Bundela
Encyclopedia
| Rajput clan: Bundela | |
| Vanshi | Chandravanshi |
| Descended from: | Vindhya Range Vindhya Range The Vindhya Range is a range of older rounded mountains and hills in the west-central Indian subcontinent, which geographically separates the Indian subcontinent into northern India and Southern India.- Introduction :... |
| Branches: | - |
| Ruled in | Bundelkhand Bundelkhand Bundelkhand anciently known as Chedi Kingdom is a geographic region of central India... |
| Princely states: | Orchha Orchha State Orchha State, a princely state of Bundelkhand region, in present Madhya Pradesh state, India, was founded in the 1501 AD, by the Bundela chief, Rudra Pratap Singh, who became the first King of Orchha, and also built the Fort of Orchha. He died in an attempt to save a cow from a lion... (1501-1950) Datia Datia Datia is a small rural town and a municipality in Datia district in the state of Madhya Pradesh, India. It is the administrative center of Datia District. It was formerly the seat of the eponymous princely state in the British Raj. Datia is situated near Gwalior and on the border with Uttar... (1626-1950) Panna Panna, India Panna is a city and a municipality in Panna district in the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh. It is famous for its diamond mines. It is the administrative center of Panna District.- History :... (1732–1950) Ajaigarh Ajaigarh Ajaigarh, or Adjygurh is town and a nagar panchayat in the Panna District of Madhya Pradesh state in central India.-History:Ajaigarh was the capital of a princely state of the same name during the British Raj. Ajaigarh was founded in 1765 by Guman Singh, a Bundela Rajput who was the nephew of Raja... (1765–1950) Charkhari Charkhari Charkhari, currently a part of Uttar Pradesh state, was one of the Princely states of India during the period of the British Raj. The state was founded by saurabh singh bundela, a Rajput of Bundela clan. On India’s independence, this Princely state was acceded to India.-Geography:Charkhari is... (1765–1950) Chhatarpur Chhatarpur Chhatarpur is a city and a municipality in Chhatarpur district in the state of Madhya Pradesh, India. It is the administrative headquarters of Chhatarpur District.- History :... (???-1785) Jaso |
The Bundelas are a Rajput
Rajput
A Rajput is a member of one of the patrilineal clans of western, central, northern India and in some parts of Pakistan. Rajputs are descendants of one of the major ruling warrior classes in the Indian subcontinent, particularly North India...
clan of Chattari lineage who ruled several states in central India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
, in Bundelkhand
Bundelkhand
Bundelkhand anciently known as Chedi Kingdom is a geographic region of central India...
region from the 16th century.The Bundelas are the most prominent Rajputs hailing from Central India. They are the most fearless and matchless of all the contemporary Rajputs and have proved the same through the various battles which they fought manifesting their unique combination of valour and strategy. The present Member of Parliament Shri Jeetendra Singh Bundela representing Khajuraho constituency is one of the descendants from Maharaja Chhatrasal who is actively assisted by his nephew Shri Deependra Singh Bundela. The History of Bundelkhand has been compiled by Shri Prithvi Singh Bundela, which is an encyclopedia depicting the Geography and History of Bundelas and runs into approximately 1400 pages which is divided into 4 volumes. The present district of Chhatarpur, which owes its name from the Maharaja Chhatrasal, continues to be the nerve centre of the entire Bundelkhand. The present day Bundelkhad comprises Seven district of Southern Uttar Pradesh and Six district of northern Madhya Pradesh. The area is rich in Forest wealth, Mines and Minerals and is traversed by various small and big rivers and hills cutting the country side. The present day Tourist destination of Khajuraho which is a 1000 years old world heritage is globally well connected by Air and is part of District Chhatarpur.
The most dominant community from this area is of Chandravanshi Kshatriyas called as Bundelas, Chandrauls, Chandelas or Chandravashi Kshatriya.
