Post by YOUNAS GUJJAR on Sept 14, 2005 3:57:47 GMT -5
Meaning of the word - GURJAR
This great caste has originally taken its name from the word ‘Gurutar’ as stated by Pt. Chhote Lal Sharma (The famous archaeologist & historian). ‘Maharaja Dashratha’ was called ‘Gurutar’ in Ramayana (2-79-2) by Valmiki. That meant “A Very High Class King”.
The masters of Sanskrit Dictionary ‘Kalpdrum’ say that Gur-Jar means “ - one who use to defend the country by continuously defeating the enemy” (Gur means enemy and Jar means defeating)
Most probably this meaning was assigned to “Gurjars” when they defeated the Arabic invaders continuously for 300 years. But that is just a meaning given to this name. Originally it was derived from the word ‘Gurutar’ only.
“Gurjar” was never a sub caste under Rajputs, as said by many history textbooks. Rajput was not a caste when it was formed; it was an association or ‘Sangh’ of various kings ‘Raja-Putra’ against the Mohammedan invaders.
In fact 70% of the “Rajputs Sangh” was formed by the “Gurjars” in the end of 12th century that made the saying famous “Asli Rajput woh Jisne ‘Gujari’ ka doodh piya ho”
The Sanskrit word Rajput or Raja Putra (prince) literally means son of Raja or the ruler. This is the name by which the clans of several tribes of India designate themselves, and who in ancient times became dominant in the N.W. of India, from which their branches extended southwards. This word for a caste, a family or a tribe does not occur anywhere in the early history of the area (Before 1300 AD). They were said to have taken the place of the ancient Kshatryas, who were annihilated by Lord Parasurama.
The people under the Gurjars Kindom were also called Gurjars as the Whole Kingdom and Area included therein was called Gurjardesh or Gurjaratra (presently we know that area as divided into Gujrat, Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, MP, western UP, Sindh, Lahore, Baluchistan).
There were three powerful dynasties which were ruling different parts of Gujarat: the Gurjars had their sway over the north, the Chalukyas ruled the south and the Maitraks were saddled in Saurashtra. The vaccum created by the fall of the Maitrak dynasty was filled up by the Pratiharas from the north and Rashtrakutas from the south.
As vassals of the Valabhis (from the town of Valabhis or Vala, where the Guhilot ruled and is related to Bhavnagar Palitana and Lathi), the Chavadas held their sway over parts of north Gujarat. They assumed independent control after the fall of Valabhi. Vanraj,. the most prominent of the eight Chavada kings, founded a new capital at Anhilpur Patan. he reconquered his father's lost territories and founded the Chavada dynasty which lasted a shade under a century. In the 14th century Mesaji ruler of this dynasty founded Mahasana in Gujrat. Samantsinh, the last Chavada ruler, did not have an issued and he adopted Mulraj who overthrew him in 942 AD and set up what came to be known as the Solanki dynasty.
Ambitious as he was, he started expanding his frontiers and established his complete and total hold over Saurashtra and Kachch by defeating Grahripu of Junagadh (Saurashtra) and Lakho Fulani of Kachchh. Mulraj Solanki's reign marked the start of the most glorious period in the history of Gujarat during which Gujarati culture flowered as manifested in art, architecture, language and script. It is described as the golden period in Gujarat chequered history. Mulraj himself adopted the title of Gurharesh ( King of Gurjardesh).
The territories under the sway of the Solanki dynasty same to be known by different variations of the word Gurjar like Gurjardesh, Gurjararastra, Gurjaratta and finally Gujarat. Two names stand out in the Solanki dynasty. The town of Arjya in Bhilwara District, 150 km. from Udaipur; was ruled by the Chavda clan. Maharana Jawan Singh's maternal uncle, Jagat Singh of Barsora in Mahikantha, Gujarat. Had two sons, Kuber Singh and Jalam Singh came to Udaipur with Maharana Jawan Singh and were granted, jointly, the jagirs of Aarjya and Kaladwas.
Dadda, the founder of Pratihara dynasty, established the Gurjar rule at Nandipur (Nandol). Dadda III wrested Broach from the Maitraks whose citadel had started shaking. After Him Dadda 1-2-3(650-750), Nag Bhatta-1(750?-780), Vatsraj(780-800),ParamBhattarak Parmeshwar Nag Bhatta-2(800-833), Rambhadra(833-835) Samrat Mihir Bhoj Mahan or The Great Bhoja(835-890 AD), Mahenderpal-1(890-910), Bhoj-2(910-913), Samrat Mahipal(913-944) Mahenderpal-2(944-948), Devpal(948-954), Vinaykpal(954-955), Mahipal-2(955-956), Vijaypal-2(956-960), Rajyapal(960-1018), Trilochan(1018-1027), Yashpal(1024-1036) & ‘Gurjeshwar’ BheemDev-2*(1036-1064) and so on were the famous Gurjar-Pratihaar kings of India.
* who attacked & almost destroyed Mahmood of Gazni when Gazni was on his way back after looting the holy “Somnath Temple” (made by “Gurjars”),
Geographically, during the period of Muslim conquest the Rajputs were the pratiharas, or doorkeepers of India Also known as Parrhiar.
Like the Solankis and Chauhans the Parihar clan is held by some to have originated from the Gurjar invaders who came with the Huns in the 5th and 6th centuries, and if so they were the first of these Gujar Rajput clans to emerge into prominence. Mundawar or Mundodri was the capital of the Parihara, which owned the sway of this tribe before the invasion and settlement of the Rathor clan. They were dominant in Bundelkhand before the Chandels, their last chieftain having been overthrown by a Chandel prince in AD 831.
A parihar-Gujar chieftain, whose capital was in Bhinmal in Rajputana, conquered the dominions of the great Harsha Vardhana, and established himself there about AD 816. Kannaj was then held by Gujar-Parihar kings till 1090, when it was seized by Chandradeva of the Gaharwar Rajput clan. The Parihar rulers were thus subverted by the Gaharwars and Chandels, both of whom are thought to be derived from the Bhars or other aboriginal tribes. After this period the Parihar are of little importance. They appear to have retired to Rajputana, as col.
Tod states that Mundore, 5 miles north of Jodhpur, was their headquarter until it was taken by the Rathors. The walls of the ruined fortress of Mundore are built of enormous square masses of stone without cement.
YOUNAS gUJAR
