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

xix BIBLIOGRAPHY It records that Rana Hammir took Chelakhyapur (Jilwara) from the Bhils. He killed Jaitreshwar (Jaitsi of Idar) and burnt the town of Prahladandpur (Palanpur in Gujrat). His son Kshetra Singh defeated Ami Shah (of Malwa) and took Mandalgarh from his enemies. Mokal defeated Feroz Khan (of Nagor) and got himself weighed against gold and silver 25 times, once in the Adi Varah temple in Pushkar. It also mentions that Mokal erected a rampart round the temple of Eklingji, with 3 gates, and constructed a well at Shringirishi for the spiritual welfare of his wife, Gaurambika of the Baghel family. (All the verses from the 3 Inscriptions described above—the Samiddheshwar Temple Inscription, the Eklingji Temple Inscription and the Shringirishi Inscriptions—to which references have been made in this book, are given in original in the Appendix.) 4. Goganda Seetlamata Temple Inscription of Ashadh Bad 13, V.S. 1423 (A.D. 1366). (Unpublished). It records the construction of a temple during the reign of Rana Kshetra Singh. 5. An Inscription in the baodi (stepped wall) at Ghosundi, near Chitor, of Baisakh Sud 3, V. S. 1561 (A.D. 1504). It is published in the Journal of the Bengal Asiatic Society, Vol. LVI, part I, p. 79. It records the construction of a baodi by Shringar Devi, daughter of king Jodha of Marwar and wife of Maharana Rai Mal, son of Maharana Kumbhakarna. 6. Jawar Inscription of the Temple of Ramaswami,

Maharana Kumbha. xx dated Chaitra Sud 7th, V. S. 1554 (A. D. 1497). (Unpublished.) The Inscription is engraved on a stone slab built into a niche in a Kund (water reservoir) near the temple of Ramaswami. It is in 3 pieces and contains 40 verses. It states that the temple of Ramaswami and Ramakund were built by Ramabai, daughter of Maharana Kumbhakarna, and wife of Raja Mandlik of Sorath, at Jawar. See Rajputana Museum Report for 1924-25 A.D. 7. Kot Solankian Inscription of Ashadha Sud 3, V. S. 1475 (A. D. 1419) published in the Journal of the Bengal Asiatic Society, Vol. XII, p. 115. It records that during the reign of Rana Lakha, the Mandap of the Paraswanath Temple was repaired by Saha Kadua and members of his family. 8. Jawar Shantinath Temple Inscription, dated Pos Sud 6, V. S. 1478 (A. D. 1421) engraved on a lintel of the temple. It is published in Prachin Jain Lekh Sangrah, Vol. II, p. 22, by Muni Jin Vijaya. A summary of it is given in the Report of the Rajputana Museum for 1924-1925, p. 3. It records that the temple of Shantinath was erected by the descendants of Saha Nana of the Pragvat (Porvad) family. 9. The Rāja Prashasti, dated Magh Sud 15, S. 1732 (A.D. 1676). It is an epic poem in 24 cantos, engraved on 25 slabs, each slab containing a canto, and a prelimi- nary slab containing laudatory verses. The slabs are fixed in the niches of the embankment of the Lake

xxi BIBLIOGRAPHY Raj Samudra constructed by Maharana Raj Singh (A. D. 1652-1680.) A short summary of it is pub- lished in the Report of the Rajputana Museum, Ajmer for 1917-18 A. D., pp. 2-3. It describes the history of the family of the Maha- ranas, and says that the construction of the lake Raj Samudra was begun in 1665 A. D. and finished in 1676 A. D. It mentions that Bappa conquered Chitor from the Mori king Man and adopted the title of Rawal. His descendant Rawal Karan son of Rahap, defeated Mokalsi of Mandor and adopted his title of Rana, and took up residence at Chitor. It describes the wars waged by Maharanas Kumbha, Sanga, and Pratap. It mentions a curious incident of a Bhat (bard). Maharana Pratap had given a turban to a Bhat who, when he went to Akbar's Darbar, took the turban off and held it in his hand when bowing. In explanation of this insult to the Emperor, he said that the turban was of the unconquered Pratap. It describes how peace was concluded after the war between Emperor Jahangir and Maharana Amar Singh. The inscription mentions that prince Khurrum (later Shah Jahan) under orders from Jahangir, came to Rana Amar Singh to have a friendly talk, and that the prince then concluded a treaty of peace. Maharana Raj Singh's conquests of Ajmer, Sambhar, Shahpura, Jahazpur, Ranthambhor, Bayana, Toda, Lalsote, Tonk, Malpura and other places are mentioned. The conquest of Sirohi and the Maharana's marriage

