Jay Chittod | Historical Novel in Gujarati By Late Shri Harilal Upadhyay |Great Gujarati Author

In this historical novel which emphasizes on Sooryavanshi (Suryavanshi) Rajput (Kshatriya) rulers, the amazing life span of Bappa Rawal (Bapa Rawal / Bapa Raval / Bappa Raval), the legend emperor of Chittod (Chittor / Chittaud / Chittaur / Chittodgadh / Chittorgardh / Chittaurgarh) is explored. The reference of ancient sooryavanshi rulers (Suryavanshi) rulers I found in Puranas. All the tales are great in itself and considered as divine and pious. All these tales leads the society towards Dharma. In the great tales found in Puranas , which conveys the message of believing and following the rules of Karma, the importance of morals and bravery. It would not be improper to say that they are the source of inspiration for the people (generations) of Aryavart – Bharat (India). As the Arya – Hindu people have fought the foreign attackers (and terrorists) (including rulers and their holy guides who believed in forcefully converting others into their own religion) successfully and amazingly able to keep the values, morals and the culture of the Adi (the ancient most) Sanatan (forever) Dharma. The contribution of Rajput rulers – especially Sooryavanshi (Suryavanshi) Rajput rulers is really remarkable. Some of them have sacrified their own lives for this stuff. In addition the social arrangements (Varna Vyavastha – the social structure of Hindus) based on the boundaries of duty, have also played a vital role in keeping the independence of religion (to follow) safe (as per the Varna Vyavastha, it is the duty of Kshatriyas to rule the respective areas and provide the people under his ruling area the peace, the justice, the happiness, the opportunities to develop qualities and living the life with pride and honor, and to provide them the protection by all the means). The proud history of the powerful Rajputs, full of values like commitment, dedication and believing in values set by ancestors, is one of the great assets of every countryman of Bharat (India). The self-awakened Arya people have drawn the path of the future based on this great past Bharatiya Rajputs (Indian Rajputs) can be categorized into mainly three clans (or dynasties); Sooryavansh (suryavans), Chandravansh and Agnivansh. They all were fought the battles, won the lands and established their kingdoms and ruled them successfully. That's what make them to be known as PruthveePati. The God have presented the Kshatriya king the power and authority of ruling to protect the people and the society (in almost all the ways) since the ancient times. As the Kshatriya kings of Sooryavanshi (Suryavanshi) and Chandravanshi clans have ruled for centuries. The information (found) about family lineages for both the clans are well documented and up-to-date. As the amazing fact the information is available from the times of AdiNarayan to Brahma and from Srushtipita (father of the universe) Brahma to the current times. Though there is a dark period in the history for which the information is not available. Even the time periods are there, for which the information about actual events and historical facts are available under the mask of fantasy tales (and hence the true details are not available for the specific time segments). We can say that people from that period have not paid proper attention in keeping the historical values. Which is the cause of the variations found in the some of the historical facts and disputes are there about the authenticity of the same. I have tried my level best to find the truth from the historical facts found in different variations about the brave Sooryavanshi (suryavanshi) Rajput (Kshatriya) clan in efforts to writing this (historical) novel. By using the sense of what could have been done and what could not (by comparing the various versions of the same historical facts and analyzing them), the events have been wrote. The Sooryavanshi (suryavanshi) lineage is found in this way: From the Lord AdiNaryan (Lord AdiNaryana) to Brahma, Brahma's son Marichi, Marichi’s son was Kashyap and Kashyap's son Vivasvan (vivaswan) Soorya (Surya) and from his onwards the family lineage started known as Soorya Vansh (Suryavansh – Solar Dynasty). After 60 generations from Soorya (Surya) Dilip got birth. Raghu was the son of Dilip and Raghu's son was Aj (Aja). Aja's son was Dashrath (or Dasharath) whose son was Lord Shri Ramchandraji (Lord Shri Ram). From Lord Shri Ramchandraji to Sumitr (Sumitra), who came after 130 generations (of Lord Shri Ram) are referenced in Puranas. The few generations of King Sumitra have ruled the areas of Ganga and Yamuna, and then King Kanaksen have shifted in the areas of Gujarat - Surashtra. King Kanaksen was the forth descendent (came after four generations of ) King Sumitra. Historians have reference king Kanaksen as the founder of Mevad (Mewad, Mewar, Mewaar) – Chittod (Chittod, Chittaud, Chittor). King Vijaysen who came after four generations of king Kanaksen have found the city named Vallabhipur and declared it as the capital of his ruling area. The time from second to seventh generation after him was glorious for the kingdom of Vallabhipur and Sooryavanshi (Suryavanshi – Aditya) kings. The seventh decendent of Vijaysen, Shiladitya and the kingdom of Vallabhipur have be defeated (and destroyed) by Yavan attacker (terrorist) Noshirwan (Noshirwaan, Noshirvan). Though his queen Pushpavati was saved from it and she got hidden in a cave in the mountain ranges and gave birth to a prince named Gohaditya. The decendents of Gohaditya are known as Gohilot- Gihlot Sooryavanshi (Suryavanshi / Sooryavanshee / Suryavanshee). Gohaditya (or Guhaditya) have been grown up under the care and protection of a Brahmin Lady. In his youth, Gohaditya have won Idar and have established his kingdom in the mountain ranges of Idar. King Aparajit Guhaditya, the seventh decendent of king Guhaditya have been killed by some Bheel (a clan) people. A Brahmin have saved his son (by taking his custody, and providing protection) Mahendra. Prince Mahendra was no one else but the same great king who is shining in the history with the name "Bapa Rawal (Bappa Rawal)". Prince Mahendra have named himself as Bapa Rawal (Bappa Raal) as a tribute to (for all his caring and favors) his Godfather Purohit Vashishtha Rawal (Vashishtra Raval, who saved him after the assassination of his father) (In local language Bapa or Bappa means father) in order to keep his name alive forever. In his youth, Bapa Rawal (Bappa Rawal) have defeated king Mansinh of Mevad (Mewad, Mewar) and established himself as MevadPati as the ruler of Chittod (Chittaud / Chittor / Chittaur). In this novel the lifespan of Bapa Rawal (Bappa Rawal) is also explored along with other historical stuff. After Maharana Bapa Rawal (Maharana Bappa Rawal), his decendents have ruled Chittod (Chittaud / Chittor / Chittaur). Amongst them, Maharana Khuman and ShaktiKumar are well known for their bravery. But (all approved) historical facts are not found for a period after their time. This novel ends with the referece of Maharana Samarsinh, who was the seventeenth descendent of King ShaktiKumar. King Samarsinh was the one who got married with PruthaDevi (PruthaDevee), sister of Pruthveeraj Chauhan (Prithviraj Chauhan). He got died in a war against Shahabuddin Ghori, fighring for Pruthveeraj, by showing great bravery. This way Maharana Samarsinh and a number of his descendents who have ruled Chittod (Chittaud / Chittor / Chittaur) and Udaypur (Udaipur) (all the Sooryavanshi Maharanas) have protected Mevad and its independence with their courage, dedication and bravery. Brave of the braves Maharana Pratapsinh, inspired by the values and qualities of Bapa Rawal (Bappa Rawal), have fought against the emperor of Delhi. He hadn't stop fighting after loosing everything and hadn't surrender. It is the great tale of inspiration about protecting self esteem and fighting for the motherland and own religion, for all the BharatVasi(Indian)s. Actually the history of Sooryavanshi (suryavanshi) kshatriya rulers of Mevad (Mewad / Mewaad / Mewar / Mewaar) is the historical tale of bravery, dedication, sacrifies, generosity, values of promise, protecting self esteem and independence of motherland. There are some differences in the historical facts found in the details taken from historical encyclopedia and Charan (a clan famous for its authentication of folklores and command on words ad voice), which are used as the base of this novel. But I found it more authentic and trustable facts that, king Kanaksen’s life span was in the second century (of Vikram, i.e. Vikram samvat), Vallabhipur was destroyed in the end of fifth century (of Vikram), Gohaditya’s birth was in Vikram Samvat 568, birth of Chittod (Chittaud / Chittor / Chittaur) winner Bapa rawal (Bappa Rawal) was in Vikaram Samvat 769, he have left for sainthood in Vikram Samvat 810, his lifespan was of 100 years and Maharana Samarsinh was born in Vikram Samvat 1206. The biographical facts found about Maharana Bappa Rawal (Maharana Bappa Rawal) and his descendents are mixed with some amazing details. Some of the fantasies are found added by praise poets which makes the facts hidden behind its mask. Dasondi (Dasondee), VahiVanchas, Bhat-Charans (the people who keep the facts well documented and up-to-date for the family lineages they are associated with) who keep these details and writes stories about the same. Respected Historian Mr. Hum says that (about these stories and these people) "Of course these poets make the history dirty by adding their fantasies ad they makes enrich the true tales by the jewelry of (fantasy) thoughts; but they are the only historians of old times and history resides there in the it original face in these tales". As almost everything is said in the words of this great historian, so I do not think that anything else is need to be mentioned about the amazing (sometimes looking unreal) information found in the historical tales. With these words, I am feeling glad to show my gratitude towards Shri Dhanrajbhai Kothari of Shri Laxmi Pustak Bhandar for his respect towards the great history of Mevad (Mewad / Mewar) and its rulers and thinking in favor of publishing this series of historical novels.

Jay Chittod (જય ચિત્તોડ) By Late Shri Harilal Upadhyay...

This site is dedicated as Online Tribute To The Great Gujarati Author - Late Shri Harilal Upadhyay .