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33 THE MOHANOTS
The Mohanots form an important sept of the Osval community Their original home is Marwar but they are also met with in Kishengadh and Udayapur, They muster strong in Jodhpur where they occupy some responsible posts and wield no small influence in the official circle Their chief occupation has been state service but of late some of them have taken to commerce and banking.
The Mohanots claim to have descended from Rayapala, the Rathod Chief of Marwar. Tradition avers that he had thirteen sons Kanakapala, being the eldest, succeeded his father in Vik. Sam. 1301. Of the iemaining twelve sons, one was Mohanaji from whom the Mohanots take their name. Mohanaji, in spite of his having had a Bhatı lady to wife, took a fancy for a Srisrimal girl and married her The result of this union was a son named Sapatasena On his growing to man's estate, Sapatasena became a convert to Jainism and was admitted into the Osval brotherhood. The Mohanots look upon Sapatasena as their common ancestor
The Mohanots have played a conspicuous part in the history of the Marwar They have produced soldiers as well as statesmen The names of some of their great
1 The date of conversion is given as Kartık sudi 13 Vık Bam 1351,
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