Maharana Kumbha. xxii with the daughter of the Raja of Kishengarh who had been previously betrothed to Emperor Aurangzeb are then described. Further on, a description of the lake, its construction, its measurements, and other things are given. A full account of the visits of the Maharaja of Jodhpur, Jaipur, Bikaner, Jaisalmer, Bundi, Rewa and others who came as guests at the consecration ceremony, which cost 7 lakh, is then given. Aurangzeb's invasion of Mewar is described. The inscription describes the sack of Badnagar, Ahmadnagar, Begam- pur and Bhangora by the Maharana, and the defeat of the Imperial army under Prince Akbar at the hands of Maharana's heir apparant Kunwar Jai Singh. The inscription mentions that prince Bhim Singh destroyed one big and thirty small mosques at Ahmeda- bad. It gives an account of the overtures of peace made by Emperor Aurangzeb, and describes how peace was actually made with an exchange of precious ceremonial gifts. 10. An inscription in Hinglu Vava, near Amberi, 7 miles from Udaipur, of the time of Rana Mokal of Mewar. It is engraved on a large slab containing 35 lines. The upper right-hand portion of the inscription is broken off. It is dated the 5th day of the bright half of Jyeshtha, Samvat 1487 (16 May, 1431 A.D.) and Shaka 1352. It gives an account of the family of Surpala, a Gauda Brahman of Hariyana and his descendants, one of whom, Vidyadhar, built a well in Maharana Mokal's time. The inscription has now been removed to Udaipur.

xxiii BIBLIOGRAPHY 11. A Copper Plate Inscription of V.S. 1462 (A.D. 1405) in the possession of Champalal suthar (architect) at Udaipur. It states that the architect Mandana had been especially called from Gujrat by Maharana Mokal. INSCRIPTIONS OF MAHARANA KUMBHA'S TIME. (These inscriptions are fully described in Chapter XV of this book, pp 167-187.) 12. An inscription, dated Kartik Sud 2, V. S 1491 (A. D. 1434) with Yati Khemsagar in the village Delwara (Udaipur State). See p. 170. 13. A copper plate inscription, dated Asadh Vad Ama- vasya, V S. 1494 (A.D. 1437) found in the village Nandia, now kept in the Rajputana Museum, Ajmer. See p. 170. 14. An inscription dated Magh Sud 11, V. S. 1494 (A. D. 1437) on the image of Shantinath in the temple of Adabadanathji in the town of Nagda. See pp. 170-71. 15. Ranpur Temple Inscription of A.D. 1439. See p. 171. The complete text of this inscription is published in the Appendix. 16. An inscription, dated Magh Sud 5, V. S. 1500 (25 January, A. D. 1444) fixed in a wall in a temple near the village of Kadiyān. See p. 173. 17. Rupaheli Inscription, dated Asadh Bad 1st, V.S. 1505 (A. D. 1448) in a Jain temple. See p. 174. 18-21. Four Inscriptions, dated Magsar Sud 15th, V. S. 1505 (A.D. 1448) on the images of Shridhara,

