Sikarwar

Sikarwar Rajputs is an old clan of Suryavansha Dynasty Rajputs from the first century A.D. They draw their name from Sikar (Rajasthan), the district that was allocated to Swarup Rao Sikarwar to rule. Later Keshevdev Sikarwar founded the city of Sikri (Vijaipur Sikri or Fatehpur Sikri) in 823 AD.

History

In AD 823 Keshav Dev Sikarwar the army commander of Rawal Matribhatji of Chittor along with troops from the Gohils of Pirangarh, Jhalasof Halwad, Chawadas, Chandrawats, Shaktawats, Sikarwars form Sikar, Mangals from Lodwara, Bargujars from Rajurgarh, Bhatejas, Guhilots and the Sisodias from Mewar went on expansion spree. They extended the Mewar’s kingdom to Maharastra, Gujarat, Madhaya Pradesh, Orissa and Ajhar Garhi. This increased the fame of Rawal Matribhatji, as the Rana’s of Chitor were then known. While returning to their capital, Chitor, they became bold enough to occupy Delhi King Anangpal’s land at Agra, Vijaipur, Bayana and Khanwa. Thus it was Keshevdev Sikarwar, a Great Grandson of Kirti Dev who established Vijaipur Sikri and hoisted his flag. Rajput clans of Tomars, Rathores and Parihars inhabited the area during those days.

Besides increasing the fame of Sikarwars amongst the Rajputs it also established Mewar’s hedgmony in the area. Flushed by this victory Rawal Maitry Bhatji organized a ‘Congregation of Chaurasee or eighty-four rulers of Suriyavans’ at Sikar. All kings, nobles and commoners got together to celebrate the victory and also enjoy a community feast. All the 84 states were ruled by progenies of Maharaja Kanak Sen, the original patriarch of Suriyavans who had migrated from Lahore in the first century A.D. The practice of inviting 'Chaurasee' was thus started by Rawal Maitry Bhatji. The Rajputs of Sikar and Chitor followed it as a mark of solidarity. There after Sikarwars started calling themselves Chaurasee since they had made Kanak Sen a Chakravarti Emperor of the highest order in recorded history. The Sikarwars of Gahmar still celebrate Chaurasee on special occasion as a continuation of this tradition.

To commemorate the essence of Chaurasee one can still find eighty-four pillars in the second floor of the Punch Mahal of Sikri. It has beautifully carved pillars, of different designs- some are circular; some octagonal, some have different designs like floral, spirals or twisted pattern or the Hindu bell-and-chain motif. These pillars also have the insignia of Suriyavans on each of them including its beam. The Hindus consider a square, an octagon or a figure that is a divisible by four 'auspicious'. Complete Sikri is built on this ancient Hindu principle. In ancient times a full estate had a group of eighty-four villages or states or Forty-two (Bialessa) or sixteen states etc. The congregation of Chaurasee continues to be practiced by Sikarwar Rajputs of Gahmar on especial occasions though very few can afford its cost.

A lake was dug at the times of Rana Hamir while Suamber Devji was the ruler of Sikri. Again it was Anup Dev the son of Kartik Dev of Vijaipur Sikri who got this lake deepened while Rana Khumbha ruled over Chitor sometimes around A.D 1440. The lake improved the aesthetic beauty of the area so much, that it added to the fame of Vijaipur Sikri. The lake was then called 'Anup Jheel'. A small tank dug inside the palace complex still known as 'Anup Talao' was named after Anup Rao Sikarwr.

Four generation later both Babur and the 'Hindu Forces' used the waters of Anup Jheel during the battle of Kanhwa. It was large enough to sustain a force of more than 1.5 lac men, thousands of elephants, horses and other animals that saw action in the battle that lasted for more than two months. As per Dr Asharfi Lal Srivastav the lake remained intact till the monsoons of July 1582 when it's dam broke and the water drained out. Akbar, the Moghul Ruler of the period had to abandon Sikri due to scarcity of portable water.

