Bundela

The Bundela is a Kshatriya (Rajput) clan .^[2]^[3]^[4] Over several generations, the cadet lineages of Bundela founded several states in area what came to be known as Bundelkhand anciently known as Chedi Kingdom from the 16th century.^[5]^[6]

Etymology

As per Jaswant Lal Mehta, the word "Bundela" is based on a deity, named Bind-bhasini Devi, who is believed to have her abode on the Bindhachal, the northern most part of the Vindhya ranges.^[7]

Expansion legends

According to Bundela legends, Jagdas' descendant Arjunpal was the ruler of Mahoni. His eldest son Birpal succeeded him as the king of Mahoni, although his younger son Sohanpal was the best warrior. To get his share of the kingdom, Sohanpal sought help from Naga (alias Hurmat Singh), the Khangar ruler of Kurar (Kundar). Naga demanded a matrimonial alliance in return. When Sohanpal refused, Naga tried to detain him and forcibly agree him to the condition. Sohanpal escaped, and unsuccessfully sought help from the Chauhans, the Salingars, and the Kachwahas. Ultimately, a Panwar chief named Panpal (or Punyapal) agreed to help him. Their joint army defeated Naga in 1288 CE.^[8] Sohanpal killed all the Khangar men in the fort, but spared the babies on the condition that the Khangars would serve as the servants of the Bundelas.^[9] Sohanpal became the king of Kurar, and his daughter married Panpal.^[8]

Historical kingdoms

Rudra Singh Bundela (reigned 1501-1531 CE), said to be a descendant of Sohanpal, moved his capital from Garh Kundar to Orchha in 1531 CE.^[10] The Orchha State was the parent Bundela kingdom. Datia State (1626 CE) and Panna State (1657 CE) separated from the Orchha State. After the death of Panna's founder Chhatrasal in 1731, Ajaigarh State, Bijawar State and Charkhari State separated from Panna.^[11] The official records of the Chhatarpur State also mentioned the clan of its rulers as "Panwar Bundela". Its founder was a Panwar, who was in service of the Bundela ruler of Panna State until 1785 CE.^[11]

The Bundelkhand ("Bundela domain") region was named after the Bundelas.^[12]

The different Bundela chieftains of Bundelkhand often fought against each other which the Mughals often took advantage of.^[13]

Chhatris (Cenotaphs) on the bank of Betwa River, Orcha, Madhya Pradesh.
Bundela king's chhatri.

References

^ Schwartzberg, Joseph E. (1978). A Historical atlas of South Asia. Chicago: University of Chicago Press. pp. 21, 147. ISBN 0226742210.
^ Jaswant lal Mehta (2002). Advanced Study in the History of Modern India 1707-1813. p. 105. ISBN 9781932705546. The Bundelas, who imparted their name to their habitat, were a clan of Rajputs, who emerged as a political entity in central India in the early medieval period.
^ Nandini Chatterjee (2020). Land and Law in Mughal India: A Family of Landlords across Three Indian Empires. Cambridge University Press. p. 84. ISBN 9781108486033.
^ Eugenia Vanina (2012). Medieval Indian Mindscapes: Space, Time, Society, Man. p. 147.
^ John F Richards (1995). Mughal Empire, part 1, Volume 5. p. 129.
^ Jaswant lal Mehta (2002). Advanced Study in the History of Modern India 1707-1813. p. 105. ISBN 9781932705546.
^ Jaswant lal Mehta (2002). Advanced Study in the History of Modern India 1707-1813. p. 105. ISBN 9781932705546.
^ ^a ^b Jain 2002, pp. 14–15.
^ Jain 2002, p. 27.
^ K. K. Kusuman (1990). A Panorama of Indian Culture: Professor A. Sreedhara Menon Felicitation Volume. Mittal Publications. p. 151. ISBN 978-81-7099-214-1.
^ ^a ^b Jain 2002, p. 3.
^ Jain 2002, p. 1.
^ Amir Ahmad (2005–2006). "The Bundela Revolts During the Mughal Period: A Dynastic Affair". Proceedings of the Indian History Congress. 66: 438–445. JSTOR 44145860.

Bibliography

Catherine B. Asher; Cynthia Talbot (2006). India Before Europe. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-0-521-80904-7.
Cynthia Talbot (2015). The Last Hindu Emperor: Prithviraj Cauhan and the Indian Past, 1200–2000. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 9781107118560.
Jain, Ravindra K. (2002). Between History and Legend: Status and Power in Bundelkhand. Orient Blackswan. ISBN 978-81-250-2194-0.

[JES-1] Schwartzberg, Joseph E. (1978). A Historical atlas of South Asia. Chicago: University of Chicago Press. pp. 21, 147. ISBN 0226742210.

[2] Jaswant lal Mehta (2002). Advanced Study in the History of Modern India 1707-1813. p. 105. ISBN 9781932705546. The Bundelas, who imparted their name to their habitat, were a clan of Rajputs, who emerged as a political entity in central India in the early medieval period.

[3] Nandini Chatterjee (2020). Land and Law in Mughal India: A Family of Landlords across Three Indian Empires. Cambridge University Press. p. 84. ISBN 9781108486033.

[4] Eugenia Vanina (2012). Medieval Indian Mindscapes: Space, Time, Society, Man. p. 147.

[5] John F Richards (1995). Mughal Empire, part 1, Volume 5. p. 129.

[6] Jaswant lal Mehta (2002). Advanced Study in the History of Modern India 1707-1813. p. 105. ISBN 9781932705546.

[7] Jaswant lal Mehta (2002). Advanced Study in the History of Modern India 1707-1813. p. 105. ISBN 9781932705546.

[FOOTNOTEJain200214–15-8] Jain 2002, pp. 14–15.

[FOOTNOTEJain200227-9] Jain 2002, p. 27.

[10] K. K. Kusuman (1990). A Panorama of Indian Culture: Professor A. Sreedhara Menon Felicitation Volume. Mittal Publications. p. 151. ISBN 978-81-7099-214-1.

[FOOTNOTEJain20023-11] Jain 2002, p. 3.

[FOOTNOTEJain20021-12] Jain 2002, p. 1.

[13] Amir Ahmad (2005–2006). "The Bundela Revolts During the Mughal Period: A Dynastic Affair". Proceedings of the Indian History Congress. 66: 438–445. JSTOR 44145860.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

[8]

[9]

[10]

[11]

[12]

[13]

Etymology

Expansion legends

Historical kingdoms

See also

References

Bibliography