Maharana Kumbha. xxiv Krishna Rukmani, Rama Lakshman and Madhava Tulsi, in the Chitor Kumbhaswami temple. See p. 174. 22. Singar Chanvri Inscription at Chitor, dated A.D. 1448). See p. 175. 23. Abu Dilwara Temple Inscription, dated Asadh Sud 2, V. S. 1506 (A. D. 1849) See p. 175. 24. An Inscription on a perforated stone window in the second story of the Kirtisthambha at Chitor, dated Phagun Sud 5, V.S. 1499 (A.D. 1443). See p. 176. 25. Vasantgarh Jain Temple Inscription, dated Magh Sud 11, V. S. 1507 (A. D. 1450). See p. 176. 26-29. Four Inscriptions on images in Kumbhalgarh, dated Asoj Sud 3rd, V. S. 1516 (A.D. 1459). See p. 177. 30. The Kumbhalgarh Inscription, dated Magsar Bad 5, V. S. 1517 (A. D. 1460) found in the Mama- deva Temple, now kept in the Udaipur Museum. See pp. 177-181. 31. The Chitor Kirtisthambha Inscription, dated Magsar Bad 5th, V.S. 1517 (A.D. 1460) See pp. 181-186. (The verses of the above two inscriptions—the Kumbhalgarh and the Kirtisthambha inscriptions—to which references have been made in the book are quoted in original in the Appendix, pp. 205-224.) 32. The Second Kumbhalgarh Inscription dated Magsar Bad 5th, V. S. 1517 (A.D. 1460). See p. 186. 33. Achalgarh Jain Temple Inscription, dated Vaisakh Sud 4th, S. 1518 (A. D. 1461). See p. 187.

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.

Maharana Kumbha. xxvi Colonel James Tod's monumental work, The Annals and Antiquities of Rajasthan, published in 1829-32 A.D., was written at a time when the history of Rajputana was practically a sealed book to the public. A century has since passed, yet such are the intrinsic merits of "that wonderful work," that it still remains the chief source in the English language, to which a student of Rajput history has to turn for enlightenment and know- ledge. It is a book which should be read by every one who belongs to Rajputana or who has Rajput blood in his veins. It should be taught to the students of the Mayo College, Ajmer, and in schools in the Rajput States. Copies of it should be freely given as prize books. Rajputana has produced several remarkable men, who, by their character and achievements, have made the name Rajput, a synonym of chivalry and heroism, and the history of this province the brightest page in the history of Mediæval India. Their heroic lives and chivalrous deeds are a source of perennial inspiration and interest to Indians. My sincere obligations are due to Mahamahopadhyaya Pandit Gauri Shankar Ojha, whose unique knowledge of Indian History and vast collection of epigraphic finds have always been available to me. I have received most valuable assistance from him in preparing the Appendix. The illustration of Maharana Kumbha which appears as Frontispiece to this book is from a photographic copy of an old portrait taken away from Mewar and deposi- ted in the British Museum, London. AJMER, 1st October, 1932. HAR BILAS SARDA.

CHAPTER I. ——— THE GUHILOT FAMILY OF MEWAR. MAHARANA KUMBHAKARANA or Kumbhá, as he is popularly called, was one of the greatest of the sovereigns who have ruled in Rajputana. The Surya Vamsha is the most famous of the ruling families of India, and the most celebrated of its many branches is the Guhilot family, which has ruled Mewar without a break for nearly fourteen centuries. It has produced some of the greatest and most powerful kings that have made the name of Rajputana resplendent in the annals of India. Inspired by the highest patriotism, ever up- holding Dharma though surrounded by power- ful foes and faced with almost insuperable difficulties, enduring without flinching untold suffering, and overcoming all by a self-sacri- fice and heroism which have wrung the highest praise from their bitterest foes, they have made the pages of history a continuous record of high inspiration and noble purpose. 1

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

Maharana Kumbha. of Mewar. His character and achievements are thus summed up in a sentence by Colonel Tod. He says : "All that was wanting to augment her (Mewar's) resources against the storms which were collecting on the brows of Caucasus and the shores of Oxus, and were destined to burst on the head of his grandson, Sángá, was effected by Kumbha, who with Hammir's energy, Lakha's taste for arts, and a genius comprehensive as either and more fortunate, succeeded in all his undertakings, and once more raised the crimson banner of Mewar upon the banks of the Caggar, the scene of Samarsi's defeat." ¹ Kumbhá was the eldest son of Ráná Mokal by his Parmár Queen, Sobhágya Devi, ² daughter of Rájá son of Jaitmál Sánkhla, ³ and thus united in himself the fine qualities of these two of the royal races of India, the culture of the one and the chivalry of the other. ¹ Tod's Annals and Antiquities of Rajasthan, Vol. I, p. 287. ² Chitorgarh Kirtisthambha Inscription, verse 179. Also Kumbhalgarh Inscription of Kumbha. As a girl she was called Maya Kanwar. ³ See Kaviraj Bankey Das' Historical Miscellany : No. 450 & 1340. He was ruler of Rūnkot in Marwar. 3

