Page 62 - SST Class 07

a wooden image of the deity, suggesting the local was ruled by various Rajput families. Prithviraj
origin of God which is later identified as Lord was one of the most popular rulers.
Vishnu. This tradition is still widely practiced. Ideals of Rajputs and Rajputana Culture

A temple of Purushottama Jagannatha was Fighting till their last breath, these rulers would
constructed at Puri by Anantavarman of Ganga rather choose death over surrender to the enemy.
Dynasty, one of the important rulers of the Such was the strong ideals of the Rajputs. The
Ganga Dynasty, in the 12th century. Subse- gallantries of the Rajputs were well-documented
quently, King Anangabhima-III, the self- in the form of stories as well as poems and songs.
proclaimed deputy of the Lord dedicated his Depicting strong emotions such as loyalty and
entire kingdom to the deity in 1230. anger, these stories inspired even the ordinary
The importance of the temple as a pilgrimage people.
center grew and with it increased its authority in The Rajput Women
social as well as political spheres. There was a
Women have often been depicted as the cause of
competition amongst the dynasties who con-
conflict between kings who fought battles in
quered Orissa to gain control over the temple.
order to win them over. The horrifying practice of
Amongst these were the Mughals, Marathas as “Sati” was common in those times where widows
well as the English East India Company. They were immolated on the funeral pyre of their
regarded gaining control over the temple as a husbands
means to garner acceptance of the local people.
FLOURISHING DANCE FORMS
THE SAGA OF THE HEROISM OF THE
India has a glorious dance tradition since time
RAJPUTS
immortal. During the Medieval period, each
The present-day Rajasthan was initially known as specific region of India started developing its own
“Rajputana” by the British in the 19th century particular dance form.
since it was inhabited by the Rajputs. Many
groups in the northern, as well as central parts of
India, identified themselves as Rajputs. Apart
from these, there were people living in Rajasthan
who were not Rajputs. The Rajputs, however, are
often recognised as contributing to the distinctive
culture of Rajasthan is
indebted to the Rajputs
for its distinctive and rich
cultural heritage.
The Rajputs were known Bharatanatyam
to be heroic rulers and Bharatanatyam
their aspirations and
ideals have a strong In South India, particularly in Tamilnadu,
Bharatanatyam developed as a temple dance.
influence on the cultural
The girls who performed this dance were called
traditions of this region.
the Devadasis who devoted their entire life to the
From the advent of the
service of the deity. The Chola empire greatly
8th century, Rajasthan Pritviraj Chauhan
patronised this form. Many Chola sculptures

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