Rawal (title)

Rawal (also spelled Raval) or Raol is a regional variation of the title Raja/Radjah (literally 'king' ^[1] ) that was used by the Hindu Rajput rulers of some princely states of Rajputana and Western-India (notably Gujarat) and is at present too used as a caste designation or surname by the Guhila Rajputs and also adopted by few other communities.

The term "Rawal" derives from the Sanskrit title "Rājakula". The related term Maharawal, which derives from the Sanskrit title "Mahārājakula", ^[2] means "Great Rawal". ^[3]

Notable people with Rawal (title)

Further information: Rawal (name)

• Rawal Jaisal, founder of the Kingdom of Jaisalmer. ^[4]
• Bappa Rawal, founder of the kingdom of Mewar. ^{[5] [6] [7]}
• The Nambudiri priests of the Badrinath and Kedarnath were given the title of "Rawal" by the king of Garhwal in 1776 ^{[8] [9]}
• Raval (also known as Rawal or Raval Yogi), an Indian caste categorized among the Other Backward Classes ^[10]
• Rawal, a gotra of Rajputs found in India, Pakistan and Pakistani and Indian diaspora; its members claim to be the original rulers of Rawalpindi ^{[11] [12]}

See also

• Rawal (caste)
• Bappa Rawal
• Rawal Jaisal Singh
• Rawal Ratan Singh

References

1. Lindsey Harlan (1992). Religion and Rajput Women: The Ethic of Protection in Contemporary Narratives. University of California Press. p. 28. ISBN   978-0-520-07339-5.
2. Narayanchandra Banerjee (1980). Development of Hindu Polity and Political Theories. Munshiram Manoharlal. p. 345. OCLC   6969389.
3. Roper Lethbridge (1985). Prominent Indians of Victorian Age. Archives Rare Prints. OCLC   13642123.
4. Bayley, C. S. (2004). Chiefs and Leading Families in Rajputana. Asian Educational Services. ISBN   978-81-206-1066-8.
5. A. N. Bharadwaj (1994). History and culture of Himalayan Gujjars. Jay Kay Book House.
6. Naravane, M. S. (1999). The Rajputs of Rajputana: A Glimpse of Medieval Rajasthan. APH Publishing. ISBN   978-81-7648-118-2.
7. SANJAY, RAJENDRA (1 April 1971). Bappa Rawal. Amar Chitra Katha Pvt Ltd. ISBN   978-81-89999-95-7.
8. James G. Lochtefeld (2002). The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Hinduism: A-M . The Rosen Publishing Group. p.  78. ISBN   978-0-8239-3179-8.
9. J. P. Singh Rana (1997). Himalayan Heritage. M.D. Publications Pvt. Ltd. p. 8. ISBN   978-81-7533-026-9.
10. S. P. Agrawal; J. C. Aggarwal (1991). Educational and Social Uplift of Backward Classes: At what Cost and How? : Mandal Commission and After. Concept Publishing Company. p. 227. ISBN   978-81-7022-339-9.
11. T. N. Madan (1 July 1995). Muslim communities of South Asia: culture, society, and power. Manohar in association with the Book Review Literary Trust. p. 132. ISBN   978-81-7304-090-0.
12. The Ranking of Brotherhoods: The Dialectics of Muslim Caste among Oversees Pakistanis by Pnina Werbner pages 103 to 145 in Muslim Communities of South Asia by T N Madam Manohar publications 1995 page 127