CHAPTER II. —·— RANA KHSHETRA SINGH & LAKHSH SINGH. MAHARANA KUMBHA'S great grandfather Rana Khshetra Singh, who ruled Mewar from A.D. 1364 to 1382, was the eldest son and successor of the celebrated Ráná Hammir. Hammir died in A.D 1364 leaving 4 sons,¹ Khshetra Singh, Luna, Khangār and Aerisal. Khshetra Singh popularly called Kheta,² during his 18 years of reign was constantly engaged in warfare. He greatly enlarged the kingdom of Mewar. He captured Ajmer, Jahāzpur, Mandsaur, and annexed Chhappan³ to Mewar. He conquered Hārāvati, the territory of the Hārās, the principal branch of the Chauhān Rajputs, and took possession of their important fortress Māndalgarh. ¹ Mehta Nainsi's Khyat. ² Khshetra Singh was popularly called Khetá, as his son Lakhsh Singh was called Lākha. Maharana Kumbhakaran was popularly called Kumbha and Rana Jaitra Singh was called Jaitā. ³ Tod's Rajasthan, Vol. 1, p. 42. The southern portion of Mewar is called Chhappan. It formerly belonged to Rathods. 4

Maharana Kumbha. The Khumbhalgarh Inscription of A.D. 1460, verse 198, and the Eklingji ¹ Temple Inscription of A.D. 1488, sl. 131, both say that Khshetra Singh invaded the land of the Harās, broke and reduced to submission the fortress of Mandalgarh, which according to the Shringirishi Inscription of A.D. 1428, even Allauddin Khilji was unable to touch. Khshetra Singh attacked and defeated the Sultans of Malwa and Gujrat. He defeated Dilawar Khan Ghori, the first Sultan of Malwa in a battle fought at Bakrole ² and destroyed his army. Amin Shah ³ was the original name of Sultan Dilawar Khan Ghori of Malwa, vide. Rizaqulla Mushtaqi's Wakiat Mushtaqi ⁴ and Roger's Tuzaki Jahangiri ⁵ Dilawar Khan's son's name before he succeeded his father as Sultan of Malwa under the title of Hoshang, was Alpkhan. ¹ Bhavanagar Inscriptions, p. 119. ² Bakrole was given by Rana Ari Singh as Jagir to Dhiraj Singh, who named the place Hammirgarh, after Rana Ari Singh's successor, Hammir Singh. ³ Some historians have been misled by Amin Shah having become Humayun Shah in some manuscripts. This explains Colonel Tod's statement that the Maharana defeated Emperor Humayun at Bakrole. ⁴ Elliot's History of India, Vol., IV, p. 552. ⁵ Vol. I, p. 407. 5

Maharana Kumbha. The Kumbhalgarh Inscription of A.D. 1460, verse 200, says that the "Mussalman king of Malwa received such a chastisement from Rana Khshetra Singh that he constantly sees him in his dreams." "The Rana captured Amin Shah as a serpent captures a toad," v. 202. The Eklingji Temple Inscription,¹ v. 119, of A.D. 1488, says : "He who burnt down the poison of the pride of the great serpent Amin Shah, was the great Rana Khshetra Singh of Chitor." The Shringirishi Inscription of 1428 A.D. (unpublished) verse 6, says that Khshetra Singh "by the strength of his sword defeated Amin Shah² and killed all the Muslims (of his army) and captured his treasure and countless horses and brought them to Chitor." The Eklinga Mahatamya, Sloka 156, and Kumbha's Kirtisthambha Inscription of 1460 A.D. also mention this fact. ¹ Bhavanagar Inscriptions, p. 119. ² A couplet in a popular Rupak says :— एतलो कटक अमीशाह को, खेतल भंजै खङ्गवल । अइवेग चलन्तो दीठ में, रहस तरोवर एक तल ॥ —Naiṅsi's khyat, p. 22. 6

