emperor Jahangir. Soon other Rajput kingdoms in ] also gave their daughters to Akbar. This was the darkest period in the history of Rajputs.

			Only two kings remained against this. The ]s of ] and ]s of Ranthambore. ] are ]s. Finally Man Singh of ] and Akbar went and met ] that he should become friends with Akbar and Surjan some how agreed but one of his conditions of friendship was that no daughter of Hadas would ever be asked to marry mughals and Akbar agreed. Surjan was very saddened by this friendship with Akbar and the fact that he could not help ] against Akbar. He felt so ashamed that he moved his residence to ] and made sure that ] in the holy city had no problems at the hands of Muslims. So there remained just the house of ] the sole bearer of Rajput pride in the face of immense opposition from Mughals as well as other rajputs who had sold there souls essentially to mughals by giving there daughters.

			], the ] ruler of ], passed a law in his state that none of his followers will intermarry with Rajputs who have given their daughters to Muslims. This rule was followed by his loyal band of Rajputs, which included ]s, ]s, ]s, ]s, ]s, ] and ]s. ] never accepted Akbar as ruler of India, and fought Akbar all his life. Akbar first tried diplomacy to win over ] but nothing worked. Pratap just said he has no intention to fight with Akbar but he cannot bow down to Akbar and accept him as the ruler. Some scholars argue that there is some chance that Maharana could have become friends with Akbar but in the siege of ] when Akbar killed 30,000 civilian, unarmed residents of ], because they refused to convert to Islam, left a lasting impression on Maharana's mind and he decided he cannot bow to such an unjust and cruel human being as Akbar was. (People should note that when ] Kings fought with each other unarmed civilians were never killed in the loosing king's territory).

			Finally Akbar attacked ] at ]. Akbar's general was Man Singh ] of ], leading an army of 40 thousand men. Maharana had about 8 thousand men and some ] warriors. One of Maharana's generals was Hakim Khan Sur, who was from the line of SherShah Suri, a pathan. Pathans are the only faction of Muslims that Rajputs do not mind befriending
			because a Pathan would rather give his life then his word. During the first attack ]'s army routed the ] and Mughals ran for there life. Maharana Pratap decided to kill Man Singh, and Maharana Pratap's horse ] put his front feet on the trunk of the elephant that Man Singh was riding and Maharana threw his lance. Man Singh ducked, and the elephant driver was killed. Finally the numerical superiority of the Mughal army was too much and the battle ended in a stalemate. When Mughal army entered the nearby town of ] they were so mortified that Maharana would attack them again that no one would venture out of the camp for months. They ran out of food and conditions were just miserable in the Mughal camp. They killed there own horses and ate them to survive. Finally help arrived many months later. Akbar was very unhappy with his generals and his army and he refused to see his generals for months.

			Akbar kept sending expedition after expedition against ] but never succeeded. He lost lot of money and men in trying to defeat Maharana Pratap. For 30 years Pratap remained ahead of Akbar and in last ten years of his life was able to free most of his kingdom. The only fort Pratap could not recover was ] and that saddened him a lot. His son, ], won that fort after Pratap's death.

			It is said that somebody told Akbar that Pratap wanted to accept Akbar as the king. Akbar was very happy to hear this. One of Akbar's general was Prthviraj ] who was a very good poet. He told Akbar this is a lie (incidentally Prithviraj's mother and Pratap's mother were real sisters. Pratap and Prithviraj played together as kids in there maternal grandfather, Akshay Raj ]'s home who was a ] rajput). Prithviraj wrote this letter to Pratap:

			''The hopes of the ] rest on the ] yet the Rana forsakes them. But for Pratap, all would be placed on the same level by Akbar; for our chiefs have lost their valour and our females their honour. Akbar is the broker in the market of our race; he has purchased all but the son of Udai (Singh II of ]); he is beyond his price. What true Rajput would part with honour for nine days (nauroza); yet how many have bartered it away? Will ] come to this market ...? Though Patta (an affectionate name for Pratap Singh) has squandered away wealth (on warfare), yet he has preserved this treasure. Despair has driven man to this market, to witness their dishonour: from such infamy the descendant of Hammir (]) alone has been preserved. The world asks, from where does the concealed aid of Pratap emanate? None but the soul of manliness and his sword .. The broker in the market of men (Akbar) will one day be surpassed; he cannot live forever. Then will our race come to Pratap, for the seed of the Rajput to sow in our desolate lands. To him all look for its preservation, that its purity may again become resplendent. It is as much impossible for me to believe that Pratap has called Akbar his emperor as to see the sun rising in the west. Tell me where do I stand? Shall I use my sword on my neck or shall I continue my proud bearing?''

			Pratap replied to him:

			''By my god ], Pratap would call the emperor Turk alone and the sun would rise in the east. You may continue your proud bearing as long as Pratap's sword dangles on the mughal head. Pratap would be guilty of Sanga's blood, if he was to tolerate Akbar. you would have the better of it, no doubt Prithviraj, in this wordy quarrel.''

			Prithviraj was overjoyed on getting this letter.

			]'s son, Amar Singh, fought 17 wars with the Mughals but he finally accepted them as rulers. At this time a large chunk of Maharana Pratap's band of loyal Rajputs became disillusioned by the surrender and left Rajasthan. This group included ]s, ] ]s, ]s, ]s, ] and ]s. They are called "Rors" and settled mostly in ], with some in ]. Until today they do not intermarry with other Rajputs but "] permitting" with other Rors only.

			===]===
			]]]
			After Akbar in his line, few generations later, came Aurangzeb. Aurangzeb did not like ], ruler of ]. When Jaswant Singh ] died he had no son and this gave Aurangzeb a chance to appoint a Muslim as the ruler of ]. This upset ] Rajputs a lot. Two of Jaswant Singh's queens were pregnant when Jaswant Singh died. One queen gave birth to ] and other to Dalathamban. After Ajit's birth, ] generals, chief among them was ] (a ] ]) went to ] along with the queens and the infants, and asked Aurangzeb that crown of ] should be given to ]. Aurangzeb was very cunning and he had no intention of handing over the throne of ]. He suggested that Ajit should grow up in his {{Harem\|harem]] but internally he wanted to kill them all. Durga Das sensed this and they smuggled ] out of ] to the outskirts of the city. When Mughal army came to capture them in Delhi ] and his men attacked the Mughals and started riding out of Delhi. Raghunandan ] and others soaked the streets of Delhi in crimson by flowing the blood of mughal pursuers. There were about three hundred Rajputs with Durga Das and there were thousands of pursuing Mughals. Every so often 15 - 20 Rajputs would fall behind attack the Mughal pursuers and in the process get themselves killed but it allowed the forward party to create some distance between Ajit and the Mughals. This continued till the evening by which time the Mughals had given up and Durga Das was left with just seven men out of three hundred he started with and reached ] along with Ajit Singh.

			Thereby started the 30 year Rajput rebellion against Aurangzeb. ] and ] forces combined together and almost killed Aurangzeb when he was trapped in the mountains of ] but the ] king out of magnanimity allowed Aurangzeb to escape.

			All the ]s were plundered by ]s and they started looting various treasuries of ] and ]. To crush them Aurangzeb sent many expeditions but no success. These expeditions and drying up of revenue from trade routes running through ] had severe effect on his resources. In addition the lion of ], ], had freed almost all of ] and was at constant war with Aurangzeb. ] had some Rajput ancestry.

			] rulers of ]]] Finally, on his death-bed Aurangzeb complained that his life had been a complete failure. He was the sole reason for Mughal empire's crumbling. His war campaigns had practically left the treasury dry for his progeny.

			A point to note here is that lot of Muslims and some Hindu historians think that Islam/Muslims did not do conversion of Hindus by sword. The argument they give is that there are so many Hindus still today in India. This is completely wrong because most Muslim rulers in India tried to convert as many as they could but it was the strength of Rajput sword and later ],] swords that kept Hinduism alive in India. If there were no ]s, ]s , ]s in India, then India would be just like ], ], ], or ] in terms of religion of the population.

			The preservance of ] in India by the Rajput sword against the entire might of Islamic rulers is the most glorious achievement by a race in the annals of ] and every one should know this fact, more so Indians and most definitely each and every Rajput.

			In his ''Annals and Antiquities of Rajasthan'' ] wrote:

			:"What nation on earth could have maintained the semblance of civilization, the spirit or the customs of their forefathers, during so many centuries of overwhelming depression, but one of such singular character as the Rajpoot? . . . Rajast’han exhibits the sole example in the history of mankind, of a people withstanding every outrage barbarity could inflict, or human nature sustain, from a foe whose religion commands annihilation; and bent to the earth, yet rising buoyant from the pressure, and making calamity a whetstone to courage. . . . Not an iota of their religion or customs have they lost. . . ".

			==Prominent Rajput clans & their main centers==
			{{col-begin}}
			{{col-3}}
			<div style="font-size: 75%">
			* ]
			** ]: ]
			*** ]: ]
			** ]: ]
			** ]: ]/]
			** ]: ]/]
			*** ]
			*** ]
			*** ]: ]/]
			*** ]
			** ]: ]/]
			*** ]
			*** ]
			*** ]
			*** ]: ]
			** ]: ]
			** ]: ]/]/]/]
			*** ]
			*** ]
			*** ]
			*** ]
			*** ]
			*** ]
			*** ]
			</div>
			{{col-2}}
			<div style="font-size: 75%">
			* ]
			** ]: ]
			*** ]: ]
			*** ]: ]/]
			*** ]: ]
			*** ]: ]
			*** ]
			** ]: Anahilawad (Patan) ]
			*** ]
			** ], ] (Parmar): ]/]
			** ] (Parihara): ], ]
			</div>
			{{col-3}}
			<div style="font-size: 75%">
			* ]
			** ]: ]
			** ]: ]
			** ]: ]/]/]
			** ]: ]
			** ]: ]
			** ]: ]/]
			** ]: ]
			** ]: ]
			** ]: ]
			*** ]: ]
			</div>
			{{col-end}}
			===Clans of Jammu and Himachal===
			Rajput clans in ] and ]: Jaswal, Chambial, Mankotia, Sambial, Guleria, Dadwal, Jamwal, Chib, Katoch, Suketia, Kutlehria, Baloria, Charak, Bandral, Kahluria etc.

