Agnivansha
Encyclopedia
In Indian mythology and culture, the Agnivanshi are people descended from Agni
, the Vedic
god of fire. The Agnivanshi lineage or Agnivansha is one of the three lineages into which the Kshatriya
caste of Hindu
s is divided, the other two races being the Suryavanshi (descended from Surya
, the Sun God) and the Chandravanshi (descended from Chandra
, the Moon God).
s. In fact, it attempts to explain the origin of some of the Rajputs & agnikula kshatriyas of south. There are several versions of the legend.
The Bhavishya Purana
version of the legend begins with the puranic
legend wherein Parashurama
, an avatar
of Vishnu
, exterminated the traditional kshatriya
s of the land. Later, the legend says, sage Vasishta performed a great Yajna or fire-sacrifice, to seek from the gods a provision for the defense of righteousness on earth. In answer to his prayer, a youth arose from the Agnikunda or fire-altar—the first Agnivanshi Rajput. According to different versions of the legend, one or three or four of the Rajput clans originated from the Agnikunda, including the Naru Rajputs (Naru means Fire), Yadav
s, Gurjara-Pratihara s, Chauhan
s (Chahamanas), Solanki
s, and Paramara
s (Parmars)(Rahevar)(Rever), Agnikula kshatriya/Vanniyar
/Devanga
The Pratiharas established the first Rajput kingdom in Marwar
in southwestern Rajasthan in the 6th century the greatest kingdom after Ashoka and Harshvardhan, the Chauhans at Ajmer
in central Rajasthan, the Solankis in Gujarat, and the Paramaras in Malwa
The current day Agnikula kshatriyas in andhra pradesh are the suryavanshi rajputs migranted from rajasthan. Some portion of these agnikula kshatriyas mixed with pallavas(called as palli's))in south andhra and Tamil border. The venu gopala(krishna) temples are the perfect example which proves the migration from north as we don't find krishna temples in andhra or south like we see many in north. Where ever these agnikula kshatriyas settled we see venu gopala temple build by them.
The Bhavishya Purana text, as avaialble today, is regarded to have later additions, some as late as 1850 CE.
This legend shows how the true history of India is hidden under the thick veil of Brahmanic and Bardic fiction.
Fortunately, large number of inscriptions and texts have come to light in the past one and half centuries that allow us to trace the history of Rajputs and the evolution of the legend in detail.
The Agni-kunda story was first given in Nava-sahasanka-charita of Padmagupta, a fiction
al romance
where the hero
is identifiable as Sindhuraj, the patron of Padmagupta. In Nava-sahasanka-charita the progenitor Paramara
is created from fire by Vashishtha.
During the decline of the Dhar Paramaras, the story was included in royal inscriptions.
Later, the story was expanded to include two or three other Rajput clans.
Eventually some of the scholars, proposed that all of the Rajputs were created from the Agnikunda.
Historian such as Vincent Arthur Smith
, K. M. munshi, D.B. Bhandarkar states that Agnikula Kshatriyas namely Gurjara-Pratihara, Paramara
, Solanki
and Chauhan
s were from Gurjara stock .
Agni
Agni is a Hindu deity, one of the most important of the Vedic gods. He is the god of fire and the acceptor of sacrifices. The sacrifices made to Agni go to the deities because Agni is a messenger from and to the other gods...
, the Vedic
Vedic
Vedic may refer to:* the Vedas, the oldest preserved Indic texts** Vedic Sanskrit, the language of these texts** Vedic period, during which these texts were produced** Vedic pantheon of gods mentioned in Vedas/vedic period...
god of fire. The Agnivanshi lineage or Agnivansha is one of the three lineages into which the Kshatriya
Kshatriya
*For the Bollywood film of the same name see Kshatriya Kshatriya or Kashtriya, meaning warrior, is one of the four varnas in Hinduism...
caste of Hindu
Hindu
Hindu refers to an identity associated with the philosophical, religious and cultural systems that are indigenous to the Indian subcontinent. As used in the Constitution of India, the word "Hindu" is also attributed to all persons professing any Indian religion...
s is divided, the other two races being the Suryavanshi (descended from Surya
Surya
Surya Suraya or Phra Athit is the chief solar deity in Hinduism, one of the Adityas, son of Kasyapa and one of his wives, Aditi; of Indra; or of Dyaus Pitar . The term Surya also refers to the Sun, in general. Surya has hair and arms of gold...
