The Great Rajput Women Warriors: Rani Padmavati

Rani Padmini, a queen of Mewar was renowned for her incomparable beauty.
Ala-ud-din, the notorious Afghan invader determined to take Chitor and capture her.
 His initial charges proved unsuccessful and finally he submitted a compromise: he would withdraw his troops if he could be allowed but a glimpse of the fair lady's face.

 Far from satisfying his desire, this vision inflamed it. He decided to double-cross the Maharana and make Padmini his own. Because the Muslim had arrived in Chitor alone and thus demonstrated
his faith in Rajput honor, the Maharana felt compelled but afgan ruler cheated him and won the war.

After which the queen decided to perform JAUHAR. Jauhar also promotes caste duty, which is symbolized ultimately by the saka , the "cutting down" that ensues. It inspires soldiers to fight unto death, for they have nothing left to lose. Although jauhar often precedes the death of a husband,women who so die are referred to as satis . Hence, as a heroic strategist, Padmini enables her husband to face his enemy in battle and then, as a sati , prompts his courage and promotes his honor. !!! JAI RAJPUTANA !!!

Tribute To Maharaja Prithviraj Chauhan

Prithviraj was born to King Someshwara Chauhan and his wife Karpuravalli.
They belonged to the Rajput Chauhan dynasty, and were rulers of a kingdom in north India.
 Known for his valor, Prithviraj Chauhan is often praised as a brave Indian king, who stood up against the invasion of Muslim rulers. He is widely known as a warrior king and is credited for resisting the Muslim invaders with all his might.

  His defeat at the ‘Second battle of Tarain’ (1192) is considered as a key moment in the history of India as it opened the gates for Muslim invaders to rule the northern parts of India.Prithviraj is also revered because of his famous battle with the Afghan invader Mohammad Ghori towards the end of the twelfth century. Apparently, after his army defeated Ghori's, Prithviraj let the Afghan go despite being warned not to.

Ghori returned a year later. Prithviraj sent him a letter reminding him of how he had spared his life,
 and asked him to leave. Ghori said he was waiting for his brother's orders to do so, and moved his camp back a few kilometres. Knowing that Rajputs didn't fight by night, he suddenly attacked in the early hours, taking Prithviraj's army by surprise. Prithviraj was defeated in what is known as the Second Battle of Tarain, and died a heroic death.

Tribute To Great Rajput Maharana Pratap

Maharana Pratap was born in Kumbhalgarh, Rajasthan. His father was Maharana Uday Singh
and his mother was Rani Jeevant Kanwar. Maharana Pratap's kind heartedness and just decision making won the hearts of even his enemies. He is the only ruler of India that did not give in to the Mughal rule and for that he is the most celebrated ruler of the country to this day.

After the famous battle of Haldighati, Maharana Pratap’s own brother, Shakti Singh, who had joined the Mughals helped him escape the battlefield, as his beloved and trusted horse Chetak was wounded in his hind leg during fight. Chetak, Maharana Pratap’s trusted horse, delivered him to safe grounds before breathing his last.

 Pratap had to take refuge in the Aravalli hills. The Bhil tribals of the Aravallis supported Maharana
during times of war, and helped him in living off the forests during times of peace. In exile, Pratap spent considerable time perfecting war tactics like guerilla warfare, harassing the enemy and light horse tactics which helped him win back Mewar.

Maharana Pratap died at the age of 57, after sustaining a injury while hunting.

Who Are Rajputs? Brief Intro

** Rajput were recognized for their bravery, faithfulness and royalty. The Rajput falls in the category of the Kshatriyas. The Kshatriyas were the warriors who fought in the battles and took care of the governing functions. The Rajput originated from western, eastern, northern India. Until 20th century Rajput ruled in majority in the princely states of Rajasthan and Surashtra.

Throughout their periods of rule in northern India, Rajput built remarkable shrines, castles and forts.Rajputs are divided as vansh and vamsha. The vansh is further divided as Suryavanshi which denotes “House of Sun” who are descended from Lord Ram, Chandravanshi denoting “House of Moon” descended from Lord Krishna and the last one Agnivanshi from the “Family of Fire God”.

Beneath the vansh division there are smaller subdivisions which are kul or shakh (branch), khamp or khanp (twig) and nak (twig tip). Kul serves as primary identity among Rajputs and each one of them worship and is protected by their family goddess known as kuldevi.