Rawat Rajputs
Encyclopedia
Rawat Rajputs are a group of people who reside in Ajmer
, Ballabgarh, Faridabad
, Palwal
Rajsamand
, Bhilwara
, Chittorgarh
and Pali
districts of Rajasthan
, the area known as Magra-Merwara and the Kumaon division
and Garhwal Division
s of Uttarakhand
, India
.
The Rawat Rajputs of Magra (Rajasthan) claim their descent from warriors of the Chauhan
dynasty.{www.webmagra.org} The Rawat Gotra is also found in Meenas and bhils in Rajasthan which is not to be confused with the Rawat Rajputs as the Rawat Rajputs have distinct Rajput surnames as chauhan
, Panwar, bhati
etc. Rawat Rajputs of Magra Merwara traditionally marry only among other Rawat Rajputs of the same region.
Rawat Rajputs are believed to be descendants of Chauhans. Some historians believe that Rawat Rajputs are direct descendants of Prithviraj III
's brother Hariraj, who escaped to hilly and dense forest areas after the fall of the Chauhan empire in 1191. Some based on accounts of the records kept by the local bard like tribe called the Bhats are of the opinion that Rawat Rajputs of Ajmer, Rajsamand and Pali districts are the descendants of the Rao Lakhansi of the Nadole Branch of the Chauhans. The term 'Rawat' came to be associated with these Rajputs as some of their ancestors were awarded the title of Rawat by the Ranas of Udaipur for showing extra ordinary bravery in battle. Their descendants then started using the title with their names. The areas in Ajmer that these Rajputs resided were hilly and forest areas. After 22 generations from Hariraj Chauhan these Chauhan Rajputs had established a few separate sub-clans among themselves such as Saidot, Ghodawat, Aapawat etc, with two major branches, one represented by Rao
Karansi and the other represented by Rawat Bhim singh. Due to socio-political and geo-political circumstances at this point of time, in a meeting it was decided to allow marital alliances among these sub-clans of the Chauhan Rawat Rajputs against the widely accepted norm of the rajputs of not marrying within the same major clan or Kul, "Chauhan" in this case. The first marriage of this kind was between the daughter of Rao Karan singh Chauhan (the establisher of clan of the Rawats) and the son of Rawat Bhim singh. Gradually with more frequent marital alliances within the subclans of the Rawats, a new race called Rawat-Rajputs emerged. With time some subclans of the Rathore, Panwar, Bhati, Gahlot, Sisodiya, also became part of the community of Rawat Rajputs. The Rawats of Ajmer
held 10 thikanas from Narwar to Diver, with the seat of Diver to be in the Udaipur darbaar. The major thikanas were Narvar, Shyamgarh, Diver, Athungarh(Kunwar Digvijay Singh Chauhan) etc and some minor Thikanas like Borwa, Sendra etc.
"Saaro Pehle Bhishan gaaviye, Sau Cheeta ko mool, Kaad Kataaro Vaakdo woh dhariyo Nadole"
"Valiant Bhishan sings first the chivalrous tales of cheetas, and attacks Nadole with his kataar"
Mr.Jacment, a french historian and political agent who came to india in 1832, wrote in his book letters from india about the bravery of this race "No other Rajput Chief, Nor any Mughal emperor could ever subdue them, Merwara always remained independent"
district of Uttarakhand
, Uttar Pradesh
, Haryana
and some villages are also found in the Shivpuri
and Datia
districts of Madhya Pradesh
. Some if not all of the Rawat Rajputs are believed to have migrated from the Indian plains during the Middle Ages. They still retain the name of their areas of origin: for instance, the 'Udaipur Patti' in Garhwal
is a group of villages inhabited by people believed to have migrated from Udaipur
in present-day Rajasthan
.
Bhati- (Taragarh.)
Bahroth (Kachbali, Peepli Nagar,Baggar,Lakhaguda,Sangawas,Thikarwas, Mandawar/changeri fatehnagar)
Devawat-(Khodmal, Kot, Kirana, Belpana,Karla, Kanuja, Kalaliya, Bagri, Kalab, etc.)
Dhamawat-(Theekana Dingor/MarwarJn/Pali/Rajasthan, Bhawina Kheda, Narbad Kheda,Chittor,Sendra)
Dehlawat-Panwar (Rawatmal, Lassani, Surajpura, Jawaja.)
Dharawat-(bhim, bagar, chittor/bhagri,deogarh,dhak ka chora,lalpura)
Ghodawat-(Theekana-Kabra, Kotra, ThunikaThank, Naika kala, etc.)
