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

Maharana Kumbha. svami at Chitor. Vide, The Rajputana Mu- seum Report for 1917-18, p. 2. 8. An Inscription engraved on a pillar in the temple, known as Singār Chanvri at Chitor. It is dated Samvat 1505 (A.D. 1448). It refers to "the time of Rana Kumbha- karna (Kumbha), son of Rana Mokal, son of Rana Lakha." It records the erection of a temple of the Jain Tirthankara Santinatha by Bhandāri Velaka, son of Saha Kelha, the treasurer of Rana Kumbhakarna (Kumbha). It mentions Velaka's wives Vilhanadē and Ratnadē, and his sons Mundharaja, Dhanaraja and Kumarapala. The consecration was per- formed by Jinasenasuri of the Kharatara- gachchha. It also mentions the names of the Jain pontiffs Jinaraja, Jinavardhana, Jina- chandra, Jinasagara and Jinasundarasuri in order of succession. Pandit Udayasilagani is also mentioned as paying his obeisance. See Rajputana Museum Report for 1920-21, p. 5. 9. Inscription of Asādh Sud 2, S. 1506 (A.D. 1449) engraved on a pillar in the court- yard between the famous temples of Vimal Shah and Tejpāl at Abu. It records the abolition, 175

Maharana Kumbha. at the request of the Maharana's minister Dunger Bhoja, of the Pilgrim tax, Customs, Valhavi (armed escort) and Chaukidari and Cattle taxes levied in Abu in those days. This inscription is published in the Nāgari Prachāriṇī Patrikā, New Series, Vol. I, p. 450-51. 10. An inscription on a perforated stone window in the second storey of the Kirti- sthambhā (Tower of Victory) of Maharana Kumbha at Chitor. It is dated the 5th day of the bright half of Phālguna, Samvat 1499 (A.D. 1443). It belongs to the reign of Maharajadhiraja Maharana Kumbhakarna (Kumbha) and records the offering of obeisance to god Samiddhesva (Samiddhesvara) by Sūtradhara (architect) Ja-i-ta (Jaita) and his two sons Nāpā and Punjā. (Unpublished). 11. An inscription engraved on the pedestal of a Jain image lying in the Jain temple at Vasantgarh in the Sirohi State. The inscription is greatly defaced. It is of the reign of Maharana Kumbhakarna of Mewar and is dated Wednesday, the 11th day of the bright half of Māgh, Samvat 1507 (A.D. 1450). 176

Maharana Kumbha. It states that the image was set up in the Vasantpura Chaitya (temple) by Bhadaka, son of Dhansi and others, and was consecrated by Muni Sundersuri. Vide, Rajputana Museum Report for 1924, pp. 3-4. 12-15. Four inscriptions engraved on the pedestals of the images of Vasudeva, Damodar etc. in Kumbhalgarh, all dated Asoj Sud 3rd, S. 1516 (A.D. 1459) recording the erection of the images of Vasudeva etc. by Maharana Kumbha. All these inscriptions are deposited in the Udaipur Museum. 16. The famous Kumbhalgarh inscription of Magsar Bad 5, V. S. 1517 (A.D. 1460) in the Mamādeva (Kumbhasvami) temple. This inscription was engraved on five big slabs, of which the first, third and fourth slabs and a small part of the second, are deposited in the Victoria Hall Museum at Udaipur. The fifth and the greater part of the second slab have disappeared. The first slab contains 64 slokas, and gives an account of the temples, lakes and sacred places of Mewar. The third gives the traditional accounts of Bappa Rawal and others. Sloka 138 says: "An account 177

