The Sisodias are known as the old ruling family in the world and were perhaps the mightiest among the
warrior clans in Rajasthan.
The Sisodias claim their descent from Lord Rama, the hero of the
famous Hindu epic The Ramayana. They continued to the flag of Lava that had motif
of 'Sun' embossed on a crimson back ground. They are thus known as Suryavanshi.
The rulers of Mewar are obviously the legitimate decedents of Lord Rama. The
earliest history of the clan claims that the group had probably descended from
the Central Asian tribes who had moved from Kashmir to Gujarat in the 6th
century.
Vallabhi, their capital was
invaded by raiders and the pregnant queen, Pushpavati, escaped their clutches
because she was away on a pilgrimage. The queen gave birth to a baby boy, Guhil
(cave born), in a cave in the mountains of Mallia and left him in the hands of
Kamalavati, a Brahmin lady from Birnagar. The queen then committed sati (a
widow’s self immolation on her husband’s funeral pyre).
Guhil grew up among the tribal Bhils and in 568 AD, when he was
11, became their chieftain. Guhil also founded a new clan known as the Gehlots,
who derived their name from their founder. In the 7th century, they moved north to the plains of Mewar and
settled in the area around Nagda. Nagda is a small town around 25km from
Udaipur and was named after Nagaditya, the fourth ruler of Mewar. The seventh
ruler was accidentally killed by a Bhil in 734AD, and thus the three-year-old
Kalbhoj became king, who later came to be known as Bappa Rawal.
They trace their plunge from Bappa Rawal, purported graft of the
Guhilot or Guhila or Gehlot or Gahlot clan, who established himself as ruler of
Mewar in 734 AD, ruling from the fortress of Chittor (or Chittorgarh).
Bappa grew up as a cowherd in the town of Kailashpuri (now
Eklingji) but spent much of his time studying the Vedas in the hermitage of the
sage Harita Rishi. He learned to respect Lord Eklingji, and later Harita Rishi
gave him the title of the Diwan of Eklingji, one that has become a legacy for
the succeeding maharanas.
When he was 15 he came to know that he was the nephew of the ruler
of Chittor who had been ousted by the ruler of Malwa. He left Kailashpuri, went
to the fort city of Chittor and snatched his kingdom back from the prince of
Malwa, Man Singh Mori.
In the 9th century bad luck fell upon the Gehlots who were driven
away by the Pratiharas who in turn made way for the Rashtrakutas and Paramaras
(for more details on the latter three dynasties see History of Madhya Pradesh).
Chittor remained the capital of the Sisodias till it was sacked by the Mughal
Emperor, Akbar in 1568.
The Gehlots settled in Ahar, where they were known as Aharya. They
maintained this title till they shifted to Sissoda. Sisodias arrived at its
name when a prince of Chittor built the town right where he had killed a hare
(Susso). Since then the clan has retained the title of Sisodia.
The
Sisodia Flag
The Mewar flag is distinguished for its "crimson" flag.
During the times of war and peace, this standard could always be seen flying
high. It depicts the image of a dagger and a flaming sun.
On the triangular Nishan (flag), the human face is embroidered in
gold depicting the Sun. It has a gold tassel at the end. A Katar (a type of
dagger) with silver threads on the Nishan completes this simple design. The Sun
signifies that the Nishan is of the "Surya Vansi" (Sun Dynasty)
Maharanas of Mewar. The Katar is the emblem of independence....the color of the
Nishan (flag) is Saffron and the mast is red."