Warriors of Gujarat

[Simple_Guy]

Gujarat was part of Maurya Empire, Gupta Empire, and Pratihara Empire. Rulers of Gujarat have defeated Muslim invaders but in later period nothing much is known of warrior of Gujarat.

In the Pratihara empire, Gujarat was populated by Rajput clans included in the Chattis Rajkul (36 Royal Races) like Chavda, Solanki, Vaghela.

Mulraja Solanki defeated Graharipu a mlechcha who was oppressing Brahmans, and then worshiped at Somanth temple.

Solanki Rajputs defeated Muhammad Ghori in 1178. Bhimdev Solanki II's mother, Naikidevi, who controlled the army due to her son's young age, inflicted a huge defeat on Ghori in Kayadra, a village near Mount Abu. After the thrashing, Ghori never returned to Gujarat.

Vir Hamirji Gohil, the Rajput chieftan of Lathi, took on the massive army of Sultan Mahmud Begada, who attacked Somnath in the 15th century. Hamirji had said, 'Bhale koi aave na aave maari saathe, pan hoon jais Somnath ni sakhate' (Whether anyone comes or not comes with me, but I will go to protect Somnath).

Another hero Jayasinh Chauhan of Champaner resisted Sultan Begada hard in 1484, for 20 months. After he was tortured and killed the surviving Chauhans made new kingdoms Chhota Udaipur and Baria.

Rao Ranamalla of Idar defeated Sultan Muzaffar in 1460. Inscription of says, "Ranamalla who had been a vassal of Gujarat brought to an end the pride of the Saka (meaning foreign) ruler."

source: Google Books, Wikipedia, blogs, newspapers

 

[Simple_Guy]

Military History of Gujarat in modern period

It says after fall of Mughal empire Gujarat was covered with 272 principalities, under Rajputs, Kathis, Kolis, Muslims, Marathas. There were many mercenaries like Mers and Girasias, and foreigners like Arabs, Rohillas, employed by these chieftains.

Because of all the fighting and political weakness, merchants became more influential in Gujarat in 19th century. With British rule peace came to Gujarat and it was made part of Bombay Presidency.

the 1879 A.D. Commission localize Bombay recruiting. They allotted to the Bombay Army the whole area of the Presidency itself, Rajputana, Central India,
Sind and the Central Provinces and recommended that its recruitment should henceforth be entirely confined to these limits.

The Mahabaleshwar Committee of 1893 A.D. studied the constitution of the Bombay Army. Its recommendations became the basis of the reorganisation of the Bombay Army from 1893 A.D. onwards. This Committee found that the Bombay Native Army, though well trained and disciplined, was largely composed of indifferent material. Marathas were 30 to 40 percent in most of the infantry regiments and thus predominated. Purwarees, Mangs and Ramusis were also largely represented. All these were low-caste men, and formed on an average 10 or 11 percent of each battalion, while other low-class men amounted to five or six percent. There were about nine percent Deccani Muslims who came from Hyderabad territory. Jews and Christians were about three percent. Added to these were three or four percent of men from Central India and about half of them were from Rajputana, amounting to about six and a half percent.

Therefore Gujarat ceased to be a recruitment of warriors. But some militaries of princely states in Gujarat joined Indian Army after 1947.

 

[Bhadra]

Marxist historian are only interested in Hindus eating beef or how Ashoka was great... they do not know rest

 

[aragorn]

Solanki Dynasty of Gujarat was very strong in their times.

Mulraj, Bhimdev, Siddharaj Jaysinh, Kumarpal and bhimdev II were the well known rulers of their time.

 

[Simple_Guy]

Garba and Dandiya Raas are popular as the symbol of Gujarati dance, but the state also has a tradition of dances by warrior communities.

Martial Dances of Gujarat

Rajputs used to perform special prayers to the family deity (kul devi) before leaving for the battlefield. Jadejas of Kutch used to perform a type of sword dance where the charan sings of bravery and glory of the ancestors and motivates the warriors as the brahmin blesses the battlefield-bound youth.

Porbandar's Maher (Mer) community also does a very famous sword dance. Mers are a virile backward community which migrated to Saurashtra with Jethwa Rajputs.

The Dubla tribals also perform martial dances.

