Rattibha

A very important #Thread on rajputra origin...
Many people ask for proof of Rajputs prior to even 1300-1500 AD.
So let's use this opportunity to enhance our understanding. What is the story of this term Rajput or Rajaputra? #rajput and also on rajputs are vedic kshtriyas.

Rajputra is used for people and also for specific Kshatriyas other than King's son and in context of representing a caste. Maharshi Vishwamitra was referred as Rajputra in Aitreya Brahmana (7.17).

Chahman inscription of 12th century
referring a minister among chahmans
as Rajputra. He wasn't even son of a king.

1. Rajputra word is used to describe various Rajput clans in oldest mathli text of 12th century.
2. Rajputra Devabhattaraka metioned as Rajputra in damodarpur copper plates although he was a governer.

Vikram sena a average guy who isn't Kings son mentioned as Rajputra in sanga inscription of Nepal 7th century.

Yayati ji calling himself Rajaputra although he is the crowned king.
ब्रह्मचर्येण वेदो मे कृत्स्नः श्रुतिपथं गतः । राजाहं राजपुत्रश्च ययातिरिति विश्रुतः ॥: I have studied the entire Veds with Brahmacarya. I am Rajputra and currently the king himself. My name is yayati( M 1.7.24)

1. Govt Research papers:Govt. Historians referred Central Rajputana as Rajputra.
2. Text introduces a Rajaputra named Shurasena who was the 'sevaka' of a King and had a village's revenue allotted to him for sustenance.

The earliest known mention of the word "Rajput"comes in the 5th C BCE Pali text Khuddaka Nikaya of Sutta Pitaka"Rajputto"has been used at the place of Kshatriya.न ब्राह्मणो नोम्हि न राजपुत्तो, न वेस्सायनो उद कोचि नोम्हि । गोत्तं परिज्ञाय पुथुज्जनानं, अकिञ्चनो मन्त चरामि लोके ॥

Again from the same centuries, we have the Sundarika Bharadvaja Sutta under Sutta Nipata (section 3.4) of Khuddaka Nikaya. It narrates that when a brahmin named Sundarika Bharadwaj notices Buddha, and out of curiosity desires to inquire his ancestry. His words are ...

jātim puccheyanti i.e. I shall ask for his caste/ancestry. To this query the Buddha himself responds thus:
न ब्राह्मणो नोम्हि न राजपुत्तो, न वेस्सायनो उद कोचि नोम्हि । गोत्तं परिज्ञाय पुथुज्जनानं, अकिञ्चनो मन्त चरामि लोके ॥"I'm not a brahmin, a rajput, a vaishya or anybody else

The SobhitaBuddhavamso (14th book withinKhuddaka Nikaya; 5thC BCE) in its verse no.6 equates Rajaputra (Rajaputto) with Kshatriya (Khattiyo). It speaks of a kshatriya named Jayasena Rajaputra.
Punaparam rajaputto, jayaseno nama khattiyo; Aramam ropayitvana, buddhe niyyaday! tada.

In broadly the time frame of 5th to 1st centuries BCE the Pali Canon literature is seen using Rajaputra interchangeably for Kshatriyas.
Both Rajputra and Rajput are mentioned in medieval texts, and are used interchangeably.

The word 'Rajput' has been used in ancient Buddhist literature at the place of Kshatriya/Khattiya.
Adding on more in this thread by @KshatriyaItihas bhai

@KshatriyaItihas people be like - Rajputra and Rajput are different bro
In the Rajaputrakulavarṇanā, of the Aṣṭama Kallola of the Varna Ratnakara, the oldest Maithili Language text in existence. Rajaputra here refers not to Princes but to Rajput Clans.

@KshatriyaItihas 1. Dhruva (Pole Star and Grandson of Manu) Has been referred as Rajput by surdas Ji in Sur Sahitya .
2. Rajput word in Markandey puran

@KshatriyaItihas Great Vaisnava saint Chaitanya Mahaprabhu in Shreechaitanyacharitra states at several places that Rajaputa is a caste with instance of various people.
1. Man Residing near Yamuna belongs to Rajaputra caste.
2. Man Residing near Yamuna belongs to Rajaputra caste.

@KshatriyaItihas

@KshatriyaItihas Jataka text dated 300 BC mentions Rajput.

@KshatriyaItihas Their old Sanskrit names Kshatriya, Rajanya, and Rajbansi, mean connected with the 'royal power,' or of the royal line their usual modern name, Rajput, means of royal descent." The warriors and king's companions, called in ancient time Kshatriyas; at the present day Rajputs.

@KshatriyaItihas Second Girnar stone inscription~ The translation of the text clealry Refers Rajputra as a tribe along with Vanaputra and daudputra and epithet like jetaputra, Sibiputra.

@KshatriyaItihas Adding proof from Ramayana and Mahabharata, which are earlier post by @SolInvictus222 Bhai.

@KshatriyaItihas @SolInvictus222

@KshatriyaItihas @SolInvictus222 Suryavanshi licchavi dynasty of vaisali kingdom belongs to rajputs clan with contemporary Inscriptions and sources (dated 400-700 AD) In Licchavi's inscriptions there were two era appeared-first called saka samwat ( 78 AD) which was written in inscriptions till 5th century AD

@KshatriyaItihas @SolInvictus222 In the inscriptions of Suryavanshi Licchavi dynasty of Vaishali, the word Rajputra has been used in place of Rajput, the evidence for this is – Deupatan inscription (615 AD), Sikubahi inscription (573 AD), Adeshwar inscription (625 AD), Batukbhairava inscription (665 AD).

@KshatriyaItihas @SolInvictus222 In inscriptions like Sanga inscription (598 AD), Bhandangashwar inscription (697 AD), Thimi inscription (698 AD), Lagantol inscription (695 AD) etc., the Rajputra class was present in the Licchavi Republic which was only from the Kshatriya community.

@KshatriyaItihas @SolInvictus222 Vratotsava samhita -
Lord Chandrama
|
God Buddha
|
King Purarava Descendants of Purarava were known as Chandravanshi Rajput

@KshatriyaItihas @SolInvictus222 1.Tiruvacakam composed in 9th century refers Rajaputra a caste .
2. Rajput used in place of Kshatriya.
3. Bisen and guhils both are reffered as Kshatriyas in bhavishya purana.