Historical Background of Rajasthan

1. Nomenclature of Rajasthan

Region / Time	Name Used	Details
Mahabharata Period	Jangal Desh Sapadalaksha	Bikaner & Jodhpur region. Region around Ajmer & Nagaur (Chauhan territory).
Janapadas	Matsya Shursen Shivi	Capital: Viratnagar (Jaipur/Alwar). Capital: Mathura (Bharatpur/Dholpur/Karauli). Capital: Madhyamika (Nagari/Chittor).
Maad / Vall	Jaisalmer	Ancient name for Jaisalmer region.
Vagad	Dungarpur & Banswara	Southern Rajasthan region.
Hadoti	Kota & Bundi	Ruled by Hada Chauhans.
Gurjaratra	South Jodhpur	Ruled by Pratiharas.
Arbud Pradesh	Sirohi	Region around Mount Abu.
1800 A.D.	Rajputana	First used by George Thomas.
1829 A.D.	Raythan / Rajasthan	Used by Col. James Tod in 'Annals and Antiquities of Rajasthan'.

2. Ancient Civilizations

A. Stone Age Sites

• Bagor (Bhilwara): On Kothari river. Oldest evidence of Animal Husbandry in India (Mesolithic).
• Tilwara (Barmer): On Luni river. Mesolithic site.

B. Kalibangan (Bronze Age/Indus)

• Location: Hanumangarh, River Ghaggar (Saraswati). Time: 2400-2250 BC.
• Key Findings: Ploughed Fields (Oldest in world), Fire Altars (Agnivedi), Wooden drains, Two mounds (Fort & City).

C. Ahar (Copper Age)

• Location: Udaipur, River Bedach/Ayad. Names: Tamravati, Dhulkot, Aghatpur.
• Culture: Part of Banas Culture. Joint family system indicated by 4-6 stoves in one house. Black & Red ware pottery.
• Trade: Greek coins (2nd-3rd C. BC) found. Links to Iran/Central Asia.
• Related Sites: Gilund (Rajsamand), Balathal (Udaipur).

D. Bairath (Iron Age/Maurya)

• Location: Jaipur (Viratnagar). Hills: Bijak Dungri, Bhim Dungri, Moti Dungri.
• Key Findings: Ashoka's Bhabru Edict (found by Capt. Burt), Buddhist Stupa, Gol Mandir.
• Notes: Visited by Chinese traveler Yuan Chwang. Destroyed by Huna ruler Mihirakula.

E. Other Sites

• Ganeshwar (Sikar): Mother of Copper civilizations.
• Sunari (Jhunjhunu), Isawal (Udaipur), Jodhpura (Jaipur), Redh (Tonk): Iron Age sites.
• Kurada (Nagaur): City of Tools (Copper).

3. Origin of Rajputs

• Agnikula Theory: By Chandbardai (Prithviraj Raso). Born from Sage Vashistha's fire pit at Mt. Abu. (Pratihara, Parmar, Chalukya, Chauhan).
• Vedic Kshatriyas (Suryavanshi/Chandravanshi): By G.H. Ojha and C.V. Vaidya. (Most Accepted).
• Foreign Origin (Saka/Scythian): By Col. Tod, V.A. Smith, William Crooke. Based on rituals like Fire/Sun/Horse worship.
• Gurjar/Huna (Khazar): By D.R. Bhandarkar. He also suggested Brahmin origin for Guhils (Nagar Brahmin) and Chauhans (Vatsa Gotra Brahmin) based on Bijolia inscription.

4. Major Dynasties

A. Guhil-Sisodia of Mewar

• Bapa Rawal: Real name Kalbhoj. Issued 115-grain gold coins.
• Allat: Married Huna princess Hariyadevi. Built Varaha temple at Ahar.
• Rawal Ratnasinh (1302-03): 1303 Alauddin Khilji attack. First Saka of Chittor (Padmini Jauhar). Chittor renamed Khizrabad.
• Rana Hammir: 'Liberator of Mewar'.
• Rana Lakha: Pichola Lake constructed by a Banjara.
• Rana Mokal: Renovated Samidheshwar Temple (Chittor).
• Rana Kumbha (1433-68): 'Abhinav Bharatacharya'. Built Vijay Stambh (victory over Malwa 1437). Built 32 forts (Kumbhalgarh, Achalgarh). Texts: Sangeet Raj, Sangeet Mimansa. Scholars: Mandan, Atri, Mahesh.
• Rana Sanga (1509-28): 'Hindupat'. Battles: Gagron (Malwa), Khatoli (Lodi). Battle of Khanwa (1527) vs Babur.
• Udai Singh: Founded Udaipur (1559). 1567 Akbar attack (Jaimal-Fatta sacrifice).
• Maharana Pratap: Haldighati (1576) vs Man Singh. Diver (1582) victory. Capital: Chavand.
• Amar Singh I: First Mughal-Mewar Treaty (1615) with Jahangir.
• Raj Singh: Constructed Rajsamand Lake. Opposed Aurangzeb. Patron of art.