Hirawat-(Theekana-Barar.)
Juthawat (Theekana-Balad, Beawer, Rajiyawas)
Khokhawat-(Theekana-Chhapli, Khima-khera, Kala-guman, Chat-ka-Guda, Kamli-ghat, Phulad,Pachanpura,Kalaliya)
Karnawat (Theekana-Kalinjar, Rajiyawas, Sarvina, etc.)
Malawat (Theekana-Todgarh and neer)
Motees/Panwar-(Theekanas - Baghmal, Barakhan, Negdia,
Barakhera, Bamanhera, Banjari, Palri.)
Surawat-(Theekana-Kukra,Bhim,Ajitgarh, Roopnagar-Arnali, Balli-Jassakhera, Togi,Mandla.)
Varwat or Varaat-(Thikana-Diver,Bhim,Nandawat)
Gajawat-Mehrawat(Thikana-Shyamgarh,Thikana-Athungarh,Kanakheda,kundiya)
Jodhawat-Mehrawat(Thikana-Borwa)
Lakhawat (Barad) - Thikana -katai Mahadev,Badi Sadri
Ajmer
Ajmer , formerly written as Ajmere, is a city in Ajmer District in Rajasthan state in India. Ajmer has a population of around 800,000 , and is located west of the Rajasthan state capital Jaipur, 200 km from Jodhpur, 274 km from Udaipur, 439 km from Jaisalmer, and 391 km from...
, Ballabgarh, Faridabad
Faridabad
Faridabad is a city in the south-east of Haryana state in northern India, in Faridabad district. It lies at 28º 25' 16" N Latitude and 77º 18' 28" E Longitude. The district shares its boundaries with the National Capital and Union Territory of Delhi to its north, Gurgaon district to the west and...
, Palwal
Palwal
Palwal is a city and a municipal council. It is the headquarters of Palwal district, the 21st district of Haryana state in northern IndiaIt is situated at a distance of 60 km from Delhi on the Delhi-Mathura highway. The latitude of the town is 28° 40' N and longitude is 76° 59' E...
Rajsamand
Rajsamand
Rajsamand is a town of Rajasthan state of western India. The city is named for Rajsamand Lake, an artificial lake created in the 17th century by Rana Raj Singh of Mewar. It is the administrative headquarters of Rajsamand District.-Geography:...
, Bhilwara
Bhilwara
Bhilwara is the city in Mewar region of Rajasthan, India. The Cloth & Industrial city has its own uniqueness which makes it as a special district in Rajasthan.Bhilwara "The City of Cloth Culture & Calmness"- History :...
, Chittorgarh
Chittorgarh
Chittorgarh is a city and a municipality in Rajasthan state of western India. It lies on the Berach River, a tributary of the Banas, and is the administrative headquarters of Chittorgharh District and a former capital of the Sisodia clans of Rajputs of Mewar...
and Pali
Páli
- External links :* *...
districts of Rajasthan
Rajasthan
Rājasthān the land of Rajasthanis, , is the largest state of the Republic of India by area. It is located in the northwest of India. It encompasses most of the area of the large, inhospitable Great Indian Desert , which has an edge paralleling the Sutlej-Indus river valley along its border with...
, the area known as Magra-Merwara and the Kumaon division
Kumaon Division
For Kumaoni/Kumauni People see Kumauni PeopleKumaon or Kumaun is one of the two regions and administrative divisions of Uttarakhand, a mountainous state of northern India, the other being Garhwal. It includes the districts of Almora, Bageshwar, Champawat, Nainital, Pithoragarh, and Udham Singh Nagar...
and Garhwal Division
Garhwal Division
Garhwal is the north-western region and administrative division of the northern Indian state of Uttarakhand which is home to the Garhwali people. Lying in the Himalayas, It is bounded on the north by Tibet, on the east by Kumaon region, on the south by Uttar Pradesh state, and on the north-west by...
s of Uttarakhand
Uttarakhand
Uttarakhand , formerly Uttaranchal, is a state in the northern part of India. It is often referred to as the Land of Gods due to the many holy Hindu temples and cities found throughout the state, some of which are among Hinduism's most spiritual and auspicious places of pilgrimage and worship...
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
.
The Rawat Rajputs of Magra (Rajasthan) claim their descent from warriors of the 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...
dynasty.{www.webmagra.org} The Rawat Gotra is also found in Meenas and bhils in Rajasthan which is not to be confused with the Rawat Rajputs as the Rawat Rajputs have distinct Rajput surnames as 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...
