महाराणा सांगा: द हिन्दूपत (हरविलास सारदा - मेवाड़ साम्राज्य एवं खानवा महायुद्ध इतिहास)

Maharana Sāngā. consent crowned him as Maharana of Mewar in A.D. 1473 at Chitor. Uda, with his two sons, Suraj Mal and Sahas Mal, wandered about the country for a while, but found no support anywhere. At last he betook himself to the hereditary enemy of his family, the Khilji Sultan of Mandu, for help to regain the throne of Mewar, and went so far as to agree to give his daughter in marriage to the Sultan. Sultan Ghiyasuddin promised assist- ance, but the gods decreed otherwise. Just as Udai Singh was leaving the Sultan’s palace to return to his residence Indra’s bolt smote him, and the parricide lay lifeless on the ground.¹ The Sultan, however, started with a large army to assist Suraj Mal and Sahas Mal to the throne of Mewar and arrived near Chitor. Rai Mal issued from the fort and attacked the Sultan, who, being utterly defeated, fled to Mandu. He felt the disgrace of the defeat ¹ Mehta Nainsi, however, says that he resided for a time at Sojat, where he married the daughter of Prince Bagha, the son of Rao Suja of Marwar and eventually went away to Bikaner, where he died. 6

Maharana Sāngā. deeply and began to prepare a large army to avenge the disaster. When his prepara- tions were complete, he sent his generalissimo, Zafar Khan, to plunder the eastern part of Mewar. The Rao of Begoon, Haḍa Chachikdeva, sent intelligence to the Maharana of the capture by Zafar Khan of Kotah, Bhainsror and Sheopur. The Maharana, collecting a large army and accompanied by the Rajas and governors of Aser, Raisen, Chanderi, Narwar, Boondi, Amber, Sambhar, Ajmer, Chatsoo, Lalsot, Marot, Toda and other places, started for Mandalgarh. A sanguinary battle took place, in which Zafar Khan lost almost all the notable chiefs of his army. He fled to Mandu, pursued by the Maharana, who sacked Khairabad (near Mandu). Here Sultan Ghiyasuddin sent ambassadors with peace offerings. The Maharana accepted the nazarana and returned to Chitor.¹ ¹ See Rai Mal Rāsā. Ferishta does not mention this war, probably because it was throughout disastrous to the Sultan. He says that Ghiyasuddin did not leave Mandu after his accession to the throne and that he gave himself up to luxury and ease (Vol. IV., p. 236). This, however, is not a fact. The Rai Mal Rāsā (unpublished) which relates these wars is the work of a contemporary writer 7

Maharana Sāngā. According to the Eklingji Temple in- scription of S. 1545 (A. D. 1488) Maharana Rai Mal vanquished King Kshema in the and was written during Rai Mal's reign. Its truth is further confirmed by the Eklingji Temple inscription, dated the Chaitra Sud 10th, S. 1545 (A.D. 1488) (vide Peter Peterson's Bhavanagar Inscriptions, p. 117), which in Slokas 68 and 77, distinctly mentions the defeat of Ghiyasuddin near Chitor and the victories of the Maharana over him and Zafar Khan. यंत्रायंचि हलाहलि प्रविचलद्दंतावलोठ्याकुलं वल्गद्वा- जिवलक्रमेलकमकुलं विस्फारवीरारवं तन्वानं तुरुखं महासिह- तिभिः श्रीचित्रकूटे गलवाद्गर्वं ग्यासशकेश्वरं व्यरचयत श्रीराजयज्ञो नृपः ॥ ६८ ॥ King Raja Mal deprived Ghiyāsa (Ghiyasuddin), the lord of the Shakas (Mussalmans) of his pride on (near) the Chitrukūta, who fought with instruments of captur- ing, gave blows with ploughs, bewildered (the enemies) with his elephants, had numerous and active troops of horses and camels, had many heroes who fought with loud war-cry and who fought with terrible blows (verse 68). मौलौ मंडलगुर्गमभ्यधिपतिः श्रीमेदपाटावनेर्याह्यं ग्राह्यमुदार- जाफरपरीवारोरुवीरव्रजं कंठछेदमचिचिपत्पतिततले श्रीरा- जमल्लो द्रुतं ग्यासक्षोणिपतेः क्षणाग्निपतिता मानोन्नता मौलयः ॥ ७७ ॥ 8

