Maher Surnames

Jethwa/Jaitwa /Jheti or Kam(a)ri. Moon-descended.

Jethwa, Gumli or Bhumli, in Kattywar, is the Abpura Hill, the old seat of the the Jethwa. Murvi is an old Jetwa capital. The Rana of Porbandar, styled Puncheria, represents the Jetwa, one of the ancient Rajput races still extant in the Kattyawar peninsula. Since 1979, the succession to the throne of Porbandhar is vacant. Some rulers: Vikmatji IV, Rana Saheb of Porbandar 1831-1900, deprived of his powers by the British 1886, +1900. Grandfather of: Bhavsinhji Bahadur, Rana Saheb of Porbandar 1900-1908. Father of: HH Natwarsinhji Bahadur, Rana Saheb (10/12/1908) then Maharaja Rana Saheb (1918) of Porbandar, invested with full ruling powers 26/1/1920, 180th Ruler of The Distinguished Jethwa House, LtCol, KCSI 1929, first Cpt of the All-India Cricket Team 1932.

In the days of Mahmud, all the west and north of Kathiyawar belonged to the Jetwa Rajputs, but the forays of the Jhala and Jhareja have confined them to their present district, the shaggy range of hills called Burda. The Jhalas of Kathiyawar, who own the raj of Hulwud Drangdra as their chief, are supposed to have sprung from an offshoot of Anhilwara, on the extinction of which dynasty they obtained territorial aggrandizement.

Approximately, four hundred years ago, the district of Dhak and Ghumli, in the Kathiyawar region of Saurashtra, was ruled by the Jethwas. The Jethwa’s daughter was married to the Ra of Junagadh. Kandhalji was a well known figure throughout Sauvrashtra. He was a leader and one of the elders for the Odedra clan in the Maher Community. Kandhalji had a place in the Royal Courts of the Jethwas and was very much respected and admired by the Royal Palace.

A time came when the Jethwa and Kandhalji had different views on a matter. Kandhalji did not agree with the way in which the Jethwa was conducting his rule. He informed the Jethwa of how he felt and left the Royal Courts. He left for the district of Junagadh where the Ra reined. As time went on, the Raar’s Royal Place was blessed with a son. The Ra, being the Jethwa’s son-in-law, decided to ask for Dhak as a means of Dowry. (In those days if a son was born, a dowry was paid by the mother’s father to the proud father of the son.) The Ra sent a message expressing his intention for Dhak. The Jethwa became very concerned about this matter. The Jethwas had reined Dhak for 500 years and had lost many lives in doing so. He couldn’t bear the thought of telling the people of Dhak that he was going to give the district to a new ruler and he couldn’t also bear the thought of refusing his son-in-law’s wish. The Jethwa decided that it would be best if he asked Kandhalji, who was know living the district of Junagadh,to help him to talk to the Ra and negotiate a deal. The Jethwa sent a message to the Ra informing him that he would do what ever Kandhalji agrees to. The Raar was confident that Kandhalji would not let him down and would agree to what ever he demanded. Kandhalji was summoned to the Raar’s Royal Court. Kandhalji appeared before the Ra who read him the letter that was sent by the Jethwa. Kandhalji listened very carefully to what the Jethwa had written. After the letter was read the Ra spoke –

Ra:- “…Kandhalji, see how your Jethwa shakes and runs like the ocean waves! See how Jethwa’s strength weakens!”

Kandhalji:- (Stood up and shouted) “… Ra! The district of Dhak is my motherland. The hand of a daughter can be asked but the hand of a mother is never asked!”

Ra:- ” … Kandhalji, you dare raise your voice at me! You have eaten enough from Junagadh districts plate!…. I give you three days to run as far as you can …. so go Kandhalji … run. On the fourth day I will find you from where ever you are and kill you!”

Kandhalji:- (Took out his sword and with the tip drew three lines parallel to each other) “…This is day one, day two and this is day three – now Ra do as you please. Try killing this Maher in front of you!”

