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

Maharana Kumbha. Their immortal deeds, their chivalrous charac- ter, their high ideals, their elevated and noble patriotism have placed them at the head of the Hindu nation and earned for them the title of Hindua Suraj, "the Sun of the Hindus." "It has rarely occurred in any country," says Col. Tod, "to have possessed successively so many energetic princes as ruled Mewar through several centuries."¹ Jaitra Singh, Hammir, Kumbhá, Sángá, Pratáp, Ráj Singh are names that will shine bright throughout the ages, and will be revered so long as chivalry is not despised, patriotism not discarded, and valour not condemned. Maharana Kumbha ascended the throne of Mewar² in A.D. 1433 in the renowned fortress of Chitor, and ruled till A.D. 1468, a period of nearly 35 years, which is one of the most prosperous and important in the history ¹ Tod's Annals and Antiquities of Rajasthan, Vol. I, p. 286. ² Colonel Tod, in his Annals and Antiquities of Rajas- than, Vol. I, p. 286, gives S. 1475 (A.D. 1419) as the year of Kumbha's accession to the throne. This is incorrect. The Chitor Samiddheshwar Temple Inscription of Mágh Sud 3rd, S. 1485 (A.D 1429) says that Maharana Mokal renovated that temple in 1429 A.D. See Infra p. 13. Barva Devidan's bahi gives 1433 A.D. as the year of Kumbha's accession to the throne. 2