Vansh :  Suryavanshi
Kuldevi :  Chamunda Maa and Vidhyavansini Maa
Father  :  Shankar Bapa
Mother :  Anjani
Guru    : Gorakhnaath
Brahmin:  Joshi
Barot   :  Brahbhat
Gotra   :  Aashtang

Karavadra’s are part of the Jethwa- Rajshakha clan. They are of the sun linage (Suryavanshi)

Rajsakha – Jethwa Maher Bhaiyats

Article supplied by Nisha Bhima Karavadra

Maher Surnames

Vansh : Suryavanshi

Valla  / Balla  /Ghalot (Ghelot/Guhilot)

24 saca or branches. Solar. The raja of Udaipur is a Grahilot.

Sub divisions: Sisodia, Gohil, Chundawat, Ranawat, Shaktawat, Sarangdevot, Sangawat, Chandrawat, Kshemawat, Suhawat, Ahariya

Gahlot / Sisodia (Sisodia, Sesodia)

This is the story of the integration of Sisodia Rajputs with Mer community –

A second branch of the Gohils, who were related to the Sisodias of Chittorgarh, ruled Khergarh in Marwar. They were defeated by the combined force of the Rathores and Sodhas. As a result they were forced to migrate to Kathiyawar. They built alliances with the Mer rulers and eventually established a kingdom: The Kingdom of Bhavnagar. They fought the Nawabs of Junagadh and Gaekwads of Baroda constantly. They became famous after plundering countless fleets of Mohammed bin Tughlaq. 

The main branch of the Sisodias in Chittorgarh are legendary. They performed Jauhar (communal suicide of women after defeat is inevitable) 3 times. Maharana Pratap was from this dynasty. He fought against Akbar throughout his life for the freedom of his people. Sisodias were the most powerful rulers of Rajasthan. Maharana Sangram Singh subdued the Kingdom of Malwa, Sultanate of Delhi and Sultanate of Gujarat.  

Article supplied by Kishan V Sisodia; edited by Ravi Odedra

Article supplied by Kishan V Sisodia; edited by Ravi Odedra

Maher Surnames

Vansh : Agnivanshi

Chalukya (Solinki or Chalok) with 16 branches. Main Shakha- Baghel

The Marathi septs of Chalukya are: Chalukya, Chalke, Ingale, Pisal, Rannavre, Dubal, Mahale and of Solanki: Salunke, Pandhare, Patankar, Patole, Shevale, Babar, Padwal, Magar, Randheer, Ranpise, Sonvane, Gunjal, Lahane, Vyavhare, Navale, Londhe

It is said that Brahma created a young man from fire. He was holding a sword in one hand and Ved in the other. He came to be known as ‘Chilonki’ because it is believed that as Brahma had prepared the putla or human image on his hand, then had thrown it into fire, the man had born. It is said that the word got corrupted to ‘Milonki’ and later on to ‘Solinki’. Another version is that their original name is Chaluka, because they were formed in the palm (chalu) of the hand. They were not very prominenet in rajputana, but were very prominent in the Deccan.

Here they were commonly called Chalukya, though in northern India the name Solanki is more common. As early as AD 350 Pulakesin I made himself master of the town of Vatapi, the modern Badami in the Bijapur District and founded a dynsty, which developed into the most powerful kingdom south of the Nerbudda, and lasted 2 centuries, when it was overthrown by the Rastrakuta Pulakesin II, one of this Chalukya dynasty successfully defended an inroad of the great emperor Harsha Vardhana of Kannauj, who aspired the conquest of the whole of India.

The Rastrakuta kings governed for 2 centuries and in AD 973 Taila or Tailapa II, a scion of the old Chalukya stock, restored the family of his ancestors to its former glory and founded the dynasty known as that of the Chalukya of kalyan, which lasted like that which it superseeded for nearly 2 centuries and a quarter, up to AD 1190. In the 10th century apparaently another branch of the scion migrated from Rajputana into Gujarat and established a new dynasty there, owing to which Gujarat, which had formerly been known as Lata, obtained its present name. The principal king of this line was Sidh raj Solanki, which is well known to tradition. From these Chalukya or Solanki rulers the Baghel clan arose, which afetrwards migrated to Rewah. The Solankis are found UP and in small numbers in MP (Hoshangabad and Nimar).

