Kachhwaha

The Kachhwaha or Kachawa is a Rajput clan found primarily in India.[1][2] Sometimes families within the clan ruled a number of kingdoms and princely states, such as Jaipur, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Alwar and Maihar.

The Pachranga flag of the former Jaipur state. Prior to the adoption of the Pachrang (5 coloured) flag by Raja Man Singh I of Amber after defeating 5 Afghan tribe's in the war, the original flag of the Kachwahas was known as the "Jharshahi (tree-marked) flag".
Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II (1688–1743) one of the Greatest Kachhwaha Ruler.
Chandramahal in City Palace, Jaipur, which was built by the Kachwaha Rajputs.

Etymology

According to Cynthia Talbot, the meaning of word Kachhwaha is tortoise.[3]

Origin

There are many theories on the origin of the Kachhwahas.

Suryavansh Origin

Suryavansh Dynasty or Ikshwaku Dynasty or Raghuvansh Dynasty : Kachwaha claim descent from Kusha, a son of the avatar of Vishnu, Rama, as expressed by them citing historical documents during the Supreme court of India proceedings on Ram Mandir at Ayodhya.[4] Ish Devji a Kachhwaha Raja of outstanding merit, with his capital at Gwalior, is recorded to have died in 967 A.D. Brahmin genealogists place him as being the three hundred & third generation after Ikshwaku. The Kachhwahas of Amber are descendants of Ish Devji. According to Rima Hooja, the Kachhwaha word became popular in the late 16th century during the reign of Raja Man Singh. There are many inscriptions and manuscripts which prove this theory, like the ones found in Balvan, Chatsu, Sanganer and Rewasa.[5]

Kurma Avtar Origin

Another view-point is that the Kachhawahas claim descent from Vishnu's turtle avatar.[6]

Kacchapaghat Origin

T.H. Hendley states in his Rulers of India and the Chiefs of Rajputana (1897), that the Kachwaha clan is believed to have settled in an early era at Rohtas (Rahatas) on the Son River in present-day Bihar. He notes that their notable seats of power were Kutwar, Gwalior, Dubkhund, Simhapaniya and Narwar (Nalapura) (all in present-day Madhya Pradesh). This second westward migration to Madhaya Pradesh is said to have been initiated under Raja Nala, the legendary founder of Narwar.

Historians state that the Kacchapaghatas, like the Chandellas and Paramaras, originated as tributaries of the preceding powers of the region. They point out that it was only following the downfall, during the 8th–10th centuries AD, of Kannauj (regional seat of power following the breakup of Harsha's empire), that the Kacchapaghata state emerged as a principal power in the Chambal valley of present-day Madhya Pradesh. This view is largely supported by archaeological artifacts: Kacchapaghata coinage (minted Gupta-fashion) discovered in Madhya Pradesh and Gopaksetra inscriptions.

According to Rudolf Hoernle (1905), the Kachhwahas are related to the Gurjara-Pratiharas. He identifies similarities between the names of the line of rulers of Kannauj (mid-10th century) with the recorded line of eight Kachwaha rulers of Gwalior (based on the Sas-Bahu inscription of Mahipal).

After Sumitra, Madhubramh, Kanh, Devanik and Isha Singh ruled Narwar. The Sas-Bahu inscription dates to 1093, and provides a genealogy of the ruling family up to Mahipal (who died sometime before 1104).

Kachhwahas are the descendants of Kachchhapaghatas of Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh.

History

Dulha Rai

Kachhwaha established their kingdoms in the Dhundhar region of modern Rajasthan in the 11th century. One Kachhwaha Dulha Rai conquered most of the dhundhar area from Bargujars Rajputs.[7][8]

Raja Kakil deo

After Dulherai, his son Kakil Deo defeated the Meenas of Amer and made Amer the capital of Dhundhar after Khoh.[9][10]

Raja Pajawan

Raja Pajawan helped Prithviraj Chauhan in his most of the campaigns and conquests. He was married to a cousin of Prithviraj Chauhan. He died before the battle of Tarain.[7]

Raja Prithviraj Singh I

Kachhwaha King Prithviraj Singh I fought along with Rana Sanga at battle of Khanwa.[7]

Raja Man Singh I

He was one of the most trusted noble of Akbar. He was the supreme commander of the Mughal forces. He built the Amer Fort. He built and saved so many Hindu temples from Islamic destruction.