, Panwar, bhati
Bhati
Bhati is one of the largest tribes of the Gujjars& Rajput. They claim descent from Krishna as an avatar of Vishnu, and thus identify themselves as a Chandravanshi Kshatriya clan. The Bhati trace their history to the desert principality of Jaisalmer in Rajasthan, in the border villages of Bikaner...
etc. Rawat Rajputs of Magra Merwara traditionally marry only among other Rawat Rajputs of the same region.
History
The word Rajput is claimed to be a corruption of Rajputra.Rawat Rajputs are believed to be descendants of Chauhans. Some historians believe that Rawat Rajputs are direct descendants of Prithviraj III
Prithviraj III
Prithvi Raj III, commonly known as Prithviraj Chauhan , was a king of the Hindu Chauhan dynasty, who ruled the kingdom of Ajmer and Delhi in northern India during the latter half of the 12th century....
's brother Hariraj, who escaped to hilly and dense forest areas after the fall of the Chauhan empire in 1191. Some based on accounts of the records kept by the local bard like tribe called the Bhats are of the opinion that Rawat Rajputs of Ajmer, Rajsamand and Pali districts are the descendants of the Rao Lakhansi of the Nadole Branch of the Chauhans. The term 'Rawat' came to be associated with these Rajputs as some of their ancestors were awarded the title of Rawat by the Ranas of Udaipur for showing extra ordinary bravery in battle. Their descendants then started using the title with their names. The areas in Ajmer that these Rajputs resided were hilly and forest areas. After 22 generations from Hariraj Chauhan these Chauhan Rajputs had established a few separate sub-clans among themselves such as Saidot, Ghodawat, Aapawat etc, with two major branches, one represented by Rao
Rao (surname)
Rao/राव/رااہ is an Indian princely title cognate with Raja. It's also a royal surname across India, Pakistan, China, Taiwan, Italy and Brazil...
Karansi and the other represented by Rawat Bhim singh. Due to socio-political and geo-political circumstances at this point of time, in a meeting it was decided to allow marital alliances among these sub-clans of the Chauhan Rawat Rajputs against the widely accepted norm of the rajputs of not marrying within the same major clan or Kul, "Chauhan" in this case. The first marriage of this kind was between the daughter of Rao Karan singh Chauhan (the establisher of clan of the Rawats) and the son of Rawat Bhim singh. Gradually with more frequent marital alliances within the subclans of the Rawats, a new race called Rawat-Rajputs emerged. With time some subclans of the Rathore, Panwar, Bhati, Gahlot, Sisodiya, also became part of the community of Rawat Rajputs. The Rawats of Ajmer
Ajmer
Ajmer , formerly written as Ajmere, is a city in Ajmer District in Rajasthan state in India. Ajmer has a population of around 800,000 , and is located west of the Rajasthan state capital Jaipur, 200 km from Jodhpur, 274 km from Udaipur, 439 km from Jaisalmer, and 391 km from...
held 10 thikanas from Narwar to Diver, with the seat of Diver to be in the Udaipur darbaar. The major thikanas were Narvar, Shyamgarh, Diver, Athungarh(Kunwar Digvijay Singh Chauhan) etc and some minor Thikanas like Borwa, Sendra etc.
Merwara, Rajasthan
In the 13th generation of Chauhan clan was born a king Named Vakpatiraj, ruler of Sambhar.He had three sons named singhraj, Vatsaraj and laxman. After the kings death the kingdom was divided among the three brothers and the smallest share was given to the youngest prince Laxman.Being a valiant Rajput he considered it to be against his dignity and left Sambhar and became a minister in the court of Raja Samant Singh Chawda, the ruler of nadole.After the death of samant singh , Rao Laxman being a valiant warrior, managed to establish his own kingdom in Nadole and gradually became the sole lord of Nadole.Rao Laxman had six sons 1) Anhal Rao 2) Anoop Rao 3)Aasal 4) Shobhitraj 5) Vigrahpal 6) Ajeetsingh. Rao Anhal and rao Anoop in the year 998 A.D., set on a military expedition and defeated the Chandel gurjars ruling in Chaang and Cheta villages near the present Rajsamand district and established their kingdom in the Merwara region.Later the two brothers divided the kingdom and the area from present Narvar village to Togi village was given to Rao Anhal9his descendents later came to be known as Cheeta Rawats) and the region from Togi to Diver village was given to Rao Anoop(his descendents later came to be known as Barad Rawats).Meanwhile after the death of King Laxman younger prince Rao Shobhit conspired and ascerted the Throne of Nadole while the elder brothers were busy establishing their kingdom in Merwara.As a result enemity was seeded between Nadol Chauhans and Chauhans of Magra.In the 6th generation of Rao Anhal, BhishanRao was born who was as valiant as his ancestor.He famously attacked Nadole for its throne.The local bards still recite a saying related to him which is as follows-"Saaro Pehle Bhishan gaaviye, Sau Cheeta ko mool, Kaad Kataaro Vaakdo woh dhariyo Nadole"
"Valiant Bhishan sings first the chivalrous tales of cheetas, and attacks Nadole with his kataar"
Mr.Jacment, a french historian and political agent who came to india in 1832, wrote in his book letters from india about the bravery of this race "No other Rajput Chief, Nor any Mughal emperor could ever subdue them, Merwara always remained independent"
Distribution
Villages of Rawat Rajputs are also found in the Tehri Garhwal and Pauri GarhwalPauri Garhwal
Pauri Garhwal is a district in Uttarakhand state of India. Its headquarters is at Pauri. Pauri Garhwal district is ringed by Haridwar, Dehradun, Tehri Garhwal, Rudraprayag, Chamoli, Almora and Nainital districts from three sides. The southern boundary of Pauri Garhwal district touches with the...