Maharana Kumbha. The Chitor Kiritisthambha Inscription, verse 23, of A.D. 1460, says that Khshetra Singh conquered Idar and imprisoned its valorous ruler Raja Ran Mal, who had com- pletely defeated Zafar Khan, the first indepen- dent Sultan of Gujrat.¹ The Kumbhalgarh Inscription, verse 196, says "Raja Ran Mal had broken the power of Zafar Khan, who had imprisoned many Rajas. That Ran Mal (Raja of Idar) who had made large numbers of Muslim women widows, had to remain without a bed in Khshetra Singh's prison, when a hundred Rajas were imprisoned." The Eklingji Temple Inscription, v. 119, of 1485 A.D., says that the Maharana took away the State treasure of Idar and placed Ran Mal's son on the throne of that kingdom. The Kumbhalgarh Inscription, v. 119, says that Khshetra Singh conquered Toda, defeating its ruler Satal.² Rana Khshetra Singh died in A.D. 1382, leaving 7 sons, of whom the eldest Lakhsh Singh succeeded him. Only one inscription ¹ Lane Poole's Muhammadan Dynasties of India, p. 312. ² For an account of Todā, see Archæological Survey Report for 1872-73, Vol; VI, p. 124. 7

Maharana Kumbha. of the time of Khshetra Singh has so far come to light. It is engraved on the door of the Seetla Mata temple in Gogandā and is dated the Asoj Vad 13, V. S. 1423 (A.D. 1366). RANA LAKHSH SINGH. Lakhsh Singh or Lakha,¹ as he was popularly called, was one of the most successful of the Maharanas of Mewar, and reigned from 1382 to 1397 A.D. In his father Rana Khshetra Singh's time, while he was heir apparent to the throne, Lakhā led an expedition against the fortress of Joga² and conquered it. He extended his dominions by the subju- gation of Merwārā. He destroyed the chief stronghold of the Mérs, Beratgarh, on the ruins of which he founded Badnor.³ The Kumbhalgarh Inscription of S. 1460, V. 212, and the Chitorgarh Tower of Victory Inscrip- tion, verse 36, mention this conquest. It was during his reign that the tin and silver ¹ Also called Lākhan. ² Eklingji Temple Inscription, V. 35, published in Bhavanagar Inscriptions, p. 119. ³ Tod's Rajasthan, Vol. 1, p. 274. 8

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Jug Mandir Palaces—Pichola Lake, Udaipur.

Maharana Kumbha. mines of Jāwar in the hilly district of Mewar were discovered. With the revenues thus augmented, he rebuilt the palaces and temples which had been destroyed by Sultan Allauddin Khilji of Delhi. He excavated many reservoirs and lakes, raised immense ramparts to dam their waters and constructed a number of forts.¹ Tradition has it that during Rana Lakha’s reign, a rich Banjara constructed the famous Picholā lake, on the bank of which the city of Udaipur was built later. This beautiful lake containing the celebrated island palaces of Jagmandir and Jagniwas, is 2½ miles long by 1½ miles wide. It was in one of the Jagmandir palaces that Shahjahan, then Prince Khurram, was given shelter by Maha- rana Karan Singh when the former rebelled against his father Emperor Jahāngir in 1622 A.D. The Maharana built a domed building for the prince, the interior being decorated with mosaics in onyx cornelian jaspers and agates while a chapel was built near by to a Muslim saint to keep the Prince 'in the odour ¹Vir Vinod, Vol. 1, p. 308. 9

Maharana Kumbha. of sanctity. May be that Shah Jahan here got the idea of marble mosaics for the famous Taj Bibi ka Roza or Taj Mahal that he built at Agra. Inscriptions of the time of Maharana Lakha show that Ghanérao, Nānā and Ḳot Solankian had become incorporated with Mewar. The inscription dated V. S. 1468 (1411 A.D.) engraved on the magnificent steel trisula in the Achaleshwar temple at Abu, says that the trisula had been manufactured in Ghanérao in Maharana Lakha's time. Another inscrip- tion of V. S. 1475 (A.D. 1419) found in Kot Solankian says that the Jain temple in the Asalpur fort was renovated in Maharana Lākhā's time, Vide Muni Jin Vijai's Prāchin Lekh Sangrah, Part II, p. 221, Inscription no. 370. These two inscriptions show that the rich province of Godwar had passed into the Maharana's possession either in Lakha's time or before it. Rana Lakha conquered the Sankhlā Rajputs of Shekhāwāti (Nagarchal¹ territory), and like his father, defeated the royal army of the ¹ Vir Vinod, p. 306. Also Tod's Rajasthan, Vol. 1, p. 274. 10