Ruler of Sikri (1527 A.D. - During Battle of Khanwa)

DHAM DEV RAO Sikarwar, the ruler of Sikri, and a close friend of Rana Sanga fought with Babur in the Battle of Khanwa. He provided complete support to strengthen the Rajput confederation headed by Rana Sanga. In fact the complete Rajput army of Rana Sanga stayed inside the Sikri fort for more than a month. Each household of Sikri rose on the occasion in cooking food for the confederate Rajput since their was shortage of cooks. Enough rations had been stocked inside the fort even before the battle started as Sanga had planned to capture Agra. But the Mughal had beat him at that and occupied Agra with speed. The Rajput caused many a Mughal causalities in the 'night battle'. This was after the Rajputs had lost the battle of Kanhua during the day. On entering Sikri fort after blowing its wall with guns Babur sent his General to pursue the Rajputs. (Babur terms the fort as enemy's Chavanee or cantonment). The command of the Rajput army then devolved up on Dham Dev Rao Sikarwar since Sanga was badly wounded. The fighting withdrawal was conducted with fair amount of discipline and control. The wounded Sanga was loaded on a camel, so was the Sikarwar deity 'Mata Kamahkya' who were transported to the safety of Aravalies, protected by a ring of Rajput warriors. Sikarwars migrated from Sikri after the Battle of Kanhua to save their religion and their families from Babur's atrocities. The town of Vijaipur Sikri was renamed Fatehpur Sikri by Babur after the battle of Kanhua (Kanwah) in AD 1527 'Fathpur Pukarat Mughal Naam Mori Nagri Ko, Vijaipur Nagri Aaj Fathpur Bhayo Ree'is how Vidhyadhar the bards narrates the renaming.

Babur himself had picturized the Battle of Khanwa in his Baburnama. He had mentioned Dham Dev Rao at least twice in his book along with Rana Sanga, Medini Rai, Rao Chandrasen, Silhadi(Shiladitya), Mahmood Khan Lodi, Hasan Khan Mewati.

Dham Dev Rao

The names the three sons of Jairaj Dev of Sikri were Viram, Dham and Kam Dev. Kam Dev was the eldest, Viram Dev the youngest. While Kam Dev proceeded along with his army towards Madhya Pradesh in the South and subjugated the Muslim aborigines called Cheras and established himself in the district of Morena, Gwalior and Jhansi etc. Thus the ancestors of Sikarwar towards Morena had migrated much before the Mughals had arrived. They had gone to expand their kingdom and also taken their army along. Dham Dev was crowned at Sikri in A.D 1504 as its ruler. While the youngest brother Viram managed the affairs of the state. Dham Dev like his ancestors was a staunch worshiper of Mata Kamakhya and regularly prayed before her.

Migration of Sikarwars-Northern India

They initially migrated from Sikri and Agra to Gahban then a dense forest area. Now the same area is known as Gahmar which is located in (Gazipur district of U.P). Dham Dev Rao's progeny along with Sher Shah Suri again seem to have fought Humayun in the battle of Chausa (S.W of Buxar & across the Karmanasa River) on June 26, 1539 A.D. Humayun (Humayun was saved by a Bhisti from drowning in the river Ganges after his defeat by Ser Shah Suri).

Later the Rajputs of this region spread to Uttar Pradesh especially in Hardoi, Gorakhpur, Gazipur and Azamgarh districts. The Gahmar village in Ghazipur has maximum number of Sikarwar Rajputs.

Sikarwar Rajputs had also spread to Bihar, especially in the HazariBag (Jharkhand), Palamu, Pansa, Mohamadganj, Lamari, Gurha, Navgarha, Badiha, Rampur, Gaya, Rohtas, Bhabua/Kaimur, Chainpur, and Harshu Brahma districts of Bihar. Some of them especially the Rajkumar Sikarwar had migrated straight from Sikar. They happen to be the progeny of Rajkumar Saliwahan Sikarwar a cousin line of Dham Dev Rao.

