The Agnikula or Agnivanshi rajputs (Sanskrit: "fire-born" or "fire-clan" rajputs), are one of the three main lineages of the Rajput community.

The legend

The rajputs (Sanskrit Raj putra, sons of kings) are a prominent Hindu caste of northern India and Gujarat. Their origins are shrouded in mystery. The Agni-kunda legend attempts to explain the origin of some or all of the Rajputs. According to this legend, sage Vasishta created one or more warriors from an Agnikunda to replace the ancient kshatriyas who were anihilated by Parasurama. According to different versions of the legend, one or three or four of the Rajput clans originated from the Agnikunda, including the Pratiharas (Pariharas), Chauhans (Chahamanas), Solankis (Chaulukyas), and Paramaras (Parmars). The Pratiharas established the first Rajput kingdom in Marwar in southwestern Rajasthan

Evolution of the legend

A large number of inscriptions and texts have come to light since the mid-19th century that allow us to trace the evolution of this legend in detail.

The Agnikunda story is first found in the Nava-sahasanka-charita by Padmagupta, a fictional romance where the hero is identifiable as Sindhuraja, the patron of the author Padmagupta. This work mentions that the progenitor of the Paramaras was created from fire by sage Vashishtha. During the period of decline of the Paramaras of Dhar, the story finds mention in several royal inscriptions. Later, the story is expanded to include two or three other Rajput clans. Eventually, some scholars proposed that all of the Rajputs were created from the Agnikunda.

The legend and the Paramaras

• 949 AD: First known Paramara copperplate found at Harsola. Mentions Paramara Siyaka as a feudatory of Rashtrakuta Akalavarsha. It mentions the Paramaras as being of the same clan (kula) as the Rashtrakutas.
• 975, 986 AD: Vakpati Munja assumes Rashtrakuta name Amoghavarsha and titles Srivallabha and
  
  
  
  Prathvivallabha, indicating that he regarded himself as being a succesor of the Rashtrakutas of Manyakheta.

Thus, there is no mention of the Agnikunda legend in the early records; the Paramaras appear as a branch of Rashtrakutas, as proposed by D.C. Ganguli.

Speculations on chronology

• 1005 AD: Padmagupta writes the Navasahasanka-charita during the rule of the Parmar king Sindhuraj (c.995-1055) of Dhara. This is the first mention of the legend wherein the first Paramara is created from an Agnikinda by Vashista.
• 1000-1055 AD: Bhoja: no mention of Agnikunda in his copperplates or inscriptions.
• 1042 AD: Vasantgarh inscription mentiones Paramara origin from Agnikunda.
• 1070-1093 AD: Udayaditya, Udayapur prashasti mentions Paramara origin from Agnikunda.
• uncertain date: The Prathviraj Raso is composed, the oldest copies of which do not mention the Agnikunda legend.
• uncertain date: Agnikunda legend inserted into the Prithviraj Raso, where three clans, Pratihar, Chalukya and Panwar, are mentions as having been created from the Agnikunda.
• Uncertain date: Agnikunda legend in Bhavishya Purana. It mentions four clans: Paramara, Chauhan, Chalukya and Parihara, as having been created from fire to annihilate the Buddhists during the time of Ashoka.
• Uncertain date: Unknown text that was later consulted for Ain-i-Akbari.
• Ain-i-Akbari by Abul Fazl (1551-1602) mentions creation of a Dhanji from an Agnikunda, somewhere in the Deccan, to fight Buddhism. That fire-born warrior goes to Malava (Malwa) and establishes his rule. When Puraraj, fifth in line from him, dies childless, a Paramara is selected to succeed him.
• 1832 AD: James Tod presents his theory that the Agnikunda legend symbolizes the elevation of Sakas, Hunas etc. to the status of being Kshattriyas; by implication, all the Rajaputs are descendants of central Asian invaders.
• 1954 AD: Tod's view is repeated by Basham in his magnum opus "The wonder that was India". By now, the view becomes accepted.

See also

• Rajput
• Rajput Clans
• History of Rajputs

References

• H.V. Trivedi, "Inscriptions of the Paramaras, Chandellas, Kachchhapaghatas and two minor Dynasties", part 2 of the 3-part Vol III of Corpus Inscriptionum Indicarum, 1974 (published in 1991).
• A.K. Warder "An Introduction to Indian Historiography", Popular Prakashan 1972.
• Thakur Udaynarayan Singh , "Kshatriya Vamshavali" (in Hindi), Khemaraj Shrikrishnadas, 1989.