Salunkhes are descendents of Solanki Dynasty of Gujarat. Solankies ruled on Gujarat before 900 years. Solankies were descendents of Chalukyas of Karnataka in 6th to 8 century A.D. from Badami. Another branch of Chalukyas ruled between 973 A.D. to 1186 from Kalyan on Karnataka, Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh. Chalukyas were Jains and this tradition was also in Solankies.

Kumarpal Solanki was the famous king of this dynasty who ruled between 1143 to 1172 A.D. He defeated the Turk invaders. Solanki is the famous clan of Oswal Jains.

Baghel / Vaghela (means race of the tiger or tiger club)

Baghel: In the ancient work entitled “Komarpal Charitra,” Baghel was listed as one of the Rajput tribes of Rajasthan (Tod 69), but are a branch of Sisodias. Walker described the Baghel, or Baghela, as one of the chief Rajput clans who played a major part in history. “Baghela or Vaghela of Gujarat…are related to the Chalukyas, and most propable a branch of it and have given their name to Baghelkhand” or Rewa, but others of the tribe have spread through Budelkhund. Allahabad, Benares, Kanpur, Gorakhpur and Farrukhabad. The chiefs of Rewah are Baghel and the Maharaja Raghuraj Singh has written a traditional history in Bhakt Mala. He derives their name from a chield , having the form of a tiger (bhagh), who was born to the Solanki Raja of Gujarat.

The Bombay Gazetteer states that the founder of the clan was one Anoka, nephew of the Solanki king of Gujarat, Kumarpal (1143-1174). He obtained a grant of the village of Vaghela, the tiger’s lair. Subsequently the Baghels extended their power over the whole of Gujarat, but in 1304 the last king Karnadeva, was driven out by the Muhameddans and of his most beautiful wives was captured and sent to the emperor’s harem. Karnadeva and his daughter fled and hid themselves near Nasik, but the daughter was subsequently taken also, while it is not stated what became of Karnadeva. Mr. Hira Lal assistant of Mr.Russel suggests that he fled towards Rewah and that he is the Karnadeva of the list of Rewah Rajas, who married a daughter of the Gond-Rajput dynasty of Garha-Mandla. At any rate the Baghel branch of Solankis apperently migrated to Rewah from Gujarat and founded that state in the 14 th century and in the 15 th century they became prominent. According to captain Forsyth , the Baghels claim descent from a tiger and protect it when they can, They are found in Hoshangabad in Mandla and Chattisgarh which are close to Rewah. They were also known as Makwara.

Article supplied by Kishan V Sisodia

Maher Surnames

Vansh : Agnivanshi

Par(r)hiar (Pathiar) with 13 branches/shakhas: Lullra, Surawat, Rameta, Budhkhel/Pokhawat, Inda,Khokhar, Kilhan/Kalhans/Chandra/Chuhhan, Ghorana, Dhandhil,Sindhu, Dorana, Subrana, Pahara, Keshodas, Sonpalol, Deep.

This clan was one of the 4 Agni-kulas God Shiva created a man from fire, who had a dark complexion. This man, though not brave, was well suited to act as guard at the door. This is exactly the reason why he came to be known as ‘Prithvi-ha-Dwara’ of which Parihar is a corruption. Geographically, during the period of Muslim conquest the Rajputs were the pratiharas, or protectors of India Also known as Parrhiar.

Mundawar or Mundodri was the capital of the Parihara, which owned the sway of this tribe before the invasion and settlement of the Rathor clan. They were dominant in Bundelkhand before the Chandels, their last chieftain having been overthrown by a Chandel prince in AD 831. A parihar-Gujar chieftain, whose capital was in Bhinmal in Rajputana, conquered the dominions of the great Harsha Vardhana, and established himself there about AD 816. Kannaj was then held by Gujar-Parihar kings till ca 1090, when it was seized by Chandradeva of the Gaharwar Rajput clan. The Parihar rulers were thus subverted by the Gaharwars and Chandels, both of whom are thought to be derived from the Bhars or other aboriginal tribes. After this period the Parihar are of little importance. They appear to have retired to Rajputana, as col. Tod states that Mundore, 5 miles north of Jodhpur, was their headquarter until it was taken by the Rathors. The walls of the ruined fortress of Mundore are built of enormous square masses of stone without cement. In the Central Provinces they are found principally in Saugor, Damoh and Jubbulpore.