			==References==
	{{col-begin}}		{{col-begin}}
	{{col-2}}		{{col-2}}
Line 173:		Line 243:
	\| ID = ASIN B0000CPJC0		\| ID = ASIN B0000CPJC0
	\| Comment = Very detailed description of Bhatti clan of rajputs. Contains details on the siege of Jaisalmer and how proudly Jaisalmer was defended by Bhattis for eight consecutive years.		\| Comment = Very detailed description of Bhatti clan of rajputs. Contains details on the siege of Jaisalmer and how proudly Jaisalmer was defended by Bhattis for eight consecutive years.
			}}.
			*{{Harvard reference
			\| Surname1 = Bhati
			\| Given1 = Dr. Hukam Singh
			\| Year = 2003
			\| Title = Bhati vamsa ka gauravamaya itihasa Vol I-II.
			\| Publisher = Ithihass Anusandhan Sansthan, Chaupasani, Jodhpur
			\| ID =
			\| Comment = History of ] clan of ]s.
	}}.		}}.
	*{{Harvard reference		*{{Harvard reference
Line 180:		Line 259:
	\| Title = Maharaja Mansingh: the mystic monarch of Marwar.		\| Title = Maharaja Mansingh: the mystic monarch of Marwar.
	\| Publisher = Maharaja Man Singh Pustak Prakash, Jodhpur		\| Publisher = Maharaja Man Singh Pustak Prakash, Jodhpur
			\| ID =
			}}.
			*{{Harvard reference
			\| Surname1 = Bhati
			\| Given1 = Dr. Hukam Singh
			\| Year = 1990
			\| Title = Maheca Rathaurom ka mula itihasa: Ravala Mallinatha ke vamsaja - Maheca, Baramera, Pokarana, Kotariya aura Khavariya Rathaurom ka sodhapurna itihasa.
			\| Publisher = Ratan Prakashan, Jodhpur
			\| ID =
			\| Comment = This book describes the ] ruler mallinath. His relationship with present ] and ] royal houses are described. Also his descendants created multiple ] ]s: Mahecha, Khavariya etc
			}}.
			*{{Harvard reference
			\| Surname1 = Bhati
			\| Given1 = Dr. Hukam Singh (Editor)
			\| Year = 1993
			\| Title = Mevara jagiradaram ri vigata : Maharana Amarasimha Dvi. evam Maharana Bhimasimha.
			\| Publisher = Pratap Shodh Pratishtan, Udaipur 313 001
			\| ID =
			}}.
			*{{Harvard reference
			\| Surname1 = Bhati
			\| Given1 = Dr. Hukam Singh (Editor)
			\| Year = 2001
			\| Title = Svatantrya vira Rava Chandrasena: Jodhapura ka sasaka 1562-1581.
			\| Publisher = Rajasthani Shodh Sansthan, Chaupasani, Jodhpur
			\| ID =
			}}.
			*{{Harvard reference
			\| Surname1 = Bhati
			\| Given1 = Dr. Hukam Singh (Editor)
			\| Year = 2002
			\| Title = Vira siromani Rava Amarasimha Rathaura : Nagaura ka sasaka, 1638-1644.
			\| Publisher = Rajasthani Shodh Sansthan, Chaupasani, Jodhpur
	\| ID =		\| ID =
	}}.		}}.
Line 189:		Line 301:
	\| Publisher =		\| Publisher =
	\| ID =		\| ID =
			}}.
			*{{Harvard reference
			\| Surname1 = Chauhan
			\| Given1 = Dr. Bindhayaraj
			\| Year = 2003
			\| Title = Bharata ka Liyonidasa, Sonigira Virama de Chauhana, Jalaura: Lionidas of India Sonigira Viram de Chauhan.
			\| Publisher = Arjun Singh Songara publication, Sanchore, Jalore, Rajasthan
			\| ID =
			\| Comment = A very detailed description of the victory of Kanhad Dev and Biram Dev against Ulugh Khan and there subsequent war with Khilji. (Chapter 3, Page 40-51. Chapter 14&15, Page 70-92. Chapter 18&19, Page 103-112.)
			}}.
			*{{Harvard reference
			\| Surname1 = Chauhan
			\| Given1 = Dr. Lal Bhadur Singh
			\| Year = ISBN 81-7043-429-7
			\| Title = Rashtra-gaurava suravira Maharana Pratapa.
			\| Publisher = Atma Ram and Sons, New Delhi 110006
			\| ID = ISBN 81-7043-429-7
			\| Comment = Chauhan says on page 16 that Maharana proved these words of Lord ] "Kshatriya Tanu Dhari Samar Sakana \| Kul Kalanka Tehi Pamar Jaana \|\|"
	}}.		}}.
	*{{Harvard reference		*{{Harvard reference
Line 205:		Line 335:
	\| Publisher =		\| Publisher =
	\| ID = ISBN 8175738324		\| ID = ISBN 8175738324
			}}.
			*{{Harvard reference
			\| Surname1 = Gehlote
			\| Given1 = Sukhvir Singh
			\| Year = 2000
			\| Title = Svatamtrata-premi Durgadasa Rathaura.
			\| Publisher = Navbharat Publications, ] 342 001, ]
			\| ID =
			\| Comment = Details of ]'s life. His saving of Ajit in Delhi (Chapter 3: Pages 35-38)
			}}.
			*{{Harvard reference
			\| Surname1 = Harlan
			\| Given1 = Lindsey
			\| Year = 1992
			\| Title = Religion and Rajput Women: The Ethic of Protection in Contemporary Narratives.
			\| Publisher = University of California Press
			\| ID = ISBN 0520073398
	}}.		}}.
	*{{Harvard reference		*{{Harvard reference
Line 239:		Line 386:
	\| Publisher = Munshiram Manoharlal Publishers Pvt. Ltd., New Delhi		\| Publisher = Munshiram Manoharlal Publishers Pvt. Ltd., New Delhi
	\| ID = ISBN 81-215-0570-2		\| ID = ISBN 81-215-0570-2
	}}.
	*{{Harvard reference
	\| Surname1 = Khan
	\| Given1 = Rana Muhammad Sarwar
	\| Year = 2005
	\| Title = The Rajputs: History, Clans, Culture and Nobility
	\| Publisher = Eastern Book Corporation
	\| ID =
	\| Comment = 2 Vols.
	}}.		}}.
	*{{Harvard reference		*{{Harvard reference
Line 265:		Line 403:
	\| ID = ISBN 81-8182-016-9		\| ID = ISBN 81-8182-016-9
	\| Comment = Maharana Pratap's war strategy is discussed in detail.		\| Comment = Maharana Pratap's war strategy is discussed in detail.
			}}.
			*{{Harvard reference
			\| Surname1 = Mishra
			\| Given1 = Jwalaprasad
			\| Year = 1914
			\| Title = Jati Bhaskara.
			\| Publisher = Khemaraj Shrikrishnadas
			\| ID =
	}}.		}}.
	*{{Harvard reference		*{{Harvard reference
Line 274:		Line 420:
	\| ID =		\| ID =
	\| Comment = Lineage of Rathore rulers is provided starting with Rao Sheoji.		\| Comment = Lineage of Rathore rulers is provided starting with Rao Sheoji.
			}}.
			*{{Harvard reference
			\| Surname1 = Nirala
			\| Given1 = ]
			\| Year = 1998
			\| Title = Maharana Pratapa
			\| Publisher =
			\| ID = ISBN 81-267-0836-0
			}}.
			*{{Harvard reference
			\| Surname1 = Ojha
			\| Given1 = Dr. Gauri Shankar Hira Chand
			\| Year = First edition 1936, Second revised edition 1999
			\| Title = Sirohi rajya ka itihasa.
			\| Publisher = Rajasthani Granthagar, Sojati gate, Jodhpur
			\| ID =
			\| Comment = Description of ] ]s and there kingdom.
			}}.
			*{{Harvard reference
			\| Surname1 = Prakash
			\| Given1 = Ved
			\| Year = 2005
			\| Title = Vira Durgadasa Rathaurha.
			\| Publisher = Rajbhasha Pustak Pratishthan, Shivaji Marg, Delhi 110053
			\| ID = ISBN 81-88613-10-X
			}}.
			*{{Harvard reference
			\| Surname1 = Premchand
			\| Given1 = Munshi
			\| Year = 1998
			\| Title = Maharana Pratap.
			\| Publisher = Sahityasagar, Jaipur 302003
			\| ID =
			\| Comment = Maharana's life and battle of Haldighati described. Lot of couplets about Maharana composed in Maharana's time are also listed.
	}}.		}}.
	*{{Harvard reference		*{{Harvard reference
Line 309:		Line 489:
	\| ID =		\| ID =
	\| Comment = Description of Padmini's Jauhar, Gora and Badal's bravery, Allauddin's treachery against Rana Ratan Singh.		\| Comment = Description of Padmini's Jauhar, Gora and Badal's bravery, Allauddin's treachery against Rana Ratan Singh.
			}}.
			*{{Harvard reference
			\| Surname1 = Reu
			\| Given1 = Pt. Vishveshwar Nath
			\| Year = 2005
			\| Title = Maravara ka itihasa Vol I-II.
			\| Publisher = Rajasthani Granthagar, Sojati Gate, Jodhpur
			\| ID = ISBN 81-86103-46-5
			\| Comment = Description of Rathore rise in Marwar. Various wars are described. Battle of Sammel and Rathore rebellion against Aurangzeb are covered in great detail. (Rao Maldeo: Chapter 19 Vol I: Pages 116:144).
	}}.		}}.
	</div>		</div>
	{{col-2}}		{{col-2}}
	<div style="font-size: 75%">		<div style="font-size: 75%">
			*{{Harvard reference