B. Pratiharas & Parmars

• Gurjar Pratiharas: Originated in Mandore (Harishchandra). Bhinmal branch (Nagbhatt I - 'Destroyer of Mlechhas'). Powerful rulers: Bhoj, Mahendrapal.
• Parmars: Ruled Abu, Malwa, Vagad.
  • Abu: Dhandhuk (Vimal Shah built Adinath Temple 1031). Dharavarsh (Warrior). Prahladan Dev (founded Palanpur).
  • Malwa: Raja Bhoj (Built Tribhuvan Narayan Temple in Chittor).
  • Vagad: Capital Arthuna (Banswara).

C. Chauhans

• Shakambhari/Ajmer: Vasudev (551 AD). Ajayraj (Founded Ajmer 1113). Arnoraj (Anasagar Lake). Vigraharaj IV (Golden Age, 'Harikeli' drama, Sanskrit school which later became Adhai Din Ka Jhonpra).
• Prithviraj III: Defeated Ghori (Tarain I, 1191). Lost (Tarain II, 1192). Poet Chandbardai (Prithviraj Raso).
• Ranthambore: Hammir Dev (Stubborn/Hath). 1301 Alauddin attack (First Jauhar of Raj.).
• Jalore (Sonagra): Kanhad De. 1311 Alauddin attack.
• Hada Chauhans: Rao Deva (Bundi 1241). Madho Singh (Kota 1631).

D. Rathores (Marwar & Bikaner)

• Jodhpur: Rao Jodha (Founded Jodhpur 1459). Maldev (Giri-Sumel 1544). Chandrasen (Pratap of Marwar). Mota Raja Udai Singh (First to submit to Mughals 1583, daughter Jodha Bai married Jahangir). Jaswant Singh I (Scholar, wrote Bhasha Bhushan). Durgadas (Savior of Marwar/Ajit Singh).
• Bikaner: Rao Bika (1488). Lunkaran. Kalyanmal (Submitted to Akbar 1570). Rai Singh (Junagarh Fort). Anup Singh (Scholar/Anup Library).
• Kishangarh: Savant Singh (Nagari Das) - Patron of Bani-Thani painting.

E. Kachwahas (Amber/Jaipur)

• Bharmal: First Rajput to marry daughter (Harka Bai) to Akbar (1562).
• Man Singh: Akbar's General (Haldighati). Built Shila Devi (Amber).
• Mirza Raja Jai Singh: Treaty of Purandar (1665) with Shivaji. Poet Bihari in court.
• Sawai Jai Singh II: Founded Jaipur (1727). Built Jantar Mantar. Ashwamedha Yajna.

5. Religious Movements

A. Folk Deities (Lok Devta)

• Gogaji: Snake deity. Gogamedi (Hanumangarh).
• Ramdevji: Runicha. 'Ramsa Pir' (Hindu-Muslim unity). Kamadiya Panth.
• Pabuji: Protector of cows/camels. Kolu.
• Tejaji: Snake deity. Parbatsar (Fair).

B. Saints

• Mira Bai: (1498-1546). Born Kudki. Married Bhojraj. Devotion to Krishna.
• Dadu Dayal: Narayana (Jaipur). 'Rajasthan's Kabir'. Dadu Panth.
• Jambhoji: Bishnoi Sect (29 Rules). Environment conservation.
• Jasnathji: Jasnathi Sect (36 Rules). Fire Dance.
• Shrine: Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti (Ajmer). Hamiduddin Nagauri (Nagaur).
• Others: Saint Pipa (Gagron), Mavji (Beneshwar-Dungarpur), Ramcharan (Ramsnehi-Shahpura), Lal Das (Mewat).

6. Important Historical Sites

Site	Key Features
Chittorgarh	Vijay Stambh, Kirti Stambh, Padmini Palace, Mira Temple.
Kumbhalgarh	Built by Kumbha. Katargarh (residence). Birthplace of Pratap.
Ranakpur	Jain Chau-mukha Temple (Adinath). 1444 Pillars. Architect Depak.
Kiradu	Barmer. 'Khajuraho of Rajasthan'. Solanki style temples.
Osian	Jodhpur. Sun Temple, Sachiya Mata, Jain temples.
Kolvi Caves	Jhalawar. Ancient Buddhist caves.
Bhinmal	Jalore. Birthplace of poet Magha. Visited by Yuan Chwang.
Shekhawati	Mandawa, Mahansar (Sone-Chandi ki Dukan), Nawalgarh. Famous for Haveli Frescoes.
Galiyakot	Dungarpur. Dawoodi Bohra shrine (Syed Fakhruddin).
Nathdwara	Shrinathji Temple (Vallabh Sect). Pichwai paintings.