Shekwal

Shekwal (शेकवाल) Sekwal (सेकवाल) is Gotra of Jats in Rajasthan.

Origin

Sekwal (सेकवाल) gotra was probably originated from Seka (सेक) people of Mahabharata period.

VIII Nadlai Stone Inscription of Rayapala S.V. 1195 (1138 AD) (See- Chahamans_of_Marwar) mentions a word Sheka (शेक) in Line 11. which couldnot interpreted properly.

Seka in Mahabharat

Mahabharat Sabha Parva mentions a province named Seka (सेक) which was conquered by Shahdeva in his victories of southern provinces. He also conquered adjoining Aparaseka (अपरसेक) province. सेकानपरसेकान्श्च व्यजयत सुमहाबलः (Mahabharat Sabha Parva:319)

"The mighty warrior then vanquished the Sekas and others, and exacted tributes from them and also various kinds of gems and wealth. Allying himself with the vanquished tribes the prince then marched towards the countries that lay on the banks of the Narmada. And defeating there in battle the two heroic kings of Avanti, called Vinda and Anuvinda,...."

From the above description in Sabha Parva it appears that the province of Sekas mentioned here appears to be between Chambal and Narmada Rivers. Some historians consider them to be located in Ajmer-Merwara region who owned silver mines and capital at Jahajpur. There is a need to research this region Seka. These Seka people probably gave names to Sikar and Shekhawati region.

Udyoga Parva/Mahabharata Book V Chapter 103 mentions Names of famous Nagas of Bhogavati.

सुमनॊमुखॊ दधिमुखः शङ्खॊ नन्दॊपनन्दकौ

आप्तः कॊटनकश चैव शिखी निष्ठूरिकस तथा Mahabharata (5.103.12)

About origin of word Shekhawati 'Hakim Yusuf Jhunjhunuvi' gives another view. According to him Shekhawati derives its name from Persian language word ‘Sheekh’ which means ‘Sand deposited on the coastal area of sea’. This indicates that this area has been inundated with seawater long back and converted to sand dunes over thousands of years [Hakim Yusuf Jhunjhunuvi: Jhunjhunu ka Itihasa, Vol III page-10]

History

We find mention of a Sekwal gotra lady in the history of Burdaks as wife of Rao Burdakdeo, the originator of Burdak Gotra. The records of Bhat of Burdaks tell us that Raja Ratansen begot son Biramrao. Biramrao came from Ajmer to Dadrewa and founded a fort here in samvat 1078 (1021 AD). He had 384 villages in his kingdom. Biramrao got married to Jasmadevi daughter of Virabhana Garhwal. Biramrao begot three sons namely,

• 1. Sanwat Singh - Sanwat Singh begot son Mel Singh, who begot son Raja Dhandh who begot son Indra Chand who begot son Har Karan. Har Karan had son Harsh and daughter Jeen. Jeen became deity in samvat 990 (933 AD).
• 2. Sabal Singh - Sabal Singh begot sons Alan Singh and Balan Singh. Sabal Singh won the Jaitaran fort on ashwin badi 938 (881 AD).
• 3. Achal Singh

Alan Singh son of Sabal Singh got three sons: Rao Burdakdeo, Bagdeo and Biramdeo. Alan Singh constructed a temple at Mathura in samvat 979 (922 AD) and gifted a gold chhatra.

Rao Burdakdeo of Dadrewa begot three sons: Samudra Pal, Dar Pal and Vijay Pal. Rao Burdak Dev went to Lahore to help Raja Jai Pal. He died in war in 1057 (1000 AD) and his wife Tejal of gotra Shekwal became sati in Dadrewa . Her chhatri was built on the site of Dadrewa pond in samvat 1058 (1001 AD). The Jat Gotra Burdak started after Rao Burdak Dev.

We find mention in Dadhimati Temple Inscription of Dhruhalana of Gupta Year 289 (608 AD) about Dahiya or Dahima Brahmans and one of the chha-nyāti (six castes who inter-dine but do not inter-marry, viz. Dahima, Parikha, Ganḍa, Gujar-ganḍa, Sarasvata, and Ṥikhawāla (same as Khandelawala) of the Pancha-ganda section. Here one of the branch is Ṥikhawāla.

Distribution in Haryana

There is a village named Seka in Narnaul tehsil of Mahendergarh district in Haryana.

References

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