			\| Surname1 = Sarada
			\| Given1 = Har Bilasa
			\| Year = 2000
			\| Title = Hindupati Maharana Sanga: sacitra.
			\| Publisher =
			\| ID =
			}}.
	*{{Harvard reference		*{{Harvard reference
	\| Surname1 = Sarada		\| Surname1 = Sarada
Line 331:		Line 527:
	\| ID = ISBN 0891480854		\| ID = ISBN 0891480854
	\| Comment = This book describes the battle of Sammel between Maldev's generals and Sher Shah Suri. (Volume 1. Page 163-169)		\| Comment = This book describes the battle of Sammel between Maldev's generals and Sher Shah Suri. (Volume 1. Page 163-169)
			}}.
			*{{Harvard reference
			\| Surname1 = Saraswat
			\| Given1 = Rawat
			\| Year = 1984
			\| Title = Prithviraja Rathaura.
			\| Publisher = Sahitya Akademi, Ferozeshah Road, New Delhi, 110001
			\| ID =
			\| Comment = Life history of Prithviraj Rathore, a cousin of Maharana Pratap. He is famous for sending the couplet on hearing the rumour of Maharana's surrender in Akbar's court.
	}}.		}}.
	*{{Harvard reference		*{{Harvard reference
Line 358:		Line 563:
	\| Publisher = Hope India Publications.		\| Publisher = Hope India Publications.
	\| ID = ISBN 817871003X		\| ID = ISBN 817871003X
			}}.
			*{{Harvard reference
			\| Surname1 = Sharma
			\| Given1 = Dr. Vasumati
			\| Year = 2000
			\| Title = ] rajavamsa ke riti-rivaja: 1600-1850.
			\| Publisher = Maharaja Man Singh Pustak Prakash, Jodhpur
			\| ID =
			\| Comment = Social customs of Marwar kings are described. Marriage ceremonies, festivals etc.
			}}.
			*{{Harvard reference
			\| Surname1 = Sharma 'Chandra'
			\| Given1 = Yadavendra
			\| Year = 2000
			\| Title = Amara Simha Rathaura.
			\| Publisher =
			\| ID =
			\| Comment = Fiercely proud and brave Amar Singh Rathore's life is chronicled in this book.
			}}.
			*{{Harvard reference
			\| Surname1 = Simha
			\| Given1 = Thakur Udainarain
			\| Year =
			\| Title = Kshatriya Vamshavali.
			\| Publisher =
			\| ID =
	}}.		}}.
	*{{Harvard reference		*{{Harvard reference
Line 392:		Line 623:
	\| Publisher = Research Publishers, Merti Gate, Jodhpur 342 002		\| Publisher = Research Publishers, Merti Gate, Jodhpur 342 002
	\| ID = ISBN 81-85310-00-9		\| ID = ISBN 81-85310-00-9
			}}.
			*{{Harvard reference
			\| Surname1 = Solanki
			\| Given1 = Dr. Ram Singh
			\| Year = 1999
			\| Title = Rashtravira Durgadasa Rathaura.
			\| Publisher = Rajasthani Shodh Sansthan, Chaupasani, Jodhpur
			\| ID =
			\| Comment = Durga Das Rathore's life history.
	}}.		}}.
	*{{Harvard reference		*{{Harvard reference
Line 401:		Line 641:
	\| ID =		\| ID =
	\| Comment = Life of Maharana Kumbha of ].		\| Comment = Life of Maharana Kumbha of ].
			}}.
			*{{Harvard reference
			\| Surname1 = Somani
			\| Given1 = Ram Vallabha
			\| Year =
			\| Title = Maharana Pratapa : aitihasika adhyayana.
			\| Publisher =
			\| ID = ISBN 818523454X
	}}.		}}.
	*{{Harvard reference		*{{Harvard reference
Line 417:		Line 665:
	\| Publisher = Manoj Publications, Delhi 110084		\| Publisher = Manoj Publications, Delhi 110084
	\| ID = ISBN 81-8133-591-0		\| ID = ISBN 81-8133-591-0
			}}.
			*{{Harvard reference
			\| Surname1 = Tod
			\| Given1 = James
			\| Surname2 = Crooke
			\| Given2 = William (Editor)
			\| Year = 1994
			\| Title = Annals and Antiquities of Rajasthan (2 vols.).
			\| Publisher = Trans-Atl
			\| ID = ISBN 8170691281
			\| Comment = The way Surjan Hada was befriended by Man Singh and Akbar and the conditions that Surjan laid down for this friendship are chronicled. Surjan's leaving ] and living in ] because of this friendship is also documented by ] in this book. Treachery against Rana Sanga is also described in this book. (Treachery against Rana Sanga: Annals of Mewar, Chapter IX Vol-I: Pages 243-246. Surjan Hada: Page 381-385 volume II).
	}}.		}}.
	*{{Harvard reference		*{{Harvard reference
Line 445:		Line 704:
	\| ID =		\| ID =
	}}.		}}.
	</div>
	{{col-end}}

