Intro
- Many a ruler aspired to act and be treated like a kShatriya, whether or not he could reliably trace his lineage to an ancient kShatriya line descending from the sun, moon or fire.
- Examples of acquisition of kShatriya-status : see social fluidity section.
- As a parable, consider this story from the animal kingdom: MT.
Acquisition of kShatriya status
- See the ‘changing varNa-s’ bullet in the varNa change theory page.
Popular routes
- hiraNyagarbha rite was supposedly attested as early as 4 ce in Andhra, later by dantidurga the rAShTrakUTa and later in keraLa.
- Some claimed ascent through (allegedly false) lineage claims.
- Newer kShatriya-s claimed descent from established and reputed lineages (eg. vaDiyAr-s of mysore from the yadu-s, shivAjI from the siodiya-s). mArtANDa varma, the former rAja of travencore - image.
Elsewhere
- Tai Ahom
- Meitei