 

[Shatrujeet]

Time line by which respective Rajput Clan has settled in Saurashtra and they come from Sindh , Kutch and Rajputana

1. The Chavda --800 AD
2. The chudasama ---> 875 AD
3. The jethwa ------> 900 AD about
4. The Gohils -----> 1090 AD 1140 AD
5. The vaghela ----> 1270 AD
6. The Rathods ----> 1270 AD
7. The Jadeja ------> 1425 ,1500 ,1529 AD
8. The Parmar ------> 1475 AD

Out of this , Jethwas are the oldest of all ruling clans and they claim that their descent from Makardhwaja , the son of hunaman.They rules saurashta about 450 year and resisted against the attack from muslim originated from North india side.After that Newly arrive jadeja defeated them and rule Saurashtra.

Very good book :The rajput of Saurashtra by Virbhadra Singhji

 

[parijataka]

Marxist historian are only interested in Hindus eating beef or how Ashoka was great... they do not know rest

also for many the most secular kings of India are ashoka and akbar..

 

[Shatrujeet]

Siddhraj Jaisinh (king of Gujarat) A very Prominent king of Solanki Dynasti : Solanki dynasti capital was Patan. and present day it is situated in North Gujarat.

The one name stand out in the Solanki dynasty is Siddhraj Jaysinh (1094-1143) also known as Siddhraj Solanki who was considered as the most prominent Solanki king. Siddhraj is said to have ascended the throne of Patan after the death of his Father Karandev. Patan's condition was worse in the last days of Karandev. The successors from his grand father Bhimdev's first wife Bauladevi tried their best to acquire the throne from child Jaysinh. His mother Minaldevi, Maha Mantri Santu and Munjal Mehta initially played a great part to deter the internal revolt and in establishing his rule and stability to Patan in Gujarat. Jaysinh came on throne in 1096. So the years between his father's death and his actual takeover might have been guarded by his mother and his mantris. In those initial days his mother along with child Jaysinh took shelter in Saurashtra in the guise of yatra to Somnath leaving administration of Patan to Mantri Shantu. Malav king Narvarma attacked Patan in those days. Mantri accepted Narvarma's Kingship for Jaysinh as Samant of Malva. Jaysinh afterwards strengthened himself getting rid of unwanted involvement of grandma's maternal side relatives, useless samants as well as mantris. He also weakened the successors from his grand father Bhimdev's first wife Bauladevi. He was after the life of Kumarpal, then successor of queen Bauladevi and probable candidate for patan's throne. Kumarpal hid himself from Jaysinh for more than 30 years. Apart from Saurashtra and Kachchh, Siddhraj Jaysinh had also conquered the Malwa defeating king Yashovarma and south Gujarat. The popular conception of Siddhraj mixes greatness and medieval callousness. One of the most prominent legends of the Gujarat bards is woven round the siege of Junagadh by Siddhraj' Jaysinh. Siddhraj wanted to marry the princess Ranakdevi, but his vassal, Ra Khengar, the Chief of Junagadh, married her before he could do so. An enraged Siddharaj attacked the mountain-fortress of Junagadh. It fell after Ra Khengar's nephews betrayed him. Ranakdevi refused Siddharaj's advances for marriage after he had killed her husband and two sons. She was forcibly brought to Wadhwan where she committed the ritual of Sati at this place to protect her honour. It is believed that her curse made Bhogavo, a local river, waterless, forever. Some historians doubt the authenticity of the story. He adorned the title of "Barbarak Jishnu" and also "Siddhraj" after controlling Bhil king Barbarak. He became Chakravarti after acquiring total control of the region under old Gurjar Chakravarti kings. He renovated and widened the lake constructed by Durlabhraj and named it as Sahastraling Lake. He constructed two lakes in the memory of his mother. He also renovated Rudramahal. He also features in the legend of Jasma Odan, a beautiful woman of the tank diggers' community-oudes, who were digging a new tank in Patan. Already married, she refused Siddhraj's advances and committed sati to protect her honour. It is believed that her curse made this tank waterless and the king without an heir to the kingdom of Gujarat. During Patan flourished in education, religion and commerce. He gave shelter to many scholars of different religion and castes. Other notable figures of his time included his, Prime Minister Munjal Mehta, Kak and leading Courtier Udayan Mehta. Siddhraj Jaysinh died in 1143. The throne remained without King for 18 days. Thereafter Kumarpal was suddenly declared King of Patan.