Ra:-“…No Kandhalji, I will not kill you that easily. If I kill you here history will say that I killed you in my own house!”
Kandhalji turned around and walked out of the Royal Courts. Outside stood waiting his horse which he got on and rode out. As Kandhalji headed back to the Jethwas, he came across a village known as Vantheli. This was the village of the Muslim Nageri Rajputs. On that day nine hundred grooms were waiting to be married. The village was filled with great celebrations and joyful folk songs. As Kandhalji got nearer, the village elders looked on. The horse had white froth dropping from its mouth and the body was soaked in sweat. The village braves quickly ran towards the horse making it stop in front of them.

Kandhalji :- (Hastily) ” ..Do you know me? “
Nageri :- ” Of coarse dear friend. Who has not heard of the great Kandhalji! We cannot let you go from here today without being our guest.”
Kandhalji:- “… dear friend … I cannot take your invitation … I have the armies of Junagadh after me.”
Nageri:- ” …. if we let you go now our pride and honor is at stake!”
Kandhalji:- ” .. thank you friend… but I cannot allow these marriages to be disrupted.

The Nageri’s insisted that Kandhalji must stay in their village and decided to fight against the Ra army and several thousands died figthing. This spot where Kandhalji lost his life fighting, is worshipped by many people including the Mahers and the Nageris. Kandhalji’s land which was on the bank of the River Umbudh was presented to the Nageri Rajputs and is to this day farmed by the Nageri Rajput Munja Vur family. The decedents of Kandhalji live in the village of Fatana and are known as the ‘Ji’ family. At times of marriage the family still give one ‘cori’ (approx. 1 ‘pawla’) kurr to the Nageri Rajputs. The Nageri Rajputs of Vantheli, are to this present day considered ‘Blood Brothers’ of the Odedra Mahers.

Article supplied by Kishan V Sisodia edited by Ravi Odedra.

Maher Surnames

Vansh : Suryavanshi

Kachwaha (Kishwaha, Cutchwaha and Keshwala). Also sprang from Kusha. It has 12 kotri or houses.

Major subdivisions:
Gogawat, Kubhani, Naruka, Ladkhani, Tajkhani, Nathawat, Rajawat, Shekhawat, Jeetawat, Bankawat,Balbhadrot, Khangarot, Chaturbhujot.

This is a celebrated clan, which the maharajas Shekhawat (Jaipur and Alwar) belong to. They belong of solar race and claim descent from Kush, second son of Lord Ram (of Ayodhya). Their original rule, was over Rohtas on the Son river. Later Raja Nal migrated from Rohtas and founded Narwar. The town of Damoh in Madhya Pradesh is supposed to be named after Damyanti, Raja Nal’s wife.

The earliest appearance of the Kachhwaha rajputs in history is in the 10th century, when the chief Kachhwaha captured Gwalior from the Gurjara-Parihara kings of Kannauj and established a kingdom there.

His dynasty was independent until C.E 1128, when it became tributary to the Chandel kings of Mahoba. The last Kacchwaha king of Gwalior was Tejkaran, called Dulha Rai or the bridegroom-prince. He received from his father-in-law the district of Daora in the present Jaipur area, where he settled. In 1150 one of his successors wrested the city of Amber from the Minas and made it his capital. The Amber State from the first acknowledged the supremacy of the Mughal emperors, and the chief of the period gave his daughter in marriage to Akbar.

Maharaja Bhagwan Das is said to have saved Akbar’s life at the battle of Sarnal. He gave a daughter to Jahangir, and his adopted son, Man Singh, who at different periods was governor of Kabul, Bengal, Bihar and Deccan. The next chief of note, Jai Singh I, appears in all the wars of Aurangzeb in the Deccan. He was commander of 6000 horses. The present city of Jaipur was founded by a subsequent chief, Jai Singh II, in 1728.  At the Durbar of 1877 his salute was raised with 21 guns. The Alwar State was founded about 1766 by Pratap Singh, a descendent of a prince of the Jaipur house, who had separated from it centuries ago.

