Rajput

A Rajput (from Sanskrit rāja-putra, "son of a king") is a member of a prominent caste who live throughout northern and central India, primarily in the northwestern state of Rajasthan. They are thought to number about 12 million.

Related Topics:
Sanskrit - Caste - India - State - Rajasthan

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The term Rajput refers to the group's "jati" which is a social hierarchial status found within the caste system of Hinduism, which developed out of the Vedic varna system. The Rajputs consider themselves the original descendants of the Vedic warrior (Kshatriya) varna. Although all members of a warrior caste, Rajputs vary in profession from aristocrats to farmers. Rajputs are Hindu, and there are also Sikh minorities. There are Muslims who claim themselves to be Rajputs, but this claim is not recognised and disputed by Hindu and Sikh Rajputs on the grounds that one must belong to Hinduism in order to be part of the jati system, and that once an individual has left Hinduism, they no longer fit into the Varna system and are considered an outcaste. Although a considerable number of Sikhs, including the Sikh aristocracy who claim to be originally of Rajput descent (ie, Phulkian States), follow the practices of the caste system, such beliefs are against the central tenets of Sikhism.

Related Topics:
Jati - Hinduism - Vedic - Varna - Kshatriya - Hindu - Sikh - Muslims - Outcaste

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The Rajputs are divided into 36 clans, claiming three basic lineages: the Surya Vansi (Solar Race), the Chandra Vansi (Lunar Race), and the Agni kula (Fire Born). One version of the story of Agni kula origins is that four warriors, Agnikul, Yadaukul, Suryakul and Odak, whose names are given to the Rajput clans, sprang from the sacred fire (Agni-kunda) in a ceremony performed by Sage Vashishtha near Mount Abu. Historically the Rajputs refuse to accept the spiritual authority of Brahmin priestly caste, however Rajputs do have their own family priests, known as Purohits, which do come from the Brahmin caste, many Rajputs have Brahmin Gurus. Some scions of their noble families even officiate as priests in their Hindu temples; for example, the Sesodia kings of Mewar consider themselves regents of Eklingji, a manifestation of Shiva, and serve as the high priest of the deity as well as ruler of the state.

Related Topics:
Agni kula - Sage - Vashishtha - Mount Abu - Brahmin - Sesodia - Mewar - Eklingji - Shiva

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The Rajput ethos is martial in spirit, fiercely proud, and emphasizes lineage and tradition. Rajput patriotism is legendary, an ideal they embodied with a sometimes fanatical zeal, often choosing death before dishonour. Rajput warriors were often known to fight until the last man. The practice of jauhar and saka was followed only in rajput communities. When the outcome of a battle was against the Rajputs jauhar would be commited by Rajput women and children in the night and next morning men would commit saka. Brahmin priests would chant Vedic Mantras and rajput women, wearing their marriage dresses, along with their young children would embrace sandalwood flames. The next morning after taking a bath, the men would wear kesariya and apply the raakh from the maha samadhi-- of their wives and children, on their foreheads and put a tulsi leaf in their mouth. Then the palace gates would be opened and men would ride out for complete annhiliation of the enemy or themselves. Rajput men and women could not be captured alive. When Hindus fought against other hindus there were never any johars or saka because the defeated were treated with dignity.

Related Topics:
Jauhar - Kesariya - Raakh - Maha samadhi - Tulsi

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Rajasthan, which has a very high concentration of Rajputs, is located in northwestern India, near the Khyber Pass route used by most foreign invasions of India, including the Arabs, Afghans, Turks, Mughals, and other Islamic invaders of the Middle Ages. In his New History of India, Stanley Wolpert wrote "The Rajputs were the vanguard of Hindu India in the face of the Islamic onslaught."

Related Topics:
Rajasthan - Khyber Pass - India - Arab - Afghans - Turks - Mughal - Islam - Middle Ages - Stanley Wolpert

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