	'''Hindi books'''
	{{col-begin}}
	{{col-2}}
	<div style="font-size: 75%">
	*{{Harvard reference		*{{Harvard reference
	\| Surname1 = ~~Bhati~~		\| Surname1 =
	\| Given1 = ~~Dr.~~ ~~Hukam~~ ~~Singh~~		\| Given1 =
	\| Year = ~~2003~~		\| Year =
	\| Title = ~~Bhati~~ ~~vamsa~~ ~~ka gauravamaya itihasa Vol I-II.~~		\| Title = Gogunda ki khyata
	\| Publisher = ~~Ithihass Anusandhan Sansthan, Chaupasani, Jodhpur~~		\| Publisher =
	\| ID =		\| ID =
	\| Comment = History of ] clan of ]s.
	}}.		}}.
	*{{Harvard reference		*{{Harvard reference
	\| Surname1 = ~~Bhati~~		\| Surname1 =
	\| Given1 = ~~Dr.~~ ~~Hukam~~ ~~Singh~~		\| Given1 =
	\| Year = ~~1990~~		\| Year =
			\| Title = Jalore: a history of greatest patriotic saga of Chauhan clan
	\| Title = Maheca Rathaurom ka mula itihasa: Ravala Mallinatha ke vamsaja - Maheca, Baramera, Pokarana, Kotariya aura Khavariya Rathaurom ka sodhapurna itihasa.
	\| Publisher = ~~Ratan Prakashan, Jodhpur~~		\| Publisher =
	\| ID =		\| ID =
	\| Comment = This book describes the ] ruler mallinath. His relationship with present ] and ] royal houses are described. Also his descendants created multiple ] ]s: Mahecha, Khavariya etc
	}}.		}}.
	*{{Harvard reference		*{{Harvard reference
	\| Surname1 = ~~Bhati~~		\| Surname1 =
	\| Given1 = ~~Dr.~~ ~~Hukam~~ ~~Singh~~ ~~(Editor)~~		\| Given1 =
	\| Year = ~~1993~~		\| Year =
			\| Title = Maharana Pratapa: eka aise vira yoddha ki jivana-gatha jisane svatantrata ke lie apani akhiri samsa taka visala Mugala samrajya se janga ki
	\| Title = Mevara jagiradaram ri vigata : Maharana Amarasimha Dvi. evam Maharana Bhimasimha.
	\| Publisher = ~~Pratap Shodh Pratishtan, Udaipur 313 001~~		\| Publisher =
	\| ID =		\| ID =
	}}.		}}.
	*{{Harvard reference		*{{Harvard reference
	\| Surname1 = ~~Bhati~~		\| Surname1 =
	\| Given1 = ~~Dr.~~ ~~Hukam~~ ~~Singh~~ ~~(Editor)~~		\| Given1 =
	\| Year = ~~2001~~		\| Year =
	\| Title = ~~Svatantrya~~ ~~vira~~ ~~Rava~~ ~~Chandrasena:~~ ~~Jodhapura~~ ka ~~sasaka 1562-1581.~~		\| Title = Maravara ke thikanom ki puralekhiya sampada
	\| Publisher = ~~Rajasthani Shodh Sansthan, Chaupasani, Jodhpur~~		\| Publisher =
	\| ID =		\| ID =
			\| Comment = An excellent research book to figure out which clans tilled what piece of land in ] and how much revenue they had to provide to the Maharaja of Marwar.
	}}.		}}.
	*{{Harvard reference		*{{Harvard reference
	\| Surname1 = ~~Bhati~~		\| Surname1 =
	\| Given1 = ~~Dr.~~ ~~Hukam~~ ~~Singh (Editor)~~		\| Given1 =
	\| Year = ~~2002~~		\| Year =
	\| Title = ~~Vira siromani Rava Amarasimha Rathaura : Nagaura ka sasaka, 1638~~-~~1644.~~		\| Title = Marwar-Jodhpur
	\| Publisher = ~~Rajasthani Shodh Sansthan, Chaupasani, Jodhpur~~		\| Publisher =
	\| ID =		\| ID =
	}}.		}}.
	*{{Harvard reference		*{{Harvard reference
	\| Surname1 = ~~Chauhan~~		\| Surname1 =
	\| Given1 = ~~Dr.~~ ~~Bindhayaraj~~		\| Given1 =
	\| Year = ~~2003~~		\| Year =
			\| Title = Panna dhaya : prabandha kavya
	\| Title = Bharata ka Liyonidasa, Sonigira Virama de Chauhana, Jalaura: Lionidas of India Sonigira Viram de Chauhan.
	\| Publisher = ~~Arjun Singh Songara publication, Sanchore, Jalore, Rajasthan~~		\| Publisher =
	\| ID =
	\| Comment = A very detailed description of the victory of Kanhad Dev and Biram Dev against Ulugh Khan and there subsequent war with Khilji. (Chapter 3, Page 40-51. Chapter 14&15, Page 70-92. Chapter 18&19, Page 103-112.)
	}}.
	*{{Harvard reference
	\| Surname1 = Chauhan
	\| Given1 = Dr. Lal Bhadur Singh
	\| Year = ISBN 81-7043-429-7
	\| Title = Rashtra-gaurava suravira Maharana Pratapa.
	\| Publisher = Atma Ram and Sons, New Delhi 110006
	\| ID = ISBN 81-7043-429-7
	\| Comment = Chauhan says on page 16 that Maharana proved these words of Lord ] "Kshatriya Tanu Dhari Samar Sakana \| Kul Kalanka Tehi Pamar Jaana \|\|"
	}}.
	*{{Harvard reference
	\| Surname1 = Gehlote
	\| Given1 = Sukhvir Singh
	\| Year = 2000
	\| Title = Svatamtrata-premi Durgadasa Rathaura.
	\| Publisher = Navbharat Publications, ] 342 001, ]
	\| ID =
	\| Comment = Details of ]'s life. His saving of Ajit in Delhi (Chapter 3: Pages 35-38)
	}}.
	</div>
	{{col-2}}
	<div style="font-size: 75%">
	*{{Harvard reference
	\| Surname1 = Mishra
	\| Given1 = Jwalaprasad
	\| Year = 1914
	\| Title = Jati Bhaskara.
	\| Publisher = Khemaraj Shrikrishnadas
	\| ID =
	}}.
	*{{Harvard reference
	\| Surname1 = Nirala
	\| Given1 = ]
	\| Year = 1998
	\| Title = Maharana Pratapa
	\| Publisher =
	\| ID = ISBN 81-267-0836-0
	}}.
	*{{Harvard reference
	\| Surname1 = Ojha
	\| Given1 = Dr. Gauri Shankar Hira Chand
	\| Year = First edition 1936, Second revised edition 1999
	\| Title = Sirohi rajya ka itihasa.
	\| Publisher = Rajasthani Granthagar, Sojati gate, Jodhpur
	\| ID =
	\| Comment = Description of ] ]s and there kingdom.
	}}.
	*{{Harvard reference
	\| Surname1 = Prakash
	\| Given1 = Ved
	\| Year = 2005
	\| Title = Vira Durgadasa Rathaurha.
	\| Publisher = Rajbhasha Pustak Pratishthan, Shivaji Marg, Delhi 110053
	\| ID = ISBN 81-88613-10-X
	}}.
	*{{Harvard reference
	\| Surname1 = Premchand
	\| Given1 = Munshi
	\| Year = 1998
	\| Title = Maharana Pratap.
	\| Publisher = Sahityasagar, Jaipur 302003
	\| ID =
	\| Comment = Maharana's life and battle of Haldighati described. Lot of couplets about Maharana composed in Maharana's time are also listed.
	}}.
	*{{Harvard reference
	\| Surname1 = Reu
	\| Given1 = Pt. Vishveshwar Nath
	\| Year = 2005
	\| Title = Maravara ka itihasa Vol I-II.
	\| Publisher = Rajasthani Granthagar, Sojati Gate, Jodhpur
	\| ID = ISBN 81-86103-46-5
	\| Comment = Description of Rathore rise in Marwar. Various wars are described. Battle of Sammel and Rathore rebellion against Aurangzeb are covered in great detail. (Rao Maldeo: Chapter 19 Vol I: Pages 116:144).
	}}.
	*{{Harvard reference
	\| Surname1 = Sarada
	\| Given1 = Har Bilasa
	\| Year = 2000
	\| Title = Hindupati Maharana Sanga: sacitra.
	\| Publisher =
	\| ID =		\| ID =
	}}.		}}.
	*{{Harvard reference		*{{Harvard reference
	\| Surname1 = ~~Saraswat~~		\| Surname1 =
	\| Given1 = ~~Rawat~~		\| Given1 =
	\| Year = ~~1984~~		\| Year =
	\| Title = ~~Prithviraja~~ Rathaura.		\| Title = Pranapala Durgadasa Rathaura
	\| Publisher = Sahitya Akademi, Ferozeshah Road, New Delhi, 110001
	\| ID =
	\| Comment = Life history of Prithviraj Rathore, a cousin of Maharana Pratap. He is famous for sending the couplet on hearing the rumour of Maharana's surrender in Akbar's court.
	}}.
	*{{Harvard reference
	\| Surname1 = Sharma
	\| Given1 = Dr. Vasumati
	\| Year = 2000
	\| Title = ] rajavamsa ke riti-rivaja: 1600-1850.
	\| Publisher = Maharaja Man Singh Pustak Prakash, Jodhpur
	\| ID =
	\| Comment = Social customs of Marwar kings are described. Marriage ceremonies, festivals etc.
	}}.
	*{{Harvard reference
	\| Surname1 = Sharma 'Chandra'
	\| Given1 = Yadavendra
	\| Year = 2000
	\| Title = Amara Simha Rathaura.
	\| Publisher =		\| Publisher =
	\| ID =		\| ID =
	\| Comment = Fiercely proud and brave Amar Singh Rathore's life is chronicled in this book.
	}}.		}}.
	*{{Harvard reference		*{{Harvard reference
	\| Surname1 = ~~Simha~~		\| Surname1 =
	\| Given1 = ~~Thakur~~ ~~Udainarain~~		\| Given1 =
	\| Year =		\| Year =
	\| Title = ~~Kshatriya~~ ~~Vamshavali~~.		\| Title = Relations between Marwar and the Marathas, A.D. 1724-1843 A.D.
	\| Publisher =		\| Publisher =
	\| ID =		\| ID =
			\| Comment = Rathore and Maratha wars are described and how Ajmer proved to be a stumbling stone in the establishment of Maratha, Rathore confederacy.
	}}.		}}.
	*{{Harvard reference		*{{Harvard reference
	\| Surname1 = ~~Solanki~~		\| Surname1 =
	\| Given1 = ~~Dr.~~ ~~Ram~~ ~~Singh~~		\| Given1 =
	\| Year = ~~1999~~		\| Year =
	\| Title = ~~Rashtravira~~ ~~Durgadasa~~ ~~Rathaura.~~		\| Title = Survey of Kheechi Chauhan history, with biographical notes
	\| Publisher = Rajasthani Shodh Sansthan, Chaupasani, Jodhpur
	\| ID =
	\| Comment = Durga Das Rathore's life history.
	}}.
	*{{Harvard reference
	\| Surname1 = Somani
	\| Given1 = Ram Vallabha
	\| Year =
	\| Title = Maharana Pratapa : aitihasika adhyayana.
	\| Publisher =		\| Publisher =
	\| ID = ~~ISBN 818523454X~~		\| ID =
	}}.		}}.
	</div>		</div>
	{{col-end}}		{{col-end}}

			===See also===
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			===External links===
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Revision as of 14:18, 13 March 2006

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File:Maharana Pratap.jpg

Rajput warrior prince Maharana Pratap riding Chetak

A Rajput ( hi: राजपूत rājput, ur: راجپوت rāǧpwt from Sanskrit राजपुत्र rāja-putra, "son of a king") is a kshatriya. Rajputs claim descent from royal dynasties of India. Rajputs reside mainly in northern, western, eastern and central states of India. It is estimated that there are 40 million Rajputs.

Definition

The term Rajputra has been used since the time of Harshavardhana and it refers to the descendants of the 36 major clans who ruled western and northern India. Names of these clans are mentioned in several texts including the Kumarpala Charita of Jayasimha and the Prithviraj Raso of Chandbardai.

The term Rajput ordinarily refers to the group's "Jati" which is an endogamus group within the traditional Hindu social system. The Rajputs are considered to be the descendants of the Vedic warriors, who were known as Kshatriyas in Sanskrit. However, Rajputs vary in profession from aristocrats to farmers.

The Himalayan kingdom of Nepal is currently ruled by a Rajput clan who are believed to be the descendants of Ranas of Mewar.

A number of sub-castes, or jatis, claim to be Rajputs. Some of them have a historical basis for the claim. Some are considered to be descendants of the Rajputs but are not generally accepted by the main Rajput community (for example, Girasia). Some branches of Jain's and Marwari's had rajput forefathers but none of them are considered Rajputs today.

Ancient Rajput kings have permitted all faiths to flourish in their domains. Rajputs practice Vedic, Shaiva, Vaishnava, Shakti and occasionally Jain traditions; they supported Buddhists, Zoroastrians and Sufi traditions as well.

The vast majority of Rajputs practice Hinduism. There are some Rajputs also known as Jatts who follow the Sikh panth, and they often intermarry with Hindu Rajputs even today.

The Rajput Rule of India

Rajput kings are mainly remembered as warriors and as influential rulers. They were responsible for emergence of the modern-day society in northern India.

Archaeological evidences and contemporary texts suggest that the Indian society had achieved significant prosperity during the Rajput rule. Most of the archaeological remains in several regions of the Indian subcontinent are from the Rajput period.