The Bundelas of Bundelkhand trace their ancestry to Maharaja Hemkaran (Pancham Singh Bundela), who was driven from his kingdom by his four elder brothers. While in exile, he propitiated the goddess Vindyhavasini, and with her assistance established a kingdom at Mahauni in the Vindhya Range
Vindhya Range
The Vindhya Range is a range of older rounded mountains and hills in the west-central Indian subcontinent, which geographically separates the Indian subcontinent into northern India and Southern India.- Introduction :...
of central India. His descendants were known as the 'Vindhyalas', after the mountain range.
The Bundelas moved south from the Vindhya Range
Vindhya Range
The Vindhya Range is a range of older rounded mountains and hills in the west-central Indian subcontinent, which geographically separates the Indian subcontinent into northern India and Southern India.- Introduction :...
into the Bundelkhand region, People who moved far south in to Maratwada and deep south are called Bondili which now bears their name.
Bondili is the corrupted name of Bundela in south India after their move. Here we need to know the reason why they moved to south. Its happened in the ruling time of Veer Singh Dev / Beer Singh Deo (1592–1627). Bundelas always revolted against Mughals and fought for independence. After so many attacks Jahangir
Jahangir
Jahangir was the ruler of the Mughal Empire from 1605 until his death. The name Jahangir is from Persian جهانگیر,meaning "Conqueror of the World"...
captured the kingdom of Veer Singh and the king made alliance with the mughal emperor. Because of loss of soldiers of mughal army, Jahangir
Jahangir
Jahangir was the ruler of the Mughal Empire from 1605 until his death. The name Jahangir is from Persian جهانگیر,meaning "Conqueror of the World"...
got 3 thousand bundela soldiers from Veer Singh Dev 1 thousand is cavalry and 2 thousand are infantry. The victorious Jahangir Only 16 years of age, ordered the completion of the Jahangir Mahal
Jahangir Mahal
Jahangir Mahal, Citadel of Jahangir, Orchha Palace, Mahal-e-Jahangir Orchha, Jahangir Citadel; the Jahangir Mahal is a citadel and garrison located Orchha, it was completed in the year 1598 by the victorious Mughal Prince Salem after defeating Vir Singh Deo of Bundela a sworn enemy of the Mughals,...
a famous Mughal
Mughal Empire
The Mughal Empire , or Mogul Empire in traditional English usage, was an imperial power from the Indian Subcontinent. The Mughal emperors were descendants of the Timurids...
citadel in Orchha
Orchha
Orchha is a town in Tikamgarh district of Madhya Pradesh state, India. The town was established by Maharaja Rudra Pratap Singh in 1501, as the seat of an eponymous former princely state of central India, in the Bundelkhand region. Orchha lies on the Betwa River , 80 km from Tikamgarh &...
to commemorate and honor his victory.
Also, some other Bundela Rajput kings have worked as army heads in Mughal
Mughal Empire
The Mughal Empire , or Mogul Empire in traditional English usage, was an imperial power from the Indian Subcontinent. The Mughal emperors were descendants of the Timurids...
army and moved to south India. In the process of mughal empire expansion they fought sincerely and become kings for some of the south Indian kingdoms. For example Tamil people still remember the legendary Raja De Singh (Tej Singh) S/o Swarup Singh for his bravery in the area of Gingee
Gingee
Gingee is a panchayat town in Viluppuram district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. The nearest town with a railway station is Tindivanam, 28 km away....
or Chenji.
And also we can find out from the book of "Srisaila Charitra" of Srisailam (Kurnool district, Andhra Pradesh) Raja Bheem Singh worked as Governor for some Rayala Seema regions for 20 years Under Mughal rule.
It has also suggested that the Bundela may be the inheritors of the Pulinda non-Aryan aboriginals of modern Bundelkhand
Bundelkhand
Bundelkhand anciently known as Chedi Kingdom is a geographic region of central India...
; the Pulindas disappeared from historical record in the 13th century, and the Bundela entered it in the 14th, so some scholars have theorised that Bundela is a variant on the term Pulinda.
