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Posts Tagged Rajasthan Rulers

Veer Durgadas Rathore – A Loyal and Courageous Warrior

Nov 9

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Durgadas Rathore was among the great personalities of Rajasthan (the land of heroes). He was born on 13 August 1638 at Salwa in a Rajput family of Marwar. His father, Askaran Rajthore, was a general in the army of Maharaja Jaswant Singh.

Durgadas’s childhood days were very uneventful. As his mother didn’t get along with her husband and co-wives, he has to live with her in a village near Sawla Kalan.

His uprightness in Childhood

When Durgadas was young, he killed the official herdsman who looked after the king’s camels for speaking insolently about the king. This act got him an appointment in the army of Maharaja Jaswant Singh. He served the army throughout the king’s life and after the kings’s death in 1678, Durgadas shouldered the task of safeguarding the freedom of Marwar and life of its young king, Ajit Singh, son of Jaswant Singh.

After the death of Maharaja Jaswant Singh, mughal emperor Aurangzeb intervened and appointed a Muslim to rule over Marwar, which unsettled the Rathore clan. Durgadas took the infant Ajit Singh to Aurangzeb and asked him that the infant be confirmed in his late father’s estated and titles.

The Great Saving of Ajit Singh

When Durgadas and others of the delegation were taking Ajit Singh out of Delhi, the mughal guard fell in hot pursuit of them. Durgadas and his 300 men, fought with them. At regular intervals, some 15-20 Rajputs would fall behind to check the mughal pursuers. In this process, many rajputs got killed, but this allowed the forward party to create some distance between Ajit and the Mughals. By evening, Durgadas was left with just 7 men out of the 300. He finally managed to shift Ajit Singh to Jaipur. Later, the infant was moved to Sirohi, a remote town on the southern fringes of Marwar. The infant grew up there in anonymity.

For 30 years after this event, Marwar remained under the direct rule of a mughal governor. During this period, Durgadas carried out a relentless struggle against the occupying forces. After that Ajit Singh was proclaimed Maharaja of Jodhpur.

His Last Days

Heroic Durgadas completed his duties successfully with bravery and after fulfilling the promise which he gave to Jaswant Singh. He left Jodhpur and stayed at many places including Sadri, Sadri, Udaipur, Rampura, Bhanpura for some time and then left to worship Mahakaal at Ujjain. On 22nd November 1718, on the banks of the Sipra at Ujjain, Durgadas passed away at the age of 81 years. Durgadas left behind a shining example of loyalty, chivalry and courage.

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Jai Singh – Mirza Raja of Jaipur

Nov 4

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Mirza Raja Jai Singh was king of Amber (small township close to Jaipur). He was born on July 15 1611. His mother was the famous princess of Mewar and his father name was Maha Singh.

After the death of his elder brother Jagat Singh in 1621, he became the king of Amber at a young age of 10.

Titled as Mirza Raja

Raja Jai Singh gave great services to Shah Jahan (1627) for which he was entitled as Mirza Raja. He rebelled Khan Jahan Lodi along with his Afghan followers and promoted as a commander of 4000. He played a vital role against the southern sultanates and got a district of Chatsu in Ajmer in his kingdom as a reward. He expanded his kingdom by defeating Meo robber tribes in the north of Amber.

In 1638, the Persian commander Ali Mardan Khan surrendered the fort of Kandahar to Shah Jahan. The emperor’s son Shuja, accompanied by Mirza Raja Jai Singh, was sent to take liberation of this important fort. To frighten the Persian Shah from interfering in this task, Shah Jahan gathered a 50,000 strong army in Kabul. On this occasion Mirza Raja Jai Singh received the exclusive title of Mirza Raja from Shah Jahan.  His great-grandfather Raja Man Singh I was also honored by the same title by Emperor Akbar.

A great Builder

A powerful ally of Emperor Jahangir, Jai Singh was a great builder. The greater part of the palace at Amber was built by him. During his time, the influence of Persian art and letters dominated the court at Amber. Several crafts, such as inlay work in jewels and ivory flourished during his reign.

Final Days

Mirza Raja Jai Singh died on 28 August 1667 under mysterious circumstances. It is believed among the Rajputs that he had been poisoned by order of Aurangzeb.

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Rao Jodha – Famous Ruler of Jodhpur

Nov 1

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Rao Jodha (28 March 1416 – 6 April 1489) was a Rajput ruler of Mandore, Rajasthan.

The son of Rao Ranmal, Rao Jodha secured the throne of Mandore in 1427. Rao Ranmal was the administrator of Mewar and assisted Maharana Mokal.

Successfully Captured Mandore

Rao Jodha has a long story behind the capture on Mandore. After death of Maharana Mokal, his son Rana Kumbha decided to end the power sharing arrangement. Rao Jodha, while escaping to Chittor with 450 horsemen, suffered a heavy loss of his warriors near Chittor. He managed to reach Chittor but only with seven people army.

