 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|
 |
||
The major Rajput
clans, that have resided and/or impacted the history of Gujarat
are (This information is based on Bardic records): In Gujarat, a line of Chauhans called the Khichi Chauhans established small kingdoms in Chota Udepur, Devgarh-Bariya, Reva, Vav, Suigav, Sanchor and Jalore. These kingdoms are comparatively small, but prosperous and mostly situated in the south-eastern parts of Gujarat. The main lines of all these families still continues and many have converted their resideses to heritage hotels. 2) Chudasama: These Rajputs,
concentrated in eastern Saurashtra are spread in 52 small villages
and towns in that area. They claim descendency from the Chandravams,
and are believed to have bifurcated from the larger Jadeja clan.
The Originator of the Chudasama clan is supposed to be an ancient
prince named Gajpat, who had supposedly hidden in the bangle(chuda)
of Hinglaj mataji, to escape persecution from a Muslim invader,
who wanted to convert all in his way to Islam. Their information
is as below: 3) Gohil: This is the only
Sisodia clan to have come and ruled in Gujarat. Originally from
Khergarh, in Mewar, they claim to have been driven from Khergarh,
under pressure of the Rathore rulers, and migrated to Gujarat
under a great leader called Sejakji. Making powerful alliances
with the rulers of Gujarat, Sejakji managed to establish a good
foothold over some territory in gujarat, and found his capital
at a place name Sejakpur. His descedents then migrated west,
shifting capitals frequently, and valiantly driving the Kathis
and small muslim rulers, and finally established their capital
in Sihor, from where they shifted to Bhavnagar, where the Royal
family still resides. One of the brothers had separated earlier
and established a small kingdom in Rajpipla, and the family still
maintains stay there. The whole of Bhavnagar district is full
of small villages and towns, given as Garas to the various descedents
of the Royal family of Bhavnagar. They were the first to merge
with the Indian union after independence. Their information is
as below: The Gohils, claiming descedency from the great Bappa Rawal of Mewar, are the only Sisodia clan to have held a sway in Gujarat over such a long period. They carved out a prosperous niche for themselves in the history of Gujarat by establishing their kingdom on the southwestern part of Saurashtra, on the shores of the Gulf of Cambay, in what is now Bhavnagar. They have produced some great heroes, and have heroically resisted muslim rule and subjugation from other rulers. The major kingdoms under Gohil rulers currently are Bhavnagar, Rajpipla, Palitana, Vallabhipur and Lathi. The the Royal family of Bhavnagar have been honored by the title of "Raol". Bhavnagar was a 13 gun salute state in the past. 4) Jadeja: A major, powerful
and wide spread clan of Chandravamsi Rajputs, have lived in and
influenced the history of Gujarat from ancient times. They are
descended from a prince Narpat, who according to legend, was
hidden in a "jada", by Hingalaj Mataji, when he and
his brothers were fleeing from the muslim invader Nabi Muhammad,
and hence were named Jadeja. He then established his kingdom
in Gazni, in Afghanistan, and his descedants later migrated to
Kutchh, in the north of Gujarat through Sindh and eastern Rajasthan.
They have held their hold over all of kutchh and spread to central
saurashtra and established kingdoms at Jamnagar, Rajkot, Gondal,
Morbi etc. The Jadeja Rajputs are currently most wide spread
over the land of Saurashtra and kutchh. Their information is
as follows: The Jadejas rulers, who have been conferred with different titles like Jam, Maharao etc, were a powerful and highly warlike clan of Chandra vamsi Rajputs. They have a very colorful history full of brave princes and soldiers who valliantly fought and martyred themselves for just causes. The Royal families of Jamnagar and Gondal have converted some of thier private properties to heritage hotels. The major towns and kingdoms of the jadejas are Kutchh, Jamnagar (Nawanagar), Rajkot, Gondal, Morbi, Dhrol etc. 5) Jethwas: The original
rulers of Porbandar, a port city in western Gujarat, the Jethwas
claim to be Surya Vamsi, and have a unique tale about their origin.
They claim to be descedents of Hanuman. According to legend,
it is believed that a prince, by the name of makardwaj, was born
from a crocodile who had swallowed a drop of sweat which had
fallen of the brow of Hanuman, when he leapt over the oceans
to search for Sita in lanka. It is said that Lord Rama himself
conferred Makardwaj with 7200 villages around what is now Porbandar,
where his descedents, the Jethwas have ruled since. Their information
is as follows: The Jethwas, have shifted their capitals from Morbi, srinagar, dhank, chaya and lastly to porbandar. Although little is known about their ancient history and orgin, they strongly claim to be direct descedents from lord hanuman. The Jethwas were the first Rajput clan to have come to Saurashtra, which was a thickly forested region in ancient times. Their major seat is confined to Porbandar, and surrounding areas now. Ironically, the last Jethwa maharaja, died issueless. 6) Jhalas: Their first ancestor, Kant, was supposedly brought forth from a sacrificial fire by the great Rishi Markand, and hence they were called Makhwanas, for a while in ancient times. Kant established his kingdom in Kuntalpur, in north india. They later shifted thier capital to a place called shikari, and later to kirtigarh. They were driven from there by muslim invaders, the ruler, Harpaldev, with a trusted band of followers, fled to Gujarat, where he lived in the service of the Vaghela ruler Karansinghji, in Anhilpur Patan. There he trained the Vaghela princes in the use of weapons and the art of horsemanship. There is a legend that Karansinghji once confided to Harpaldev, that his queen, Maharani fuldevi, was constantly harassed by a ghostly being called Babra bhut, and that he himself was powerless and couldnt help the queen. AT this Harpaldev volunteered to help, and managed to overpower the ghost, who became an ally to him later on. Then Karansinghji, offered him to ask for anything that he might desire within his power. AT this, Harpaldev requested that he be granted some villages to establish his own kingdom near patan. So, karansingji promised to give him all the villages that he could go to and mark, in a single night. With the help of babra bhut and his virteous wife, Shakti, Harpaldev managed to mark out 23000 villages, which were granted to him and he established his kingdom, with his capital at Patdi. His descedents have ruled in and around Patdi eversince. A few Jhala warriors even went to fight for a Ruler of Mewar, during one of his struggles against the Moghuls, and were given some small principalities in Rajasthan also. The information of the Jhalas of Gujarat is as follows: Vams: RishaVamsa According to legend, Harpaldevs wife Shakti, was a virteous lady with divine powers. Once while she sat at her jarookha and watched her son playing with his friend in the garden below, she witnessed a mad elephant break lose, and rush towards the little prince and his playmate, and she instantly elongated her hand from the high jarookha and lifted them off the ground out of the elephants way. Hence forth the descedents were called Jhalas. They have spread over all of the present district of Surendranagar, and established kingdoms at Patdi, Dhangadhra, Wadhwan, Wankaner, Limdi, Lakhtar, Chuda and Sayla. 7) Parmar: Courtesy : Jayvijay Singh Raol |
||