It was also a period of spread of literacy. Numerous inscriptions from this period have been found. A significant fraction of them are by people who were unaffiliated with the nobles, suggesting that education was spreading among the common people. The literature composed in this period in Sanskrit and in Apabhramshas constitutes a large segment of the classical Indian literature. The Paramara king Bhoj of Dhara was not only a patron of scholars, but was himself a distinguished and prolific scholar. His Samarangana-sutradhara deals with architecture and Raja-Martanda is a famous commentary on Yoga-sutra.

The intermarriage among the Rajput clans interlinked different regions of India, making it easier for the trade and scholarship to flow from one part of the country to another.

Social hierarchy

Rajputs supported Brahmins as scholars and priests. However, Rajputs had their own family priests, known as the Purohits. Some scions of noble Rajput families would officiate themselves as priests in their Hindu temples. For example, the Sisodia kings of Mewar considered themselves as the regents of the Eklingji, a manifestation of Shiva, and serve as the high priest of the deity as well as ruler of the state.

Origins

The Rajputs are divided into 36 clans, claiming three basic lineages: the Suryavanshi (Solar Race), the Chandravanshi (Lunar Race), and the Agni vanshi (Fire Born). Some scholars also include Rishi vanshi, Nag Vanshi and Vayu Vanshi as separate classes. House of Mewar, Marwar, Amber are Suryavanshi rajputs. Rulers of Bundi, Kotah, Jalore, Sirohi are Agnivanshi. Chandravanshi and Yaduvanshi are from the same line which bifurcated at king yadu when his father banished him from becoming the king. House of Jaisalmer are yaduvanshi rajputs.

The Suryavanshi trace their lineage to the Vedic Sun -Surya(Lord Rama was also born in this lineage) Somvanshi to Som (the vedic deity Soma or Moon) and Agnivanshi orginated from fire. The Yaduvanshi trace there lineage to Lord Krishan.

Each vansha has many cula and each cula has shakha. Rathores are divided into these shakha : Dhandhul, Bhadail, Khokra, Jodha etc. Gehlote cula is subdivided into these shakhas: Aharya (at Doongarpur) , Sisodiya (at Mewar), Peeparra (at Marwar) etc. Chauhan are divided into these shakha: Hada, Kheechee, Deora, Songara etc. Similarly there are various shakha in Kacchwaha, Parihaar and rest of the 12 clans described below. For a pictorial description please see page 27 of this book

Each shakha has its Gotra Acharya, a genealogical creed, describing the essential peculiarities, religious tenets and pristine locale of the clan. It is a touchstone of affinities and guardian of the laws of intermarriage.

Rathore Gotra Acharya -- Gautam gotra, Mardwunduni Shakha, Shukra-Acharya Guru, Garroopata Agni, Pankhini Devi.

Twelve of 36 clans of rajputs further subdivide. These 12 are Gehlote, Parmara, Chauhan, Solanki, Rathore, Tanwar/Tomar/Tuar, BirGoojur, Parihaar, Jhala, Yadu, Katchwaha, Gor. These 24 clans are 'Eka' and do not divide further. Sengar, Balla, Khurwur, Chawura, Dahima, Dahiya, Byce, Gherwal, Nikumpa, Dewut, Johya, Sikerwal, Dabia, Doda, Mori, Mokarra, Abhirra, Kalchoruk, Agnipala, Aswariya, Hool, Manutwal, Mallia and Chhahil.

Myths

One version of the story of Agni kula origins is that four warriors, Agnikul, Yadaukul, Suryakul and Odak, whose names are given to the Rajput clans, sprang from the sacred fire (Agni-kunda) in a ceremony performed by Sage Vashishtha near Mount Abu.

Character

The Rajput ethos is martial in spirit, fiercely proud and independent, and emphasizes lineage and tradition. Rajput patriotism is legendary, an ideal they embodied with a sometimes fanatical zeal, often choosing death before dishonour. Rajput warriors were often known to fight until the last man. The practice of jauhar and saka was followed only in rajput communities. When the outcome of a battle was against the Rajputs, jauhar would be committed by Rajput women and children in the night and next morning men would commit saka. Brahmin priests would chant Vedic mantras and Rajput women wearing their marriage dresses, along with their young children, would embrace sandalwood flames. The next morning after taking a bath, the men would wear kesariya and apply the ash from the maha samadhi of their wives and children on their foreheads and put a tulsi leaf in their mouth. Then the palace gates would be opened and men would ride out for complete annhiliation of the enemy or themselves. Rajput men and women could not be captured alive. When Hindus fought against other Hindus there were never any johars or saka because the defeated were treated with dignity. However, history records very few instances wherein a Rajput king sued for peace after a battle reversal and the Muslims initially agreed to the peace terms, only for the Rajputs, and their women and children, to be slaughtered upon surrender and once the pols or gates of their mighty fortresses were opened. One example of this is war between Puran Mal of Raisina and Sher Shah Suri.

Rajputs honour their word more then their life and are renowned for their loyalty.

Rajasthan, which has a very high concentration of Rajputs, is located in northwestern India, near the Khyber Pass route used by most foreign invasions of India, including the Arabs, Afghans, Turks, Mughals, and other Islamic invaders of the Middle Ages. In his New History of India, Stanley Wolpert wrote "The Rajputs were the vanguard of Hindu India in the face of the Islamic onslaught."

History

The Chittorgarh fort in Rajasthan was the site of several battles between the Rajputs and the Islamic invaders.

The first Rajputs kingdoms are attested in the 6th century, and the Rajputs rose to prominence in Indian history in the ninth and tenth centuries. The four Agnivansha clans, the Pratiharas (Pariharas), Chauhans (Chahamanas), Solankis (Chaulukyas), and Paramaras (Parmars), rose to prominence first. The Pratiharas established the first Rajput kingdom in Marwar in southwestern Rajasthan, with the Chauhans at Ajmer in central Rajasthan, the Solankis in Gujarat, and the Paramaras in Malwa. The Rajput Rai dynasty ruled Sindh during the 6th and 7th centuries. Sindh was conquered by an Arab Muslim army of the Caliphate, led by Bin Qasim, in the 8th century. Bin Qasim attacked Chittorgarh, and was defeated by Bappa Rawal Guhila. Lalitaditya of Kashmir defeated Arabs in the 8th century. The Pratiharas rebuffed another Arab invasion in the ninth century. Significant Muslim invasions were then not attempted until the eleventh century, largely due to the formidable reputation of the Rajput clans. The Pratiharas later established themselves at Ujjain and ruled Malwa, and afterwards at Kanauj in the Ganges-Yamuna Doab, from which they ruled much of northern India, from Kathiawar in the west to Magadha in the east, in the ninth century. Clans claiming descent from the Solar and Lunar races, who were originally vassals of the other clans, later established independent states. The Guhilas (later called the Sisodias) established the state of Mewar (later Udaipur), under Bappa Rawal, who ruled at Chittorgarh, which was given in dowry to Bappa in 734 for his bravery. The Kachwaha clan came to rule Dhundhar, with their capital at Amber, and later Jaipur. The Chandela clan ruled Bundelkhand after the tenth century, occupying the fortress-city of Kalinjar and building the famous temple-city of Khajuraho. The Tomaras established a state in Haryana, founding the city of Dhiliki (later Delhi) in 736. The Kachwahas, Chandelas, and Tomaras were originally vassals of the Pratihara kingdom. In the early 11th century, Mahmud of Ghazni conquered the Hindu Shahi kingdom in the Punjab, and his raids into northern India weakened the Pratihara kingdom, which was drastically reduced in size and came under the control of the Chandelas. Mahmud sacked temples across northern India, including the temple at Somnath in Gujarat, but his permanent conquests were limited to the Punjab, and Somnath was rebuilt after the raid. The early 11th century also saw the reign of the polymath king Bhoj, the Paramara ruler of Malwa. The Rathores, as the Gahadvala dynasty, reestablished the kingdom of Kannauj, ruling the Ganges plain from the late 11th through the 12th century, and conquering Marwar in the 13th. The Rajputs fought each other in the eleventh and twelfth centuries. Prithiviraj III, ruler of Delhi, crushed Muhammad of Ghor in 1191 at the First Battle of Tarain and Ghori was captured. After Ghori begged for life he was let go despite strong resistance by Prithviraj's generals. Ghori treacherously defeated Prithviraj the following year at the Second Battle of Tarain, and the attacks of Muhammad's armies brought down the Gahadvala kingdom of Kannauj in 1194. The Delhi Sultanate was founded by Qutb ud din Aybak, Muhammad of Ghor's successor, in first decade of the 13th century.

The Chauhans reestablished themselves at Ranthambore, led by Govinda, grandson of Prithviraj III. Jalore was ruled by another branch of Chauhans, the Songaras. Another branch of the Chauhans, the Hadas, established a kingdom in Hadoti in the mid-13th century.

Sultan Ala ud din Khilji (1296-1316) conquered Gujarat (1297) and Malwa (1305), and captured the fortresses of Ranthambore (1301) by bribing generals in Hammir Deo Chauhan's army, Mewar's capital Chittorgarh (1303) and Jalor (1311) after long sieges with fierce resistance from their Rajput defenders. Mewar resestablished there supremacy within 50 years of the sack of Chittor under Maharana Hammir. Hammir defeated Muhammad Tughlaq and captured him. Tughlaq had to pay huge ransom and relenquish all of Mewar's lands. After this Sultanate did not attack Chittor for a few hundred years. Rajputs reestablished their independence, and the Rajput states were established as far east as Bengal and north into the Punjab. The Tanwar, Tomaras established themselves at Gwalior, and the ruler Man Singh built the fortress which still stands there. Mewar emerged as the leading Rajput state, and Rana Kumbha expanded his kingdom at the expense of the sultanates of Malwa and Gujarat. The Delhi Sultanate recovered somewhat under the Lodhi dynasty. Babur defeated Ibrahim Lodi at the First Battle of Panipat on April 21, 1526, and the Rana Sangha rallied a Rajput army to challenge Babur. Babur, like his predecessors resorted to treachery and managed to bribe a general in Sanga's army and managed to defeat the Rajputs at the Battle of Khanua on March 16, 1527. The Rajput rulers agreed to pay tribute to Babur, but most retained control of their states.