Maharana Kumbha. of Rājvamsa (Rulers of Mewar) based on several inscriptions is here given." It gives an account of the geneology of the kings of Mewar from Guhil to Rāwal Ratna Singh and an account of Lakhshman Singh of Sisodā. The fourth slab records that Maharana Lakhamsi went to Heaven with his seven sons, while fighting with the Mussalmāns (Allāuddin Khilji) In his family was born Arisimha who was like Narasimha and pierced the temples of the elephants of his enemies with his sword. He (Arisimha) was succeeded by his son Ham- mira, who was very liberal and brave. He conquered the fortress called Chelvāta (Jilwara.) He was succeeded by his son Kshetrasimha, who defeated the army of the Yavanas near Chitor. He defeated Dafar Khān (Zafar Khān), the lord of Pattan (Pātan i. e. Gujrat), Ami Shah (Dilawar Khān Ghori of Malwa, vide, Memoirs of Jehangir by Alexan- der Rogers, Vol. I, page 407, and Elliot's History of India, Vol. IV, page 552) and imprisoned Ranamalla (Raja of Idar). He conquered the rulers of Hādāvati (Hāravati), brought their country under his control and 178

Maharana Kumbha. destroyed their fortress of Mandalakara (Māndalagarh). He also defeated the ruler of Malwa several times and imprisoned the rulers of Gujarāt. His son was Lakshasena (Lakhamansimha, Lākhā), who weighed himself against gold and liberated Tristhali (Kāsi, Prayāga and Gayā) from the Sakas (Musalmans). He defeated the Medas (Mers) and took from them the mountain Vardhana (fortress of Badnor). His son was Mokalendra, who made those Brahmans, who had become cultivators, study Vedas, and weighed himself against gold. He conquered the whole country of Sapādalaksha and took Sākamabhari (Sāmbhar). He defeated Peroz (Firoz Khan of Nagor), Muhammad (Ahmad Shāh of Gujarat) and destroyed their elephants. He repaired the temple of Samiddhesvara at Chitor and also built the holy places known as Ranamochana, Pāpamochana and a beautiful reservoir. He set up in the temple of devi, a lion made of all the metals and presented a gold Garuda (eagle) to the temple of Vishnu. His son was Kumbhakarna, whose mother was Sobhagyadevi. He rebuilt the ruined temple of Eklinga and adorned it with golden 179

Maharana Kumbha. kalasas. He was clever in composing poems and fearless in battles. He was a jewel of the family of Guhadatta, Khomana, Śalivā- hana, Ajaya, Kshetra, Laksha and Mokal. He subjugated the ruler of the town called Nāradiya, conquered Yoginipura, (Jāwar), humbled the pride of the ruler of Sodhyā and took possession of Mandovara (Mandor). He captured Hammirapur from Ranavira, des- troyed Dhānyanagara and conquered Yagapura (Jahazpur). He placed his left foot on the head of the brave lord of Mālava (Malwa) and took Janakāchal. He defeated the ruler of Vrindavati (Bundi), burnt his town and captured the fortress of Gargarata (Gagroon). He burnt Mallaranyapur (Malarna), wrested Simhapuri (Sihor), destroyed Ratnapura and imprisoned several rulers. He overran the country of Sapadalaksha, conquered Rana- sthambha (Ranthambhor), Amradadri (Amber), Kotra and Bombaovada, and captured the fortress of Mandalgarh. He conquered several countries and fortresses, subjugated the rulers of Haravati and exacted tribute from them. He devastated Visalanagara, conquered 180

Maharana Kumbha. Giripura (Dungarpur) and put its ruler Gayapāla to flight. He humbled the pride of the Muhammadans at Sārangapur and imprisoned several young women of the Lord of Pārasikas (Muhammadans). The unfortunate loss of the fifth slab renders the account of Maharana Kumbha incomplete. The fact that some of the slokas are common to this and the Chitor Kirtistham- bha Inscription (no. 14 below), as also the fact that both bear the same date, show that both of them were composed by the same poet. This inscription gives a more detailed account of Kumbha, while the Chitor Kīrtisthambha Inscription is brief. These two are the most important of all inscriptions of Kumbha's time. 17. The Chitor Kīrtisthambha (Tower of Victory) Inscription of Magsar Bad 5th, S. 1517 (A. D. 1460). It was engraved on several stone slabs, of which only two are now in existence, first and the last but one, containing slokas 1 to 28 and 168 to 187 respectively. A photo transcript of these 181

