10-18-2005, 09:05 PM
People may do well to read that article by Yashwant Malaiya. He gives a fairly accurate account for the origin of major Rajput clans. James Tod, I believe tried to create the idea that all Rajputs were of "Scythian" origin. The Rajput clans have considered themselves chandravamsha (descendent of the vedic pa~Ncha jana know as the yadus/ yAdavas) or sUryavamsha (descendent of the vedic kShatriya family of the ikShvAkus) or vahnikula (those purified by the fire). The first two groups are traditional kshatriya gotras, known from both north and south India. The vahnikulas origins are more mysterious. Some accounts believe they were honorary kShatriyas created by the great emperor lalitAditya to fight the turushkas and mlechChas. In Tamil Nad the vahnikulas are believed to have social descended to a prominent backward class called vanniyar after their defeat by the Moslems.
When Bajirao took Delhi it is believed that he wanted to place the rANa of Mewar as the Hindu emperor of bhArata after dethroning the Mogol. This suggests that their ikShvAku claims were well-respected widely in the country.
When Bajirao took Delhi it is believed that he wanted to place the rANa of Mewar as the Hindu emperor of bhArata after dethroning the Mogol. This suggests that their ikShvAku claims were well-respected widely in the country.