The banner of Amber frequently mentioned by the bards was called Panchranga (5 colours). The Kachwahas are fairly numerous in UP and in MP are found in Saugor, Hoshangabad and Nimar Districts principally.

There are 65 gotras of Kachhwaha Rajputs (others include Rajawat, Shekawat, Nathawat, Khangarot, Ranawat). The Shekawat’s are the most influential of all of these.

The Kachhwahas of Jaipur are related to the Kachtries (Kuchi) of Baluchistan and the Kuchi of Afghanistan, according to some sources. The Kuchi tribe of Afghanistan is acknowledged for its tribal dance. They live in South-Eastern Afghanistan to the border of Pakistan. The Kuchi tribe of Afghanistan is nomadic, accustomed to moving annually with their herds between summer pastures in Afghanistan and winter pastures in Pakistan.

Article supplied by Kishan V Sisodia ; edited by Ravi Odedra.

Maher Surnames

Vansh : Chandravanshi

Jadam / Jharija (Bhatti, Jadeja /Jareja /Jadon / Banaphar, Sarvaia, Raijdas, Vaj, Pathania

The Jadeja Rajputs are dominant in Kutch, but in AD 800, a branch of the family, in consequence of internal feuds, crossed the Rann at the head of the Gulf of Kutch into Kathiawar and established themselves upon the ruins of the Jethwa rajputs. The land appear to have been divided in common among the whole tribe, the teelat or eldest branch of the family reserving to itself the largest portion, while the bhaiyaat (sub-divisions) held their respective villages by a purely feudal tenure.

Also Jadejas descended from Jaddu, founder of the lunar race with 4 or 7 branches. Colonel Tod says that the Yadu was the most illustrious of all tribes of India, and became the patronymic of both the descendents of  Buddha (of the Indu race) and Krishna. It is not clear, even to legendary tradition, what connection the Yadus had with Buddha, but Krishna is held to have been a prince of this tribe and founded Dwarka in Gujarat with them, in which locality he is afterwards supposed to have been killed.

However there are some scholars who claim the Yadus to be of Central Asian origin and that the Mahabharata actually took place in Central Asia. It is said that the original Dwarka is not in Gujarat, but is the Darvaza in present Central Asia.

Colonel Tod states that the Yadu afer the death of Krishna, and their expulsion from Dwarka and Delhi, the last stronghold of their power, retired by Multan across the Indus, founded Ghazni in Afghanistan, and peopled these countries even to Samarkand. Again driven back on the Indus they obtained possession of the Punjab and founded Salbhanpur. Thence expelled they retired across the Sutlej and Gara into the Indian desserts, where they founded Tannote, Derawal and Jaisalmer, the last in AD 1157.

At a later date a Yadava kingdom existed in the Deccan, with its capital at Deogiri or Daulatabad and its territory lying between that place and Nasik. Mr. Smith states that these Yadon kings were descendants of feudatory nobles of the Chalukya kingdom, which embraced parts of western India and also Gujarat.

The Jadon dynasty only lasted from AD 1150 to 1318, when the last prince of the line, Harapala, stirred up a revolt against the Mohammedans to whom the King, his father-in-law, had submitted, and being defeated, was flayed alive and decapitated. It is noticeable that the Yadu-Bhatti rajputs of Jaisalmer claim descent from Salivahana, who founded the Saka era in AD 78, and it is believed that this era belonged to the Saka dynasty of Gujarat, where, according to the tradition the Yadus also setled. The point would identify the Sakas with the Yadus. The Bhati branch of the yadus cliam descent from Bhati, grandson of Salivahana.

They have no legend of coming from Gujarat, but they had the title of Rawal, which is used in Gujarat, and also by the Sesodia clan who came from here. The Bhattis are said to have arrived in Jaisalmer about the middle of the 8th century, Jaisalmer city being founded in 1183. The Jadeja clan of Sind and Kutch are another branch of Yadu. They now claim descent from Jamshid, a Persian hero and the title of their rulers is Jam. Jam Rawal established a Kingdom in Nawanagar as Mughal rule declined. The Jam Sahibs gained control of Halar and even threatened the Nawabs of Junagadh and the Rana Sahibs of Porbandar.

