Agnivansha

In Indian culture, the Agnivanshi Rajputs are people who claim descent from Agni, the Vedic god of fire. The Agnivanshi lineage or Agnivansha is one of the three lineages into which the Rajput clans are divided, the others being the Suryavanshi (descended from Surya, the sun god) and the Chandravanshi (descended from Chandra, the moon god). There are four clans claiming Agnivanshi descent, being the Chauhans (Chahamanas), Parihars (Parhars or Pratihars), Parmars (Paramaras) and Solankis (Chalukyas).

Legend

The Agnikunda legend, of which there are several versions, gives an account of the origin of the Agnivanshi Rajputs.

The Bhavishya Purana version of the legend begins with the puranic legend wherein Parashurama, an avatar of Vishnu, exterminated the traditional Rajputs of the land. Later, the legend says, sage Vasishta performed a great Yajna or fire-sacrifice, to seek from the gods a provision for the defense of righteousness on earth. In answer to his prayer, a youth arose from the Agnikunda or fire-altar—the first Agnivanshi Rajput. According to different versions of the legend, Rajput clans originated from the Agnikunda.