Siddhraj Jaisinh (king of Gujarat) | mahesh's Blog

Additional reading is here

Actually good amount of reading book avilable in Hemchandracharya north gujarat university Library about this king in Patan.

One of greatest king of land of gujarat.

 

[dhananjay1]

Solanki is in fact a changed form of "Chālukya". Chālukya became Saluke in Mahārāshṭra and Solanki in Gujarat. They are related to Chālukya-s of northern Karṇāṭaka in one way or the other.

 

[Shatrujeet]

Solanki Rajputs


Chalukya (Solinki or Chalok) with 16 branches. Main Shakha- Baghel

The Marathi septs of Chalukya are: Chalukya, Chalke, Ingale, Pisal, Rannavre, Dubal, Mahale and of Solanki: Salunke, Pandhare, Patankar, Patole, Shevale, Babar, Padwal, Magar, Randheer, Ranpise, Sonvane, Gunjal, Lahane, Vyavhare, Navale, Londhe

It is said that Brahma created a young man from fire. He was holding a sword in one hand and Ved in the other. He came to be known as 'Chilonki' because it is believed that as Brahma had prepared the putla or human image on his hand, then had thrown it into fire, the man had born. It is said that the word got corrupted to 'Milonki' and later on to 'Solinki'. Another version is that their original name is Chaluka, because they were formed in the palm (chalu) of the hand. They were not very prominenet in rajputana, but were very prominent in the Deccan.

Here they were commonly called Chalukya, though in northern India the name Solanki is more common. As early as AD 350 Pulakesin I made himself master of the town of Vatapi, the modern Badami in the Bijapur District and founded a dynsty, which developed into the most powerful kingdom south of the Nerbudda, and lasted 2 centuries, when it was overthrown by the Rastrakuta Pulakesin II, one of this Chalukya dynasty successfully defended an inroad of the great emperor Harsha Vardhana of Kannauj, who aspired the conquest of the whole of India.

The Rastrakuta kings governed for 2 centuries and in AD 973 Taila or Tailapa II, a scion of the old Chalukya stock, restored the family of his ancestors to its former glory and founded the dynasty known as that of the Chalukya of kalyan, which lasted like that which it superseeded for nearly 2 centuries and a quarter, up to AD 1190. In the 10th century apparaently another branch of the scion migrated from Rajputana into Gujarat and established a new dynasty there, owing to which Gujarat, which had formerly been known as Lata, obtained its present name. The principal king of this line was Sidh raj Solanki, which is well known to tradition. From these Chalukya or Solanki rulers the Baghel clan arose, which afetrwards migrated to Rewah. The Solankis are found UP and in small numbers in MP (Hoshangabad and Nimar).

Salunkhes are descendents of Solanki Dynasty of Gujarat. Solankies ruled on Gujarat before 900 years. Solankies were descendents of Chalukyas of Karnataka in 6th to 8 century A.D. from Badami. Another branch of Chalukyas ruled between 973 A.D. to 1186 from Kalyan on Karnataka, Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh. Chalukyas were Jains and this tradition was also in Solankies.

Kumarpal Solanki was the famous king of this dynasty who ruled between 1143 to 1172 A.D. He defeated the Turk invaders. Solanki is the famous clan of Oswal Jains.

Baghel / Vaghela (means race of the tiger or tiger club)

Baghel: In the ancient work entitled "Komarpal Charitra," Baghel was listed as one of the Rajput tribes of Rajasthan (Tod 69), but are a branch of Sisodias. Walker described the Baghel, or Baghela, as one of the chief Rajput clans who played a major part in history. "Baghela or Vaghela of Gujarat...are related to the Chalukyas, and most propable a branch of it and have given their name to Baghelkhand" or Rewa, but others of the tribe have spread through Budelkhund. Allahabad, Benares, Kanpur, Gorakhpur and Farrukhabad. The chiefs of Rewah are Baghel and the Maharaja Raghuraj Singh has written a traditional history in Bhakt Mala. He derives their name from a chield , having the form of a tiger (bhagh), who was born to the Solanki Raja of Gujarat.

