Kanhpuriya or Kanhvanshi are a dynasty of
Kshatriya
Kshatriya () (from Sanskrit ''kṣatra'', "rule, authority"; also called Rajanya) is one of the four varnas (social orders) of Hindu society and is associated with the warrior aristocracy. The Sanskrit term ''kṣatriyaḥ'' is used in the con ...
s (
Rajput
Rājpūt (, from Sanskrit ''rājaputra'' meaning "son of a king"), also called Thākur (), is a large multi-component cluster of castes, kin bodies, and local groups, sharing social status and ideology of genealogical descent originating fro ...
). They are from the
Chandravansh
The Lunar dynasty (IAST: Candravaṃśa) is a legendary principal house of the Kshatriyas varna, or warrior–ruling varna (Social Class) mentioned in the ancient Indian texts. This legendary dynasty was said to be descended from moon-related ...
. Maharaja Kanhdev was the originator of Kanhpuria dynasty, by the name of Maharaja Kanhdev and due to residence in Kanhpur (situated in Salon Rae Bareli on the banks of river Sai). This dynasty is known as Kanhpuria or Kanhvanshi.
Kanpur
Kanpur (Hindustani language, Hindustani: ), originally named Kanhapur and formerly anglicized as Cawnpore, is the second largest city of the Indian States and union territories of India, state of Uttar Pradesh after Lucknow. It was the primary ...
city was founded by Maharaja Kanhdev in the year 1217. Kanpur is a distorted name of Kanhpur. Most historians consider Maharaja Kanhdev to be the founder of
Kanpur
Kanpur (Hindustani language, Hindustani: ), originally named Kanhapur and formerly anglicized as Cawnpore, is the second largest city of the Indian States and union territories of India, state of Uttar Pradesh after Lucknow. It was the primary ...
.
Kanhapuria Kshatriyas are mainly found in Amethi, Rae Bareli, Pratapgarh, Sultanpur of Awadh and some villages are found in Kaushambi, Jaunpur, Prayagraj, Riva Satna districts of MP, Bihar and in
Nepal
Nepal, officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, is a landlocked country in South Asia. It is mainly situated in the Himalayas, but also includes parts of the Indo-Gangetic Plain. It borders the Tibet Autonomous Region of China Ch ...
,
Mahottari rural municipality, village
Damhi.
History
Maharaja Kanhadev's father Raja Karnadev was a commander in the army of Raja Jaichand Gaharwar of Kannauj. In the battle of Chandawar, he fought against Mohammad Ghori and killed the enemy commander Abdul Rahim, but Raja Karnadev was also martyred in the war. When King Karnadev was killed, Maharaja Kanhadev was in his childhood,Father Raja Karnadev was married to Bindumati (Bhagwant Kunwari Gaharwar daughter of Raja Manik Chand Gaharwar, whose son was Maharaja Kanhadev,
Raja Manik Chand was the maternal grandfather of Maharaja Kanhadev.
In childhood, Kanhadev received education in scriptures and weapons from Rishi Sukshma Muni in Gogaso Ashram Raebareli. When he became young, Kanhadev asked Guru Sukshma Muni, "What should I do now?" Gurudev blessed him and said, "You are the originator of the new Kanhapuria Kshatriya dynasty." Be "and expand your empire for seven days and will be victorious"
Then Maharaja Kanhadev took his army and established his kingdom in 14 Parganas of Awadh. Maharaja Kanhdev made Kanhpur the capital of his kingdom on the banks of river Sai and after the expansion of the empire, in 1217 he established Kanhpur (today's city of Kanpur) on the banks of river Ganga, but later he donated the land of Kanpur to a Brahmin, due to which descendants of Maharaja Kanhadev are not found in Kanpur.
Maharaja Kanhdev was the grandson of Raja Manik Chand Gaharwar. According to some information, he also inherited Manikpur from his maternal grandfather, but due to some reasons, Maharaja Kanhdev left the throne of Manikpur,
He married twice, first to the daughter of Visen Kshatriya dynasty of Majhauli State, second to the daughter of Trilokchandi Bais Kshatriya clan of Hajipur State, Bihar. He had three sons Raja Sahas, Raja Rahas and Raja Udaan
King Sahas established the kingdom of Kathola and his descendants established the kingdoms of Karhiya and Nayan.
Raja Rahas established the kingdom in Gaura Katari region, his descendants established estates like
Katari
Katari is a Municipality in Udayapur District in the Koshi province of south-eastern Nepal. It lies by the Tawa river (formed by unification of original Tawa river and Baidhyanath river) having the bridge of length 123.5m. This was established b ...
,
Chandapur,
Simrauta
Semrauta is a village in Tiloi block of Rae Bareli district, Uttar Pradesh, India. It is located at the intersection of the Maharajganj, Raebareli, Maharajganj-Inhauna and Mohanganj-Haidargarh roads, about 20 km from Maharajganj, the tehsil ...
,
Tiloi
Tiloi is a town and tehsil headquarters in Amethi district of Uttar Pradesh, India. Located near Mohanganj on the Jais-Inhauna road, Tiloi is notable as the historical seat of a major taluqdari estate held by the Kanhpurias. As of 2011, its po ...
,
Shahmau, Tekari,
Dakhinwara, Bhuvanshahpur, Hargaon,
Atheha, Rajapur, Umrar,
Jamo,
Baraulia, Resi.
Later, there were many Babuans related to these concessions which were inherited by the kings of the princely states to their sons who had the title of
Babu like Bhagirathpur, Berara, Goriyaabad, Gangagarh, Miramau, Mukhetiya, Chiluli, Pichura Kot, Gopalpur, etc.
There were many warriors among the Kanhapuria Kshatriyas who fought against the invading Mughals, Nawabs and the British and protected the country, religion and people.
References
Further reading
* M. K. A. Siddiqui (ed.), ''Marginal Muslim Communities in India'', Institute of Objective Studies, New Delhi (2004)
*
Dasharatha Sharma
Dasharatha Sharma (1903–1976) was an Indologist with a particular interest in the history of the Rajasthan region of India. Born in the Rajasthani city of Churu, he studied in the city of Bikaner and at the University of Delhi. He had degree ...
''Rajasthan through the Ages'' a comprehensive and authentic History of Rajasthan, prepared under the orders of the Government of Rajasthan. First published in 1966 by Rajasthan Archives.
External links
RajputsColumbia Encyclopedia
The ''Columbia Encyclopedia'' is a one-volume encyclopedia produced by Columbia University Press and, in the last edition, sold by the Gale Group. First published in 1935, and continuing its relationship with Columbia University
Columbi ...
, Sixth Edition; 2005
{{Rajput clans of Uttar Pradesh
Rajput clans of Uttar Pradesh