Maharana Kumbha. two slabs is published in Cunningham's Archæological Survey Report, Vol. 23, Plates 20 and 21. Several more slabs were in exis- tence in A.D. 1678, when a Pundit copied the inscription engraved on them, in a book of 22 leaves on Fagan Bad 7th, S. 1735 (A.D. 1678). This copy is in Mahamahopadhyaya P. Gauri Shankar's possession. The first two verses are devoted to the praise of Siva and Ganesa. The description of the family of Bappa commences from verse 3. Verses 4—8 are devoted to Bappa who is said to have been a great warrior, a leader of the princes and a devotee of Siva. In his family was born, Hammir who destroyed his enemies. He was very liberal and was called Vishamdhāti Pan- chānana (a lion in vigorous attacks). He captured his enemy's fortress Chelvāta (Jilwārā) (verses 9—20). His son was Kshetrasinha who destroyed the army of the Yavanas (Ami Shāh, alias Dilāwar Khān Ghori of Mālwā) near Chitor and imprisoned Ranamalla of Idar (verses 21—29). His son was Lakshasinh who liberated Gayā from the Muhammadans. He weighed himself against gold and captured Vardhamanagiri (Badnor) from the Mevas 182

Maharana Kumbha. (Mers; verses 30—39). His son was Mokal (V. 40). After this, 193 verses are devoted to the description of Rana Kumbhakarna's reign and the number of the verses again begins with one. Rana Kumbha brought the image of Hanu- mana from Māndavyapura (Mandor) and established it in the fortress of Kumbhalgarh. He exacted tribute from the country of Sapādalaksha (Sāmbhar) and brought from there the image of Umā. He levied taxes from the salt mines at Dindvana (Didwana in Jodhpur State), took the town of Naraina (in Jaipur State) and conquered the whole kingdom of Mudafar (Muzaffar Shah). He re- populated the town of Vasantapur near the holy fountain of Vasishtha (i.e., Mt. Abu) and built there seven tanks. He built to the east of the temple of Eklinga, a Mandapa known as Kumbhamandapa. He with his cavalry attacked Gokarnagiri and the kingdom of Arbuda (Mt. Abu), on the peak of which he built the fortress of Achaldurga (Achalgarh); 183

Maharana Kumbha. he erected there the grand Vishnu temple of Kumbhasvāmī, and near it, built a tank. This crest-jewel of kings built four other tanks on Mount Abu. He subjugated Muhammad, destroyed the town of Nagapur (Nagor) with the lofty mashiti (masjid), built by Peroz (Firoz), imprisoned several young Muham- madan women and took possession of the treasure of Shams Khān while fighting in the country of Jāngal. He laid waste Khandela and erected the lofty temple of Kumbhaswami at Chitor. Near it, he also erected another temple of Adivarāha, dug a tank called Ramakund, erected the lofty Kirtisthambha and constructed a road for chariots from the the bottom of the fort to its top. At Chitor, he constructed Rāmarathyā (Rampol gate), Hanumanagopura (Hanumanpol), Bhairav- ankavisikha (Bhairavapol), Mahalakshmirathyā (Mahalakshmipol), Chāmundapratoli (Chamun- dapol), and Tararathya (Tarapol; VV. 1—42). (Verses 43—124 were missing even at that time, A.D. 1678.) He (Kumbhakarna) built Rājapratoli (Rājpol=the palace gate) with an ornamental Torana (V. 125). He built the fortress of 184