? Look at that: निः (niḥ) शे (śe) षी (ṣī) क (ka) र्त्तु (rttu with repha!) मि (mi) क्छु (kchu? or च्छु cchu?) व्र्व्र (rvvra) ज (ja) ति (ti) It's निःशेषीकर्त्तुमिक्छुव्र्व्रजतिorनिःशेषीकर्तु मिक्छुव्र्व्रजतिorनिःशेषीकर्तुमिच्छुर्व्रजति! Notice how old Devanagari printing has ligatures: "कर्तु" or "कर्त्तु"? In line 26: कर्तुwith repha over tu:कर्तुorकर्त्तु. Then मिच्छुर्व्रजति: Printed as मिक्छुव्र्व्रजतिorमिच्छुव्र्व्रजति? Look at च्छु: it has छ with u-matra, and a repha over the next letter: र्व्रजति(r-vra-ja-ti). Wait, look at line 26:निःशेषीकर्तुमिक्छुव्र्व्रजति सुरसरि-orनिःशेषीकर्तुमिच्छुर्व्रजति सुरसरि-? In old font: च्छsometimes looks likeक्छorच्छ

'? It looks like: म - भि - म - तै - र - प्र - च्छी - त् - कुं - भ - मे - रुं Wait, is there an 'आ' matra on 'प्र'? No, it looks like 'प्रच्छीत्' with two 'छ'? It has 'च्छीत्': 'च्छ' with 'ी' and 'त्'.

Let's look at L29-L30 (the last verse): L28: ⁴ Verses 74 to 76. L29: "श्रीरामाह्ववंसरो यन्नरपतिरतनोद्राजमल्लस्तदासौ प्रोत्फु-" Wait, "श्रीरामाह्ववंसरो" -> Look at the letters: श्री - रा - मा - ह्व - वं - स - रो Wait, "रामाह्वं सरो" (the lake named Rama)! Yes! "श्रीरामाह्वं सरो यन्नरपतिरतनोद्राजमल्लस्तदासौ प्रोत्फु-" Wait, is it "श्रीरामाह्वं सरो" or "श्रीरामाह्ववंसरो"? Look at 'ह्व': after 'ह्व' is there an anusvara on 'ह्व'? It is 'ह्वं' and then 'सरो'! The typesetter put: "श्रीरामाह्वं सरो" or "श्रीरामाह्वंसरो"! There is no 'व'! Wait,

Maharana Sāngā. Rai Mal knew the Sāstras¹ and was a man of extensive bounties. "He allows all to stand free and happy."² The Adisvara Temple inscription of S. 1587 on the Satrunjaya Hills in Kathia- war says (verse 6) that King Rai Mal was like a wrestler among kings.³ ―――― When the great hero Gaura, whose glory was well known, reached the sky by being placed on the top of the peak of Chitrakūta, I believe he went to bathe himself into the waters of the Surasarit (Gangā) being desirous of freeing himself from the sin committed by touching a great quantity of blood shed from numerous Shakas destroyed (wounded). खनच्छंकरनामधेयं महासरोभूपतीराजमल्लः। तन्मानसं यज्जल- केलिलोभान्निशिश्रियाते गिरिजागिरीशौ ॥ ७५ ॥ श्रीराजमल्लवि- भुना समयासंकटमसंकटं सलिले । अंबर

CHAPTER III. ————— SĀNGĀ AND HIS BROTHERS. RAI MAL married eleven queens ¹ by whom he had 14 sons ² and two daughters. The eldest, Prithviraj, and the third, ¹According to the records kept by the Maha- rana’s barwa, Devīdān, the queens were:— Jhala Rajdhar’s daughter, Ratan Kanwar. Rāthor Bisaji’s daughter, Raj Kanwar. Rāthor Ran Singhji’s daughter, Kumkum Kanwar. Rāthor Jodha’s (King of Marwar) daughter, Bir Kanwar (Sringardevi). Rāthor Dalpat Singh’s daughter, Sagatdevi. Rāthor Rao Maldeva’s (King of Marwar) daughter, Indra Kanwar. Solanki Raja Har Raja’s grand-daughter and Raja Lal Singh’s daughter, Mahtab Kanwar. Jhala Bhan’s daughter, Mahtab Kanwar. Deora Rao Gopji’s daughter, Rajkanwar. Deora Rao Lakhaji’s daughter, Champa Kanwar. Rāthor Rao Bajraji’s daughter, Anand Kanwar. ² The 14 sons were: Prithviraj, Jaimal, Sangram Singh, Kalyan Mal, Fattaji, Rai Singh, Bhawani Das, Kishen Das, Narain Das, Shankar Das, Devi Das, Sunder Das, Isar Das, Veni Das. The two daughters were Damodar Kanwar and Har Kanwar. 12

