Chanda Meena
Encyclopedia
In ancient times North of India was mainly ruled by clans of Chauhans. Chanda ( a clan of Zamindar Mina
) is one of the branch from Chauhans. Chandas were ruling Khoganw (Now part of Jaipur
) and were head of confederation of Meena
kingdoms then [1]. Khoganw was the last kingdom which was overtaken by Kachwaha
. Most of the Chanda history has been distorted by later rulers of the region.
However, according to the records maintained by Jagas of Rajasthan
for Chanda clan, reveals past history about Chanda clan and Kingdoms. As per Jagas, Chanda Meenas are Agnivanshis
and a sub clan of Chauhans.
The son of the king Prathvi Raj of Delhi was married to the daughter of the king Alan Singh Chanda [5]. This also reveals the link between Chandas and Chauhans.
Other interesting fact, Chauhan
claim to be descended from Dhundhar
and historically before Kachwahas it was ruled by dynasty of Chanda Meenas
(approximately till 10th c.).
NOTE: Jaga is a caste in Rajasthan, who hereditarily keeps the genealogical records of Meenas
.
-heartedly adopted a stranded Rajput mother and her child who sought refuge in his realm. Later, the Meena king sent the child, Dhola Rae, to Delhi to represent the Meena kingdom. The Rajput, in gratitude for these favours, returned with Rajput conspirers and massacred the weaponless Meenas
on Diwali while performing rituals i.e PitraTrapan , it is customary in the Meenas to be weaponless at the time of PitraTrapan , "filling the reservoirs in which the Meenas
bathed with their dead bodies" [Tod.II.281] and thus conquered Khoganw.This act of Kachwaha
Rajputs was termed as most coward and shameful in history
of Rajasthan.
He then subjugated the Sihra Gotra of Meenas at much later on known as Jamwa Ramgarh near Jaipur, and transferred his capital thence. Becoming the son-in-law of the prince of Ajmer, he died when battling 11,000 Meenas,most of whom he slew
[Tod.II.282]. His son Maidul Rae "made a conquest of Amber from the Soosawut Meenas" whose King was the head of the Meena
confederation. He subdued the Nandla Meenas, annexing the Gatoor-Gatti district [Tod.II.282]. Hoondeo succeeded to the throne and "continued the warfare against the Meenas" [Tod.II.282]. Koontal, his successor, fought the Meenas "in which the Meenas were defeated with great slaughter
, which secured his rule throughout Dhundhar
" [Tod.II.282]. The Meenas
were the original builders of Amber
, which town they consecrated to Amba, the Mother Goddess
, whom they knew as "Gatta Rani" or "Queen of the Pass" [Tod.II.282].
Zamindar Mina
The Zamindar Meenas belongs to Meenas and are a clan of the state of Rajasthan in northern India.They are traditionally connected with the farming profession. According to the book People of India by Kumar Suresh Singh, the Zamindar Meenas enjoys the highest status among all Meena groups. They...
) is one of the branch from Chauhans. Chandas were ruling Khoganw (Now part of Jaipur
Jaipur
Jaipur , also popularly known as the Pink City, is the capital and largest city of the Indian state of Rajasthan. Founded on 18 November 1727 by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II, the ruler of Amber, the city today has a population of more than 3.1 million....
) and were head of confederation of Meena
Meenas
Meenas, Meena, Meenoat or Mina is a caste and community mainly found in Rajasthan, India. The name Mina is derived from Meen,meaning 'fish' in Sanskrit, and the Minas claim descent from the Matsya Avatar, or fish incarnation, of Vishnu.Meenas celebrate Meenesh Jayanti in the name of Vishnu on 3...
kingdoms then [1]. Khoganw was the last kingdom which was overtaken by Kachwaha
Kachwaha
Kachwaha are a Suryavanshi Kshatriya clan who ruled a number of kingdoms and princely states in India such as Alwar, Maihar, Talcher, while the largest kingdom was Jaipur which was founded by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II in 1727...
. Most of the Chanda history has been distorted by later rulers of the region.
However, according to the records maintained by Jagas of Rajasthan
Jagas of Rajasthan
Jaga is a caste in Rajasthan, who hereditarily keeps the genealogical records of warrior communities like Meenas, Rajputs, Yaduvanshi Ahirs, and Gurjars, Jats -References:...
for Chanda clan, reveals past history about Chanda clan and Kingdoms. As per Jagas, Chanda Meenas are Agnivanshis
Agnivansha
In Indian mythology and culture, the Agnivanshi are people descended from Agni, the Vedic god of fire. The Agnivanshi lineage or Agnivansha is one of the three lineages into which the Kshatriya caste of Hindus is divided, the other two races being the Suryavanshi and the Chandravanshi .-The...
and a sub clan of Chauhans.
The son of the king Prathvi Raj of Delhi was married to the daughter of the king Alan Singh Chanda [5]. This also reveals the link between Chandas and Chauhans.
Other interesting fact, Chauhan
Chauhan
Chauhan, Chouhan or Chohan , , - is a clan who ruled parts of northern India in the Middle Ages. The clan is most famous for Rajput King Maharaja Prithviraj Chauhan...
claim to be descended from Dhundhar
Dhundhar
Dhundhar is a historical region of Rajasthan state in western India. It includes the districts of Jaipur, Dausa, Sawai Madhopur, and Tonk and the northern part of Karauli District...
and historically before Kachwahas it was ruled by dynasty of Chanda Meenas
Meenas
Meenas, Meena, Meenoat or Mina is a caste and community mainly found in Rajasthan, India. The name Mina is derived from Meen,meaning 'fish' in Sanskrit, and the Minas claim descent from the Matsya Avatar, or fish incarnation, of Vishnu.Meenas celebrate Meenesh Jayanti in the name of Vishnu on 3...