Humayun's successor Akbar consolidated control of the empire and sought to expand it by realising that wars with Rajputs will not allow him to rule India and he used marriage diplomacy. Kachwahas were the first to give a daughter to Akbar. This prompted Maharana Pratap to ban marraiges between his loyal rajputs with other rajputs of rajasthan. The Kachwaha rulers of Jaipur and Rathore rulers of Marwar became tributaries of the empire. The Sisodias of Mewar and their vassals, the Hadas of Bundi, continued to refuse Mughal hegemony, and Akbar invaded Mewar, capturing Chittorgarh in 1568 after a long siege. The Sesodias of Mewar moved the capital to the more defensible location of Udaipur and carried on fighting the Mughals. Akbar respected the martial prowess of the Rajputs, and he married a Rajput princess, and Rajput generals, particularly the Kachwahas of Jaipur, commanded some Mughal armies.

File:Jaipur is called the pink city.jpg

The Rajputs founded several cities of modern-day Rajasthan. The historical city of Jaipur was founded by the Kachwaha clan of Rajputs.

The Mughal emperor Aurangzeb, who was far less tolerant of Hinduism than his predecessors, put a Muslim on the throne of Marwar when Maharaja Jaswant Singh, ruler of Marwar, died without a child. This enraged the rathores. Ajit Singh, Jaswant Singh's son was born after his death. Marwar nobles asked Aurangzeb to give the throne back to Ajit but Aurangzeb refused and instead tried to kill the infant Ajit. Durgadas Rathore and others smuggled Ajit out of Delhi and did not let pursuing Mughals capture them and reached Jaipur safely. This started the 30 year rajput rebellion against Aurangzeb. This cemented all the Rajput clans into a bond of union, and a triple alliance was formed by the three states of Marwar, Mewar, and Jaipur, to throw off the Mughal yoke. One of the conditions of this alliance was that the rulers of Jodhpur and Jaipur should regain the privilege of marriage with the ruling Sesodia dynasty of Mewar, which they had forfeited by contracting alliances with the Mughal emperors, on the understanding that the offspring of Sesodia princesses should succeed to the state in preference to all other children. The quarrels arising from this stipulation lasted through many generations, and led to the invitation of Maratha help from the rival aspirants to power, and finally to the subjection of all the Rajput states to the Marathas. Jodhpur was conquered by Sindhia, who levied a tribute of 60,000 rupees, and took from it the fort and town of Ajmer. Internecine disputes and succession wars disturbed the peace of the early years of the century, and the Rajput princes asked for British protection from the Marathas during the Third Anglo-Maratha War of 1817-1818. At the conclusion of the war in 1818, 18 states in the Rajputana region, of which 15 were ruled by Rajputs, became princely states of the British Raj, while the British took direct control of Ajmer, which became the province of Ajmer-Merwara. A number of other Rajput states in central India, including Rewa, Ajaigarh, Barwani, Chhatarpur, Datia, Orchha, and Ratlam, became princely states as well, and were placed under the authority of the Central India Agency. Rajput rulers of Rajputana and Central India acceded to newly-independent India after 1947, and Rajputana, renamed Rajasthan, became an Indian state in 1950.

Rajputs and Invasions of India

The Rajputs suffered the brunt of the aggression from various Mongol-Turkic-Afghan warlords who repeatedly invaded the Indian subcontinent, then known as Hindustan. Hindustan was one of the most economically prosperous regions in the world till 18-th century and had grabbed the attention of several neighbouring Islamic kingdoms.

Organization of Indian kingdoms during invasions

W.W. Hunter goes on to describe in Chapter X of his book, The Indian Empire, Its People, Histort And Products, the organization of Indian kings and how they thwarted the invasions.

"Within a hundred years after his (Muhammad's) death, his followers had invaded the countries of Asia as far as the Hindu Kush. Here there progress was stayed and Islam had to consolidate itself during three more centuries before it grew strong enough to grasp the rich prize of India. But almost from first the Arabs had fixed eager eyes upon that wealthy country. Fifteen years after the death of prophet, Usman sent a sea expedition to Thana and Broach on the Bombay coast (647 ? AD). Other raids towards Sindh took place in 662 and 664 with no results.

The armies of Islam had carried the crescent from the Hindu Kush westwards, through Asia, Africa and Southern Europe, to distant Spain and Gaul, before they obtained a foothold in Punjab. This long delay was due, not only to the daring of individual tribes, such as Sindh Rajputs, just mentioned but to the military organization of the Hindu Kingdoms.

Each of these groups of kingdoms, alike in the north and in the south, had a certain power of coherence to oppose to a foreign invader; while the large number of groups and units rendered conquest a very tedious process. For even when the overlord or central authority was vanquished, the separate units had to be defeated in detail, and each state supplied a nucleus for subsequent revolt. We have seen how the brilliant attempt in 711, to found a lasting Muhammedan dynsaty in Sindh, failed. Three centuries later, the utmost efforts of two great Musalman invaders (Mahmud of Ghazni and Mohammed Ghori) from the north-west only succeeded in annexing a small portion of the frontier Punjab Province between 977 and 1176 A.D. The Hindu power in Southern India was not completely broken till the battle of Talikot in 1565; and within a hundred years, in 1650, the great Hindu revival had commenced which under the form of Maratha confederacy, was destined to break up the Mughal Empire in India. That Empire, even in the north of India, had only been consolidated by Akbar's policy of incorporating Hindu chiefs into his government(1556-1605). Up to Akbar's time, and even during the earlier years of his reign a series of Rajput wars had challenged the Muhammadan supremacy. In less than two centuries after his death, the succesor of Akbar was a puppet in the hand of the Hindu marathas at Delhi.

The popular notion that India fell an easy prey to the Musalmans is opposed to the historical facts. Muhammadan rule in India consists of a series of invasions and partial conquests, during eleven centuries, from Usman's raid, circ.647, to Ahmad Shah's tempest of invasion in 1761 A.D.

At no time was Islam triumphant throughout the whole of India. Hindu dynasties always ruled over large areas. At the height of the Muhammadan power, the hindu princes paid tribute, and sent agents to the Imperial court. But even this modified supremacy of Delhi lasted for little over a century (1578-1707). Before the end of that brief period the Hindus had begun the work of reconquest. The native chivalry of Rajputana was closing in upon Delhi from the south; the religious confederation of the Sikhs was growing into a military power on the north-west. The Marathas had cobmined the fighting powers of the low-castes with the statesmen ship of the Brahmans, and were subjecting the Muhammadan kingdoms throughout all India to tribute. So far as can now be estimated, the advance of the English power at the beginning of the present century alone saved the Mughal Empire from passing to the Hindus."

Bappa Rawal

Muslims started attacking India within a few decades of the birth of Islam. For a few hundred years they had no success. Mohammed Bin Qasim was able to defeat Dahir in Sindh but was routed by Bappa Rawal. Qasim attacked Chittore, which was ruled by Mori Rajputs, via Mathura. Bappa, of guhilote dynasty, was a commander in Mori army and so was Dahir's son. Bappa defeated and pursued Bin Qasim through Saurashtra and back to Sindh. After this resounding defeat of the caliphate at the hands of Bappa, for next few hundred years there were no more Islamic incursions into India. (note Muslim historians rarely recorded the defeats of there kings)

Then Mahmud started his raids and was successful in looting Somnath.

Prithviraj Chauhan

Ghori attacked many times. First time he was routed in present day Gujarat by Rajputs. Mularaja-II was not even a teen yet and his mother organized the defences of Pattan. Battle was fought at Kayadara near Mount Abu and Ghori was resoundingly defeated. After this defeat he never entered India through Gujarat. In first battle of Taraori (tarain is misspelledword) in 1191 Prithviraj Chauhan captured Ghori and Ghori begged for his life. Prithviraj allowed him to go despite his generals asking him not to do so. Following year Ghori came again. Prithviraj advanced with his army and sent a letter to Ghori. In this letter ghori was asked to return as he had been defeated the previous year and was spared his life. Ghori replied that he was in India on the orders of his brother, Ghiasuddin, and that he could only retreat after he got a word from his brother. This letter was sent in the evening and Ghori moved his camp back a few kilometers. On receiving this letter and seeing Ghori move his camp back Prithviraj assumed that Ghori was not interested in fighting. Ghori also knew that rajputs did not fight in the night and only started fighting after sun had come up. (This is an ancient Kshatriya practice e.g mahabharata was also fought mostly in day time). He attacked in the early morning hours when Prithviraj and his army were sleeping and was able to win this war.