, the Sun God) and the Chandravanshi (descended from Chandra
Chandra
In Hinduism, Chandra is a lunar deity and a Graha. Chandra is also identified with the Vedic Lunar deity Soma . The Soma name refers particularly to the juice of sap in the plants and thus makes the Moon the lord of plants and vegetation. He is described as young, beautiful, fair; two-armed and...
, the Moon God).
The Agnikunda legend
The Agnikunda legend gives an account of the origin of the Agnivanshi KshatriyaKshatriya
*For the Bollywood film of the same name see Kshatriya Kshatriya or Kashtriya, meaning warrior, is one of the four varnas in Hinduism...
s. In fact, it attempts to explain the origin of some of the Rajputs & agnikula kshatriyas of south. There are several versions of the legend.
The Bhavishya Purana
Bhavishya Purana
The Bhavishya Purana is one of the eighteen major Hindu Puranas. It is written in Sanskrit and attributed to Rishi Vyasa, the compiler of the Vedas. The title Bhavishya Purana signifies a work that contains prophecies regarding the future...
version of the legend begins with the puranic
Puranas
The Puranas are a genre of important Hindu, Jain and Buddhist religious texts, notably consisting of narratives of the history of the universe from creation to destruction, genealogies of kings, heroes, sages, and demigods, and descriptions of Hindu cosmology, philosophy, and geography.Puranas...
legend wherein Parashurama
Parashurama
Parashurama , is the sixth avatar of Vishnu and belongs to the treta yuga, and is the son of a Brahmin father Jamadagni and mother Renuka. He is considered one of the seven immortal human. He received an axe after undertaking a terrible penance to please Shiva, from whom he learned the methods of...
, an avatar
Avatar
In Hinduism, an avatar is a deliberate descent of a deity to earth, or a descent of the Supreme Being and is mostly translated into English as "incarnation," but more accurately as "appearance" or "manifestation"....
of Vishnu
Vishnu
Vishnu is the Supreme god in the Vaishnavite tradition of Hinduism. Smarta followers of Adi Shankara, among others, venerate Vishnu as one of the five primary forms of God....
, exterminated the traditional kshatriya
Kshatriya
*For the Bollywood film of the same name see Kshatriya Kshatriya or Kashtriya, meaning warrior, is one of the four varnas in Hinduism...
s of the land. Later, the legend says, sage Vasishta performed a great Yajna or fire-sacrifice, to seek from the gods a provision for the defense of righteousness on earth. In answer to his prayer, a youth arose from the Agnikunda or fire-altar—the first Agnivanshi Rajput. According to different versions of the legend, one or three or four of the Rajput clans originated from the Agnikunda, including the Naru Rajputs (Naru means Fire), Yadav
Yadav
Yādav refers to an umbrella group of traditionally non-elite pastoral communities, or castes, in India and Nepal which since the nineteenth and twentieth centuries has claimed descent from the mythological King Yadu as a part of a movement of social and political resurgence.The term 'Yadav' now...
s, Gurjara-Pratihara s, Chauhan
Chauhan
Chauhan, Chouhan or Chohan , , - is a clan who ruled parts of northern India in the Middle Ages. The clan is most famous for Rajput King Maharaja Prithviraj Chauhan...
s (Chahamanas), Solanki
Solanki
The Solanki was a royal Hindu Indian dynasty that ruled parts of western and central India between the 10th to 13th centuries. A number of scholars including V. A. Smith assign them Gurjar origin....
s, and Paramara
Paramara
Paramara is a Maratha, Gurjar,& Rajput clan of India.The Paramara clan belongs to the Agnivansha of Rajputs ancient Kshatriyas...
s (Parmars)(Rahevar)(Rever), Agnikula kshatriya/Vanniyar
Vanniyar
Vanniyar , refers to a very large social group of people spread all across South India. Vanniyars primarily live in modern Tamil Nadu where they speak Tamil, while in Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Kerala they speak their native South Indian Dravidian languages namely, Telugu, Kannada and Malayalam...
