Orchha

Princely States

Bundela Rajputs, the rulers of Orchha, derive their name from Vindhelkhand(for Vindhya Mountains) or Bundelkhand. They are Surya Vamsi Kshatriyas and are the fountainhead of all Bundela estates in Bundelkhand and Baghelkhand. The earliest known ruler is Bir Singh who settled in the area by force of arms. The family, though, trace their ancestry to Kusa, the son of Lord Rama through Baldeo Rakh, twentieth in descent from Kusa. His son Indradyumna built the Jagannatha Temple at Puri. A successor of his, Karmashia conquered Kashi. His son Karmakuru, childless, repaired to the Himalayas to perform penance. When the Goddess wasn't pleased, he decided to behead himself and offer his head on the sacrificial altar. The Goddess, pleased, appeared and asked for a boon. Karmakuru asked for a son. She poured some Amruta on the drop of blood which fell on the floor from the sword nick and out of it, sprung Bir Singh. Him being born out of a Boond or a drop, his descendants are called Bundelas. He conquered the area which came to be known as Bundelkhand after him and ruled from there.

Sixteenth in descent from him is Prataparudra who built the town of Orchha. He entrusted the governance to his son Madhukara and never returned from the battle. While Madhukara's eldest son Ram Shah was made the Governor of Awadh by the Mughal Emperor Akbar, his younger son Narsingh Deo became the ruler of Orchha. Ram Shah also received Chanderi.

According to another version, Orchha traces it's origins to Hemkaran, popularly known as Pancham Bundela, a son of Gahadavala Karnapala(a name not known in Gahadavala lineages). The dynastic history traces it's origin to Lava(in some versions, Kusa), the son of Lord Rama. A few names in the dynastic succession -

Gaganasena who migrated east and founded his kingdom

Kartraj who built the temple at Gaya

Pradyumna who built the temple at Akshaya Vata in Prayaga

Indradyumna who built the temple of Jagannatha at Puri

Aniruddha settled in Kashi

Kartaraj(~674 AD), sixth generation from Aniruddha ousted the local ruler Divodas and occupied Kashi. He performed a Yaga for Grahanivara which was corrupted into Gahadavala.

Kartraj's successors ruled Kashi till 1105

Kartraj

Mahiraj

Murdhraj

Udayraj

Garudsen

Samarsen

Anandsen