Deora (clan)

This article may require copy editing for grammar, style, cohesion, tone, or spelling. You can assist by editing it. (February 2024) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

Deora (Hindi: देवड़ा, romanized: Devrā) or Devda, Devra is a clan of Rajputs. The Deora dynasty historically ruled over Bhinmal, Sirohi and Chandravati, India.^[1] Rao Deoraj was the progenitor of the Deora clan.^[2]

The Deora dynasty traces its origin to Rao Lakha(Lakhan) of Nadol. There are two theories about the origin of Deoras. According to Nainsi ri Khyat, the wife of Asraj, a descendant of Chauhan Lakhan, was Devi Swaroop. Hence his descendants were called Deora. At the time when Vacachhadaldevi became his wife, Asraj's place was Nadol and Cheeba is also a branch of Deoras.^[3] On the other hand, The essence of Bankidas's statements is that the queen of Songare named Mahansi was a goddess. His son was Deva. Its descendants are Deora. Along with this, the descendants of Deva's brothers Bala, Cheeba and Abah have also been written as Deora.^[4]

The Deoras of Sirohi belonged to the Chauhan clan of Rajputs. They are believed to be originated in Sirohi from Sonagara Chauhans from Rao Lakhan of Nadol. Name of present branch of Deoras come from Deoraj Sonagara, son of Man Singh Sonagara. According to some believes on the origin of the name, the name come from queen of Rao Lakhan's son Asraj who is believed to be a goddess (Devi) and her sons are called Devira (Sons of Goddess), with time Devira turned into Devra and Deora. Deoraj Sonagara's son defeated Muslims in Mandar and Badgaon. His son Raimal or Ranmal had five sons, among them Rao Lumbha won Chandravati the capital of Paramars in 1311 AD and started the rule of Deoras in Sirohi.^[5][6][7] He renovated the Achleshwar temple in 1320 AD, after some generation Shivmal built a fort in 1405 AD and named it Shivpuri. His son Sahesmal established the present day Sirohi due to lack of water in Shivpuri and made it the capital on 20 April 1425. His contemporaneous Maharana Kumbha of Mewar captured Abu and settled there in 1425 AD. A fort named Achalgarh and the temple of Achaleshwar Mahadev were built in the year 1425. During the time of Rao Lakha, son of Sahasmal, the Muslim rulers of Malwa and Gujarat together attacked Mewar. Maharana Kumbha gathered his entire army to face him, hence Abu's army went to Mewar for protection. Taking advantage of this opportunity, Rao Lakha took control of Abu. During the time of Rao Jagmal, son of Lakha, when Sultan Bahlol Lodi of Delhi attacked Maharana Raimal of Mewar, Rao Jagmal Deora went to help Maharana in this war. Rajputs won this battle. During this period, Jalore was under the control of Pathans and the ruler there was Majdi Khan. He attacked Sirohi. Rao Jagmal defeated him and took him captive. Then he took nine lakh rupees as punishment from Majdi Khan and freed him from jail. After Jagmal, his son Akshayraj(Akhairaj) ascended the throne of Sirohi. During this period, Mughal Babar attacked India. Maharana Sangram Singh I attacked Babar at the battlefield of Khanwa in AD 1527. In that, Rao Akhairaj fought against the Mughals on the side of Maharana. Rao Akhairaj had also fought with Mahjood Khan of Jalore and captured him. But he was released after giving gifts. Akhairaj's son Rao Raisingh had gone to Chittor to help Mewar when Bahadur Shah of Gujarat attacked Maharana Vikramaditya of Mewar. Rao Raisingh was killed resisting Bahadur Shah's siege of Chittor. Thereafter, in AD 1571, Rao Surtan Deora (Surtan Singh) sat on the throne of Sirohi. Rao Surtan was only 12 years old when he ascended the throne. His mother Queen Jhali was a Sati. Despite being young, Surtan never surrendered before the Mughal emperor of Delhi. Taking advantage of Rao Surtan's young age, Sirohi's Prime Minister Vijayraj (Bija) Deora (who was already running the administration of Sirohi) took control of Sirohi. Then Rao Surtan left Sirohi and went to Ramsin. The feudal chiefs of Sirohi deposed Bija and handed over the throne of Sirohi to Surtan. Emperor Akbar sent an army to conquer Sirohi in AD 1576. Rao Surtan was not ready to accept royal subordination. Surtan fought with the Mughal army. The imperial army was victorious in this war. The Mughal army took control of Sirohi. After the war Surtan went to the mountains of Abu and started attacking the Mughal army from there. Imperial army officer Tarsu Khan appointed Syed Hussain at Sirohi and returned to Delhi. There was a war going on in Mewar between Maharana Pratap Singh and the royal army. Rao Surtan kept helping Maharana in the war. On getting information about this, Akbar again sent a new army. In AD 1581, Rao Surtan attacked Sirohi and captured Sirohi by killing Syed Hasim. During this period, the royal mansabdar Khan Kala was going to Gujarat. While passing by Sirohi, he was attacked by Rajputs and seriously injured. To take revenge, the Mughal army came to Sirohi. Rao left Sirohi and again went to the mountains of Abu. Behind, 150 Rajput warriors faced the royal army and achieved bravery. When Emperor Akbar could not control Rao Surtan with military force, he adopted the policy of creating division among the Rajputs and Maharana Pratap Singh's younger brother Maharaj Jagmal, the ancestor of the Jahazpur clan, who was the royal mansabdar and son-in-law of the former Rao Mansingh of Sirohi, was given the Sirohi state jagir. Rao Surtan also did not oppose him for staying in Sirohi due to his relation. Surtan lived in the royal palaces and Jagmal lived elsewhere. On this, the queen of Jagmal said to her husband that how can a king live in my father's palaces while I am alive? Coincidentally, once Surtan had gone out of Sirohi, on this occasion, Jagmal connived with the former head of Sirohi, Vijayraj Deora, and both of them jointly attacked the royal palace. But Sangramsingh Solanki and Charan Duda Ashiya, who were responsible for the management of the palaces, foiled that attack. Therefore, Jagmal left Sirohi and went to Agra to join Akbar.