Sawai Jai Singh II

He built the pink city of Jaipur and five astronomical observatives at Delhi, Jaipur, Benaras, Mathura and Ujjain. He also established Govind Dev Ji temple at Jaipur.

Princely States

The Jaipur royal family is considered to be the head house of Kachhwahas. At the time of India's independence in 1947 there were so many princely states, jagirs, thikanas and other estate ruled by various branches of Kachhwaha clan across entire India. Some princely states included :

  • Jaipur (Dhundhar), in present-day Rajasthan, founded in 966 by Raja Sodh Dev
  • Alwar, in present-day Rajasthan, founded in 1770 by Rao Raja Pratap Singh Naruka
  • Darkoti, in present-day Himachal Pradesh, founded in 1787 by Rana Balram
  • Maihar, in present-day Madhya Pradesh, founded in 1778 by Raja Beni Singh
  • Keonjhar, in present-day Orissa, founded in 1480 by Raja Govind Bhanj
  • Talcher, in present-day Orissa, founded in 1471 by Raja Narhari Singh

Notable people

Khoh Kingdom

Amer Kingdom

Jaipur State

Alwar State

Shekhawati Region

References

  1. Textbook of Indian History and Culture, By Sailendra Nath Sen p. 167
  2. The Rajput Palaces: The Development of an Architectural Style, 1450-1750 p. 88 – "the Kachwaha Rajputs ( who had previously ruled in Gwalior ) established themselves in an adjacent region , founding Dhundar as their capital in 967 AD ISBN 9780195647303."
  3. Talbot, Cynthia (2015). "Imagining the Rajput Past in Mughal–era Mewar". The Last Hindu Emperor: Prithviraj Cauhan and the Indian Past, 1200–2000 (illustrated ed.). Cambridge University Press. pp. 146–182. doi:10.1017/CBO9781316339893.006. ISBN 9781316339893. This is a reference to Pajjun's family name, Kachhwaha, which means tortoise
  4. "Citing historical documents, Jaipur royals claim to be descendants of Lord Rama". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 16 January 2021.
  5. History of Rajasthan by Rima Hooja Section:The Kachwahas of Dhoondhar p. 2 ISBN 9788129108906
  6. Kapur, Nandini Sinha (2007). "Minas Seeking a Place in History". In Bel, Bernard; Brouwer, Jan; Das, Biswajit; Parthasarathi, Vibodh; Poitevin, Guy (eds.). The Social and the Symbolic: Volume II. Sage. p. 139. ISBN 978-8132101178. The Kachhawahas claim origin from the Kurma (tortoise) avatar of Vishnu (Bhatnagar 1974: 1–4).
  7. Sarkar, Jadunath (1994). A History of Jaipur: C. 1503-1938. Orient Blackswan. pp. 20–33. ISBN 978-81-250-0333-5.
  8. Wink, André (2002). Al-hind: The Making of the Indo-islamic World. BRILL. p. 287. ISBN 978-90-04-09249-5.
  9. Jaigarh, the Invincible Fort of Amber. RBSA Publishers, 1990. 1990. p. 18. ISBN 9788185176482.
  10. Jaipur: Gem of India. IntegralDMS, 2016. 7 July 2016. p. 24. ISBN 9781942322054.

Further reading

  • Bayley C. (1894) Chiefs and Leading Families in Rajputana
  • Henige, David (2004). Princely states of India;A guide to chronology and rulers
  • Jyoti J. (2001) Royal Jaipur
  • Krishnadatta Kavi, Gopalnarayan Bahura(editor) (1983) Pratapa Prakasa, a contemporary account of life in the court at Jaipur in the late 18th century
  • Khangarot, R.S., and P.S. Nathawat (1990). Jaigarh- The invincible Fort of Amber
  • Topsfield, A. (1994). Indian paintings from Oxford collections
  • Tillotson, G. (2006). Jaipur Nama, Penguin books
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