The Yadu name has been corrupted to Jadon in UP and Jadum in MP, where they now form different castes. Another branch is the Raj-jadu  or Rajadu. In some parts of India, the Yadavas have lost their rajput status, because of their alliance with cow-herding castes.

Krishna being a gopi led to the popular belief that all cowherds like Ahir, Gujar, etc were Yadavas. However, it is not so. Ahirs (cow-herding castes) though started using “Yadav” with their name are not Yadus (or Yadava). Also Krishna-dasis (followers of Krishna) were claiming to be Yadavas. This has in recent times been exploited by some Yadav-connected politicians,  to increase their number of followers/votes.

Article supplied by Kishan V Sisodia 

Maher Surnames

Vansh : Chandravanshi

Chavara or Chaura (Ghaorha/Chavada,Cha(v)da) with 12 branches.

Chavada Dadda, the founder of Pratihara dynasty, established the Gurjar rule at Nandipur (Nandol). Dadda III wrested Broach from the Maitraks whose citadel had started shaking. In fact, there were three powerful dynasties which were ruling different parts of Gujarat: the Gurjars had their sway over the north, the Chalukyas ruled the south and the Maitraks were saddled in Saurashtra.

The vaccum created by the fall of the Maitrak dynasty was filled up by the Pratiharas from the north and Rashtrakutas from the south. As vassals of the Valabhis (from the town of Valabhis or Vala, where the Guhilot ruled and is related to Bhavnagar Palitana and Lathi), the Chavadas held their sway over parts of north Gujarat. They assumed independent control after the fall of Valabhi. Vanraj, the most prominent of the eight Chavada kings, founded a new capital at Anhilpur Patan. he reconquered his father’s lost territories and founded the Chavada dynasty which lasted a shade under a century. In the 14th century Mesaji ruler of this dynasty founded Mahasana in Gujrat.

Samantsinh, the last Chavada ruler, did not have an issued and he adopted Mulraj who overthrew him in 942 AD and set up what came to be known as the Solanki dynasty. Ambitious as he was, he started expanding his frontiers and established his complete and total hold over Saurashtra and Kachch by defeating Grahripu of Junagadh (Saurashtra) and Lakho Fulani of Kachchh.

Mulraj Solanki’s reign marked the start of the most glorious period in the history of Gujarat during which Gujarati culture flowered as manifested in art, architecture, language and script. It is described as the golden period in Gujarat chequered history. Mulraj himself adopted the title of Gurharesh (King of Gurjardesh). The territories under the sway of the Solanki dynasty came to be known by different variations of the word Gurjar like Gurjardesh, Gurjararastra, Gurjaratta and finally Gujarat.

Two names stand out in the Solanki dynasty. The fiest is that of Sidhrag Jayasinh who ruled for 47 years from 1094 A.D. and the second prominent Solanki King Kumarpala’s reign lasted for 31 years from 1143 to 1174 AD Apart from Saurashtra and Kachchh, Sidhraj Jaysinh also conquered Malwa.

One of the favourite legends with the Gujarat Bards is woven round the siege of Junagadh by Sidhraj Jaysinh. The fort was ultimately captured by hims along with Ranakdevi, the Queen of the ruler Rakhengar. However, in the true tradition of the Rajputs, Ranakdevi preferred to become a ‘sati’ rather than marry Sidharaj Jaysinh who was persuaded to allow Ranakdevi to commit ‘Sati’ by burning herself on a pyre at Wadhavan.

The town of  Arjya in Bhilwara District, 150 km. from Udaipur;  was ruled by the Chavda clan.  Maharana Jawan Singh’s maternal uncle, Jagat Singh of Barsora in Mahikantha, Gujarat. Had  two sons, Kuber Singh and Jalam Singh came to Udaipur with Maharana Jawan Singh and were granted, jointly, the jagirs of Aarjya and Kaladwas.

Article supplied by Kishan V Sisodia