As a community of Hindu warriors, Rajpoots cherish their weapons and worship them (Shastra Puja) on Dussehra. In former times, when a Rajput boy became fit to bear arms, the ceremony of kharg bandai, or sword binding, was performed to mark his attainment of manhood.
A description of weapons worship from Mewar, the premier ancient Rajpoot state in Rajasthan: At the start of the Dussehra festival, after fasting, ablution, and prayer on the part of the Maharana of Mewar, the double-edged khanda is delivered to the temple. On the Dussehra day itself, nine days later, the Maharana advances and receives the sword with due homage from the hands of the Raj Jogi....The elephants and horses again receive homage, and the sword, the shield, and spear are worshipped within the palace.
Another occasion of weapons worship was during the installation of a new ruler. An example from Marwar: Ganesh, Shiva, Vishnu, Brahma, and other deities are propitiated in the presence of the prince. Afterwards weapons of war: swords, shields, and guns, also the royal insignia, umbrella, sceptre, and standard, and the war horse and elephants, are worshipped. This ceremony is termed Bajesar. The Maharaja arrayed in his State dress, takes his seat on the gadi, which is placed on a raised marble platform known as Singhdar Chauki. The thakur of Bagri then comes forward and binds on the sword of State....Meanwhile the priest places the tilak (or mark of inauguration) on the forehead of the Maharaja.
A description of weapons worship from Mewar, the premier ancient Rajpoot state in Rajasthan: At the start of the Dussehra festival, after fasting, ablution, and prayer on the part of the Maharana of Mewar, the double-edged khanda is delivered to the temple. On the Dussehra day itself, nine days later, the Maharana advances and receives the sword with due homage from the hands of the Raj Jogi....The elephants and horses again receive homage, and the sword, the shield, and spear are worshipped within the palace.
Another occasion of weapons worship was during the installation of a new ruler. An example from Marwar: Ganesh, Shiva, Vishnu, Brahma, and other deities are propitiated in the presence of the prince. Afterwards weapons of war: swords, shields, and guns, also the royal insignia, umbrella, sceptre, and standard, and the war horse and elephants, are worshipped. This ceremony is termed Bajesar. The Maharaja arrayed in his State dress, takes his seat on the gadi, which is placed on a raised marble platform known as Singhdar Chauki. The thakur of Bagri then comes forward and binds on the sword of State....Meanwhile the priest places the tilak (or mark of inauguration) on the forehead of the Maharaja.
Surajmalji Chauhan and the right to bear arms
Moving away from the big kingdoms of Rajasthan an example of the Rajpoot devotion to his ancestral right to bear arms from a little principality in Gujarat. Quote from India Today:Surajmalji, a 19th century Thakur of Mudeti, had risen in revolt when the British passed an order disallowing people from keeping weapons. At that time Mudeti was a tiny princely state of 24 villages. But regardless of the size of his turf, the brave Rajpoot questioned the British order, “How can Rajputs, whose duty is to fight, be asked to live without weapons?” When the British did not respond, he led an armed struggle which coincided with the revolt of 1857.
The British were forced to withdraw the order after a decade when the small but fierce rebellion could not be quelled. During the decade-long struggle, Surajmalji defeated the British forces twice in the Aravalli ranges. His name became a household name and served to inspire the locals as well as the Rajput land lords, many of whom sacrificed their lives in the battle. The Thakur was also a philanthropist who was generous to the poor and had helped build a number of temples and wells. His popularity grew after the rebellion, and he was made a subject of many poems, which are now an important part of Rajasthani literature and are taught in several colleges. In Mudeti, he has turned from a ruler to its ruling deity.
It is imperative for a marriage procession that passes through Mudeti in north Gujarat to stop by at the statue of Surajmalji Chauhan and hear a 10-minute recital of poems extolling his bravery. This is how the town of Mudeti has been paying tribute to the bravery of one of its former rulers—for the past 125 years.
