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The Kshatriya caste was originally the highest caste before the Brahmins took
over that status.
The term Kshatriya, or Kshetreya (Nepali chhetri) refers to the warrior
caste in the traditional Indian caste system. The
term 'warrior' in this context covers the aristocratic or landowning-ruling classes, including kings.
Earlier in Indo-Aryan Vedic societies, the Rajanyas or Kshatriyas were the highest caste, as the social
framework of those societies or clan depended on the patriarchal supremacy of the King/ruler/Chief as the apex of spiritual and
political power.
In those times, The kshatriya king was often aided by a spiritual advisor ( the Brahman/Druid).
In India,The period after the Epic Age or the Later Vedic Age (1000 bc–600 bc) was marked by the rise of numerous small
republics and kingdoms,The rising popularity and aspirations of the Brahmin priests began to collide with the authority of the
Kshatriyas, who formed the ruling class of each kingdom or republic there began a tussle for supremacy between the Kshatriya
nobility and the Brahman clergy in all the Indo-Aryan regions (from Iran to North India).
This is evident in the rise of Kshatriya religions like Zoroastrianism in Persia and Buddhism in North India, which were
attempts at overthrowing the pale of priest craft and priestly power in the Vedic fold. Then the Vedic religions became
institutionalized, The Vedic religion was 'brahmanised" into Modern-day Hinduism, which accorded the Brahmin priest the highest
place in the caste system and in Persia the Vedic religion was 'Kshatriya-ised".. And the rulers/kings were placed on the
top.
In Modern India,(Because caste is determined by familial inheritance, actual historical rulers and ruling dynasties are not
necessarily of Kshatriya caste, since many obtained power by conquest or other similar means).
Perhaps the only true Kshatriya castes are the Rajputs of Rajasthan and North India (Raja-put--In Sanskrit--"son of
king".)
Some of them claim to have descended from the original Aryan Vedic kshatriyas yet the actual origins of these rajputs are yet
being debated. They could also be partly descended from the pagan foreign tribes who poured into the Indian sub-continent from
the Oxus and Jakartes region of Central Asia /Eurasia, around the time of the birth of Christ. Viz—The Parthians, The
Hepthalites and the Scythians (in Sanskrit—Shaka)
These foreigners entering India, found in Hinduism, the prevalent religion an increasing resemblance to their own
animist/pagan beliefs and customs and thus adopted to the culture and traditions of the natives.
The Rajput kshatriyas are staunchly Hindu, Martial in spirit, fiercely proud carrying a long history of lineage and
tradition,
They are divided into 36 clans consisting of 3 basic lineages, Surya Vansi---Solar Race, Chandra
Vansi-- Lunar Race, and Agni Kula-- Fire Born.
The Brunt of the Islamic invasions into India during the middle ages was faced by the Rajput clans of Rajasthan who fought
fiercely against the Arab and Turkish Islamic invaders to defend their heritage and homeland, often to the very end of their
lives and their kingdoms.
As befitting the legacy of their Aryan ancestors, these modern-day kshatriyas refuse to accept the Brahmin priest as higher
than them on the spiritual platform (as is the norm in the rest of India) and some scions of their noble families even officiate
as priests in their Hindu temples. (E.g. --The Regent of the House of Mewar is also the high priest of his clan deity--the form
of Shiva known as "Ekling ji”.)
Sikhism --the recent modern day religion of North India started by the mystic seer Guru nanak in the 16th century and
perfected by ten subsequent gurus is also seen to be modeled on the Ancient mystical kshatriya ethic of the Vedic Hindus.
There are also some other Kshatriya communities in India such as the Marathas, Kurmis, etc. They were basically members of
other agrarian and serf communities baptized as warriors by Hindu kings to supplement their armies. (Neo-kshatriyas). However
they are not considered to be part of the kshatriya fold by the rajputs.
Today apart from Rajasthan, Rajputs, their clans and their descendants are found all over India. There are also some clans of
Rajputs who are converts to Islam and are now mainly found in Pakistan.
Rajputs are known for their sense of honour, chivalry and love of tradition and revelry. They celebrate weddings, festivals
and feasts to the Gods with great enthusiasm ,customs which are now fading against the scenario of Indian culture which is now
being rapidly urbanised and modernised.
Most of these Rajputs are tall, relatively fairer skinned than the other communities and have sharp
grecian/mediterranean/caucasian features hinting at a definite Aryan /Scythic descent.
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