Hammir Dev Chauhan

Prithviraj's descendant Hammir Dev Chauhan ruled Ranthambore. Jalore was ruled by another branch of Chauhans, the Songaras. Ala ud din Khilji usurped Delhi from his father-in-law, Jalal-ud-din Khilji, by killing him in cold blood. In 1299 Ala ud din's mongol general Ulugh Khan sought to quell Hindu resistance in Gujarat and besieged Junagadh and sacked the temple at Somnath. Ulugh Khan had broken the shivalinga of Somnath and was carrying it back to Delhi. Kanhad Dev Songara, ruler of Jalore, attacked and defeated Ulugh Khan. His son Biramdeo and Jaitra Deora were the generals who commandeered Kanhad Dev's army. They captured the fragments of the Shivalinga. Kanhad had the shivalinga washed in Gangajal and had the fragments placed at various Shiva temples around Jalore. One of Ala ud din's generals was a neo-Muslim, Muhammad Shah, who had helped Kanhad Dev. This general later went and stayed with Hammir Deo in Ranthambore. Ala ud din wanted him dead, and asked Hammir to hand him over. Hammir replied that he knows how to draw his sword, and anyone who has taken shelter in his fort would not be turned over. Hammir did not consider Ala king of India. Ala ud din attacked Ranthambore in 1299, but his armies were defeated. He finally came himself in 1301, and there was a long siege. Hammir was very well prepared. When the fort would not fall after repeated bloody skirmishes khilji resorted to diplomacy. Hammir was very suspicious but he heeded to his councillors who told him that sword is not always the best recourse. Ratipal and Ranmal, who were close confidants of Hammir, were sent to the khilji camp. Ranmal's father was hung by Hammir for treachery and his property was confiscated. Ranmal earned the trust of Hammir by being brave in battles that Hammir fought but perfidy was in his blood. Khilji bribed these two generals of Hammir's army and consequently Ranthambore fell.

Rawal Ratan Singh,Gora,Badal

Khilji wanted to win Chittor because sisodiyas of Chittor never accepted the rule of Islam. Another reason was Rani Padmini. He laid a siege but Chittor would not fall. Then he requested Rawal Ratan Singh, husband of Rani Padmini, that if he is allowed a glimpse of Rani he would leave. By this time the situation inside the fort was getting bad. Rawal discussed this with his advisers and they agreed that they can show Padmini's face in a mirror to the sultan. The meeting took place and afterwards out of courtesy when Ratan Singh was walking Khilji out of the palace, Khilji's men captured Rawal Ratan Singh. Khilji sent a message to the fort that Rawal can be spared by exchanging Rani Padmini. Padmini discussed this with Gora, her maternal uncle, who was a Chauhan rajput. Gora told her not to worry and that he would go and bring back Rawal Ratan Singh and Sultan is not brave enough to stop him. Padmini's nephew Badal who was just sixteen also assured her. A message was sent from the fort to Khilji that Padmini would come with 700 of her servants in "palanquins" (palki in hindi) and that no Muslim soldier should peek inside the palki to outrage the modesty of the women. Letter also said that before Padmini meets khilji she would like to talk to Rawal. Khilji agreed. All the palki's had the best rajput warriors with two swords each. When Padmini's palki, which was occupied by Gora, reached Rawal's tent he asked Rawal to mount the horse and go back to the fort. Then Gora gave a signal and every rajput came out of the palki and attacked the Muslims who were cut to pieces. Gora reached Khilji's tent and was about to kill the sultan when khilji moved his concubine in front of himself. Gora, being a rajput could not kill an innocent women and these few seconds were enough for Khilji's guards to kill Gora from behind.

Maharana Hammir

After Ratan Singh's death his successor Laxman Singh tried to capture Chittor and fought a battle with Tughlaq near Chittor. He died along with his son Ari. His second son Ajay was severely wounded but was taken away from the battlefield by other soldiers and survived. Ajay was not a powerful ruler and his sons were likewise. Ajay knew that Ari had a son Hammir and he called Hammir to come to him. Hammir, along with his mother came to see his uncle. Ajay said that he had grown weak and a dacoit, Munja Balicha, was wreaking havoc in Rana Ajay's domain. Hammir vowed that he would take care of Munja. Hammir took seven warriors with him and set out to finish Munja. Hammir at this stage was just a teenager. Munja was tracked. When Munja was riding with his band to plunder a village, Hammir stood in his way on his white steed. Munja asked him to leave the way or die. Hammir challenged him to a duel and seeing that Hammir was just a teenager Munja readily agreed. Hammir killed Munja and brought his head and put it at Rana Ajay's feet and told his uncle that Munja will never be a problem again. Rana Ajay realized Hammir should be the ruler and he coronated Hammir as the new ruler of Mewar. Ajay's sons were unhappy with this and decided to move to Maharashtra. Do note that Chittor was called Khijarabad at this time as Ala ud din had renamed it after his son and at Hammir's coronation was ruled by Muhammad bin Tughlaq. Hammir captured Chittor. Tughlaq became very unhappy and launched a massive campaign against Hammir which he led himself. Hammir knew as soon as he captured Chittor that Tughlaq would attack him. He rallied all nearby rajput states to join him and they did. Battle was fought and Tughlaq was badly defeated and captured. After he paid a hefty fees and surrendered all of mewar's territory he was let go. After this defeat Mewar was never attacked by Tughlaq.

Maharana Kumbha

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Vijay Sthamb (Victory Tower) built by Maharana Kumbha

Later Rana Kumbha repeatedly defeated sultans of Malwa and Gujarat and built 32 forts in Rajasthan. Even the combined armies of sultans of Malwa and Gujarat could not beat Kumbha. To commemorate his victory over these Muslim rulers of Malwa and Gujarat, Maharana Kumbha built the victory tower in 1440 A.D. The tower has nine-stories and is covered with exquisite sculputres of Hindu Gods and Godesses depicting episodes from Ramayana and Mahabharata.

Rana Sanga

In Kumbha's lineage was Rana Sangram Singh or Sanga. Lodi was defeated by Man Singh Tomar of Gwalior but being a Hindu Man Singh out of magnaninimity let Ibrahim go back to Delhi. Man Singh's descendants fought at Haldighati along with Maharana Pratap against Akbar and showed exemplary bravery. Lodi was defeated by Babur later. Now Babur was having sleepless nights because of Sanga. Babur sent about 1500 choice cavalry to attack Sanga. These were butchered by Sanga's rajputs. Babur wanted to discuss peace terms. For discussions Sanga sent his general Silhadi (Shiladitya). Babur won this general by promising him independent kingdom. Silhadi came back and reported that babur does not want peace and he wants to fight. Fight started and Babur's army was being knocked out of the field and victory was certain for Sanga. At this juncture Silhadi and his army just left the field and this tilted the war in favor of Babur and he won.

Rao Maldeo Rathore

Humayun, Babur's son was defeated by SherShah Suri, a Pathan. Humayun was forced to leave India and Sher Shah became ruler of Delhi. The Sesodias of Mewar were not yet recovered from Rana Sanga's treacherous defeat. In Marwar the Rathores were becoming very powerful. The Rathore king Rao Maldeo had extended his territory to within a couple of hundred kilometers of Delhi. Sher Shah attacked Maldeo. Maldeo came with a force of 40 thousand and Sher Shah had 60 thousand. In the evening Sher Shah sent forged letters to Maldeo's camp. In these letters it was stated that few generals from Maldeo's army were buying arms from Sher Shah's army. This caused great consternation in Maldeo who thought there is treachery and that some of his generals had crossed over to Sher Shah. Maldeo left with 20 thousand men. In reality there was no treachery. Later when Maldeo's generals Kumpa (his progeny are Kumpawat rathores) and Jaita (his progeny are Jaitawat rathores) found out what happened they did not loose cool and decided they would not leave the field even though they just had 20 thousand men and had to face 60 thousand Pathans of Sher Shah. Finally battle of Sammel was fought and Sher Shah was shocked by what he saw. SherShah's top generals lost there lives and his army suffered heavy losses. After this Sher Shah commented that "for a few grains of bajra he had almost lost the entire kingdom of India".It is a moot point now but had Maldeo not retreated because of the fake letter Rathores/Rajputs would have defeated SherShah. In my bhoomi (Rajasthan) Deoras are considered the most stubborn, Hadas the most brave and Rathores the invincible warriors on the battlefield (Ranbanka Rathore).

Maharana Pratap

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Maharana Pratap of Udaipur

Humayun's son Akbar was born in the palace of a Hindu king, at Amarkot, who had given Humayun shelter when he was being pursued by Sher Shah. Akbar realized that he can never subdue Rajputs and become sole ruler of India. He decided to pursue diplomacy and was able to convince the Kacchwaha Rajput rulers of Amber(modern day Jaipur) about a matrimonial alliance. King of Amber agreed and Jodhabai became Akbar's queen and the mother of Prince Salim, who later became the Mughal emperor Jahangir. Soon other Rajput kingdoms in Rajasthan also gave their daughters to Akbar. This was the darkest period in the history of Rajputs.

Only two kings remained against this. The sisodiyas of Mewar and Hadas of Ranthambore. Hada are Chauhans. Finally Man Singh of Amber and Akbar went and met Surjan Hada that he should become friends with Akbar and Surjan some how agreed but one of his conditions of friendship was that no daughter of Hadas would ever be asked to marry mughals and Akbar agreed. Surjan was very saddened by this friendship with Akbar and the fact that he could not help Maharana Pratap against Akbar. He felt so ashamed that he moved his residence to Banaras and made sure that Hindus in the holy city had no problems at the hands of Muslims. So there remained just the house of Mewar the sole bearer of Rajput pride in the face of immense opposition from Mughals as well as other rajputs who had sold there souls essentially to mughals by giving there daughters.

Maharana Pratap, the Sesodia ruler of Mewar, passed a law in his state that none of his followers will intermarry with Rajputs who have given their daughters to Muslims. This rule was followed by his loyal band of Rajputs, which included Rathores, Chauhans, Sesodias, Parihars, Tomars, Kacchwaha and Jhalas. Maharana Pratap never accepted Akbar as ruler of India, and fought Akbar all his life. Akbar first tried diplomacy to win over Maharana Pratap but nothing worked. Pratap just said he has no intention to fight with Akbar but he cannot bow down to Akbar and accept him as the ruler. Some scholars argue that there is some chance that Maharana could have become friends with Akbar but in the siege of Chittor when Akbar killed 30,000 civilian, unarmed residents of Chittor, because they refused to convert to Islam, left a lasting impression on Maharana's mind and he decided he cannot bow to such an unjust and cruel human being as Akbar was. (People should note that when Hindu Kings fought with each other unarmed civilians were never killed in the loosing king's territory).

