Lord Surya is the Mool Dev of Dozens of clans of Kshatriyas and have been emblem of several Royal Houses of Rajputs, Sun Worship have been an important part of Rajput families.

Royal Family & erst. kingdom of Mewar are said to have descended from Sun, hence called Suryavanshis.

The Sun, therefore, is the emblem of the Royal House of Mewar.

This relief work, executed in gold, shows the reverence and importance attached to the Sun God who is represented here in the form of a Crest, with human like facial features.

The Sun is flanked on either end by two women, dressed in the traditional outfits with a Leheriya or wave like print, and bearing insignias that indicate authority and honor - each with a distinct function and name!

The insignia closest to the Sun’s rays is the ‘Chanwar’ or flywhisk; a short, gold or silver plated baton,with a fan made with Yak-tail hair; as its name suggests, it is used to ward off flies!Women on extreme ends hold the ‘Morcchal’, which is a fan made out of peacock feathers!

Towering over this radiant deity, are the celestial winged beings, one on either end, holding a portion of what is a garland, in an attempt to put this over the Solar deity as a mark of respect. Because they hold a garland, they are called Maladharas.

The umbrella like object at a level above the winged beings is a ‘Chhatra’; it symbolizes the power and divine aura of the deity over which it towers. It is no surprise that Sun worship was practiced.

In fact this image at Surya Chopar, that faces the private courtyard of Mor Chowk, similar one that faces the public courtyard of Manek Chowk, through the Surya Gokhada or the Balcony of the Sun,was used for worship; particularly on a rainy day, prior to the consumption of meals.

Detail of relief work at Surya Chopar, The City Palace Museum, Udaipur

Credits for the amazing picture of the emblem and write up to: India Lost & Found