He fought many battles with Rana Kumbha’s forces to capture Mandore. In this process, he won many of the outlying forts near Mandore. Finally in 1453, he made a surprise attack on Mandore and captured it with relative ease.

After Rao Jodha captured Mandore, Jalore and Bundi, Ajmer and Sambhar were also submitted to him by their respective rulers. Rao Jodha’s son Rao Bika established Bikaner, which has now become one of the prominent towns of Rajasthan.

Forts Constructed by Rao Jodha

Rao Jodha started construction of some famous forts in Jodhpur. He wanted to move his capital to a safe hill place. In 1959, he established a new city of Jodhgarh at Chidia-tunk, a high rocky ridge, nine km to the south of Mandore. He also started the construction of famous Mehrangarh fort, situated on a 125 m high hill which was completed by Maharaja Jaswant singh.

Death and Succession

Rao Jodha died at a age of 73 on 6 April 1489. He had 24 sons and was succeeded by his son Rao Satal. After his death, his brother Rao Suja became the king of Jodhpur.

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Bappa Rawal – The Hinduja Suraj

Oct 27

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Personal Profile

Bappa Rawal, popularly known as Kalbhoj, was one of the most powerful and famous ruler of Mewar. It is said that he was the 80th in descent from Lord Rama.

His Childhood

At the age of three, Bappa Rawal’s father Rawal Mahendra II was killed. The ruler of Nagda tried to kill the young successor “Bappa Rawal” for the Guhilot throne but two of his close Bhil friends saved him and for his security he was transferred to wild and precipitous countryside around Nagda. When Bappa came of age, his mother offered her young son into the affectionate care of a kul Purohitan, the wife of a local Brahmin priest and committed herself sati.

In childhood he became the pupil of Harit Rashi who bestowed him with special blessing and taught him his royal ancestry

Bappa’s Journey for Mewar Kingdom

Bappa Rawal decided to claim the entire Mewar Kingdom, including Guhilog ancestors annexed by Paramaras. When he was of 18 years old, he performed a fight that awed Maan More and Paramara nobles. The Paramara king appointed Bappa Rawal as the commander-in-chief in his army where he defeated Arabs and drove them out of country.

During this journey he was entitled with Raj Guru, Hindua Suraj and Chakravarti.

His Wars against Muslims

Bappa Rawal fought a series of wars against Arabs and Muslims. In 39th century when Muslims started attacking India, he united the smaller states of Ajmer and Jaisalmer to face off Muslim invasions across the western and northern borders of  Rajputana. He defeated Bin Qasim through Saurashtra when Qasim attacked Chittor.

His Achievements

Bappa Rawal proved himself as a supporter of India’s culture. His name Bappa meaning father and Rawal being the traditional Rajput title for a king brought him more close to his subjects. He won the loyalty of Paramara nobles and gained their support. He built a temple where he first met his guru, Harit Rashi.

A town was also developed under Bappa Rawal called Eklingji (later renamed Kailashpuri). After having ruled his kingdom for a long time, later he abdicated the throne in favor of his son and he turned into Shiva upasaka and became a Yati.

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Maharana Pratap – The Famous Mewar Ruler

Oct 25

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Personal Profile

Maharana Pratap was the eldest son among all sons of Maharana Udai Singh II and Rani Jeevant Kanwar. He was born on May 9th 1540 in Kumbhalgarh and after his father, Pratap became the 54th ruler of Mewar. The epitome of fiery Rajput pride and self-respect, Pratap has for centuries exemplified the qualities to which Rajputs aspire.

His Scarify for Father Respect

In 1567 Mughal forces of Emperor Akbar forced the family of Maharana Udai Singh II to leave Chittor. Maharana Pratap was not ready to leave but his family enforced him to do so. At that time, Pratap was 27 years of age only.

Udai Singh set up a temporary government in Gogunda but after few years in 1572 he passed away. Under the influence of his favorite queen Rani Bhatiyani, he willed his son Jagmal to ascend to throne. Maharana Pratap respected his father’s wishes and let his half-brother Jagmal to become the next king. All the Sisodia Rajputs especially the Chundawat Rajputs were against of Jagmal Singh and that forced Jagmal to leave the throne to Maharana Pratap. Jagmal left the throne and to take revenge he joined Akbar armies, where he was offered the town of Jahapur as jagir.

The famous war of Haldighati

In 1572 Maharana became the king of Mewar. Pratap’s wish was to rule chittor which was then controlled by Akbar.  As Akbar wanted to rule all over Hindustan so he sent many diplomatic missions to Mewar to get Rana Pratap to agree to the former’s suzerainty. Rana Pratap turned down each one of them.

In 1576, a huge army of 80000 commanded by Raja Man Singh- the brother in law of Akbar attacked on 20000 Rajput soldiers. The battle is known as the battle of Haldighati.  Pratap moved his capital to Kumbhalgarh, where he was born. He commanded his subjects to leave for the Aravali mountains and leave behind nothing for the approaching enemy – the war would be fought in a mountain terrain which the Mewar army was used to but not the Mughals.

