Jethwa dynasty | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 620–1948 | |||||||||
| Capital | Mayurpuri (Morvi), Shrinagar, Dhank, Chhaya, Ghumli, Ranapur, Porbandar | ||||||||
| Common languages | Sanskrit, Prakrit, Old Gujarati, | ||||||||
| Religion | Hinduism | ||||||||
| Government | Monarchy | ||||||||
| History | |||||||||
• Established | 620 | ||||||||
• Disestablished | 1948 | ||||||||
| |||||||||
| Today part of | India | ||||||||
Jethwa dynasty was a dynasty that ruled over present day Gujarat region of India from 7th century AD till middle of 20th century, when India became independent. It was a Rajput dynasty ruled by Jethwa clan of Rajputs.
Jethwa (or Jethva, Jatava, Jaitwa or Kamari, [1] Camari [1] ) The Jethwa claim their descent from Makardhwaja, son of Hanuman. [2] [3] [4] As per folk tales of their clan, Makardhwaja had a son named Mod-dhwaja and he had a son named Jethi-dhwaja. [2] Jethwas claim descent and name from Jethi-dhwaja and worship Hanuman as their Iṣṭa-devatā. [2]
Jethwa dynasty of Porbandar, therefore, had image of Hanuman on the Merchant Navy Flag adapted in 1923. [2] Also the Coat of Arms had the image of Hanuman in the centre. [2]
Further, it is said that Muslim governors of Sindh in 7th century repeatedly sent naval armed ships to conquer the western and southern coast of Gujarat, which were again and again repulsed by the "Saindhavas" who called themselves "masters of the Western sea" Apara Samudradhipati (apara-samudr-ddhipati) . It has been suggested that the Saindhava ruling family also known as Jayadrathas is now represented by the Jethwa Rajputs. [2] [5]
Captain Wilberforce Bell opines that their ancestors were probably Scythians from the north. However, Gaurishankar Ojha opines Jethwas were probably a branch of Pratihars of Kannauj. [4]
Further, many historians are of a view that Jethwa Rajputs have deep association with Mer people since time immemorial, who are only the Senior (Jethwa) or rajakula (royal clan) of the Mers. [6] [7] The Mer have always been confidential and supported Jethwas in times of war and peace. It was the custom that when a Rana of Porbandar ascended the throne or Gaddi, the leader of the Mer people would cut the tip of his little finger and make a tilak with his blood on the forehead of the Rana. [8] [9] [10]
Ghumali, which was earlier capital of Saindhvas has been Jethwa's bastion and capital since the time dynasty was founded in early 7th Century around 620 by Shil Kumar Jethwa, [11] who later helped Angagapala ruler of Delhi win a war. In return of the help Anagapal married her daughter with him. The area ruled by Jethwa's was traditionally today known as Barda Hills was historically known as Jyeshthukadesh, meaning land of Jethwa's. [12] The other towns founded by them are where they shifted their capital temporarily after dislodged from Morvi in 900 AD, were with times shifting to Shrinagar, Dhank, Chhaya, Ghumli, Ranapur and lastly to Porbandar (from 1685 till 1947). They were the first rulers of the Saurashtra area of Western Gujarat. [13]
Jethwas seem to have entered from North West, that is, Sindh and Kutch to Saurashtra in the 9th century AD and are oldest ruling clan of Peninsula. It is accepted by almost all historians that Jethwas established their rule in Saurashtra in around 900 AD and founded the city of Morvi as their Capital. Morvi was earlier known by name of Mayurpuri, named after its founder the Jethwa ruler Mayur-dhwaja. They spread further westward and captured Dwarka from Chawdas moved further and established the towns of Nagnah, Ghumli, Bhanvad, Chhaya, Dhank, Laodhva, Ranpur with colonies at Miani and Shrinagar on the coast. During the time of Mahmud of Ghazni, the Jethwas controlled all the west and north of the Kathiawar. [2] [4]
Colonial ethnographer James Tod in his 1832 The annals and antiquities of Rajastʾhan:or the central and western Rajpoot states of India includes Jethwa among the 36 royal races of ancient India and also names Jethwa or Jatava as Camari. Further, Colon James Todd opines that Jethwas come from old marital races of Indian Peninsula and were called Kanwar till the 8th century. Some Jethwa rulers suffixed Kanwar after their name and hence were also known as Kanwars or Kumars. [14] [15]
Sangaji was a Jethwa ruler from 1120 to 1150, [16] who defeated the army of Virdhaval Vaghela, (the founder of Vaghela dynasty) near Morvi in 1125. Virdhaval, defeated, married his daughter and surrendered his title of Rana to Sangaji Jethwa. The title of Rana has been held by Jethwas rulers ever-since till last Rana died in 1979 without an heir. [2] [17]
