Agnivansha
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The Agnivanshi are people belonging to the Agnivansha. According to legend, they are descended from Agni, the Hindu God of Fire.
The Agnivanshi lineage is one of the three lineages into which the Kshatriya caste of Hindus is divided, the other two races being the Suryavanshi (descended from Surya, the Hindu Sun God) and the Chandravanshi, descended from Chandra, the Hindu Moon God.
[edit] The Agnikunda legend
The Agnikunda legend gives an account of the origin of the Agnivanshi Kshattriyas. In fact, it attempts to explain the origin of some of the Rajputs.
This legend begins with the puranic legend wherein Parashurama, an avatara of Vishnu, exterminated the traditional kshatriyas of the land. Later, the legend says, sage Vasishta performed a great Yajna or fire-sacrifice, to seek from the gods a provision for the defense of righteousness on earth. In answer to his prayer, a youth arose from the Agnikunda or fire-altar -- the first Agnivanshi Rajput. According to different versions of the legend, one or three or four of the Rajput clans originated from the Agnikunda, including the Naru Rajputs (Naru means Fire),[citation needed] Pratiharas (Pariharas), Chauhans (Chahamanas), Solankis (Chaulukyas), and Ghosh,[citation needed] Paramaras (Parmars).
This legend is explained up to some extent if one tries to look into Bhavishya Purana (Prashasti Sarga Parva Khand 1, chapter 6, Shloka 44 to 47). The Purana is written in future tense and relevant part is like this in Sanskrit, English translation is given also:
Bindusar-stato-abhavat
(There will be Bindusar)
Pitustulyam krit Rajyam-ashok-stanmo-abhavat
(Like the father, there will be Ashok and his sons who will rule)
Etsminet kaletu kanyakubjo-dwijottamah
(At that time there will be a Brahmin in Kanykubj clan)
Arbudam Shikharam prapya-bramh-homam-tho karot
(To achieve he will do "Bramh Hom" at Mount Abu)
Vedmantra prabhavacch-jatash-chatwari Kshtriya
(With the influence of Ved mantra four Kshtriyas will be born)
Pramar-ssamvedi cha Chaphani-yajurvidah
(From Samved "Pramara" and from Yajurved "Chaphani" will be)
Trivedi Chu tatha shuklo-athrva sa Pariharkah
(From three Vedas there will be "Chu" and from Atharva Veda there will be "Pariharak")
Erawat kule jatan-gajana-ruhyate prathak
(And there will be an elephant also from the family of Erawat)
This version clearly mentions 1.That an Yagna was held at Mount Abu 2. The time of Yagna was during rule of Ashoka's sons.[citation needed] 3.Four kshatriyas were born of this Yagna. They were Pramar(Paramara), Chaphani (Chauhan), Chu (Chalukya) and Parihar (Pratihara).
At that time India was under attack from Indo-Greek kings. Ashoka during his later rule was under influence of Buddhism. Brahmins wanted to revive Hinduism, so it's no wonder they did everything they could. Pusyamitra Sunga murdered the last Mauryan emperor. Although he did everything to revive Hinduism, persecution of Buddhists is disputed.[citation needed]
It is universally accepted that Buddhism a religion originated from India remained and prospered in other countries, but lost grounds in India.
This was due to revival of Hinduism in India.
The Pratiharas established the first Rajput kingdom in Marwar in southwestern Rajasthan in the 6th century, the Chauhans at Ajmer in central Rajasthan, the Solankis in Gujarat, and the Paramaras in Malwa.
