Rajputs have been little prominent since the early part of the 18th century. Besides the con tinuous strivings amongst their own tribes, follow ing the crushing defeat of Prithi-raj, A.D. 1193, by Shahab-ud-Din for several hundred years they had to sustain the shocks given by the 3luham madan invaders. On the decline of the house of Timer, they became the dupe and then the prey of the Mahrattas, and they were only saved from utter annihilation by becoming the loyal allies of Great Britain. The armies they furnished had exhausted the material, infanticide has diminished their numbers, and their wives, shut up like those of Muhammadans, give no aid in agriculture. Misfortune and compulsory inaction has led to the excessive use of opium, and the 19th century has heard nothing of the independent chiefs of this once warrior race.
Of late years, Rajputs, as they have become under Brahmanical influence, have more and more strictly been denying themselves animal food and the flesh of the wild boar, and the greatest number are vegetarians, subsisting upon farinaceous food, with vegetables, pulse, ghi, butter, and milk.
The names of the states are Ajmir, Banswara, Bhurtpur, Bikanir, Bundi, Dholpur, Dunger pur, Jeypore, Jeysulmir, Jhallawar, Jodhpur, Kerrowlee, Kishengarh, Kotah, Lawa, Merwara, Oodeypur, Partabgarh, Shahpura, Sirohi, Tonk, and Ulwar. Ajmir and Merwara are British territory, Bhurtpur and Dholpur are ruled by Jat princes, and Tonk by a Muhammadan chief, the other seventeen states being under Rajput sove reigns. But Rajputs nowhere form a majority of the population, though they are strongest numer ically in the northern states and in Mewar.
At the census of 1881, the religions of the people were found to be— Hindus, . . 8,839,243 Sikhs, 9 Muhammadans, 861,747 Parsecs, 7 Christians, . . . 1,294 Others, . . . . 21,077 Joins, . . . . 378,672 And the castes were found to be— Brahman, . . 906,463 Chamar, . . . 567,098 Rajput, . . . 479,554 Dhakar, . . . 75,008 Mahajan, . . 634,440 Sondhia, . . . 43,740 Kayasth, . . 19,118 Balal, . . . . 61,530 Gujar, . . . 402,709 Other Hindus, . 3,344,167 Jat, . . . 425,598 Sikh, 9 Ahir, . . . 1313,653 Parsee, 7 Mina, . . . . 427,672 Muhammadan, . 861,747 Bhil, . . . . 105,870 Mao, . . . . 45,946 The Khanzadah, in Ulwar (Alwar) and North Jeypore ; the Kaimkhani in the same neighbour hood ; the Meo, who are an indigenous tribe, very strong in Ulwar and Bhurtpur; the Merat section of the Dfairs in Mnirwara ; the Sodhas of Rajput descent, in the far west, towards the borders of Upper Sind, have adopted Muham madanism, but continue to regulate their marriages by their own rules of genealogy and consanguinity.
The Baori and Moghya are predatory tribes, the former north of the Aravalli, and the latter south of that range. They are professional thieves.
The Rhos or Bards are a prominent race, the genealogists of the Rajput races.
Jaina are of Rajput descent, though now finan ciers and merchants. The Gujar, Jat, Mina, and Mair are the principal agriculturists.
Rajputs have spread into every part of British India, but wherever found they claim to belong to certain tribes and clans, and, like the people of Europe and the Mahrattas of the Dekhan, they have also surnames, though the families are too extended for these names to be utilized.
Rajputs claim to have three origins,—(1) the descendants of the Suryavansa or Solar race, the ancient dynasty of the Sun(2) the descendants of the Chandravansa or Indr!avansa or Lunar race, the ancient dynasty of the Moon ; and (3) the Agnicula, the family initiated at a sacred fire said to have been kindled on Mount Abu by the saint Agastys. From these three, thirty-six primary royal races are said to have sprung, of whom the may be enumerated :— A. 36 Solar or Suryavansa dynasties.
1. Grahilot or Gehlot, 24 branches. The Sesodia is the most distinguished. The rana of Udai pur is a Grahilote.
2. Rahtor, descended from Rama by Kusa, his second son, 24 branches. The raja of Jodhpur or Marwar belongs to this tribe.
3. Kachwaha, also sprung from Kusa, 12 branches. The raja of Jeypore is of this tribe.
B. Yadu or Chandravansa or Jadu or Lunar dynasty, sprung from the moon.
1. Yadu or Jadu, descendants of Krishna, 8 branches. The jharija and Bbattya in Cutch and Jeysulmir are the most powerful.
2. Tuar. Vikramaditya was a Tuar.
C. Agnicula or Fire race have four tribes and 87 branches, viz.
1. Premiere, west of Ms1wa and the desert of the Indus, 35 branches. The Mori, Soda, Sankla, Khair, Umra, Sumra (now Mohammedans), Vehil, Mairawat, 13alhar, Kaba, Ornate, Reber, Dhundia, Sortie, Hark little known.
2. Parihara, 12 branches.
3. Chalukya, of great power in the 11th, 12th, and 13th centuries, 16 branches. The ]3hagel branch is their chief representative.