Jethwas lost Morvi, when they were defeated by invading army of Qutb-ud-din Aibak in year 1193. [4] Jethwas shifted to Nagnah and they later established their rule and founded Ghumli, under Sal Kumar. The rulers of Ghumli were also called Kumarants. [18]
In later years Vajesinh Jethwa alias Wajosinh, who ruled from years 1220–1245, [16] was a brave warrior, who was truly known as Sinh and held considerable influence on Vishaldeo Vaghela. [17]
Ghumli was declared as second Capital by Jethwa dynasty, in 1220 by Rana Shiyaji, who took the title of Rana of Ghumli and shifted capital from Shrinagar [13] Ghumli remained their Capital till 1313, when Rana Bhanji Jethwa, was defeated at a war, he fled Ghumli & shifted to Ranpur. It is said that Ghumli was destroyed due to curse of a Sati named Sone with whom Rana Bhanji Jethwa fell in love. [19] Jadeja Jam Unaji (Jam Unad) of Jadeja clan came from Sindh and attacked Ghumli in 1309 but was defeated later in 1313 his son Jam Barmaniyaji Jadeja (Jam Bamanioji) attacked to avenge the defeat. He defeated Rana Bhanji Jethwa, who fled and Ghumli was completely destroyed and turned it into ruins. On the same night Goddess Ambaji came in dream of Bamanioji and told him that, as she has granted the wish ("Asha") of his father to conquer Ghumli, he should make a temple in her name. So Barmaniyaji built the Temple of Ambaji on the hill in the middle of Ghumli and named it as Ashapura Mata Temple, who is Kuldevi of Jedejas. [20] [21] [22] The temple of Ashapura still stands on top of Barda hill near Ghumli.
Rana Bhan Jethwa escaped to Ranpur, where he established his new capital and set about founding a new territories.[ citation needed ] The Bhanvad is also named after Rana Bhan Jehtwa. However, after loss of Ghumli, they were confined to a district known as Barda.
In around 1525–35 Jam Raval conquered greater part of Halar from Jethwas and other Rajput rulers like Chawdas, Dedas and Vadhels. This led to further decimating the Jethwa territories in which Nagnah was lost, which Jams renamed as Nawanagar. [14] [23] Jam Ravalji's son, however, gave his daughter to Jethwa ruler Khimooji. But in later years, Jam Ravaljis's son Jam Sataji killed his own nephew Jethwa Ramdevji IV by a conspiracy and annexed further territory of Jethwas by force. This led to a fierce enmity between Jethwa and Jams, which continued for 300 years and there was apiya between them. [2] [4] Shri Khimoji II Bhanji Jethwa, Rana of Chhaya, elder son of Rana Shri Bhanji Ramdevji Jethwa, Rana of Ranpur, founded the state of Chhaya, after his expulsion from Ranpur in 1575.[ citation needed ] During this turbulent times in history of Jethwa dynasty, the Mers again came in help of in protection of Jethwas and helped them recover their lost territories. [24] [25] After the defeat at hands of Jams in 1525 the ruling Jethwa had to run from here to there till they found shelter at Chhaya. Later, the late Rana Bhanji's widow Rani Kalabai, a lady of out-standing courage and foresight raised an army of the Mers and Rabaris and regained her lost territory as far as Ranpur from Jams. [14] [23] [26]
Later in 1671 Rana Vikmatji Khimoji Jethwa took possession of Porbandar from Mughals and built a fort there. He also took fort of Madhavpur. Though, he died at Porbandar, the capital remained Chhaya. [4] It was his son Rana Saratanji II, who permanently shifted the Capital to Porbandar in 1685. The Jethwas of Porbandar entered into alliance with British in 1807 and agreement was entered into year 1809 with East India Company. [2] [4]
The princely state of Porbandar was a 13-Gun Salute State of British India.[ citation needed ] The reigns of Rana Bhavsinhji Madhavsinhji (1900–1908) and Rana Natwarsinhji (1908–1979) both Maharaja of Porbandar gave the state of Porbandar first class status after many battles for the throne within the royal family in 1811, 1869 and 1886. The Porbandar remained the Capital of Jethwa dynasty till the State of Porbandar was merged into Union of India, when the last ruler of the kingdom, Rana Natwarsinhji Bhavsinhji signed the Instrument of Accession on 15 August 1947. [2] [4]
The last Rana and ruler of Jethwa dynasty of Porbandar, Shri Natwarsinhji died in 1979.[ citation needed ] Before him in 1977, the successor to his throne the crown-prince Udaybhansinhji Natwarsinhji Jethwa died,[ citation needed ] leaving the throne vacant.
