Indische Palaographie von circa 350 a. Chr. – circa 1300 p. Chr. c48.s1.5.7

c48.s1.5.7

None of the Rājputs prove their pedigree further back than the 5th century of the Christian era, and four of the leading tribes of the present day, known as the Agnikula, or Fire-clans, derive their origin from a specific act of creation under Brāhmanic auspices, whereby the sun and fire-worshipping Hūna or Gurjara was converted into the blue blood of Rājputāna, and became the forefathers of the Sisōdiā, Cauhān, Parmār, Parihār, and Sōlaṅki or Cālukya, and perhaps of the Kachvāhā lines. Other cases of similar elevation are to be found, and, considering the dominant position held by Scythian communities in the north and west of India for many centuries, together with the affinity between their worship and that of a popular branch of that of the Brāhmans, and the common northern origin of the two races, it is not improbable that the upper classes, at all events, of the new comers should have identified themselves with the corresponding classes of those amongst whom their lot had been permanently cast. There are, moreover, special features of the structure and customs of Rājput and invader of a few centuries later had the effect of consolidating the Rājput devotion to the scrupulous observance of Brāhmanic injunctions as to marriage and intercourse with other castes which specially distinguished them from their foreign oppressors; and to the present day, they stand out from the rest of the community in the high value they attach to these matters.