Bappa Rawal is regarded as the actual founder of Guhil dynasty of Mewar. According to Dr Ojha, ‘Bappa Rawal’ was not the name of a particular individual rather it was the title of a ruler named Kalbhoj. According to Muhnrot Nandey Ki Khyaat, he used to graze the cows of Rishi Harit. Pleased with the services of Bappa, Harit Rishi convinced Mahadev and asked for the kingdom of Mewar for him.
After the creation of disturbance between Raja Man and the feudal lords, several feudal lords left the court and went away. These rebel feudal lords convinced Bappa to become the ruler and he invaded Chittor in 734 CE. Bappa occupied Chittor and gained three titles – Hindu Surya’, ‘Rajguru’ and ‘Chakkvaya’.
At the age of fifty, Bappa invaded Khurasan and occupied it. He died over there. According to historian Ojha, Bappa died in Nagda and his epitaph is famous by the name of ‘Bappa Rawal. Historian C. V. Vaidya has compared him with Charles Martel (the French commander who was the first to defeat the Mughal army) and has said that in front of his rockfirm valour, the tide of Arab invasions was destructed.