The grandfather of Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, Uttamchand Gandhi and later his father – Karamchand Gandhi and uncle – Tulsidas Gandhi, served as Dewan to Rana of Porbandar. [27]
The inscription dated VS 1262 (1206 CE) was found in a niche of Siddhanatha Mahadeva Temple in Visavada near Porbandar. Written by Nagar Brahmin named Vaijaka and engraved by mason Jhalhana, it says about installation of a statue of Vikramaditya in the reign of Rana Simha. [28] This Rana Simha probably belonged to Jethwa family as according to the bards the region was held by the Jethwas during that period. [29]
The bardic tales of Jethwas are immortalised in folk tales like Rajasthani folk tale of immortal love between Jethwa and Ujali [2] and heroic tales of Bhan Jethwa and Vijo related to defeat of Kathis by them, in which the names of Jethwa territories of Bhanvad and Lodhva are mentioned in bardic folk-songs of Kathiawar. [2] [37] Also the bardic songs of Bhan Jethwa, who fell in love with Son Kansari, who was in love with Rakhayata Babaria, his commander. Bhan got Rakhayat murdered by his servant Kumbha. Son became a Sati cursing that Ghumli will be destroyed in due course of time. Her prophecy came true when Ghumli was demolished by Jams in 1313. The Brahmins of Baradiya, who gave her shelter and many of whom also died for the cause of protecting Son, later built a temple in memory Sati Son, which now stands in depleted condition on a hill top. [2] [38] [39]
Porbandar is a city and the headquarters of Porbandar district in the Indian state of Gujarat. It is the birthplace of Mahatma Gandhi and Sudama. It was the former capital of the Porbandar princely state. Porbandar and Chhaya are the twin cities of each other and both cities are jointly governed by Porbandar–Chhaya Municipal Corporation.
Kathiawar is a peninsula, near the far north of India's west coast, of about 61,000 km2 (23,500 sq mi) bordering the Arabian Sea. It is bounded by the Gulf of Kutch in the northwest and by the Gulf of Khambhat in the east. In the northeast, it is connected to the rest of Gujarat and borders on the low, fertile hinterland of Ahmedabad. It is crossed by two belts of hill country and is drained radially by nine rivers which have little natural flow aside from in monsoon months, thus dams have been built on some of these. Kathiawar ports have been flourishing centres of trade and commerce since at least the 16th century.
Gondal is a city of about 115,000 residents and a municipality of about 175,000 in the Rajkot district of the Indian state of Gujarat. Gondal Village was one of the eight first-class princely states of Kathiawar Agency, Bombay Presidency in British India. Ruled by a Hindu Rajput dynasty of the Jadeja.
Lieutenant-Colonel Maharaja Rana Shri Sir Natwarsinhji Bhavsinhji Sahib Bahadur, KCSI was the last Maharaja of Porbandar belonging to Jethwa dynasty, who ascended the throne of princely state of Porbandar on 10 December 1908 and ruled until his state was merged into India on 15 February 1948.
Bhanvad is a city and a municipality in Devbhoomi Dwarka district in the state of Gujarat, India.
Chhaya is a city and a Municipal corporation in Porbandar district in the state of Gujarat, India. Chhaya and Porbandar are the twin cities of each other and both cities are jointly governed by Porbandar–Chhaya Municipal Corporation.