district of Uttarakhand
Uttarakhand
Uttarakhand , formerly Uttaranchal, is a state in the northern part of India. It is often referred to as the Land of Gods due to the many holy Hindu temples and cities found throughout the state, some of which are among Hinduism's most spiritual and auspicious places of pilgrimage and worship...
, Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh abbreviation U.P. , is a state located in the northern part of India. With a population of over 200 million people, it is India's most populous state, as well as the world's most populous sub-national entity...
, Haryana
Haryana
Haryana is a state in India. Historically, it has been a part of the Kuru region in North India. The name Haryana is found mentioned in the 12th century AD by the apabhramsha writer Vibudh Shridhar . It is bordered by Punjab and Himachal Pradesh to the north, and by Rajasthan to the west and south...
and some villages are also found in the Shivpuri
Shivpuri
Shivpuri is a city and a municipality in Shivpuri district in the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh. It is in the Gwalior Division of northwest Madhya Pradesh and is the administrative headquarters of Shivpuri District. It is situated at an altitude of above sea level.-History:Shivpuri is an ancient...
and Datia
Datia
Datia is a small rural town and a municipality in Datia district in the state of Madhya Pradesh, India. It is the administrative center of Datia District. It was formerly the seat of the eponymous princely state in the British Raj. Datia is situated near Gwalior and on the border with Uttar...
districts of Madhya Pradesh
Madhya Pradesh
Madhya Pradesh , often called the Heart of India, is a state in central India. Its capital is Bhopal and Indore is the largest city....
. Some if not all of the Rawat Rajputs are believed to have migrated from the Indian plains during the Middle Ages. They still retain the name of their areas of origin: for instance, the 'Udaipur Patti' in Garhwal
Garhwal Division
Garhwal is the north-western region and administrative division of the northern Indian state of Uttarakhand which is home to the Garhwali people. Lying in the Himalayas, It is bounded on the north by Tibet, on the east by Kumaon region, on the south by Uttar Pradesh state, and on the north-west by...
is a group of villages inhabited by people believed to have migrated from Udaipur
Udaipur
Udaipur , also known as the City of Lakes, is a city, a Municipal Council and the administrative headquarters of the Udaipur district in the state of Rajasthan in western India. It is located southwest of the state capital, Jaipur, west of Kota, and northeast from Ahmedabad...
in present-day Rajasthan
Rajasthan
Rājasthān the land of Rajasthanis, , is the largest state of the Republic of India by area. It is located in the northwest of India. It encompasses most of the area of the large, inhospitable Great Indian Desert , which has an edge paralleling the Sutlej-Indus river valley along its border with...
.
Subdivisions
Aapawat-(Theekana- Media,Negdia, Barakhan, Bujarel, Batiyaret, Bhagwanpura, Assan, Dapali, Barakheda, Paldi, Banjari.)Bhati- (Taragarh.)
Bahroth (Kachbali, Peepli Nagar,Baggar,Lakhaguda,Sangawas,Thikarwas, Mandawar/changeri fatehnagar)
Devawat-(Khodmal, Kot, Kirana, Belpana,Karla, Kanuja, Kalaliya, Bagri, Kalab, etc.)