In the war Maharana Pratap fought like a real Maharana. His army was not defeated but he was surrounded by Mughal soldiers. At that time his brother Shakti Singh, appeared and saved the Rana’s life. Another casualty of this war was Maharana Pratap’s famous, and loyal, horse Chetak, who gave up his life trying to save his Maharana.

Light and life of the Hindu community

Maharana Pratap’s army grew weaker with time and the funds got greatly reduced. The king got badly hurt when his children’s meal – bread made from grass – was stolen by a dog which made him to lose his spirit in fighting Akbar. At that time Bhama Shah offered wealth and army to him. King Pratap was depressed by the condition of his family and army and thus sent a letter to Akbar demanding “a mitigation of his hardship”.

Akbar got rejoiced at his condition and showed the letter to a literate Rajput at his Court. The famous letter of Prince Prithvi (the younger brother of Rai Singh, the ruler of Bikaner) led to Pratap reversing his decision and not submitting to the Mughals.

In 1587 Akbar relinquished his obsessive pursuit of Maharana Pratap and took his battles into Punjab and India’s Northwest Frontier. Thus for the last ten years of his life, Maharana Pratap ruled in relative peace and eventually freed most of Mewar, including Udaipur and Kumbhalgarh, but not Chittor. Maharana Pratap Singh was also called the light and life of the Hindu community.

Final Days

Maharana Pratap was never able to win back Chittor but he never gave up fighting to win it back. In 1597 he was bitterly injured in a hunting accident and died at the age of fifty six. He was really a great hero who stood firmly for his dignity and honour during a dark chapter of Hindu history.

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Maharana Kumbha – A Warrior and Hindu Sultan from Mewar, Rajasthan

Oct 21

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The land of state Rajasthan is the victim of bravery of great and outstanding Rajput warriors. The Rajput kings of Rajasthan had the capacity to change the destiny of their land by virtue of their bravery, strength of character and achievements.

Maharana kumbhakaran better known as Maharana Kumbha was one of those great Rajput kings who devoted their whole life for the safety and security of their region.

Personal Profile

Maharana Kumbha, the son of Rana Mokal by his wife Sobhagya Devi, was the ruler of Mewar, between AD 1433 and 1468. He was a Rajput belonging to the Sisodia clan and ruled Mewar continuously for fourteen centuries. He ascended the throne of Mewar in A.D. 1433 in the renowned fortress of Chittor.

His Bravery

Maharana Kumbha was a real fighter, who won many fights against sultans. In November 1442, Mahmud Khilji, Sultan of Malwa, commenced a series of attacks on Mewar. For his defense Rana Kumbha on April 26, 1443, attacked the Sultan’s encampment and make him to return Mandu. The Sultan attacked again in November 1443, capturing Gagraun and adjoining forts but the capture of Chittor eluded him.  In 1446 he again attacked on Mandalgarh but was unsuccessful and did not attack Mewar for another ten years.

Titled as Hindu Sultan

Rana Kumbha was the first Hindu ruler who was declared as Hindu-suratrana (Hindu Sultan) by the kings of Delhi and Gujarat in the middle period. Rana Kumbha was the first Hindu ruler to be given this accolade by the Muslim Sultans.

When Kumbha captured Nagaur, Kasil, Khandela and Sakambhari in 1456, in reaction to this, Qutbuddin captured Sirohi and attacked Kumbhalmer. Mahmud Khilji and Qutbuddin then reached an agreement (treaty of Champaner) to attack Mewar and divide the spoils. Qutbuddin captured Abu, was unable to capture Kumbhalmer, and his advance towards Chittor was also blocked. Mahmud Khalji captured Ajmer and in December 1456, conquered Mandalgarh. Taking advantage of Kumbha’s preoccupation, Rao Jodha (the son of Ranmal Rathore) captured Mandore. It is a tribute to Rana Kumbha’s skills that he was able to defend his kingdom against this multi-directional attack.

Forts Constructed by Kumbha

Kumbha build up many forts in his state.  There are total 84 fortresses in Mewar, out of which 32 were erected by Maharana kumbha. Inferior only to Chittor, the chief citadel of Mewar, is the fort of Kumbhalgarh, built by Kumbha. It is the highest fort in Rajasthan (MRL 1075m).The building of Kumbalgarh was a great change done in the ancient rules of Vastu Shashtra.

Achievements

Maharana Kumbha wrote the Samgita-raja, the Rasika-priya commentary on the Gitagovinda, the Sudaprabandha, and the Kamaraja-ratisara. He commissioned the construction of an imposing, 37 meter high, 9 story Victory Tower at Chittor. The tower called Vijay Stambha (victory tower) was completed in 1458. It is also referred to as Vishnu Stambha — “Tower of Vishnu”.

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