The Kathi people is a small group of clans found in the peninsular Kathiawar of Gujarat, western India. It was from the Kathis that the Maratha Empire and later the British Raj renamed the Saurashtra as Kathiawar as the Kathis were prominent there during the 17th-18th centuries. According to A. M. Shah, Kathis are a peasant caste.
Patvi Namdar Maharajkumar Shri Udaybhansinhji Natwarsinhji Jethwa Sahib, was the last Maharajkumar or Yuvraj of Jethwa dynasty of Princely State of Porbandar. He was associated with cooperative movement in post-independent India and was recipient of Padma Shri.
Ghumli is a village located 45 km from Jamkhambhaliya, at foothills of Barda, in Devbhumi Dwarka district of Gujarat, India.
Makaradhwaja is the son of Hindu god Hanuman who is born out of his sweat. Makaradhwaja has appearance in various regional versions of the Ramayana. There are many unmatching accounts of his birth, however all of them mentions him being born to a Makara after Hanuman took a dip into the ocean and his sweat drop fell into the mouth of the Makara, impregnating her. Makara begets Makaradhwaja who was later raised by the Ahiravana, a demon king who ruled Patala and a brother of Ravana. When Makaradhwaja grew up, Ahiravana, seeing Makaradhwaja's strength and virility, gave him job of guarding the gates of his kingdom.
Saurashtra State, formally known as United State of Kathiawar and later United State of Saurashtra, was a State of India that existed between 1948 and 1956, on Saurashtra alias Kathiawar peninsula, with Rajkot as its capital,
Navlakha Temple at Ghumli, Gujarat, India, is a 12th Century Sun temple built by Jethwa dynasty rulers.
Porbandar State was a princely state during the British Raj ruled by Jethwa dynasty. It was one of the few princely states with a coastline.
Mer, Maher or Mehar is a caste from the Saurashtra region of Gujarat in India. They are largely based in the Porbandar district, comprising the low-lying, wetland Ghēḍ and highland Barḍā areas, and they speak a dialect of the Gujarati language. The Mers of the Ghēḍ and Barḍā form two groups of the jāti and together they are the main cultivators in the Porbandar District. Historically, the men served the Porbandar State as a feudal militia, led by Mer leaders. In the 1881 Gazette of the Bombay Presidency, the Mers were recorded numbering at 23,850. The 1951 Indian Census recorded 50,000 Mers. As of 1980 there were estimated to be around 250,000 Mers.
Morvi State, also spelled as Morvee State or Morbi State, was a princely salute state in the historical Halar prant (district) of Kathiawar during the British Raj.
A prant is a historical district in India, and a native British Raj age term for a colonial district. The same name can thus have different meanings depending on the period.
The Battle of Bhuchar Mori, also known as Battle of Dhrol, was fought between the army of Kathiawar led by Nawanagar State and the Mughal army at Bhuchar Mori plateau near Dhrol, Saurashtra. It was meant to protect Muzaffar Shah III, the last Sultan of Gujarat Sultanate who had taken asylum under Jam Sataji of Nawanagar after his escape from the Mughal emperor Akbar. It was fought in July 1591. The Kathiawar army included the armies of Junagadh who betrayed Nawanagar and joined the Mughal army at last. The battle led to a large number of casualties on both sides. The battle resulted in the victory of the Mughal army.
The Saindhavas, also known as Jayadrathas, was a Medieval Indian dynasty that ruled western Saurashtra from c. 735 CE to c. 920 CE, probably in alliance with Maitrakas in its early years. Their capital was at Bhutamabilika. The known historical events during their rule are the attacks of Arabs repulsed by Agguka I.
The Gohil dynasty or Gohil or Guhilas of Saurashtra ruled parts of Saurashtra region of present-day Gujarat state of India as subordinates or independents starting 12th century. Their origin is traced to Guhila dynasty of Gujarat and they had migrated to Saurashtra in 12th century. The earliest known inscription of Gohils is found from Mangrol. They later moved to the east coast where they established themselves and the region came to be known as Gohilwar and ruled till the independence of India in 1947. The erstwhile princely states of Bhavnagar, Palitana, Lathi, Vala and Rajpipla belonged to Gohil rulers.
The Architecture of Gujarat consists of architecture in the Indian state of Gujarat.
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