/Devanga
Devanga
Devengas are a community from South India that traditionally followed the occupation of weaving. Some Devangas consider themselves to be Brahmins, while most others classify themselves as Vaishyas.-Origins, location and languages:...
The Pratiharas established the first Rajput kingdom in Marwar
Marwar
Marwar is a region of southwestern Rajasthan state in western India. It lies partly in the Thar Desert. In Rajasthani dialect "wad" means a particular area. The word Marwar is derived from Sanskrit word 'Maruwat'. English translation of the word is 'The region of desert'., The Imperial Gazetteer...
in southwestern Rajasthan in the 6th century the greatest kingdom after Ashoka and Harshvardhan, the Chauhans at Ajmer
Ajmer
Ajmer , formerly written as Ajmere, is a city in Ajmer District in Rajasthan state in India. Ajmer has a population of around 800,000 , and is located west of the Rajasthan state capital Jaipur, 200 km from Jodhpur, 274 km from Udaipur, 439 km from Jaisalmer, and 391 km from...
in central Rajasthan, the Solankis in Gujarat, and the Paramaras in Malwa
The current day Agnikula kshatriyas in andhra pradesh are the suryavanshi rajputs migranted from rajasthan. Some portion of these agnikula kshatriyas mixed with pallavas(called as palli's))in south andhra and Tamil border. The venu gopala(krishna) temples are the perfect example which proves the migration from north as we don't find krishna temples in andhra or south like we see many in north. Where ever these agnikula kshatriyas settled we see venu gopala temple build by them.
The Bhavishya Purana text, as avaialble today, is regarded to have later additions, some as late as 1850 CE.
This legend shows how the true history of India is hidden under the thick veil of Brahmanic and Bardic fiction.
Fortunately, large number of inscriptions and texts have come to light in the past one and half centuries that allow us to trace the history of Rajputs and the evolution of the legend in detail.
The Agni-kunda story was first given in Nava-sahasanka-charita of Padmagupta, a fiction
Fiction
Fiction is the form of any narrative or informative work that deals, in part or in whole, with information or events that are not factual, but rather, imaginary—that is, invented by the author. Although fiction describes a major branch of literary work, it may also refer to theatrical,...
al romance
Romance (genre)
As a literary genre of high culture, romance or chivalric romance is a style of heroic prose and verse narrative that was popular in the aristocratic circles of High Medieval and Early Modern Europe. They were fantastic stories about marvel-filled adventures, often of a knight errant portrayed as...
where the hero
Hero
A hero , in Greek mythology and folklore, was originally a demigod, their cult being one of the most distinctive features of ancient Greek religion...
is identifiable as Sindhuraj, the patron of Padmagupta. In Nava-sahasanka-charita the progenitor Paramara
Paramara
Paramara is a Maratha, Gurjar,& Rajput clan of India.The Paramara clan belongs to the Agnivansha of Rajputs ancient Kshatriyas...
is created from fire by Vashishtha.
During the decline of the Dhar Paramaras, the story was included in royal inscriptions.
Later, the story was expanded to include two or three other Rajput clans.
Eventually some of the scholars, proposed that all of the Rajputs were created from the Agnikunda.
Historian such as Vincent Arthur Smith
Vincent Arthur Smith
Vincent Arthur Smith was born in 1843 in Dublin which was then part of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. He was an Indologist, historian and art historian who worked in the Indian Civil Service and retired early to devote himself to his writing.His Oxford History of India, covering...
, K. M. munshi, D.B. Bhandarkar states that Agnikula Kshatriyas namely Gurjara-Pratihara, Paramara
Paramara
Paramara is a Maratha, Gurjar,& Rajput clan of India.The Paramara clan belongs to the Agnivansha of Rajputs ancient Kshatriyas...
