Kshatriyas (Brave Warriors), the Hindu military caste, particularly Rajput warriors. Priests (Brahmans) were the first to form a special class among the Aryans; next came the men who defended the country. They imitated the example of the Brahmans, formed a class by themselves, and became known as Kshatriyas, their military achievements being recounted at great length in the Hindu classics, the Ramayana and the Mahabharata. The warlike spirit of the Kshatriyas is described at great length in the Ramayana.

Kshem Singh, Rawal, thirty-fourth ruler of Mewar (r. 1168-1172); he succeeded Rawal KARAN (RAN) SINGH I and ruled for four years from AHAR. Originally, it was thought that the MEWAR FAMILY SPLIT occurred during the reign of Kshem Singh and that the breakaway princes, Rahap and Mahap were his sons. However, further research has suggested that they (and possibly Kshem Singh as well) were the sons of Karan Singh I (previously called Ran Singh). If Kshem Singh was a younger son of Karan Singh I and was named as heir to the throne, this would be a very valid reason for the split by Karan’s two elder sons-in anger. Rahap established a junior branch of the family at Sisoda, naming his clan Sisodias, and taking the title of ‘Rana’. Mahap established a small independent kingdom at Dungarpur. An alternative scenario is that when Rahap and Mahap quit Ahar, Karan Singh no longer had an heir (in situ as it were), and Kshem Singh, a member of another branch of the royal family, was either adopted or brought in to succeed him. However, this does not explain why the two brothers left Ahar. As is evident, very little is known of Kshem Singh’s reign. SAMANT SINGH succeeded him. See also MEWAR’S LOST GENERATIONS.

Kshetra Singh, Maharana (also spelled Khet or Kheta Singh), forty-fourth ruler of the Mewar Dynasty (r. 1366-1382); succeeded his father Maharana HAMIR SINGH I and ruled for sixteen years from Chittor. A brave son of a brave father, Hamir’s heir had the determination of his father and continued his work, retaking Mewar provinces and key outposts from the Tughluqs of Delhi. He captured Ajmer and Jahajpur; defeated Malwa’s Sultan Dilawar Khan and Idar’s Rao Ranmal; and re-annexed Mandalgarh, Desuri and the whole of the rugged CHAPPAN area, southeast of modern-day Udaipur. Kshetra Singh built a palace (Khatan Rani’s Palace, Chittor) for one of his concubines, Khatan who was of a low caste (khati). Rani Khatan had two sons, CHACHA and MERA, who subsequently assassinated their nephew and Kshetra's grandson, Maharana MOKAL. There is a legend concerning Kshetra Singh’s assassination.

Legend. (Before he came to the throne,) Kshetra Singh became engaged to the daughter of his vassal, Lal Singh, who was the Jagirdar of Ganoli (grand-daughter of Rao Hama). There was a joyous celebration the day following the wedding, (and the guests included Shetra’s father, Maharana Hamir Singh I from Mewar, and the court poet, Charan Baru). As the drink flowed freely, both sides began praising their respective sovereigns. Baru, by then rather under the influence of liquor, liberally praised his master, (Kshetra Singh or Hamir Singh), stating that there was no Rajput to equal his generosity in giving gifts to people. At this, Lal Singh (now Kshetra’s father-in-law) challenged Baru, claiming the bard was exaggerating and said, "I am prepared to give my head for you! Can your master, my son-in-law, offer as much? And if you don’t demand it, you are a liar!" Baru was so humiliated, he returned to camp and arranged to have himself beheaded and his head sent to Lal Singh with a note saying, "This is the gift from a poet to you." (Kshetra’s father, Maharana Hamir Singh, considered the poet’s death so serious that he sent word to his son: "If you are my son, you must take revenge and kill your father-in-law.") Kshetra, obeying his (father’s) command, prepared for war against Lal Singh, who tried to pacify Lal Singh, but to no avail. Lal Singh assassinated Kshetra Singh (after he had become Maharana) and his wife, Lal Singh’s daughter, committed sati. Kshetra’s son, LAKHA (who was to sire the ill-fated Mokal) succeeded him. Note: Historians consider this a myth, created by the Bhats (poets). Because the story ends with Kshetra Singh’s assassination, it had to be in 1382, at the end of his reign. This, of course, means that his father, Maharana Hamir Singh, could not have been involved, having died in 1364.

Kuber, the Hindu god of wealth; there is an idol of him in the NEELKANTH TEMPLE, Kumbhalgarh.

Kuber Singh. There were several leading members of clans who had this name. They came from Jharol (Jhala); Kaladwas (Chavda); Roopnagar (Solanki), and Salumbar (Choondawat).

Kukkar, Kunwar, one of the nine sons of Rana LAKSHA of Sisoda who accompanied their father to Chittor when it was attacked by Sultan ALA-UD-DIN KHILJI in 1303. He was one of the hundreds of Mewar warriors killed during the battle.

Kukkreshwar Kund (Tank or Reservoir), Chittorgarh; said to have been built by Raja Kukkreshwar in AD 755; the reservoir has the Kukkreshwar Mahadeo Temple on its bank.

Kukkreshwar Mahadeo Temple, to the west of Annapurna Temple, Chittorgarh; a temple and fountain, which TOD claims was erected by Maharana Kumbha, but contradicts himself several pages later by saying that an old inscription near the temple stated: "In AD 755, Raja Kukkureswar (sic) erected this temple and excavated the fountain." Official records show that it was built by Raja Kukkreshwar, and repaired by Maharana Kumbha (1433-1468).

Kul Purohitan, a priest’s wife. The best known Kul Purohitan in Mewar’s history was the one who took care of the prince, Kalbhoj (later BAPPA RAWAL, the eighth Prince of Mewar) during his early childhood years at NAGDA.