Dhamawat-(Theekana Dingor/MarwarJn/Pali/Rajasthan, Bhawina Kheda, Narbad Kheda,Chittor,Sendra)
Dehlawat-Panwar (Rawatmal, Lassani, Surajpura, Jawaja.)
Dharawat-(bhim, bagar, chittor/bhagri,deogarh,dhak ka chora,lalpura)
Ghodawat-(Theekana-Kabra, Kotra, ThunikaThank, Naika kala, etc.)
Hirawat-(Theekana-Barar.)
Juthawat (Theekana-Balad, Beawer, Rajiyawas)
Khokhawat-(Theekana-Chhapli, Khima-khera, Kala-guman, Chat-ka-Guda, Kamli-ghat, Phulad,Pachanpura,Kalaliya)
Karnawat (Theekana-Kalinjar, Rajiyawas, Sarvina, etc.)
Malawat (Theekana-Todgarh and neer)
Motees/Panwar-(Theekanas - Baghmal, Barakhan, Negdia,
Barakhera, Bamanhera, Banjari, Palri.)
Surawat-(Theekana-Kukra,Bhim,Ajitgarh, Roopnagar-Arnali, Balli-Jassakhera, Togi,Mandla.)
Varwat or Varaat-(Thikana-Diver,Bhim,Nandawat)
Gajawat-Mehrawat(Thikana-Shyamgarh,Thikana-Athungarh,Kanakheda,kundiya)
Jodhawat-Mehrawat(Thikana-Borwa)
Lakhawat (Barad) - Thikana -katai Mahadev,Badi Sadri
Notables
- Master Vazir Singh Anakar, Beawar, Ex Member Advisory Council, Ajmer-Merwara State, MLA Ajmer constituency 1947-1956, King of a princely state Anaker(Athungrah)
- Hari Singh Rawat, MLA, Bhim Constituency, Rajsamand
- Hans Ram Singh RawatHans Ji MaharajHans Ram Singh Rawat, known as Shri Hans Ji Maharaj was born in Gadh-ki-Sedhia, north-east of Haridwar, Uttarakhand, India. His parents were Ranjit Singh Rawat and Kalindi Devi...
, satguruSatguruSatguru does not merely mean true guru. The term is distinguished from other forms of gurus, such as musical instructors, scriptural teachers, parents, and so on... - Nain Singh Rawat (KumaoniKumauni peopleKumauni or Kumaoni are people from Kumaon region of Uttarakhand, India.They include all those who speak the Kumaoni language or any of its numerous dialects, living in the Almora, Bageshwar, Champawat, Pithoragarh, Nainital,Bijnor,Udham Singh Nagar,Moradabad, districts of Uttarakhand,...
Rajput) - Bhakt DarshanBhakt DarshanBhakt Darshan served Garhwal as Member of Parliament in the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Lok Sabha as well as a Deputy Minister and Minister of State in Lal Bahadur Shastri's and Indira Gandhi's governments.-Early life:...
- Rasa Singh RawatRasa Singh RawatRasa Singh Rawat is a member of the 14th Lok Sabha of India. He represents the Ajmer constituency of Rajasthan and is a member of the Bharatiya Janata Party political party.-External links:*...
,Ex MP Ajmer - Laxman Singh Rawat (ex-home(state)minster of Rajasthan&MLA Bhim)
- Gopal SinghGopal SinghGopal Singh is a former Speaker of Rajasthan Legislative Assembly. He served as speaker in Janata Party rule from 25 September 1979 to 7 July 1980. Gopal Singh belongs to Rajput esrwhile Thakur family of Bhadrajun thikana. He currently looks after affairs of family heritage hotel He was MLA from...
Advocate in session court Udaipur & Rajsamand,secretary PCC(legal dept.)'delegate IYC - Bachi Singh RawatBachi Singh RawatBachi Singh Rawat was a member of the 14th Lok Sabha of India and a 4 time MP. He represented the Almora constituency of Uttarakhand and is a member of the Bharatiya Janata Party political party....
, Ex Cabinet Minister (Kumaoni Rajput) - Pradeep RawatPradeep RawatPradeep Singh Rawat is an Indian actor. He is a Rajput and notable for playing villainous roles in Telugu, Hindi, Malayalam and Tamil films.Rawat's first appearance was in Mahabharat as 'Ashwathama', Dronacharya's son...
, actor - Navi RawatNavi RawatNavi Rawat is an American television actress, known for her roles as Theresa Diaz on the drama series The O.C. and math prodigy Amita Ramanujan on the drama series Numb3rs. She is the niece of Prem Rawat....
, actress