Article supplied by Kishan V Sisodia 

Maher Surnames

Vansh : Agnivanshi

Parmar (Pramara or Panwar) with 35 branches :
Mori, Sodha,Sankhla, Khechar , Umra & Sumra , Kohil, Daddha, Maipawat, Khair, Bhuller, orgatia,Pachawara,Varah, KabaBeedh, Badhel, Dheek, Ujjjainia, Kaleja… etc

Also known as Parwar or Pawar in Maharashtra, where the brances are: Pawar, Bagwe, Ichare, Renuse, Jagdhane, Rasal, Landage, Bane, Rokade, Chandane, Khairnar, Malwade, Wagaje. According to the myths their great-grand forefather, Parmar, was created out of fire by Inder Devta, the god of fire, at Mount Abu. It is said that as the newly created man had come out from fire saying “mar, mar” loudly, he came to be known as parmar, and Abu, Dhar, and Ujjain were assigned to him as a territory.

The 4 clans known as Agnikula were the Panwar, Chauhan, Parihar, and Chalukya or Solanki.

The Navasahasanka charitra of Padmaguta (11th cent AD) mentions the first of the Parmara clan : Vashishta created a hero from his agnikunda to get back the cow that Vishvamitra had taken from him. Vashishta then said: “you will become a lord of the kings called Paramara”. Here Paramara indicated killer of others. This hero’s son Upendra was succeeded by Vakpatiraj I. The copper-plates of Harsola, that are from 949 AD give the descent of Bappairaja (Vakpatiraja) from Akalavarsha. Akalavarsha was a famous Rashtrakuta king. A later inscription of Vakpatiraj II of the Parmara dynasty mentions that the king bore titles Amoghavarsha, Prathvivallabha and Shrivallabha. There are Rashtrakuta titles. This Vakpatiraj II was an uncle of famous Raja Bhoja.

The kings of Malwa or Ujain who reigned at Dhar and flourished from the ninth to the twelfth centuries were of the Panwar clan. The 7th and 9th kings of this dynasty rendered it famous. “Raja Munja, the 7th king (974-995), renowned for his lerarning and eloquence, was not only a patron of poets, but was himself a poet of small reputation, the anthologies including various works from his pen. He penetrated in a career of conquest as far as Godavari, but was finally defeated and executed there by the Chalukya king. His nephew, the famous Bhoja, ascended the throne of Dhara about 1018 andreigned gloriously for more than forty years. Like his uncle he cultivated with equal assiduity the arts of peace and war. Though his fights with neighbouring powers, including one of the Muhamadan armies of Mahmud of Ghazni, are now forgotten, his fame as an enlightened patron of learning and a skilled author remains undimmed, and his name has become proverbial as that of the model king acoording to Hindu standard. Works on astronomy, architecture, the art of poetry and other subjects are attributed to him. About AD 1060 Bhoja was attacked and defeated by the confederate kings of Gujarat and Chedi, and the Panwar kingdom was reduced to a petty local dynasty until the 13th century. It was finally superseeded by the chiefs of the Tomara and Chauhan clans, who in their turn succumbed to the Muhamaddans in 1401” (V.A. Smith, Early History of India 3rd ed. p395). The city of Ujjain was at this time a centre of Indian intelectual life. Some celebrated astronomers made it their home, and it was adopted as the basis of the Hindu meridional system like Greenwhich in England.

The Panwars were held to have ruled from nine castles over the Marustali or ‘Region of death’, the name given to the great dessert of Rajputana, which extends from Sind to the Aravalli mountains and from the great salt lakes to the skirting of Garah. The principal of these castles were Abu, Nundore, Umarkot, Arore, and Lodorva. Mr. Crooke states that the expulsion of the Panwars from Ujjain under their leader Mitra Sen is ascribed to the attack of the Muhamaddans under Shahab-ud-din Ghori about AD 1190. After this they spread to Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra, where they are known as Pawar (Sivaji was a Puar and so is the Nimbhalkar tribe) Mr. Crooke (Tribes and castes) states: “The Khidmatia,Barwar or Chobdar are said to be an inferior branch of the Panwars, descended from a low-caste woman” . “The Panwars had the abit of keeping women of lower castes to a greater degree than the ordinary, and this has been found to be trait of other castes of mixed origin, and they are sometimes known as Dhakar, a name having the sense of illigitimacy”. (Russel, p339). In the Maratha rice coutry of Wainganga the Panwars have developed into 36 exogamous sections, bearing names of Rajput clans and of villages. Their titles are: Chaudhri (headman), Patlia (patel or chief officer of a village) and Sonwania.

