Kachhwaha

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Kachhwaha
House of Amber
Kabul

The Kachhwaha, or Kachhawa is a Rajput clan found primarily in India.[1][2]

Etymology

According to Cynthia Talbot, the meaning of word Kachhwaha is tortoise.[3]

Origin

Original Jharshahi Flag (Kovidar/kachnar dhvaj)

There are numerous theories on the origin of the Kachhwahas. Prominent of those theories are of claiming scion from the Suryavansh and the Kurma Avatar of Lord Vishnu.

Suryavansh origin

Suryavansh Dynasty or Ikshwaku Dynasty or Raghuvansh Dynasty : Kachwaha (Kushwaha) claim descent from

Ram Mandir at Ayodhya.[4] Ish Devji a Kachhwaha Raja of outstanding merit, with his capital at Gwalior, is recorded to have died in 967 A.D. Brahmin genealogists place him as being the three hundred & third generation after Ikshwaku. The Kachhwahas of Amber are descendants of Ish Devji. According to Rima Hooja, the Kachhwahas initially called themselves "Kachhapaghata", "Kachwaha" and "Katsawaha". "Kachawa" word became popular in the late 16th century during the reign of Raja Man Singh. There are many inscriptions and manuscripts which prove this theory, like the ones found in Balvan, Chatsu, Sanganer and Rewasa.[5]

History

Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II
(1688–1743) one of the Greatest Kachhwaha Ruler.
Chandramahal in City Palace, Jaipur, which was built by the Kachwaha Rajputs.

Dulha Rai

Kachhwaha established their kingdoms in the Dhundhar region of modern Rajasthan in the 11th century. One Kachhwaha

Bargujars.[6][7]

Raja Kakil deo

After Dulherai, his son Kakil Deo defeated the Meenas of Amer and made Amer the capital of Dhundhar after Khoh.[8][9] He also defeated the Ahirs of Dhundhar region and annexed their petty territories in the battles of Med and Bairath. Bairath is the corrupted name of Viratnagar which has a great significance in Mahabharata.

Raja Pajawan

Raja Pajawan helped Prithviraj Chauhan in his most of the campaigns and conquests. In total, he is credited to have fought 64 battles in his career. He was married to a cousin of Prithviraj Chauhan.[6] He died before the popular Battle of Tarain.

Raja Prithviraj Singh I

Kachhwaha King Prithviraj Singh I fought along with Rana Sanga at battle of Khanwa.[6] He was married to the daughter of Rao Lunkarna of Bikaner, with all his wives summed to nine, giving birth to 18 sons. One of his sons, Purnamal died fighting with Humayun's brother Hindal in a battle that occurred in 1539 AD.

Raja Man Singh I

He was one of the most trusted noble of Akbar. He was the supreme commander of the Mughal forces. He built the Amer Fort. He built and saved a number of Hindu temples.

Sawai Jai Singh II

He built the pink city of Jaipur and five astronomical observatories at Delhi, Jaipur, Benaras, Mathura and Ujjain. He also established Govind Dev Ji temple at Jaipur.

Notable people

Khoh Kingdom

Amer Kingdom

Jaipur State

Alwar State

  • Rao Raja
    Pratap Singh
  • Colonel HH Raj Rishi Shri Sawai Maharaja Sir Jai Singh
  • HH Raj Rishi Shri Sawai Maharaja
    Jitendra Singh
  • Rajkumari Bhuvneshwari Kumari

Kohra Estate

Shekhawati Region

References

Further reading

  • Bayley C. (1894) Chiefs and Leading Families in Rajputana
  • Henige, David (2004). Princely states of India;A guide to chronology and rulers
  • Jyoti J. (2001) Royal Jaipur
  • Krishnadatta Kavi, Gopalnarayan Bahura(editor) (1983) Pratapa Prakasa, a contemporary account of life in the court at Jaipur in the late 18th century
  • Khangarot, R.S., and P.S. Nathawat (1990). Jaigarh- The invincible Fort of Amber
  • Topsfield, A. (1994). Indian paintings from Oxford collections
  • Tillotson, G. (2006). Jaipur Nama,
    Penguin books