Whatever it may be, but origin of bundela/bondili people is Orchha
Orchha
Orchha is a town in Tikamgarh district of Madhya Pradesh state, India. The town was established by Maharaja Rudra Pratap Singh in 1501, as the seat of an eponymous former princely state of central India, in the Bundelkhand region. Orchha lies on the Betwa River , 80 km from Tikamgarh &...
which is a beautiful historic town in central India with raj mahals and temples.
Rule at Bundelkhand
Bundela rulers received constant military support from Ahirs. In the 14th century Sahanpal Bundela, together with Parmars, and ChauhanChauhan
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 captured Garhkundar, near Damoh
Damoh
Damoh is a city in the Sagar Division of northeast Madhya Pradesh in India, east of state capital Bhopal and in north by Tikamgarh. It is the administrative headquarters of Damoh District.-Geography:...
from a Khangar
Khangar
Khangar is a stratovolcano located in the central part of Kamchatka Peninsula, Russia. It is the southernmost volcano of the Sredinny Range. Its 2 km-wide caldera is now filled by a lake....
king. The Bundela chief Rudra Pratap
Rudra Pratap
Rudra Pratap is an Indian engineer and Professor of Mechanical Engineering at the Indian Institute of Science , Bangalore. Among other research interests, he works in the field of Microelectromechanical systems and currently heads India's first research lab in the field of Microelectromechanical...
(ruled 1501–1531) founded the state of Orchha
Orchha
Orchha is a town in Tikamgarh district of Madhya Pradesh state, India. The town was established by Maharaja Rudra Pratap Singh in 1501, as the seat of an eponymous former princely state of central India, in the Bundelkhand region. Orchha lies on the Betwa River , 80 km from Tikamgarh &...
. He was succeeded by his son Madhukar. The Bundelas captured the city of Chanderi
Chanderi
Chanderi चंदेरी شندرئ is a town of historical importance in Ashoknagar District of Madhya Pradesh state in India. It is situated at a distance of 127 km from Shivpuri,37 km from Lalitpur,55 km from Ashok Nagar and about 45 km from Esagarh It is surrounded by hills southwest of...
in 1586. Madhukar's son Virsingh Dev succeeded to the throne of Orchha, and Chanderi went to Madhukar's son Ram Sab. Virsingh Dev's son Jujhar Singh succeeded as ruler of Orchha, but was killed by the Mughal
Mughal Empire
The Mughal Empire , or Mogul Empire in traditional English usage, was an imperial power from the Indian Subcontinent. The Mughal emperors were descendants of the Timurids...
Emperor Shah Jahan
Shah Jahan
Shah Jahan Shah Jahan (also spelled Shah Jehan, Shahjehan, , Persian: شاه جهان) (January 5, 1592 – January 22, 1666) Shah Jahan (also spelled Shah Jehan, Shahjehan, , Persian: شاه جهان) (January 5, 1592 – January 22, 1666) (Full title: His Imperial Majesty Al-Sultan al-'Azam wal Khaqan...
in 1636, and Orchha was briefly annexed to the Mughal Empire, although it was later restored to the Bundelas. Bhagwan Rao, another son of Virsingh Dev, became ruler of Datia
Datia
Datia is a small rural town and a municipality in Datia district in the state of Madhya Pradesh, India. It is the administrative center of Datia District. It was formerly the seat of the eponymous princely state in the British Raj. Datia is situated near Gwalior and on the border with Uttar...
.
Champat Ray, a descendant of Rudra Pratap, revolted against the Mughals. His fourth son Maharaja Chhatrasal
Maharaja Chhatrasal
Budelkhand Kesri Maharaja Chhatrasal , was a Bundeli warrior who chose to turn against the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb and seek to establish his own kingdom in Bundelkhand....
(1649–1732) became the most prominent Bundela leader. In 1671 he started a rebellion against the Mughals, and soon captured Naugaon in present-day Chhatarpur District
Chhatarpur District
Chhatarpur District is a district of Madhya Pradesh state of central India. The town of Chhatarpur is the district headquarters.-Geography:Chattarpur district located at 24.06° & 25.20°N 78.59° & 80.26° E respectively...
