Keriya

Keriya, historically known as the Chota Rawla (the Junior House), is a prominent Thikana representing a junior branch of the royal house of Chadawad. Belonging to the illustrious Jodha clan of the Rathore dynasty, the estate traces its ancestral roots back to the founding house of Marwar. The establishment of Keriya served to accommodate the younger descendants of the Chadawad ruling family, ensuring the preservation of their martial heritage, landholdings, and socio-political influence in the Malwa region.

Origin and Ancestral Lineage

The Rathores of Chadawad and Keriya migrated from Rajputana to the fertile plains of Malwa during the late medieval period. This migration was part of a larger movement of Rajput clans who established new fiefdoms and estates under the patronage of the Mughal Empire and later, local Maratha rulers. As descendants of Rao Jodha (the founder of Jodhpur), the rulers of Keriya maintained their distinctive clan identity. The designation of Chota Rawla highlights its fraternal relationship with the senior house of Chadawad, with whom they shared administrative duties and military alliances during times of conflict.