SSC MTS Exam
S t u d y M a t e r i a l f o r Genral Awareness
THE RAJPUTS
● The Rajputs always insisted that they were of the kshatriya caste and they were divided into
clans.
● The Rajput kings belonged to ordered family, which connected them with either the
sun-family (surya-vamshi) or the moon-family (chandra-vamsha) of ancient Indian kings.
● However, there were four clans who claimed that they had not descended from either of
these two families, but rather from the fire-family (agni-kula).
Rajput Clans
● The four clans, namely –
o Pratiharas, (or Pariharas),
o Chauhans (or Chahamanas),
o Solankis (or Chaulukyas), and
o Pawars (or Paramaras).
● These four agni-kula clans established their power in western India and parts of central
India.
o The Pariharas ruled in the region of Kanauj;
o The Chauhans were strong in central Rajasthan;
o Solanki power rose in the region of Kathiawar and the surrounding areas, and
o The Pawars established themselves in the region of Malwa with their capital at Dhar
near Indore.
● Besides, some other minor rulers also became powerful and gradually built small kingdoms
in various parts of northern India, for example –
o Nepal,
o Kamarupa (in Assam),
o Kashmir, and
o Utkala (in Orissa).
● Many of the hill states of the Punjab also developed during the early phase of medieval
period; such as –
o Champaka (Chamba),
o Durgara (Jammu), and
o Kuluta (Kulu) in Himachal.
● Some other worth noting kingdoms of central India (contemporary to the Rajputs) were –
o The Chandelles in Bundelkhand,
o The Guhilas in Mewar to the south of the Chauhans, and
o The Tomaras in Haryana and the Delhi region.
● Over a period of time, the Chauhans defeated the Tomaras and annexed their kingdom.
● Prithviraj III, the prince of Chauhan dynasty, was the most powerful king of that period in
northern India.
● Chandbardai, the Hindi poet of his (Prithviraj’s) court had written the famous poem
‘Prithviraja-raso.’