. In 1680 he conquered Mahoba
Mahoba
Mahoba is a city and Mahoba District of the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, in the Bundelkhand region. Mahoba is known for its closeness to Khajuraho, Laundi and other historic places like Kulpahar, Charkhari, Kalinjar, Orchha, and Jhansi...
, and went on to control much of Bundelkhand, ruling from Panna
Panna, India
Panna is a city and a municipality in Panna district in the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh. It is famous for its diamond mines. It is the administrative center of Panna District.- History :...
. He formed an alliance with the Maratha
Maratha
The Maratha are an Indian caste, predominantly in the state of Maharashtra. The term Marāthā has three related usages: within the Marathi speaking region it describes the dominant Maratha caste; outside Maharashtra it can refer to the entire regional population of Marathi-speaking people;...
Peshwa
Peshwa
A Peshwa is the titular equivalent of a modern Prime Minister. Emporer Shivaji created the Peshwa designation in order to more effectively delegate administrative duties during the growth of the Maratha Empire. Prior to 1749, Peshwas held office for 8-9 years and controlled the Maratha army...
Baji Rao I
Baji Rao I
Shrimant Baji Rao Balaji Bhatt , also known as Baji Rao I, was a noted general who served as Peshwa to the fourth Maratha Chhatrapati Shahu from 1719 until Baji Rao's death. He is also known as Thorale Baji Rao...
, who was challenging the Mughals for control of central India, and in 1729 Baji Rao sent a Maratha army to aid Chhatar Sal against the Mughals. Upon his death in 1732, Chhatar Sal left a third of his dominions, including Mahoba
Mahoba
Mahoba is a city and Mahoba District of the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, in the Bundelkhand region. Mahoba is known for its closeness to Khajuraho, Laundi and other historic places like Kulpahar, Charkhari, Kalinjar, Orchha, and Jhansi...
, Banda, and Jhansi
Jhansi
Jhansi Hindi:झाँसी, , Marathi: झाशी, is a historical city of India. Jhansi is the administrative headquarters of Jhansi District and Jhansi Division. The original walled city grew up around its stone fort, which crowns a neighboring rock. This district is on the bank of river Betwa.The National...
, to his Maratha ally Baji Rao. Chhatar Sal's descendants ruled the states of Panna
Panna, India
Panna is a city and a municipality in Panna district in the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh. It is famous for its diamond mines. It is the administrative center of Panna District.- History :...
, Ajaigarh
Ajaigarh
Ajaigarh, or Adjygurh is town and a nagar panchayat in the Panna District of Madhya Pradesh state in central India.-History:Ajaigarh was the capital of a princely state of the same name during the British Raj. Ajaigarh was founded in 1765 by Guman Singh, a Bundela Rajput who was the nephew of Raja...
(founded 1765), Charkhari
Charkhari
Charkhari, currently a part of Uttar Pradesh state, was one of the Princely states of India during the period of the British Raj. The state was founded by saurabh singh bundela, a Rajput of Bundela clan. On India’s independence, this Princely state was acceded to India.-Geography:Charkhari is...
(founded 1765, Chhatarpur
Chhatarpur
Chhatarpur is a city and a municipality in Chhatarpur district in the state of Madhya Pradesh, India. It is the administrative headquarters of Chhatarpur District.- History :...
, and Jaso. Chhatarpur went to the Ponwar Rajputs in 1785.
In 1680 Devi Singh Bundela was made governor of the Chanderi, and the city remained in the hands of his family until it was captured in 1811 by Jean Baptiste Filose
Jean Baptiste Filose
Jean Baptiste Filose was a military commander in the army of Daulat Rao Sindhia, the Maratha ruler of Gwalior. In 1811 he captured the fortress of Chanderi on the eastern border of Sindhia's kingdom from the Bundela Rajput rulers...
for the Maratha
Maratha
The Maratha are an Indian caste, predominantly in the state of Maharashtra. The term Marāthā has three related usages: within the Marathi speaking region it describes the dominant Maratha caste; outside Maharashtra it can refer to the entire regional population of Marathi-speaking people;...
ruler Daulat Rao Sindhia of Gwalior.