, Solanki
Solanki
The Solanki was a royal Hindu Indian dynasty that ruled parts of western and central India between the 10th to 13th centuries. A number of scholars including V. A. Smith assign them Gurjar origin....
and Chauhan
Chauhan
Chauhan, Chouhan or Chohan , , - is a clan who ruled parts of northern India in the Middle Ages. The clan is most famous for Rajput King Maharaja Prithviraj Chauhan...
s were from Gurjara stock .
Agnikunda chronology
- 1005 CE: Padmagupta writes Navasahasanka-charita during the rule of Parmar Sindhuraj (about 995-1055) of Dhara. He mentions creation of Paramar from Agnikinda by Vashista, for the first time.
- 1000-1055: BhojaBhojaBhoja was a philosopher king and polymath of medieval India, who ruled the kingdom of Malwa in central India from about 1000 to 1050 CE. Also known as Raja Bhoja Of Dhar, he belonged to the Paramara dynasty...
: no mention of Agnikunda in his copperplates or inscriptions.
- 1042: Vasantgarh inscription mentiones Paramara origin from Agnikunda.
- 1070-1093: Udayaditya, Udayapur prashasti mentions Paramara origin from Agnikunda.
- uncertain date: Prithviraj RasoPrithviraj RasoThe Prithviraj Raso or Prithvirajaraso is an epic poem composed by court poet, Chand Bardai, on the life of Prithviraj III, a Chauhan king who ruled Ajmer and Delhi between 1165 and 1192.Chand Bardai claimed to be contemporary of Prithviraj Chauhan.The historicity of Prithviraj Raso was proved...
composed. Oldest copies of do not mention the Agnikunda legend.
- Uncertain date: Unknown text that was later consulted for Aine-Akbari.
- Aine-Akbari by Abul Fazl(1551–1602) mentions creation of a Dhanji from an Agnikunda, somewhere in Deccan, to fight Buddhism. He comes to Malava and established his rule. When Puraraj, fifth in line from him, died childless, a Paramara is selected to succeed him.
- uncertain date: Agnikunda legend inserted in Prithviraj Raso, where three clans, Parihar, Chalukya and Parwar are mentions as having been created from the Agnikunda.
- Uncertain date: Agnikunda legend in Bhavishya Purana. It mentions four clans Paramar, Chauhan, Chalukya and Parihar were created to annihilate the Buddhists during the time of AshokaAshokaAshok Maurya or Ashoka , popularly known as Ashoka the Great, was an Indian emperor of the Maurya Dynasty who ruled almost all of the Indian subcontinent from ca. 269 BC to 232 BC. One of India's greatest emperors, Ashoka reigned over most of present-day India after a number of military conquests...
.
See also
- Origin of RajputsOrigin of RajputsThe Rajputs are a community of the Indian subcontinent. Rajputs are the descendents of warriors of the Kshatriya subdivision of Indian society who claim descent through one of three dynasties: Suryavanshi, Chandravanshi, and Agnivanshi.Chandravanshi Rajputs claim descent from Chandra...
- Rajput clansRajput clansThe Rajputs are a martial race and caste of the Indian subcontinent. They are a Hindu caste whose members generally consider themselves to belong to the Kshatriya varna ; however, Encyclopædia Britannica notes that their members have come from a variety of lineages, including from foreign...
- Suryavanshi
- Chandravanshi
- Suryavanshi Aare KatikaSuryavanshi Aare KatikaSuryavanshi Aare Katika is a caste found in India. It is a division of the traditional warrior caste called Kshatriya, although in modern times members of this caste also engage in a variety of other professions.-History of the caste:...
- DhudhiDhudhiThe Dhudi are a tribe of Panhwar, Panwar, Parmar Rajput origin, found in the Punjab province of Pakistan. According to the 1931 census of India they had a population of 5,800....
- VanniyarVanniyarVanniyar , refers to a very large social group of people spread all across South India. Vanniyars primarily live in modern Tamil Nadu where they speak Tamil, while in Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Kerala they speak their native South Indian Dravidian languages namely, Telugu, Kannada and Malayalam...
