RAJPUT CLANS

A Rajput (from Sanskrit raja-putra, “son of a king”) is a member of one of the patrilineal clans of western, central, northern India and some parts of Pakistan. They claim to be descendants of ruling Hindu warrior classes of North India. Rajputs rose to prominence during the 6th to 12th centuries. Until the 20th century, Rajputs ruled in the “overwhelming majority” of the princely states of Rajasthan and Surashtra, where the largest number of princely states were found.

The Rajput population and the former Rajput states are found spread through much of the subcontinent, particularly in north, west and central India. Populations are found in Rajasthan, Saurashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Jammu, Punjab, Uttarakhand, Madhya Pradesh and Bihar.

There are several major subdivisions of Rajputs, known as vansh or vamsha, the step below the super-division jati. These vansh delineate claimed descent from various sources, and the Rajput are generally considered to be divided into three primary vansh: Suryavanshi denotes descent from the solar deity Surya, Chandravanshi from the lunar deity Chandra, and Agnivanshi from the fire deity Agni. Lesser-noted vansh include Udayvanshi, Rajvanshi, and Rishivanshi. The histories of the various vanshs were later recorded in documents known asvanshaavaliis.

Beneath the vansh division are smaller and smaller subdivisions: kul, shakh (“branch”), khamp or khanp (“twig”), andnak (“twig tip”). Marriages within a kul are generally disallowed (with some flexibility for kul-mates of different gotralineages). The kul serves as primary identity for many of the Rajput clans, and each kul is protected by a family goddess, the kuldevi.

 THE MAIN LINEAGES

The Rajputs are divided into clans, each clan belonging to one of three basic lineages (vanshas or vamshas):

Suryavanshi:

Claims descent from Surya, the Hindu Sun god. In English it is known as the Solar Dynasty.

Chandravanshi:

Claims descent from Chandra (the moon or Budh). The Chandravanshi lineage is known as the Lunar Dynasty in English

1. The Yaduvanshi lineage are a major sub-branch of the Chandravanshi lineage. Lord Krishna was born a Yaduvanshi.
2. The Puruvanshi lineage are a major sub-branch of the Chandravanshi Rajputs. The Kauravs and Pandavs of the epic Mahabharata were Puruvanshis.

Agnivanshi:

Claims descent from Agni, the Hindu god of fire. Four main Rajput clans are considered to be Agnivanshi. They are Chauhans, Paramara, Solanki and Pratiharas.

Each of these Vanshas or lineages is divided into several clans (kula), all of whom claim direct patrilineage from a remote but common male ancestor who supposedly belonged to that Vansha. Some of these 36 main clans are further subdivided into shakhas or “branches”, again based on the same principle of patrilineage.

Each shakha or basic sub-clan has its individual genealogical creed, describing the essential peculiarities, religious tenets, and original domicile of the clan. This creed is a touchstone of traditional affinities and provides all information governing the laws of intermarriage.

रख सको तो एक निशानी हूँ मैं

अगर रख सको तो एक निशानी हूँ मैं,

खो दो तो सिर्फ एक कहानी हूँ मैं ,

रोक पाए न जिसको ये सारी दुनिया,

वोह एक बूँद आँख का पानी हूँ मैं.....

सबको प्यार देने की आदत है हमें,

अपनी अलग पहचान बनाने की आदत है हमे,

कितना भी गहरा जख्म दे कोई,

उतना ही ज्यादा मुस्कराने की आदत है हमें...

इस अजनबी दुनिया में अकेला ख्वाब हूँ मैं,

सवालो से खफा छोटा सा जवाब हूँ मैं,

जो समझ न सके मुझे, उनके लिए "कौन"

जो समझ गए उनके लिए खुली किताब हूँ मैं,

आँख से देखोगे तो खुश पाओगे,

दिल से पूछोगे तो दर्द का सैलाब हूँ मैं,,,,,

"अगर रख सको तो निशानी, खो दो तो सिर्फ एक कहानी हूँ मैं