Maharana Sāngā. Sangram Singh or Sāngā, both by the Jhali queen Ratan Kanwar, daughter of Jhala Rajdhar, have made permanent marks on the history of Mewar. Kanwar Prithviraj was a prince whose heroic spirit, dauntless courage and irrepressible energy made him the idol of the people. His chivalrous deeds carried his fame to the farthest corner of the country. He had “A frame of adamant, a soul of fire No dangers fright him, no labours tire.” His impetuous courage, insatiable love of adventure, a perpetual thirst for action, and tireless pursuit of glory attracted kindred spirits from all parts of the country. Thousands of heroes, belonging to different clans and different places, followed Prithviraj to partake of his glory and share his dangers. Sangram Singh (Sāngā) was equally brave, but his courage was tempered with reflection; he was as forbearing as he was brave. The second son Jaimal, though brave, lacked the energy of 13

Maharana Sāngā. Prithviraj and the high-souled generosity of Sāngā. He was conscious that with Prithviraj as his elder brother there was little chance of his obtaining the crown. The three brothers had as a companion, Suraj Mal, their uncle, who was of the same age and was equally brave. Suraj Mal was the son of Kshem Karan and grandson of Rana Mokal. Mokal had been succeeded by the cele- brated Kumbha, whose son, Rai Mal, was now on the throne of Mewar. Suraj Mal was ambitious and continually chafed under the limitations which naturally circumscribe the activities of scions of a younger branch of a royal family. He began to inspire the brothers of Prithviraj with ideas of royalty, for which position every one of them considered himself qualified by descent and personal bravery. These aspirations naturally produced discord, and as Prithviraj, Jaimal and Sāngā grew up and approached manhood, their conflicting hopes, tem- peraments and ambitions put an end to their fraternal affection. Their dissen- 14

Maharana Sāngā. sions not only disturbed the peace of their father, Maharana Rai Mal, and arrested the rapid development of their country, but produced a state of affairs which was very nearly fatal to the well-being of Mewar. One day while the three brothers and Suraj Mal were discussing their future prospects, they unanimously decided to entrust their future, as did the Roman brothers, to an omen. The priestess of Charanidevi at Nahar Magra (the tiger's mount) being near by, they repaired to her abode. Prithviraj and Jaimal entered first and seated themselves on a pallet. Sāngā followed and took his seat on the panther hide belonging to the prophetess, his uncle, Suraj Mal, with one knee resting thereon. Scarcely had Prithviraj disclosed their errand when the sybil pointed to the panther hide as the decisive omen of sovereignty to Sanga, with a portion to the uncle. They received the decree as did the twins of Rome. Prithviraj drew his sword and would have falsified the omen had 15

Maharana Sāngā. not Suraj Mal interposed himself and received the blow destined for Sāngā, while the prophetess fled from their fury. The blow, though its force was broken by the interposition of Suraj Mal, deprived Sāngā of one eye. Suraj Mal and Prithviraj were exhausted with wounds. Unwilling to attack the heir- apparent to the throne, Sāngā left the scene with five sword cuts and the loss of an eye, and made for the sanctuary of Chaturbhuja, closely followed by Jai Mal. He reached the village Sewantri, where Rathor Bida Jaitmalot,¹ who had come there from Marwar to visit the shrine of Rup Narain, established by Rana Hammir, was standing ready to return home. As he stood accoutred for the journey, his steed standing by him, he caught sight of Sāngā riding in, bathed in blood. Bida took him to his abode, but scarcely had he attended to Sāngā's wounds when Jai Mal with his followers galloped ¹ The Jaitmalot Rāthors are descendants of Jait Mal, the younger brother of the famous Mallināthji of Mallani in Mārwar. 16