Maharana Kumbha. Kumbhalmeru (Kumbhalgarh) with four gates on the top of Vindya mountain, constructed there the temple of Kumbhasvāmī in honour of Vishnu, and near it, built a beautiful lake. On the top of the fortress, he set up the image of Ganēsa brought from one of his enemies' fortresses. (VV. 126—146). He was called Rājguru, Dānaguru, Śailaguru and Paramaguru of Kings. He killed several of his enemies to take revenge of his father's death. He was versed in the four Vedas, composed Sangītarāja, Sūdaprabandha and four dramas. He wrote commentaries on Chandīshataka and Gīta Govinda. He was the head of poets, princes, and skilled in playing on the lute (vīnā). In dramatic composition, he was a Bharat and followed the rules of Nandīkesvara, while composing poems in praise of Siva. He destroyed the combined armies of the lords of Mālwā and Gurjrat in war and captured several elephants. He assumed the titles, Asvapati, Gajapati and Narapati. He was the son of Sobhāgyadevi, and husband of Kumbhaladevi. He built a new Visikhā (gate) on the 13th day of the 185

Maharana Kumbha. dark half of Kārtika, Samvat 1507; Kumbhal- meru on the 13th day of the dark half of Chaitra, Samvat 1515; Kirtisthambha on the 10th day of the bright half of Māgha, Samvat 1505, and Achaldurga on the 15th day of the bright half of Māgha, Samvat 1509. (VV. 147—187). In the family of Bhrigu was born Somnāth. His son was Narahari whose son was Kesáva also called Jhoting. Jhoting’s son was Atri, who composed a part of the Prasasti. His son Mahesh, who was highly honoured by Kumbhakarna, completed the Prasasti on Monday the 5th day of the dark half of Mārgasirsha, Samvat 1517 (A.D. 1460). 18. The second Kumbhalgarh Inscription of Magsar Bad 5, (Monday) V. S. 1517 (A.D. 1460). Of this inscription, the first slab containing 64 slokas, alone remains; the remaining slabs are lost. The first slab con- tains a part of an account of Maharana Kumbha. It says that the account is con- tinued in subsequent slabs. The slab is in the Museum at Udaipur. (Unpublished). 19. Inscription dated the Vaisakh Sud 186

Maharana Kumbha. 4th, V.S. 1518 (A.D. 1461) engraved on the pedestal of the magnificent brass image of Adinātha in the Achalgarh Jain temple at Abu. It records that while Maharajadhiraja Kumbhakaraṇa was ruling at Kumbhalmeru, the image was made at Dungarpur during the reign of Rāwal Somadāsa and brought to Abu by the Sangha (community) of Tapa- gachchha. It was set up by Sā Sābha, his wife Karanādē and their sons Sālā and Mālā. The consecration ceremony was performed by Lakshmīsāgarasuri of Tapagachchha. COINS. Maharana Kumbhā struck gold, silver and copper coins. Ferishta (Briggs' Translation, Vol. IV, page 221) mentions gold coins of Kumbhā. In the Mamādeva temple in the fort of Kumbhalgarh, there is an image, of the size of a man, of Kuvér, treasurer of the gods, with two attendants pouring coins from bags into plates. One plate is full of circular coins and the other square ones, which shows that Maharana Kumbha's coins were of two varieties, circular and rectangular. The coins that have come to light so far are only copper 187

Maharana Kumbha. ones. They are of five kinds, all square or rec- tangular in shape. The Obverse contains the name of Maharana Kumbhakaran, and the Reverse either Kumbhalmeru or Eklingji. The biggest of them, has the year V.S. 1517 (A.D. 1460.) OBVERSE. $\qquad$ REVERSE. सामने की तरफ़ $\qquad$ दूसरी तरफ़ १ [OBVERSE:] श्रीकुंभल मेरु महा ▫️⮑ ➔ राणा श्री कुं भकर्णस्य [REVERSE:] श्रीएकलिं ग | श्री | स्य प्र | | ला दात १५१७ २ [OBVERSE:] राणा श्री कुं | श्री | भ कर्णस्य [REVERSE:] श्रीकुंभ लमेरु ▫️⮑ ➔ ३ [OBVERSE:] राणा श्री कुंभकर्ण [REVERSE:] श्री कुंभ लमेरु ४ [OBVERSE:] राणा कुं- भकर्ण [REVERSE:] श्री कुंभ लमेरु ▫️⮑ ➔ ५ [OBVERSE:] कुंभ कर्ण [REVERSE:] एक लिंग 188