Pawars are descendents of Parmar kings of Dhar. Some of Parmar kings were followers of Jainism, others that of Shaivism. Parmar is a big caste of Jains in Gujarat and it is also a famous clan of Oswals. Another Jain caste named Parwar is also descendent of Parmar kings. Osho Rajnish was from this community, that once was part of the Parwars.

The Parwar Jain caste is called “Paurpatta” in Sanskrit inscriptions. There are quite a few Sanskrit inscriptions in the Chanderi region that mention them from 11-12th century. It is likely that they are the same people involved in installing Jain images going back to Gupta period in that region, thus they are unlikley to be the descendants of Parmar kings. The Jain caste in Gujarat (Porwal or Porwad) is called “Pragvata” in Sanskrit. Most of the famous Jain temples in Gujarat (Mt. Abu, Ranakpur) were build by them. Their home is South Rajastan. The Parmar kings are called “Pragvata” in Sanskrit. Their original home too is Southern Rajasthan. Thus “Pragvata” must be the name of the region that is now Southern Rajasthan; and the Parmar Rajputs and the Porwal Jains of Rajasthan/Gujarat both take their name from this region. This is the region where Mount Abu is located.

At the Time of Alexander’s raid into India, he ran up against the Puru tribe. The leader’s name was taken as Porus. There is at least one other ” Porus’ referred to in the Greek accounts. The clan or a name is Puru, and now possibly found amoung the Jats as Puru, Pawar, Parmar, Paur, Por, Paurava or Pauria, or Paurya as a gotra name. However clan names and gotra names may not coincide, the gotra denoting a forefather with the personal name, which may not always be the tribe name

Mori = Branch of Panwar Rajputs. They claim descent from Chandragupta Maurya, but they are probably not realated to the Maurya emperors. In Maharashtra the septs are: More, Madhure, Devkate, Harphale, Dhyber, Marathe, Darekar, Devkar, Adavale.

This dynasty was founded by Chandragupta Mourya at Patliputra (Modern Patna in Bihar) in 317 B.C. Chandragupta was born in Mayurposag (Peacock tamer) community. Chandragupta became the first historical emperor of India. His empire included almost all of the south Asia. He defeated the Greek invaders. Chandragupta ruled for 22 years. After him his son Bindusar became the emperor. After him Ashok became the emperor. After the war of Kalinga, Ashok adopted Buddhism. After Ashok his grand son Samprati became the emperor and ruled from Ujjain while Dashrath, another grandson ruled from Patliputra. Brihdrath was the last emperor of this dynasty. He was killed by his General Pushyamitra Shung. He founded Pushy dynasty. Kharvel, king of Kaling attacked and killed Pushyamitra. The ‘Devak’ of Mores is feather of peacock. This is because of their ‘Mayurposag’ (Peacock tamer) origin.

Article supplied by Kishan V Sisodia 

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 

Maher Surnames

 Vansh : Agnivanshi)

Chauhan with 26 branches. (Major Shakhas – Hada or Hara, Songara, Deora, Khichi, Shambhri, Sanchora, Pavia, Goyalwal, Bhadauria, Malani, Nirwan, Puravia,Madrecha, Cheeba, Mohil, Chahil, Balecha, Chachera, Boda, Nadola, Nikumbh… etc.

In Maharashtra the septs are: Chavan, Tawade, Gavane, Hande, Pansare, Randive, Kalbhor, Ispute, Kedar.

