| History of Rajasthan |
RAJASTHAN - THE BEAUTY OF INDIAN LAND |
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Padharo" the word rings out from the desert and palaces of Rajasthan. It means 'welcome', welcome to a land famous for its chivalry and its etiquette and even more so for its hospitality. It was a land that always welcome the guest and they treated enemies as a guest. But despite wars and the constant fear of attacks from neighbouring states, the Rajas left their mark on the landscape of the desert.
The north-western region of India , which incorporates Rajasthan, remained in early history for the most part independent from the great empires consolidating their hold
onthe subcontinent. Buddhism failed to make substantial inroads here; the Mauryan |
Empire whose most renowned emperor Ashoka converted to Buddhism in, had minimal impact in Rajasthan. |
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| Foundation of Rajasthan |
Rajasthan was inhabited long before 2500 BC and the Indus Valley Civilisation had its foundation here in north Rajasthan itself. At the time of independence in 1947, all the states merged into the republic of India and a modern, self-governing nation was born. Fortunately, the lifestyle they represented, embedded over centuries, and has remained untouched. Signs of the great dynasties that once ruled over independent states continue to live amiably, though they are now industrialists, professionals, even hoteliers. The premium positions they occupied by birth are now attained by merit, but for those who have managed to convert their ancestral homes into hotels.
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From the times of Harsha to the founding of the Delhi Sultanate, Rajasthan was disjointed in competing kingdoms. Perhaps it was during this era by their influence through wealth and power the Rajputs persuaded the Brahmins to link them with the sun, the moon and the fire god. Acording to the time they were divided into 36 royal clan. Under the colourful and lively Rajputs it finally settled for a long time in power under the colourful and lively Rajputs. and it's a surprise that they lasted as long as they did. |
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| The Origin of Rajputs |
The Sanskrit word Rajput or Raja Putra (prince) literally means son of Raja or the ruler. In ancient times they became dominant in the N.W. of India, from which their branches extended southwards.It is said that Lord Brahma created the Kshatriyas from his arms.In Hindu caste system Kshatriya was at the highest caste as the ancient Hindu Indo-aryans believed in a patriarchal system of the king or dominant warrior at the apex of the social framework.
There are theories about the origin of Rajputs. The most olden theory is that they are offspring of sun, Moon and fire The reference to solar and lunar dynasties is not observable in the earliest Indian literature. Whatever their lineage, the Rajputs certainly were the living image of the knightly noble; handsome, brave – almost foolhardily so – and living within an elaborate code of honour and chivalry. Yet today the spirit of famous Rajput warrior-kings, continue to echo in the golden sands of Rajputana in the people’s folklore, music and dance.
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In came the Mughals who gained control of the region through the clever strategy of Akbar, the Mughal Emperor. He performed matrimonial alliances with the Rajputs where faced military failure and thus turned them from fearsome foes to faithful friends. Akbar gave high offices to many Rajput princes after seeking reconciliation through marriage to a Rajput princess, Jodha Bai, the daughter of the Maharaja of Amber. However, the spunk of the Rajput soul was never really captured, till the spread of the British colonial power. |
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