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Origin and the Rise of Rajputs

Origin and the Rise of Rajputs

Section titled “Origin and the Rise of Rajputs”

2020-04-27 12:10:21

Factors for the Origin

Section titled “Factors for the Origin”

Agnikula Rajputs

Section titled “Agnikula Rajputs”

  • myth originated the fire of sacrifice by sage Vasistha were Pratihara, Chalukyas, Paramaras and Chahmanas

  • Were Indianised foreigners

  • Arab invasion played key role in their cultural and political unification

    BD Chattopadhyay : origin was phenomena of the proliferation of lineage based states

Various other Factors of Origin Were

Section titled “Various other Factors of Origin Were”
  • Expansion of agrarian economy
  • New features in land distribution
  • Inter clan collaboration through political and matrimonial alliance
  • Construction of large no. of fortresses

Various Rajput Clans

Section titled “Various Rajput Clans”

Gurjara Pratihara (doorkeeper) (730 CE - 1036 CE)

Section titled “Gurjara Pratihara (doorkeeper) (730 CE - 1036 CE)”
  • by Harichandra a Brahmana
  • Claimed lineage from Lakshmana, could have been Huna invaders, 2 different families
  • Nagabhatta I resisted Arab invasion
  • ==Bhoja (d. 885 CE) was best known king and greatest ruler==.
    • Barah copper plate insc
    • Accounts of Merchant Suleiman mentions him as Juzr
    • Earlier was defeated by Rashtrakuta, Palas and Kalachuris Later defeated them
    • Was Viashnavite and adopted title of Adivaraha. Sometimes also called as Mihir Bhoja.
  • Al Masudi arab traveller called the Kingdom as Al-Juzr and Bhoja as Baura.
  • Mahendrapala I succeeded him
  • GP were well known for the cavalry. Were also Great patron of Sanskrit.
  • Mahipala was grandson of Bhoja. Rajashekara great dramatist lived in his court.
  • Rashtrakuta ==invasions by Indra III and Krishna devastated city of Kannauj==.
  • Wiped off by Ghaznavids.
  • successors Chauhans, Chalukyas/Solankis in Gujarat, Paramaras/Pawars in Malwa.

Chandellas of Bundel

Section titled “Chandellas of Bundel”
  • Estd in Bundelkhand, founded by Nannuka
  • Khajuraho was their capital, vassals of Pratihara
  • Dhanga was 1st independent king, assumed title of Mahrajadhiraja and built several Khajuraho temples [[12.2 Major-Stages-in-Evolution-of-Art-and-Architecture#Khajuraho School]]

Kalachuris

Section titled “Kalachuris”
  • of Chedi country ruled from Tripuri/ Jabalpur
  • Rajashekahara’s drama Viddhashalabhanjika is staged in the court of King Yuvaraja

Guhilas

Section titled “Guhilas”
  • ruled during the 7th century around south east Rajasthan Mewar capital from Nagda-Ahada and Kishkindha

Tomara Rajputs

Section titled “Tomara Rajputs”
  • ruled around Hariyana capital at Dillika
  • Mehrauli pillar inscription
  • Anangpala established Delhi

Others

Section titled “Others”
  • Chandels of Kalinjar and Mahoba, Chauhans of Sakambari, Rajasthan, Paramars of Malwa, Chalukyas of Gujarat

Rajput Society/ Polity

Section titled “Rajput Society/ Polity”
  • Feudal in org, split into various clans, all land w/ ruling chief - distributed among lesser chiefs called Thakurs, paid fixed revenue or tribute
  • Village community governed by panchayats
  • Laws based on customs and traditions
  • Courage, chivalry, honest, generous, hospitable, sword of arm
  • More : [[1.5 Society - Status of Brahmans and New Social Order]]

Reasons for the Defeat of Rajputs :

Section titled “Reasons for the Defeat of Rajputs :”

![[3.1 Establishment of Delhi Sultanate - Ghurian Invasions and Factors for its success#Reasons for Turkic success]]

  • Prithviraj during his conquest of North India isolated himself politically
  • ABM Habibullah - success of Ghori was the consumption of a process which extended over whole of 12th century
  • Breaching of outer defence/ Base of operation formed after Ghazni’s conquests
  • Lack of strategic insights among the Rajputs - no anti turk alliance formed due to lack of political unity and absence of dominant power in NW India
  • Successors of Ghazni were always on the offensive
  • Inferior org + leadership, no unified command, slow moving ex Elephants,
  • Agility and mobility of Turkic warriors, accustomed to maintaining large armies, Troops paid in cash, Iqta system
  • Slave system gave them loyal, able bodies men who were great commanders
  • Samanta systems/ Feudatories - hereditary wanted to get independent, difficult to control vis a vis Centralised system of Turks, Iqtas not hereditary
  • KS Lambden - Patriotism not known among Central Asians, Sultan expected them to pay taxes did not receive loyalty from common man.
  • Rajput loyalty towards caste, clan, village, city to defence of home
  • Greater social mobility among Turks, R had untouchability concept
  • Narrow perspective among the IN society
    • Al Biruni - Hindus belive there is not country but theirs, no nation, no Kings, no science like theirs - perpetuated ignorance, growing insularity, loss of strategic perspective - growth of structurally weaker states

PYQs

Section titled “PYQs”

Polity: Major political developments in Northern India and the Peninsula, origin and the rise of Rajputs

  1. Bring out the salient features of the polity & social structure of the Rajputs. To what extent were they responsible for the weakness of the Rajputs to the foreign invaders? [1988, 60m]
  1. “The inferior cavalry of the Rajputs was not the only cause of their defeat at the hands of Turko-Afghans and Mughal.” Comment. [2001, 60m]