Bargujar

Infobox caste
caste_name=Bargujar
classification=Rajput - Kshatriya
subdivisions= Hindustani, Maharashtrian and Himachali
populated_states=Maharashtra, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Himachal Pradesh
languages=Marathi, Hindi, Garhwali, Kumaoni and Awadhi
religions=Hinduism

The Bargujar is one of the most ancient Suryvanshi Kshatriya race of India. They are among the most revered and fierce Rajputs of ancient India ever known,and may truly be referred to as the bravest of the brave. They constituted the main force in "Haraval Tukdi" or the first line of offence in any battle. The Bargujars chose to die rather than to submit to the supremacy of the Muslim kings. Many bargujars were put to death for not giving their daughters to Muslim rulers. Some Bargujars changed their clan name to Sikarwar to escape mass genocide carried out against them.Sikari township was founded by them to which Akbar added "fatehpur" and was later called Fatehpur Sikari,near Agra.They also originaly built the Agra Fort.

History

A colony found refuge in present day Anupshahar, which was founded by Raja Anup Singh Bargujar, the eldest son of Raja Pratap Singh Bargujar. They built numerous monuments, including the famous Neelkant temple,was built by Raja Manthan Dev Bargujar a rock edict gives reference to it being built in 9th A.D., now in the Sariska Tiger Reserve; the fort and Neelkant Mahadev Temple at Kalinjar being Shiva Worshipers; the Amber Fort, many other palaces and forts at Alwar, Machari, Sawai Madhopur; and the fort of Dausa. One of their famous kings was Raja Pratap Singh Bargujar, who was Prithviraj Chauhan's nephew and assisted in his fight against the Muslim invaders, who were led by Muhammad of Ghor in 1191. They also fought on the side of Rana Pratap) of Mewar and Maharana Hammir as their generals.They also had close association and family ties with Raja Hamir Dev of Ranthambhor whose army and general consisted mostly of Bargujars. One of them, Raja Nune Shah Bargujar of the Samthar state, [The Samthar state was founded in the 18th century] fought with the British and pushed back their forces many times but later signed a peace treaty with the British in 1817.

The Bargujars are not to be confused with the Hepthalites, or Huns, as they came only towards the 6th century. One branch of Bargujars, Raja Bagh Singh Bargujar was the founder of 'Rajor',the ruins are inside Sariska Tiger Reserve, their ancient capital in Vikrami Samvat 202 which corresponds to A.D.145, the difference being 57 years. The place was also referred to as 'Baghola'. He also built a lake near Sileser Lake in the same year and when it was dug up red water flowed from it, which was called "Kanganoon".The Kacchwaha rajput clan betrayed and expelled them from Rajasthan(as confirmed by Col. James Tod in his famous ,"Annals and Antiquities of Rajasthan.Dhola Rae the founder of Jaipur state married the daughter of a Bargujar chief of Dausa who did not have a son and by craft and avarice acquired their lands.

Origins and statistics

The Bargujar's are the ancient rulers of 'Gujardes' comprising most of Rajasthan and Gujarat and hence acquired the name "Bargujar". Bargujar rajputs are the most ancient kshatriya's of India the fiercest and bravest of the brave,being Suryavanshi, descendants of the eldest son of Rama, Lava [Rama (rāma in IAST, राम in Devanāgarī) is the Seventh Avatara of Vishnu, and one of the most important manifestations of God in Hinduism. Lava and his twin brother Kusha are the children of the Hindu God Rama and his wife Sita Devi, whose story is told in the Ramayana] and hence most of them use the surname "Raghav". Nowadays they are mostly settled in Khandesh and Vidharbha regions of Maharashtra with a small population in Uttar Pradesh, along the river Ganges. Ranjit Singh Judeo is the present ruler of Samthar. In 1901, the Bargujar population was numbered at 25,732.

Notes

Narauli,in district Moradabad is also a bargujar estate.

ee also

*Kshatriya
*Gujjar
*Hinduism