(approximately till 10th c.).
NOTE: Jaga is a caste in Rajasthan, who hereditarily keeps the genealogical records of Meenas
Meenas
Meenas, Meena, Meenoat or Mina is a caste and community mainly found in Rajasthan, India. The name Mina is derived from Meen,meaning 'fish' in Sanskrit, and the Minas claim descent from the Matsya Avatar, or fish incarnation, of Vishnu.Meenas celebrate Meenesh Jayanti in the name of Vishnu on 3...
.
Alan Singh Chanda
According to Tod the Meena King Raja Ralun singh also known as Alan Singh Chanda of Khoganw [2, 3, 4] kindKind
Kind can mean:* Kind , the type of types in a type system* Natural kind, in philosophy a grouping of things which is a natural grouping, not an artificial one.* KIND is the ICAO designation for Indianapolis International Airport...
-heartedly adopted a stranded Rajput mother and her child who sought refuge in his realm. Later, the Meena king sent the child, Dhola Rae, to Delhi to represent the Meena kingdom. The Rajput, in gratitude for these favours, returned with Rajput conspirers and massacred the weaponless Meenas
Meenas
Meenas, Meena, Meenoat or Mina is a caste and community mainly found in Rajasthan, India. The name Mina is derived from Meen,meaning 'fish' in Sanskrit, and the Minas claim descent from the Matsya Avatar, or fish incarnation, of Vishnu.Meenas celebrate Meenesh Jayanti in the name of Vishnu on 3...
on Diwali while performing rituals i.e PitraTrapan , it is customary in the Meenas to be weaponless at the time of PitraTrapan , "filling the reservoirs in which the Meenas
Meenas
Meenas, Meena, Meenoat or Mina is a caste and community mainly found in Rajasthan, India. The name Mina is derived from Meen,meaning 'fish' in Sanskrit, and the Minas claim descent from the Matsya Avatar, or fish incarnation, of Vishnu.Meenas celebrate Meenesh Jayanti in the name of Vishnu on 3...
bathed with their dead bodies" [Tod.II.281] and thus conquered Khoganw.This act of Kachwaha
Kachwaha
Kachwaha are a Suryavanshi Kshatriya clan who ruled a number of kingdoms and princely states in India such as Alwar, Maihar, Talcher, while the largest kingdom was Jaipur which was founded by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II in 1727...
Rajputs was termed as most coward and shameful in history
History
History is the discovery, collection, organization, and presentation of information about past events. History can also mean the period of time after writing was invented. Scholars who write about history are called historians...
of Rajasthan.
He then subjugated the Sihra Gotra of Meenas at much later on known as Jamwa Ramgarh near Jaipur, and transferred his capital thence. Becoming the son-in-law of the prince of Ajmer, he died when battling 11,000 Meenas,most of whom he slew
Slew
*In electronics, the slew rate represents the maximum rate of change of a signal at any point in a circuit*In motion control, particularly with application to telescopes and spacecraft, slewing is the rotation of an object about an axis...
[Tod.II.282]. His son Maidul Rae "made a conquest of Amber from the Soosawut Meenas" whose King was the head of the Meena
Meena
Meena Durairaj, mononymously known as Meena, born in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India, is a South Indian film and television actress. Meena debuted as a child artist in Telugu and Tamil films and has later starred in films produced by various regional industries. She is one of the most established...
confederation. He subdued the Nandla Meenas, annexing the Gatoor-Gatti district [Tod.II.282]. Hoondeo succeeded to the throne and "continued the warfare against the Meenas" [Tod.II.282]. Koontal, his successor, fought the Meenas "in which the Meenas were defeated with great slaughter
Mass murder
Mass murder is the act of murdering a large number of people , typically at the same time or over a relatively short period of time. According to the FBI, mass murder is defined as four or more murders occurring during a particular event with no cooling-off period between the murders...
, which secured his rule throughout Dhundhar
Dhundhar
Dhundhar is a historical region of Rajasthan state in western India. It includes the districts of Jaipur, Dausa, Sawai Madhopur, and Tonk and the northern part of Karauli District...
" [Tod.II.282]. The Meenas
Meenas
Meenas, Meena, Meenoat or Mina is a caste and community mainly found in Rajasthan, India. The name Mina is derived from Meen,meaning 'fish' in Sanskrit, and the Minas claim descent from the Matsya Avatar, or fish incarnation, of Vishnu.Meenas celebrate Meenesh Jayanti in the name of Vishnu on 3...
were the original builders of Amber
Amber
Amber is fossilized tree resin , which has been appreciated for its color and natural beauty since Neolithic times. Amber is used as an ingredient in perfumes, as a healing agent in folk medicine, and as jewelry. There are five classes of amber, defined on the basis of their chemical constituents...
, which town they consecrated to Amba, the Mother Goddess
Goddess
A goddess is a female deity. In some cultures goddesses are associated with Earth, motherhood, love, and the household. In other cultures, goddesses also rule over war, death, and destruction as well as healing....
, whom they knew as "Gatta Rani" or "Queen of the Pass" [Tod.II.282].