Nagraj Dalpatot | Rajpurohit Encyclopedia Profile

Nagraj Dalpatot was the eldest son of Dalpat Singh Manohardaot, a distinguished Tikai Purohit of Marwar and martyr of the Battle of Dharmat (1658). Belonging to the Sewad clan of Rajpurohits, Nagraj Dalpatot is remembered for his valor and sacrifice during the political turmoil in Marwar following the death of Maharaja Jaswant Singh of Jodhpur.

After the death of Maharaja Jaswant Singh (1678), the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb attempted to annex Marwar into the Mughal Empire. During this struggle, Indra Singh Rathore, son of Rao Amar Singh Rathore of Nagaur, aligned himself with the Mughal side and was given command over Jodhpur city.

Although Indra Singh succeeded in gaining control over the city, the Rathore nobles refused to hand over the Jodhpur fort, a stronghold symbolic of Marwar's sovereignty. In retaliation, Indra Singh launched attacks on loyalist Thikanas, targeting those nobles who resisted Mughal control.

One of the attacked Thikanas was Tinwari, under the leadership of Akheraj Ji Dalpatot, a member of the Sewad Rajpurohit lineage. During this assault, Nagraj Dalpatot, the elder son of Dalpat Singh, stood in defense of his homeland.

In the ensuing conflict, Nagraj Dalpatot attained martyrdom along with another Sewad Rajpurohit from Badla. This act of sacrifice is deeply etched into the memory of the Rajpurohit community. A cenotaph (chhatri) commemorating Nagraj Dalpatot still stands within the old fort complex of Tinwari, serving as a lasting tribute to his bravery.

Following the assault, Indra Singh held Tinwari under his control for approximately six months. During this period of Mughal dominance, all Rajpurohit families of Tinwari sought refuge in the nearby Kanodiya Jagir, preserving their lives and traditions.

As a mark of respect and gratitude, the descendants of the martyr from Badla were granted land and later permanently settled in Tinwari Thikana—a gesture that highlights the bonds of loyalty and sacrifice within the Rajpurohit community.

The sacrifice of Nagraj Dalpatot and the collective resistance of Tinwari’s Rajpurohit lineage reflect the unyielding spirit of Marwar’s nobles and their refusal to submit to foreign domination. His story is preserved not only in oral traditions and local memory but also in the physical monuments that continue to stand in Tinwari.

• Rajpurohit Jati ka Itihas – Part 1

• Tinwari Thikana ki Khyat

• Oral history of the Sewad clan

• Local narratives and bardic traditions of Marwar