Finally Akbar attacked Maharana Pratap at Haldighati. Akbar's general was Man Singh Kacchwaha of Amber, leading an army of 40 thousand men. Maharana had about 8 thousand men and some Bhil warriors. One of Maharana's generals was Hakim Khan Sur, who was from the line of SherShah Suri, a pathan. Pathans are the only faction of Muslims that Rajputs do not mind befriending because a Pathan would rather give his life then his word. During the first attack Maharana Pratap's army routed the Mughals and Mughals ran for there life. Maharana Pratap decided to kill Man Singh, and Maharana Pratap's horse Chetak put his front feet on the trunk of the elephant that Man Singh was riding and Maharana threw his lance. Man Singh ducked, and the elephant driver was killed. Finally the numerical superiority of the Mughal army was too much and the battle ended in a stalemate. When Mughal army entered the nearby town of Gogunda they were so mortified that Maharana would attack them again that no one would venture out of the camp for months. They ran out of food and conditions were just miserable in the Mughal camp. They killed there own horses and ate them to survive. Finally help arrived many months later. Akbar was very unhappy with his generals and his army and he refused to see his generals for months.

Akbar kept sending expedition after expedition against Maharana Pratap but never succeeded. He lost lot of money and men in trying to defeat Maharana Pratap. For 30 years Pratap remained ahead of Akbar and in last ten years of his life was able to free most of his kingdom. The only fort Pratap could not recover was Chittor and that saddened him a lot. His son, Amar Singh, won that fort after Pratap's death.

It is said that somebody told Akbar that Pratap wanted to accept Akbar as the king. Akbar was very happy to hear this. One of Akbar's general was Prthviraj Rathore who was a very good poet. He told Akbar this is a lie (incidentally Prithviraj's mother and Pratap's mother were real sisters. Pratap and Prithviraj played together as kids in there maternal grandfather, Akshay Raj Songara's home who was a Chauhan rajput). Prithviraj wrote this letter to Pratap:

The hopes of the Hindu rest on the Hindu yet the Rana forsakes them. But for Pratap, all would be placed on the same level by Akbar; for our chiefs have lost their valour and our females their honour. Akbar is the broker in the market of our race; he has purchased all but the son of Udai (Singh II of Mewar); he is beyond his price. What true Rajput would part with honour for nine days (nauroza); yet how many have bartered it away? Will Chittor come to this market ...? Though Patta (an affectionate name for Pratap Singh) has squandered away wealth (on warfare), yet he has preserved this treasure. Despair has driven man to this market, to witness their dishonour: from such infamy the descendant of Hammir (Maharana Hammir) alone has been preserved. The world asks, from where does the concealed aid of Pratap emanate? None but the soul of manliness and his sword .. The broker in the market of men (Akbar) will one day be surpassed; he cannot live forever. Then will our race come to Pratap, for the seed of the Rajput to sow in our desolate lands. To him all look for its preservation, that its purity may again become resplendent. It is as much impossible for me to believe that Pratap has called Akbar his emperor as to see the sun rising in the west. Tell me where do I stand? Shall I use my sword on my neck or shall I continue my proud bearing?

Pratap replied to him:

By my god Eklinga, Pratap would call the emperor Turk alone and the sun would rise in the east. You may continue your proud bearing as long as Pratap's sword dangles on the mughal head. Pratap would be guilty of Sanga's blood, if he was to tolerate Akbar. you would have the better of it, no doubt Prithviraj, in this wordy quarrel.

Prithviraj was overjoyed on getting this letter.

Maharana Pratap's son, Amar Singh, fought 17 wars with the Mughals but he finally accepted them as rulers. At this time a large chunk of Maharana Pratap's band of loyal Rajputs became disillusioned by the surrender and left Rajasthan. This group included Rathores, Deora Chauhans, Pariharas, Tomaras, Kacchwaha and Jhalas. They are called "Rors" and settled mostly in Haryana, with some in Uttar Pradesh. Until today they do not intermarry with other Rajputs but "gotra permitting" with other Rors only.

Durga Das Rathore

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Durga Das Rathore

After Akbar in his line, few generations later, came Aurangzeb. Aurangzeb did not like Maharaja Jaswant Singh, ruler of Marwar. When Jaswant Singh Rathore died he had no son and this gave Aurangzeb a chance to appoint a Muslim as the ruler of Marwar. This upset Rathore Rajputs a lot. Two of Jaswant Singh's queens were pregnant when Jaswant Singh died. One queen gave birth to Ajit Singh and other to Dalathamban. After Ajit's birth, Rathore generals, chief among them was Durga Das Rathore (a Karnot Rathore) went to Delhi along with the queens and the infants, and asked Aurangzeb that crown of Marwar should be given to Ajit Singh. Aurangzeb was very cunning and he had no intention of handing over the throne of Marwar. He suggested that Ajit should grow up in his {{Harem|harem]] but internally he wanted to kill them all. Durga Das sensed this and they smuggled Ajit Singh out of Delhi to the outskirts of the city. When Mughal army came to capture them in Delhi Durga Das and his men attacked the Mughals and started riding out of Delhi. Raghunandan Bhati and others soaked the streets of Delhi in crimson by flowing the blood of mughal pursuers. There were about three hundred Rajputs with Durga Das and there were thousands of pursuing Mughals. Every so often 15 - 20 Rajputs would fall behind attack the Mughal pursuers and in the process get themselves killed but it allowed the forward party to create some distance between Ajit and the Mughals. This continued till the evening by which time the Mughals had given up and Durga Das was left with just seven men out of three hundred he started with and reached Jaipur along with Ajit Singh.

Thereby started the 30 year Rajput rebellion against Aurangzeb. Mewar and Marwar forces combined together and almost killed Aurangzeb when he was trapped in the mountains of Rajasthan but the Mewar king out of magnanimity allowed Aurangzeb to escape.

All the trade routes were plundered by Rajputs and they started looting various treasuries of Rajasthan and Gujarat. To crush them Aurangzeb sent many expeditions but no success. These expeditions and drying up of revenue from trade routes running through Rajasthan had severe effect on his resources. In addition the lion of Maharashtra, Shivaji, had freed almost all of Maharashtra and was at constant war with Aurangzeb. Shivaji had some Rajput ancestry.

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Umaid Bhavan Palace is the abode of Rathore rulers of Marwar

Finally, on his death-bed Aurangzeb complained that his life had been a complete failure. He was the sole reason for Mughal empire's crumbling. His war campaigns had practically left the treasury dry for his progeny.

A point to note here is that lot of Muslims and some Hindu historians think that Islam/Muslims did not do conversion of Hindus by sword. The argument they give is that there are so many Hindus still today in India. This is completely wrong because most Muslim rulers in India tried to convert as many as they could but it was the strength of Rajput sword and later Maratha,Sikh swords that kept Hinduism alive in India. If there were no Rajputs, Marathas , Sikhs in India, then India would be just like Iraq, Iran, Turkey, or Pakistan in terms of religion of the population.

The preservance of Hinduism in India by the Rajput sword against the entire might of Islamic rulers is the most glorious achievement by a race in the annals of world history and every one should know this fact, more so Indians and most definitely each and every Rajput.

In his Annals and Antiquities of Rajasthan James Tod wrote:

"What nation on earth could have maintained the semblance of civilization, the spirit or the customs of their forefathers, during so many centuries of overwhelming depression, but one of such singular character as the Rajpoot? . . . Rajast’han exhibits the sole example in the history of mankind, of a people withstanding every outrage barbarity could inflict, or human nature sustain, from a foe whose religion commands annihilation; and bent to the earth, yet rising buoyant from the pressure, and making calamity a whetstone to courage. . . . Not an iota of their religion or customs have they lost. . . ".

Prominent Rajput clans & their main centers

Suryavanshi
- BirGoojur: Churu
  - Sikarwar: Agra
- Jamwal: Jammu
- Tuar: Delhi/Gwalior
- Guhilote: Chittor/Udaipur
  - Aharya
  - Peeparra
  - Sisodia: Chittor/Udaipur
  - Ranawat
- Kachwaha: Narwar/Jaipur
  - Kalyanot
  - Rajawat
  - Shekhawat
  - Jasrotia: Jasrota
- Pundir: Pundri
- Rathore: Marwar/Kannauj/Jodhpur/Bikaner
  - Dhandhul
  - Bhadail
  - Jodha
  - Khokra
  - Kumpawat
  - Jaitawat
  - Karnot

Agnivanshi
- Chauhan: Ajmer
  - Deora: Sirohi
  - Hada: Hadoti/Ranathambore
  - Bhaduria: Bhadawar
  - Sonigurra: Jalore
  - Khichi
- Solanki: Anahilawad (Patan) Gujarat
  - Baghel
- Paramara, Ponwar (Parmar): Mount Abu/Dhar
- Pratihara (Parihara): Rajasthan, Kannauj

Chandravanshi
- Bhatti: Jaisalmer
- Bundela: Orchha
- Chandela: Mahoba/Khajuraho/Kalinjar
- Chavda: Anahilwad
- Dahia: Haryana
- Katoch: Kangra/Himachal Pradesh
- Jhala: Jhalavad
- Jadeja: Gujarat
- Banaphar: Mahoba
  - Pathania: Himachal Pradesh

Clans of Jammu and Himachal

Rajput clans in Jammu and Himachal Pradesh: Jaswal, Chambial, Mankotia, Sambial, Guleria, Dadwal, Jamwal, Chib, Katoch, Suketia, Kutlehria, Baloria, Charak, Bandral, Kahluria etc.

References

External links

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