Rajput

The Rajputs are found in Rajasthan and North India (Raja-put--In Sanskrit--"son of king".)

Some of them claim to have descended from the original Aryan Vedic kshatriyas yet the actual origins of these rajputs are yet being debated. They also could be descended from the pagan foreign tribes who poured into the Indian sub-continent from the Oxus and Jakartes region of Central Asia /Eurasia, around the time of the birth of Christ. Viz—The Parthians, The Hepthalites and the Scythians (in Sanskrit—Shaka)

These foreigners entering India, found in Hinduism, the prevalent religion an increasing resemblance to their own animist/pagan beliefs and customs and thus adopted to the culture and traditions of the natives.

The Rajput kshatriyas are staunchly Hindu, Martial in spirit, fiercely proud carrying a long history of lineage and tradition,

They are divided into 36 clans consisting of 3 basic lineages, Surya Vansi---Solar Race, Chandra Vansi-- Lunar Race, and Agni Kula-- Fire Born.

The Brunt of the Islamic invasions into India during the middle ages was faced by the Rajput clans of Rajasthan who fought fiercely against the Arab and Turkish Islamic invaders to defend their heritage and homeland, often to the very end of their lives and their kingdoms.

As befitting the legacy of their Aryan ancestors, these modern-day kshatriyas refuse to accept the Brahmin priest as higher than them on the spiritual platform (as is the norm in the rest of India) and some scions of their noble families even officiate as priests in their Hindu temples. (E.g. --The Regent of the House of Mewar is also the high priest of his clan deity--the form of Shiva known as "Ekling ji”.)

Today apart from Rajasthan, Rajputs, their clans and their descendants are found all over India. There are also some clans of Rajputs who are converts to Islam and are now mainly found in Pakistan.

Rajputs are known for their sense of honour, chivalry and love of tradition and revelry. They celebrate weddings, festivals and feasts to the Gods with great enthusiasm ,customs which are now fading against the scenario of Indian culture which is now being rapidly urbanised and modernised.

Most of these Rajputs are tall, relatively fairer skinned than the other communities and have sharp grecian/mediterranean/caucasian features hinting at a definite Aryan /Scythic descent