In Madhya Pradesh they abound in Gwalior, Bhind, Morena and areas around the Chambal. A region adjoining the Chambal valley is still called as Sikarwar. Certain parts of Rajasthan especially the Pahara region (Kelwara) near Udaipur still has Sikarwar population. The region was allocated as a Jagir to 'Jattan Rao Sikarwar' (their ancestor) who was the Army Commander of Rana Hamir. The Sikarwars had helped the Rana regain Chitor after Alaudin Khilji had captured it in A.D 1303. Dholpur in Rajasthan still has a sizable number of Sikarwar population.

Badalgarh [Present Agra Red fort] was built by Raja Badal Singh a Sikarwar Rajput during AD 1475.

ikarwar-Division

Sikarwar Vans is divided into three branches:
# Gardhiya - The Rajputs residing in the region of gardah are known as Gardhiya Sikarwar.
# Parvatiya- Those residing in mountainous regions are known by Parvatiya Sikarwar.
# Bankha Sikarwar- After conquering Bankgarh, those who stayed there were known by Bankaha Sikarwar. There are 12 villages around Bankgarh- Bank, Akorhi, Gamharia, Chapra, Govardhanpur, Jammuhar, Kanchanpur, Manikpur, Basti, Bhushula, Bhadkuiyan. The region is known as Barah Gaoan ( 12 villages).

Gotra, Kuldev, Kuldevi, Flag

Gotra-Sankrit, Prawar- three; Sankrit, Angiras & Aurav. Ved:Yajur Ved, Up Ved- Dhanur Ved, Paad- Dakshin, Shikha- Dakshin, Chand-Anurisp, Branch: Madhyami; Sutra-Katyaan;Kuldevi- Kamakhya; Kuldev-Shiv, Bird-Owl, Flag- Bal Siriya on a golden red back ground.

The first temple of Maa Kamakhya was established at Sikri(now Fatehpur Sikri) sometimes in the ninth century. The original idol of Mata Kamakhaya was transported by Dham Dev Rao Sikarwar and re-established at Karahia- Gahmar. A beautiful temple has now been constructed by Sikarwars of this region including those who reside in Bihar. Ram Naumi and Nauratra are special function of the temple.The Sikarwar had been going to Khamkhya Mandir at Gauhati on pilgrimage since ancient times.

Other Information

Sikarwars are the real fighters of the Chambal valley in theMorena district.as Tor-Tilawali between Chambal and Kwari river. At that time the leader was Shri DALKU Singh Sikarwar. all the sikarwars in morena belongs to Baba Dalku's family.now the Sikarwar's are spread in aprox 20 villages in Morena. [Dalku Singh Sikarwar: migrated form alwar, during pre mughal era]

These details have been obtained from the original work of Sikarwar bards who had served them since ages and are more authentic.

Sikarwar Rajput are also found in villages of Majhgaon, Kaithatikar, Bathaniya, Chilkaur, Kathel in Banka district. Parsando in the Munger district of Bihar.

There are 12 villages of SIKARWAR in Mathura district of UP in north India. These villages lies in Baldeo Block of Mathura. The main villages are Hathakauli, Kiloni, Angai, Kasimpur, Gharotha etc. Most of Sikarwar do farming and still prefer to join different corps of Indian Army as they feel better and suitable candidates of bravery in army.

ikarwar Forts

Sikri Fort(Fatehpur Sikri);Badalgarh(Agra); Chainpur(Kaimur,Bihar)

ikarwar Villages

Sikarwars are spread far and wide across various states including Rajasthan, UttarPradesh, MadhyaPradesh, Bihar, Assam etc.

Assam- Bihar- Supaul,Saharsa,Birpur(near nepal border) Banka: Majhgaon, Kaithatikar, Bathaniya, Chilkaur, Kathel Chappra: Kaimur: Chainpur;Bhagwanpur Munger: Parsando Rohtas: maximum villages under sasaram district....like neev,bishrampur.kanchanpur... Aurangabad: Matihani MadhyaPradesh- UttarPradesh- Agra: Fatehpur Sikri Gazipur: Gahmar Jaunpur: Kanpur: Mathura: Hathakauli, Kiloni, Angai, Kasimpur, Gharotha Varanasi:Babhanpura Rajasthan: BandiKuin: Udaipur:

References

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* cite book|title=Baburnama

External links

deogarh