Maharana Sāngā. up and demanded Sāngā to be surrendered, threatening death to Bida in case of refusal. The chivalrous Bida, like a true Rajput, refused to give up Sāngā. He sent him away to Marwar with an escort of his own followers, himself preparing to die in defence of his guest, and in the performance of his duty as a true Kshatriya. Like the celebrated Raja Hammīr of Ranthambhore, who braved the wrath of Sultan Alauddin Khilji of Delhi, and gave up his life and his kingdom rather than give up Mir Muhammad Shah, the Moghul general of the Sultan, who had taken refuge with him, the high-souled Bida and his two sons gave up their own lives to save that of Sāngā, leaving to the world an example¹ of chivalrous devotion to duty and of self-sacrifice which will continue to shed lustre on his line, now represented by the Thakur of Kelwa in Mewar. Sāngā passed a few days with a goatherd in Marwar and was dismissed ¹ The 3 sati pillars in the Rupnarain temple com- memorate the event. 17

Maharana Sāngā. as too stupid to tend his cattle and “precisely like our Alfred the Great, having in charge some cakes of flour, was reproached with being more desirous of eating than tending them.” Leaving Marwar, he went towards Ajmer, and purchasing a horse and arms, took service with Rao Karam Chand, the Parmār chief of Srinagar, the ancient capital of the Parmārs of this part of the country, situated at a distance of about ten miles from Ajmer. Karam Chand had a following of two or three thousand Rajputs, with which he used to “run the country.” Returning one day from one of these raids, Sāngā alighted under a banian tree and spreading his saddle cloth on the ground and placing his sword under his head reposed, his steed grazing by his side. A ray of the sun penetrating the foliage fell on Sāngā’s face and discovered a snake rearing its crest over the head of the exile, and a bird of omen perching itself on the crested serpent was chattering aloud. Two Rajputs, Jai Singh Bālecha and 18

Maharana Sāngā. Janna Sindhal, passing by, saw the spectacle and reported it to their leader, Karam Chand. A goatherd "versed in the language of the birds" informed Karam Chand that he was served by royalty. The Parmar questioned the attendant of Sāngā and coming to know that the heir- presumptive of Chitor was serving him, treated him with due respect and considera- tion, and kept him and his secret in his protection till the tragic death of Prithviraj cleared his way to the throne. 19

CHAPTER IV. KANWAR PRITHVIRAJ. WHEN the Maharana heard of the catastrophe, he forbade Prithviraj his presence, telling him to live on his bravery. With but five horse, Jessa Sindhal, Sangam, Abho, Janna and a Bhadail Rāthor, Prithviraj quitted Mewar and made for Godwar. The dissensions in the royal family of Mewar and the weak regime during the four years of Uda's reign had paralysed the administration, and in consequence, the wild tribes of the west and the mountaineers of the Aravalli so little respected the Maharana's garrison of Nadole, the seat of the Godwar Government, that they carried their depreda- tions to the plains. Prithviraj determined to subjugate the insurgents and restore order in Godwar, and show his father that he was pos- sessed of resources independent of his birth. 20

Maharana Sāngā. The country was infested with Meenas, who issuing from their fastnesses had set up petty principalities. One of these chiefs, held his court at Nadolayi. Casting about for means to attain his object, and finding that his funds were running low, Prithviraj asked an Oswal merchant of the Ojha family for a loan, pledging his diamond ring with him. The Ojha at once recognized the ring as the one he had sold at Chitor to Prince Prithviraj, and coming to know of the enter- prise on which Prithviraj was engaged, began actively to assist him. With his help, Prithviraj enlisted himself and his followers as adherents of the Meena Chief. On the approach of the hunter's festival, (Ahairea) the Meena's vassals, according to custom, obtained leave to celebrate the festival in their homes. Prithviraj, who had also obtained leave, rapidly retraced his steps and despatched his followers to attack the Meena in his stronghold, himself awaiting the result in ambush outside the gate of the town. In a short time the Meena Chief came galloping in full flight to the mountains for security. Prithviraj pursued, overtook and transfixed 21