Jagmal Ranawat went to Emperor Akbar and complained about Rao Surtan Deora, on this Akbar sent a Mughal army to Sirohi under the leadership of royal mansabdar Rao Raisingh Rathore Sojat, son of Rao Chandrasen Rathore. Swami Dantisingh of Koliwada and Vijayraj Deora were also with him. This army started from Agra and stayed in Sojat. After spending some time here, Rao Raisingh gathered his other chieftains and prepared for war and marched towards Sirohi. Instead of attacking Sirohi directly, the Mughal army planned to attack the Jagirdars of Sirohi so that the chieftains would go to protect their places. In this way Sirohi's army will be scattered. According to this plan, an army was sent to Bhitroot under the command of Vijayraj Deora. Despite this attack, the chieftains did not leave Rao Surtan. Thus, this move of the Mughal army was not successful. On this, Deora Samar Singh told Surtan that there should be no delay now and he should immediately attack the Mughal army. Then Surtan attacked the Mughal army. This war happened on AD 1583 October 18 happened at field in Dattani. The Mughal army kept the Gaj army in its vanguard. It started raining smoke and bullets from cannons and guns. Rao Surtan himself was commanding the army of Deoras. Samar Singh Deora was with him. Rao Surtan attacked and penetrated into the Mughal army. Due to this fierce attack, the royal elephant army left the field and ran away. Rao Raisingh was riding on an elephant. Surtan jumped his mare Kesar on the elephant and the mare placed both her front legs on the elephant's chest. Rao Surtan attacked Rao Raisingh with a sword. Rao Raisingh was killed in this manner. Along with them, Maharaj Jagmal Ranawat and Dantisingh also were killed. Maharao Surtan's chief Sardar Samar Singh Deora was killed in the war. Twenty chieftains of Rao Raisingh were also in this war. The Mughal army was completely defeated. The drums, insignia and military equipment of Rao Raisingh, Maharaj Jagmal were came into the hands of Surtan.

After the battle of Dattani, when he was handling the battlefield, taking the injured for medical treatment and feeding the dying injured, the famous bard poet of Rajasthan, Dursa Aadha, who was with Rao Raisingh, fell seriously injured. Considering him to be a Rajput, they started feeding him milk, then he declared himself a Charan.

Shobhit, son of Nadaul ruler Lakshman, established his kingdom in Bhinmal. Shobhit was succeeded by Mahendra, son of Asraj (Ashwaraj), son of Lakshman. After Mahendra, Sindhuraj (Machharika), Pratap (Alhan), Asraj, Jendraraj, Kirtipal, Samarsi, Pratap, Shasayanandan Bijad and Lumbha respectively. Lumbha captured Chandravati and Abu from the Paramaras around 1311 and got the Achaleshwar temple renovated in 1329 AD. Lumbha died around 1321 AD. After him came Tej Singh, Kanhadde, Samant Singh, Salkha and Raimal.^[8][9]

Chandravati and Shivabhan, son of Abu's ruler Raimal Deora, expanded his kingdom and built a fort for security on Saranva hill, then Established a city named Shivpuri in 1405. His son Sahasmal established a new city two miles away from Shivpuri in 1425 AD which was called Sirohi.^[10][11][12]

Captured Chandrawati from Parmaras started the rule of Deora dynasty in 1311A.D.

Fought with Mughal forces in battle of Dattani.