The Bombay Gazetteer states that the founder of the clan was one Anoka, nephew of the Solanki king of Gujarat, Kumarpal (1143-1174). He obtained a grant of the village of Vaghela, the tiger's lair. Subsequently the Baghels extended their power over the whole of Gujarat, but in 1304 the last king Karnadeva, was driven out by the Muhameddans and of his most beautiful wives was captured and sent to the emperor's harem. Karnadeva and his daughter fled and hid themselves near Nasik, but the daughter was subsequently taken also, while it is not stated what became of Karnadeva. Mr. Hira Lal assistant of Mr.Russel suggests that he fled towards Rewah and that he is the Karnadeva of the list of Rewah Rajas, who married a daughter of the Gond-Rajput dynasty of Garha-Mandla. At any rate the Baghel branch of Solankis apperently migrated to Rewah from Gujarat and founded that state in the 14 th century and in the 15 th century they became prominent. According to captain Forsyth , the Baghels claim descent from a tiger and protect it when they can, They are found in Hoshangabad in Mandla and Chattisgarh which are close to Rewah. They were also known as Makwara.

Solanki Rajputs

 

[Simple_Guy]

Time line by which respective Rajput Clan has settled in Saurashtra and they come from Sindh , Kutch and Rajputana

1. The Chavda --800 AD
2. The chudasama ---> 875 AD
3. The jethwa ------> 900 AD about
4. The Gohils -----> 1090 AD 1140 AD
5. The vaghela ----> 1270 AD
6. The Rathods ----> 1270 AD
7. The Jadeja ------> 1425 ,1500 ,1529 AD
8. The Parmar ------> 1475 AD

Out of this , Jethwas are the oldest of all ruling clans and they claim that their descent from Makardhwaja , the son of hunaman.They rules saurashta about 450 year and resisted against the attack from muslim originated from North india side.After that Newly arrive jadeja defeated them and rule Saurashtra.

Very good book :The rajput of Saurashtra by Virbhadra Singhji

Cricketer Ravindra Jadeja is also a modern sports warrior of Gujarat:

In some interview Jadeja said, "The reason behind my moustache is my family background. We are Rajputs and all the elder men in my family sport this moustache, so I thought it's time I also try it."
:thumb:

 

[Simple_Guy]

100 Sun temples in Gujarat

When one talks about sun worship in Gujarat, the first name that comes to mind is the majestic Solanki-era temple at Modhera, known as one of the best examples of Gujarati architecture. However, few know that the state has over 100 sun temples scattered from Koteshwar in Sabarkantha to Rander near Surat.

A retired industrialist and a photographer traced the tradition of sun worship out of sheer curiosity and come out with a book titled 'Ugta Rehjo Bhan', which has been published by state archaeology department. Navinchandra Parekh and Dahyabhai Patel worked for over a decade where they encompassed history, stories related to the place and current situation.

The book especially mentions sun worship in Kathi community around Surendranagar. "Taking an oath of the Sun was the biggest vow a warrior can take. One can find sun motifs almost everywhere in their lives - decoration, state insignia, arms and communication. A letter by rebel Jogidas Khuman to Bhavnagar Maharaja preserved in Devsar Surya Mandir shows him sign below motif of Sun, the final authority," added Parekh.

 

[civfanatic]

Are any of these dynasties indigenous to Gujarat?

 

[Simple_Guy]

They were indigenous to India.

 

[parijataka]

They were indigenous to India.

What comes to my mind always is that Somnath temple was rebuilt seven times after being destroyed.Despite the fact that Gujarat was right on the border of India on the Western frontier open to all marauders coming in from that direction !

Gujjus, despite many of them being strict vegetarians, have shown themselves to be of strong resolve.

And of course who can forget two of the greatest people to influence India in 20th cent were from Gujarat - Gandhi ji and Sardar Patel.

 

[civfanatic]

They were indigenous to India.

Then why did you call this thread 'Warriors of Gujarat' instead of 'Warriors of India'?

 

[Simple_Guy]

Because whichever part of India their remote ancestors may have originated from, these warriors ruled, fought and died within Gujarat.

 

[civfanatic]

Because whichever part of India their remote ancestors may have originated from, these warriors ruled, fought and died within Gujarat.

Just curious, based on this definition, would you also consider Rudradaman to be a 'warrior of Gujarat'?

 

[desicanuk]

And of course who can forget two of the greatest people to influence India in 20th cent were from Gujarat - Gandhi ji and Sardar Patel.

And of course the great spoiler of them all - Mr Jinnah!

 

[pankaj nema]

1 Mahatma Gandhi who drove the Brits simply NUTS

2 Sardar Patel who Taught Independent India the VIRTUES of HARD Power

3 And Finally Narendra Modi well ........