According to the Rajput bards the Chauhan is one of the four (and the last) Agnikula or ‘fire sprung’ tribes who were created by the gods in the anali kund or ‘fountain of fire’ on Mount Abu to fight against the Asuras or demons. According to legend:” Again Vashista (or Agastya) seated in the lotus prepared incantations; again he called the gods to aid, and as he poured forth the libation a figure arose; lofty in stature, of elevated front, hair like jet, eyes rolling, breast expanded, fierce, terrific, clad in armour with quiver filled, a bow in one hand and a brand in the other, quadriform (chaturanga) , hence the name was given as Chauhan”. Another explanation is: that the Chauhan  was born from the fourhanded warrior Chatur-bhuja, Chatur-baha or Chaturvira.

This account makes the Chauhan the most important of the fire clans, and colonel Tod says that he was the most valiant of the Agnikulas, and it may be asserted not of then only but of the whole Rajput race though the swords of the Rathors would be ready to contest the point. Chauhan is also one of the 36 (royal) ruling races of the Rajputs. The Chauhans come from Jaipur and its environ Sambhar (as found from inscriptions) and Ajmer (which is said to been founded by them in the 11th century) in Rajputana appear to have been the first home of the clan, and inscriptions record a long line of 39 kings as reigning from Anhul, the first created Chauhan. The last of them, Vigraha Raja or Bisla Deo, in the middle of the 12th century extended the ancestral dominions considerably, and conquered Delhi from a chief of the Tomara clan. At the time the Chauhans, according to their own bard , held the line of the Nerbudda from Garha Mandla to Maheswar and also Asirgarh, while their dominions extended north to Hissar and south to the Aravalli hills.

The nephew of Bisal Deo was Prithvi Raj Chauhan, the last Hindu Ruler of Delhi. He ruled at Sambhar, Ajmer and Delhi. His first exploit was the abduction of the daughter of Jaichand, the Gaharwar (or Rathore) Raja of Kannauj in 1175. The king of Kanauj had claimed the title of universal sovereign and determined to celebrate the Ashwa-Medha or horse sacrifice, at which all the offices should be performed by vassal kings. This was the last Asvamedha performed by a Hindu king. Pritvi Raj of Delhi and Samarsi of Mewar alone declined to attend as subordinate, and Jaichand therefore made a wooden image of him and set it up at the gate in the part of the doorkeeper. But when his daughter after the tournament took the garland of flowers to bestow it on the chief whom she chose for her husband, she passed by all the assembled nobles and threw the garland on the neck of the wooden image. At this moment Prithvi Raj dashed in with a few companions, and catching her up, escaped with her from her father’s court. Mer. E. Balfour: ” In this successfull rape he lost the flower of his followers and his subsequent defeat by the Muhamaddans has been partly attributed to this. Jaichand , though bereaved of his daughter sent her jahez or trousseau after her. Jaichand closed his career by lapsing into the Ganga at Ferozabad, the ancient Chandwar.”

Afterwards, in 1182, Prithviraj defeated the Chandel king Raja Parmal and captured Mahoba. In 1191 he was the head of a confederacy of Hindu kings in combatting the invasion of Huhammad Ghori. He repelled the Muhamaddans at Tarain about 2 miles north of Delhi, but in the following year was completely defeated and killed at Thaneswar, and soon afterwards Delhi and Ajmer fell to the Mohammedan. The Chauhan kingdom was broken up, but scattered parts of it remained, and about 1307 Asirgarh in Nimar, which continued to be held by the Chauhans, was taken by Ala-ud-din Khilji and the whole garrison put to the sword except one boy. This boy, Raisi Chauhan, escaped to Rajputana, and according to the bardic chronicle his descendants formed the Hara branch of the Chauhans and conquered from the Minas the tract known as Haravati, from which they perhaps took their name. This is now comprised in the Kotah and Bundi states which is now ruled by Hara chiefs. Another well-known offshoot from the Chauhans are the Khichi clan, who belong to the Sind-Sagar Doab; and the Nikumbh and Bhadauria clans are also derived from them. The Chauhans are numerous in Punjab and UP and rank as one of the highest Rajput clans. In the Central Povinces they are found mainly in the Narsinghpur and Hoshangabad Districts, and also in Mandla.  The Chauhans of the Karnal district being closer to Delhi and the Muslim kings started converting to Islam from the 14th to the 17th Century. Chauhans in Rajastan are few in number and live in Alwar district of Rajastan.

Article supplied by Kishan V Sisodia