Karauli Princely State

Karauli State
Yaduvanshi Rajput Princely State of British India
1348–1949
Coat of arms of Karauli
Coat of arms

Karauli State (orange) within Rajputana (yellow), in the Imperial Gazetteer of India (1909)
Area 
• 1931
3,216 km2 (1,242 sq mi)
Population 
• 1931
140,525
History
History 
• Established
1348
1949
 Succeeded by
Matsya Union
Today part ofIndia
 · Rajasthan
View of Timan Garh Fort in former Karauli State. Its foundations are said to have been built in the 2 century AD.

Karauli State was a princely state in the north eastern edge of modern day Rajasthan, India from 1348 to 1949. It is located in the cultural Braj region. Karauli city was the capital while Mandrayal or Mandrail was another important town. The present and 43rd king since 1984, Maharaja Krishna Chandra Pal Deo Bahadur of Karauli is the descendant of Raja Bijay Pal ji, the 88th descendant of Lord Krishna who originated from the Rajput kingdom of Mathura.[1][2][3]

History (Origin)

The rulers of Karauli belonged to the Jadaun clan of Rajputs belonging to the Yaduvanshi branch of the Chandravanshi (Lunar) descent.[4] The Yaduvanshi Rajputs of Karauli are believed to be the real and direct descendants of Lord Krishna.[5]

[6] The founder of the dynasty was Raja Vijaypal who came from Mathura and founded the fort of Bayana in 1040. Vijaypal also came into conflict with the Ghaznavid tribes during his reign. Raja Timanpal (r.1093-1159) was an important ruler of the dynasty, he extended his domain by conquering the territories of modern day Dang, Alwar, Bharatpur, Dholpur, Gurgaon, Mathura, Agra and Gwalior. Raja Arjunpal founded Karauli in the year 1348. Sultan Mahmud Khilji of the Malwa Sultanate invaded and captured Karauli in 1454 which led the kingdom into a decline. The rulers of Karauli shifted to Untagarh and ruled a small territory. During Mughal Emperor Akbar's reign Raja Gopaldas of Karauli got back his ancestral capital of Karauli.[7]

British era

For his loyalty to the British Empire, Madan Pal was made a Grand Commander of the Order of the Star of India.[8] The salute of honour, to which the Chiefs of Karauli were entitled, was also enhanced from 15 to 17 in appreciation of the loyal services of Raja Madan Pal, who was also decorated with a rich dress of honour.[9][10]

The state under Maharaja Ganesh Pal Dev acceded to the Dominion of India on 4 August 1947.[11] Karauli later merged with the Union of India and became part of the state of Rajasthan.

Present Scenario

Yuvraj Vivasvatpal Jadaun is the current prince of Karauli, India.[12] He is the son of HH Maharaja shri krishna Chandra Pal Deo Bahadur Yadakul Chandra Bhal and HH Maharani Rohini Kumari. The Janaeu Ceremony of Yuvraj Vivasvatpal Karauli, was held at Bhanwar Vilas Palace where the royal family invited thousands of guests from all parts of the country and local villages as they are the head of the Yaduvanshi clan of the Rajputs, the descendant of Raja Bijay Pal ji, the 88th descendant of Lord Krishna who originated from the Yaduvanshi kingdom of Mathura.

They trace their lineage to Lord Krishna and claim to have all the proofs for their claim.[13][14]

Coinage of Maharaja Manak Pal (1772-1804), Princely State of Karauli. Karauli mint. Struck in the name of the Mughal emperor Shah Alam II. Dated 1784-5 CE
Karauli. Coinage of Maharaja Arjun Pal (1876-1886), Princely State of Karauli. In the name of Victoria, Queen of Great Britain and Empress of India. Dated 1878 CE.

References

  1. ↑ Rathore, Abhinay (24 October 1772). "Karauli (Princely State)". Rajput Provinces of India. Retrieved 25 August 2024.
  2. ↑ Adhikary, Sharmi (25 November 2017). "With the Rajput Kings of Karauli". Medium. Retrieved 25 August 2024.
  3. ↑ "The Untold History of Karauli State". Mintage World. Retrieved 25 August 2024.
  4. ↑ Lethbridge, Sir Roper (1900). The Golden Book of India. A Genealogical and Biographical Dictionary of the Ruling Princes, Chiefs, Nobles, and Other Personages, Titled Or Decorated, of the Indian Empire. With an Appendix for Ceylon. S. Low, Marston & Company. p. 132.
  5. ↑ "[Solved] Who is the Kuldevi of Yaduvanshi dynasty of Karauli?". Testbook. Retrieved 1 September 2024.
  6. ↑ Bhattacharya, Jogendra Nath (1896). Hindu Castes and Sects: An Exposition of the Origin of the Hindu Caste System and the Bearing of the Sects Towards Each Other and Towards Other Religious Systems. Thacker, Spink. p. 136.
  7. ↑ Mohammad Habib, Khaliq Ahmad Nizami (1970). A COMPREHENSIVE HISTORY OF INDIA VOL.5. PEOPLE’S PUBLISHING HOUSE, NEW DELHI. pp. 838–839. Like the Bhatis of Jaisalmer, the chiefs of Karauli also belonged to the Yadava clan of Rajputs. This Yadava dynasty of Karauli began with Vijaypala. He migrated from Mathura and settled in the hilly region of eastern Rajasthan, where he laid the foundation of the fort and the capital of Vijayamandirgarh in 1040. This fort was later known as Bayana. The Khyata writers refer to his conflict with the Turkish invaders from Ghazni, Tawanpala (1093-1159), son of Vijaypal, was a powerful king of this dynasty, constructing the fort of Tawangarh. He extended his kingdom by bringing within it the major parts of Dang, Alwar, Bharatpur, Dholpur, Gudgaon, Mathura, Agra and Gwalior.
  8. ↑ Gaur, D. D. (1978). Constitutional Development of Eastern Rajputana States. Usha Publishing House, 1978. p. 18.
  9. ↑ Mehta, Markand Nandshankar (1985). The Hind Rajasthan, Or, The Annals of the Native States of India, Volume 1. Usha, 1985. pp. 332–334.
  10. ↑ Rajasthan [district Gazetteers].: Sawai Madhopur. Printed at Government Central Press, 1981. 1981. pp. 40–42.
  11. ↑ "Instrument of Accession of Karauli State (Rajputana)". Karauli State- Instrument of Accession and Standstill Agreement signed between H.H. Maharaja Ganesh Pal Deo Bahadur Yadukul Chandra Bhal, Ruler of Karauli State and the Dominion of India. New Delhi: States Department, Government of India. 1947. pp. 2–3, 5. Retrieved 31 January 2023-- via National Archives of India.
  12. ↑ timesofindia.timesofindia.com. "India's-most-handsome-prince-yuvraj-vivasvat-pal-of-karauli". The Times of India.
  13. ↑ Rathore, Abhinay. "History of Jadons/Jadauns". Rajput Provinces of India. Retrieved 1 September 2024.
  14. ↑ "Crown Prince of Karauli by Visionnaire MM - Issuu". issuu.com. 26 September 2021. Retrieved 1 September 2024.