After 1802, the Bundela rulers entered into treaties of subsidiary alliance
Subsidiary alliance
A subsidiary alliance is an alliance between a dominant nation and a nation that it dominates.-British policy in India:The doctrine of subsidiary alliance was introduced by Marquess Wellesley, British Governor-General of India from 1798 to 1805...
with the British, and became princely states of the Central India Agency
Central India Agency
The Central India Agency was a political office of the British Indian Empire, which covered the northern half of present-day Madhya Pradesh state. The Central India Agency was made up entirely of princely states, which were under native rulers...
. Orchha, Datia, Panna, Ajaigarh, Charkhari, and Jaso were ruled by the Bundelas until 1950, shortly after Indian Independence, when the Bundela rulers acceded to the Government of India
Government of India
The Government of India, officially known as the Union Government, and also known as the Central Government, was established by the Constitution of India, and is the governing authority of the union of 28 states and seven union territories, collectively called the Republic of India...
.
At Orchha
- Raja Rudra Pratap (1501–1531)
- Raja Bharatichand (1531–1554)
- Raja Madhukarshah (1554–1592)
- Raja Vir Singh DeoVir Singh DeoVir Singh Deo was a Bundela Rajput chief and the ruler of the kingdom of Orchha during Jahangir's reign as the Mughal emperor of India. He was an ally of Jahangir's in the latter's struggles against his father, Akbar. Vir Singh killed Abu'l-Fazl ibn Mubarak, an adviser of Akbar's in 1602....
(Bir Singh Deo) (1592–1627) - Raja Jujhar Singh (1627–1636)
- Raja Devi Singh (1635–1641)
- Raja Pahar Sing 1641-1653)
- Raja Sujan Singh I 1653-1672)
- Raja Indramani Singh 1672-1675)
- Raja Jashwant Singh 1675-1684)
- Raja Bhagwat Singh (1684–1689)
- Raja Udwat Singh (1689–1735)
- Raja Prithvi Singh (1735–1752)
- Raja Sanwant Singh (1752–1765)
- Raja Hati Singh (1765–1768)
- Raja Man Singh (1768–1775)
- Raja Bharti Singh (1775–1776)
- Raja Vikramajit (1776–1817) died 1834.
- Raja Dharam Pal (1817–1834) died 1834.
- Raja Vikramajit (restored 1834)
- Raja Tej Singh (1834–1841)
- Raja Sajjan Singh (1841–1854)
- Maharaja Hamir Singh (raja 1854-1865, maharaja 1865-March 15, 1874)
- Maharaja Pratap Singh (June 1874-March 3, 1930) born 1854, died 1830.
- Maharaja Vir Singh (March 4, 1930-acceded January 1, 1950) born 1899, died 1956.
At Panna
- Chhatra Sal (died 1732)
- Raja Harde Sah (1731–1739)
- Raja Sabha Singh (1739–1752)
- Raja Aman Singh (1752–1758)
- Raja Hindupat Singh (1758–1778)
- Raja Anirudh Singh (1778–1779)
- interregnum 1779-1785)
- Raja Dhokal Singh (1785–1798)
- Raja Kishor Singh (1798–1834)
- Raja Harbans Rai (1834–1849)
- Maharaja Mahendra Nirpat Singh (1849–1870)
- Maharaja Rudra Pratap Singh (1870–1893) born 1848.
- Maharaja Mahendra Lokpal Singh (1893–1898)
- Maharaja Mahendra Madho Singh (1898–1902)
- Maharaja Mahendra Yadvendra Singh (1902-January 1, 1963) born 1893.
- Maharaja Mahendra Narendra singh (1963-...............) born 29 May 1915
- Maharaja Mahendra Manvendra singh