CHAPTER XVI. ———— KUMBHA AS A SOVEREIGN. Of the various Rajput clans, who have ruled or are ruling in Rajputana, only the Chauhans, the Guhilots (Sisodias) and the Rathods ever fought for the liberties of their country and played prominent parts in the history of Rajputana during the last 800 years. And of these three, the Chauhans of Ajmer alone achieved Imperial position, and became supreme rulers of India during the twelfth century of the Christian era. The Guhilots (Sisodias), after the decline of the Chauhans, achieved suzerain power in Rajputana and enjoyed a position, achieved by no other Rajput clan. When the first Afghan invasion of India took place in 1191 A.D., it was the Chauhan Emperor Prithviraj who fought against the invader Shahbuddin Ghori. And later, when Babur invaded India, it was the Sisodia king, Maharana Sānga of Mewar, who, as the most 189

Maharana Kumbha. powerful king of his time in India, headed the confederacy of the Rajput kings of Rajputana and the Pathan Sultan of Delhi, and opposed the Turk invader. Thus, the Chauhans as the Imperial Power in India, and the Guhilot Maharana of Chitor as the suzerain power in Rajputana, led the opposition, when the Afghans and the Turks first came to conquer India. The Rathods came to Rajputana in the thirteenth century A D. and rapidly spread in its western parts. They had several times to fight against the Afghan Sultans and Turk Emperors of Delhi in defence of their country, and materially helped in bringing about the fall of the Turk empire in India. The Kachhwāhas of Jaipur were minor chieftains till the middle of the sixteenth century, and only came into prominence under Raja Bhagvandas in Akbar's time. They were the first amongst the Rajputs to accept Turk suzerainty: and they never took up arms against the Emperors of Delhi. 190

Maharana Kumbha. While the Rathods, and sometimes the Deoras (Chauhans) of Sirohi, fought against the Turk emperors of Delhi, it was the Maharanas of Mewar, who continually opposed the Turks, never bowing their head to them. They sacrificed their all to preserve their indepen- dance and self respect. Maharana Kumbha was not only one of the greatest of the Maharanas, but was the real founder of the greatness of Mewar. Maharana Kumbha reigned from A.D. 1433 to A.D. 1468. The period marks the consolida- tion of the power of Mewar, which under the great Hindupati Maharana Sanga and the immortal Pratap, shone so brilliantly in the following century when the great adventurer from Samarkand invaded India, and his grand- son Akbar, the greatest of the Mughal emperors of India, founded a magnificent empire in this country. The period also marks the rise of the Rathod Power, which later becoming famous in history as the Lākh Talwar Rathodān, played a prominent part in the foundation and the consolidation of the Mughal empire during the reigns of Akbar, Jahangir and Shah Jahan; 191

Maharana Kumbha. and which eventually helped in giving the death stroke to that empire during the time of Aurang- zeb and his successors The popular couplet हथनापुर हलचल मची, पड़ी सितारे गल्ल । धुंवां आंबर ढाकया वै रूठा रिड़मल्ल ॥ "There is consternation in Delhi : anxiety pre- vails in Satara (amongst Marhattas). The sky has become overcast with gloom ; for, the Rathods have been offended." illustrates the power, the Rathods wielded in India during the 18th century. Maharana Kumbha, was a great sove- reign, a great military commander, a great builder and a great scholar. Rarely has the world seen such a combination of qualities in one man, each of which would stamp a man, great. It is wonderful how a great sovereign like Maharana Kumbha, constantly engaged in warfare from almost his childhood, could find time and opportunities to become a great poet and dramatist, a master of the science of music, and write commentaries on Gita Govind—one of the master-pieces of lyric literature in the world—and books like Chandi Shataka and Sangit Ratnakar, and a treatise 192

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Maharana Pratap.