महाराणा कुम्भा (हरविलास सारदा - मेवाड़ साम्राज्य के अद्वितीय विजेता, निर्माता व विद्वान्)

FOREWORD. The first edition of this book was published in 1917 A.D. The present work is practically a new book: many new chapters have been added, and old chapters have been re-written and enlarged. The accounts of the life and times of Maharana Kumbhakarana of Mewar and his immediate predeces- sors given in this book, are based principally on old ins- criptions and contemporary records. The more important of the inscriptions of Maharana Kumbha's time are described in Chapter XV; but for facility of reference, I have given in the Appendix (pp. 205-224) the full text of the Ranpur Chaumukha Temple Inscription, and all portions of (a) the Kumbhal- garh, (b) the Chitorgah Kirtisthambha, (c) the Shringi- rishi, (d) the Eklingji Temple and (e) the Samiddeshwar Temple Inscriptions, and (f) the Eklinga Mahatmya, to which references have been made in the various chapters of the book. Many of these are being published for the first time. In writing this book, I have left untapped no source of information available at the present time. I have examined, in the light of inscriptions, coins and contem- porary records, the accounts given in the Persian and Hindi histories of the events that occurred during the period with which the book deals. The following pages give an accurate account of the life of Maharana Kumbha as disclosed by these sources of information.