Foreign origin theory of Rajputs: History of Rajasthan: The term Rajput starts coming in use from the 6th Century AD. They rose to prominence from the 6th century till 12th century and kept ruling in different parts of the country from Sultanate to Mughal Era and as rulers of the princely states till the departure of British from the country in 1947. Several theories exist about the origin of the Rajputs.
Foreign origin of Rajputs in English
This theory says that the Rajputs are descendents of the races like Sakas, Kushanas, Hunas etc. This theory was put forward by Col. James Todd, the celebrated author of Annals and Antiques of Rajasthan. He has detailed the history of Rajputana and Central India. The main argument of James Todd behind the foreign origin of the Rajputs was that these people worshipped Fire and Fire was the main deity of the Sakas and Hunas.
Kashtriya Heroes theory
This theory says that the Rajputs are NOT from the foreign origin and they are descendents of the mythological Aryan Heroes like Rama. They worship fire as the Aryans did and worship of fire was not the tradition of the Foreigners only.
Mixed Origin Theory
This theory as put forward by V A Smith says that Rajput is a mixed race. Some of them were descendents of the Aryans while some of them were from the foreign races such as Hunas, Sakas etc.
Agnikula Thoery
This theory comes from the Prithvirajraso of Chandarbardai. The Rajputs descended from Agni. The theory is based upon the Agnikula Legend of Bhavishyapurana which says like this:
- “There will be Bindusara
- “Like the father, there will be Asoka and his sons who will rule
- “At that time there will be a Brahmin in Kanyakubja Clan
- “He will do Brah-hom at Mount Abu
- “Four Kstariyas will be Born from the Influence of the Mantras
- “Parmara from Samved, Chaphani from Yajurveda
- “From Three vedas there will be Chu
- “from Atharvaveda there will be Pariharak.
Basically, this theory says that the forefathers of the Rajputs were born at Mount Abu. The four Rajput clans from Agnikunda are Chauhans, Chalukyas, Parmaras and Pratiharas.
Foreign origin theory of Rajputs in Hindi
राजपूत शब्द की सर्वप्रथम उत्पत्ति 6ठी शताब्दी ईस्वी में हुई थी. राजपूतों ने 6ठी शताब्दी ईस्वी से 12वीं सदी के बीच भारतीय इतिहास में एक प्रमुख स्थान प्राप्त किया था.
राजपूतों की उत्पत्ति के सन्दर्भ में विद्वानों ने कई सिद्धांत का उल्लेख किया हैं. श्री कर्नल जेम्स टॉड द्वारा दिए गए सिद्धांत के अनुसार राजपूतों की उत्पत्ति विदेशी मूल की थी. उनके अनुसार राजपूत कुषाण,शक और हूणों के वंशज थे. उनके अनुसार चूँकि राजपूत अग्नि की पूजा किया करते थे और यही कार्य कुषाण और शक भी करते थे. इसी कारण से उनकी उत्पति शको और कुषाणों से लगायी जाती थी.
इसी तरह दूसरे सिद्धांत के अनुसार राजपूतों को किसी भी विदेशी मूल से सम्बंधित नहीं किया जाता है. बल्कि उन्हें क्षत्रिय जाति से सम्बंधित किया जाता है. इस सन्दर्भ में यह कहा जाता है की चूँकि उनके द्वारा अग्नि की पूजा की जाती थी जोकि आर्यों के द्वारा भी सम्पादित किया जाता था. अतः राजपूतों की उत्पत्ति भारतीय मूल की थी.
तीसरे सिद्धांत के अनुसार राजपूत आर्य और विदेशी दोनों के वंशज थे. उनके अन्दर दोनों ही जातियों का मिश्रण सम्मिलित था.
चौथा सिद्धांत अग्निकुल सिद्धांत से संबंधित है. चंदवरदायी द्वारा १२वीं शताब्दी के अन्त में रचित ग्रन्थ ‘पृथ्वीराज रासो’ में चालुक्य (सोलंकी), प्रतिहार, चहमान तथा परमार राजपूतों की उत्पत्ति आबू पर्वत के अग्निकुण्ड से बतलाई है, किन्तु इसी ग्रन्थ में एक अन्य स्थल पर इन्हीं राजपूतों को “रवि – शशि जाधव वंशी” कहा है.
इन तमाम विद्वानों के तर्को के आधार पर निष्कर्षतः यह कहा जा सकता है कि, यद्यपि राजपूत क्षत्रियों के वंशज थे, फिर भी उनमें विदेशी रक्त का मिश्रण अवश्य था. अतः वे न तो पूर्णतः विदेशी थे, न तो पूर्णत भारतीय.
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The Origin of Rajputs
The term Rajput starts coming in use from the 6th Century AD. The origin of the Rajputs is the subject of debate. There are four main streams of thought on origin of Rajputs:
Foreign origin theory of Rajputs:
This theory says that the Rajputs are descendents of the races like Sakas, Kushanas, and Hunas etc. Dr. VA Smith, Col. James Todd, William Crooks supported this theory. The main argument of James Todd behind the foreign origin of the Rajputs was that these people worshipped Fire and Fire was the main deity of the Sakas and Hunas.
Mixed Origin Theory
This theory as put forward by Dr. DP Chatterjee says that Rajput is a mixed race. Some of them were descendents of the Aryans while some of them were from the foreign races such as Hunas, Sakas etc.
Kshatriyas theory of origin
This theory was propounded by Gauri Shankar Ojha and says that the Rajputs are NOT from the foreign origin and they are descendents of the mythological Khatriya Heroes like Rama. The theory divides the Rajput based on their lineage as Suryavanshi & Chandravanshi, which they trace from Surya and Chandra. They worship fire as the Aryans did and worship of fire was not the tradition of the Foreigners only.
Agnikula Theory
This theory comes from the Prithvi of Chandrabhardai. According to this theory, Rajputs were the result of Yagya performed by Hrishi Vashistha at “Guru Shikhar” in Mount Abu. The four Rajput clans from Agnikunda are Chauhans, Chalukyas, Parmaras and Pratiharas. Muhnot Nainsi & Suryamal Mishran also support this theory
How many theories are there regarding the origin of the Rajputs?
Origin of Rajputs| Foreign Origin Theory, Kashtriya Theory of Origin, Mixed Origin Theory, Agnikula Theory. The word Rajputs derived from Sanskrit word Rajaputra, which means son of a king. Rajputs rose to prominence during the 6th to 12th centuries in north Indian history also known as Rajputs era.
Who propounded the theory of origin of Rajput through Agnikund?
This theory was put forward by Col. James Todd, the celebrated author of Annals and Antiques of Rajasthan. He has detailed the history of Rajputana and Central India.