Gaur (clan)

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Gaur
Jāti Rajput
Religions Star and Crescent.svg Islam, Om.svg Hinduism,
Languages Hindustani(Hindi-Urdu), Punjabi, Rajasthani languages
CountryFlag of Pakistan.svg  Pakistan, Flag of India.svg  India
Region Punjab, Rajasthan, [1] [2] Uttar Pradesh, [3] Madhya Pradesh [4] [5]
Feudal title Rana

The Gaur also spelled as Gor is a Rajput clan. [6] [3] [7] [8] They have ancient ancestry and find mention by James Tod as one of 36 royal races in his book Annals and Antiquities of Rajasthan [9]

Contents

The Gaur Rajputs once held a prominent position in Ajmer till the time of Prithviraj Chauhan. [6] Gorwar region gets its name from this clan. [1] [2] In later years they lost the territories ruled by them. In 15th century, they fought at least 13 battles against Shekhawats but were eventually defeated and reduced to be feudatory jagirdars in the Shekhawati region. [10]

Etymology

The Sanskrit word गौरgaura means 'white, yellowish, reddish'. [11] The Hindi word गौरgaur means 'fair-skinned, fair, white'. [12]

Estates

The Rajgarh territory was one of the last bastions of Gaur Rajputs during the times of Mughal Emperors, Humayun and Akber, which was lost to Kishangarh in 17th century. [10] Gaur Rajputs remained allies to Mughal till the time of Aurangzeb, whose political decisions, alienated Rathores, Sisodias, Hadas and Gaur Rajputs from Mughals. [13]

Outside, Rajasthan, the Chief of Chamraoli (near Unnao), a Gaur Rajput, was held in high esteem by Alwar Raj and was amongst the very few who were given honor of tazim. [6]

According to tradition the city of Sheopur and its fort in present-day Madhya Pradesh were founded by the Gaur Rajputs' chief, Indra Singh, in 1537. The first historical reference to the city dates to 1570. [5]

Population

Their population today is found in Indian States of Rajasthan, [1] [2] parts of Uttar Pradesh [3] and parts of Madhya Pradesh. [4] [5]

Some of them converted to Islam and are now part of Garha Biradari or Gaur Muslims of the larger Musalman Rajputs community. [6]

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References

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