Personal Profile:
Rao Bika was the founder of the city Bikaner in Rajasthan. He was the son of Rao Jodha, founder of the city and principality of Jodhpur.
In 1465, provoked by a stray comment by his father, Rao Bika left Marwar (Jodhpur) to create his own kingdom. His mother Rao Jodha supported Bika. He left Marwar accompanied by his uncle, Rawat Kandhal, who provided politico-strategic advice and a small contingent of Rathore warriors (500 soldier and 100 cavalrymen).
He met with Mata Karni:
During his travel, Bika stopped at Deshnoke where he met with the mystic Karni Mata. She gave him her blessings for his success. Rao bika got encouraged by her support and took advantage of the internal rivalries of the Jat clans and by 1485 build a small fort called Rati Ghati at the site of the city which today bears his name. .
Establishment of Bikaner:
In 1488 he began the building of the city itself. In the beginning the neighbouring Bhati chiefs were suspicious of the new growing power in their vicinity. Karni Mata, who had become the kuladevi of Rao Bika brought the rivalry to an end by inspiring Rao Shekha – the powerful Bhati chief of Pugal, to give the hand of his daughter in marriage to Rao Bika. .
In 1488 what Rao Jodha died, Rao Bika attempted to claim the heirlooms promised him, only for his brothers to refuse his request. In a surprise attack he stormed Mehrangarh Fort but left his brothers unharmed and departed with only the promised heirlooms (among which were a sandalwood ’Pugal’ throne, a royal umbrella, a sword and a horse of ’divine origin’).
Bika’s grandfather Raimnal through palace intrigues had been drugged with opium and tied to his bed with his own turban and murdered. Remembering this Rao Bika had a special short lightweight bed made so his feet hung over the edge. The idea being that if the same thing happened to him he would still be able to stand up and fight with it on his back. This bed is today on display in the Phul Mahal in Junagarh Fort in Bikaner.Rao Bika died in 1504. .