Maharana Sāngā. him with a lance to a kesola tree, and setting fire to the village, slew the Meenas as they sought to escape. He then attacked and reduced to submission, one after another, all the various Bālecha and Madrecha Chauhāns of Godwar, with the exception of the Madrecha stronghold of Desuri. About this time (A.D. 1473—1483) Rao Lakha of Sirohi, with the assistance of Rao Bhan of Idar, attacked and killed Bhoj, the Solanki Chief of Lanch. Bhoj was a descendant of the Solanki kings of Anhalwara Patan. When driven from Patan his ancestors had moved further north and settled at Lanch, where Bhoj now ruled as an independent chief. Maha- rao Lakha of Sirohi, who had ascended the gadi of that State in A. D. 1451 (S. 1508) was an ambitious ruler, and he determined to take Lanch from the Solankis. He made five or six attempts to deprive Bhoj of his territory, but was defeated every time. Lakha then asked Rao Bhan of Idar to help him, and with his assistance attacked and killed Bhoj. 22

Maharana Sāngā.

This battle is said to have taken place at the hill of Mālmagra.¹ Bhoj’s son, Rai Mal, and grandsons, Shankar Singh, Samant Singh, Sakhra and Bhan, left Lanch and went to Kumbhalgarh. Kanwar Prithviraj offered them the fief of Desuri, asking them to wrest it from its Madrecha Chauhān chief. Rai Mal’s wife being a daughter of that chieftain, Rai Mal showed unwillingness to undertake the expedition. Finding, however, that Prithviraj was unwilling to help him on any other terms, Rai Mal accepted the offer. He with his sons went to his father-in-law’s house and treacherously murdered Sanda and the other Madrecha Rajputs and obtained from Prithviraj a patta for Desuri with its 140 villages.² The Thakurs of Jilwada and ¹ Mehta Nainsi in his Chronicles says that Bhoj Dipawat had taken up his residence in the town of Las Munawad of Sirohi. ² The grant included Agaya, Bandrot, Dhamyagaon, Sewantri, Desuri, Dholana, each with twelve villages attached to it, as well as Ana, Karanawas, Bansda, Moonpura, Keshuli, Ganthi, Godla and Chauvadia. Mehta Nainsi gives further details of these villages. 28

Maharana Sāngā: Rūpnagar, descended from Rai Mal's sons, Shankar Singh and Samant Singh respectively, are amongst the 32 sardars (second-class nobles) of Mewar. Having restored order in Godwar, Prithviraj appointed the Ojha and one Solanki Rai Mal, to the civil and military governments of the province. During the absence of Sāngā and the banishment of Prithviraj, Jai Mal was looked upon as the heir to the throne. The fame of the beauty of Tara Bai, daughter of Rao Surtan of Badnor, having reached Jai Mal's ears, he became desirous of obtaining her hand. Rao Surtan was of the Solanki tribe, the lineal descendant of the famed Balhara kings of Anhalwara. Thence expelled by the arms of Alauddin Khilji in the thirteenth century, they migrated to Central India, and obtained possession of Tonk-Toda and its lands on the Banās, which from remote times had been occupied (perhaps founded) by the Taks, and hence bore the name of Tak- sillanagar, familiarly Takitpur and Toda. 24

[Header] Maharana Sāngā

Surtan's brother, Sham Singh, on being deprived of Toda by the Afghan Lallakhan, had come to the Maharana, who conferred the fief of Badnor on him. Surtan succeeded him and was now Chief of Badnor at the foot of the Aravalli, within the bounds of Mewar. This fair "Star" (Tara) was a type of the highest Rajput womanhood. Stimulated by the reverses of her family, and by the incentives of its ancient glory, Tara Bai, scorning the habiliments and occupations of her sex, learned to guide the war-horse, and to throw with unerring aim the arrow from its back, even while at full speed. Armed with the bow and quiver, and mounted on a fiery Kathiawar, she joined the cavalcade in their unsuccessful attempts to wrest Toda from the Afghan. Jai Mal in person made proposals for her hand. "Redeem Toda," said the star of Badnor, "and my hand is thine." He assented to the terms; but having attempted to get a glimpse of the fair face before he had won her, he was slain in an encounter with her indignant father near Sādgaon, sixteen miles from Badnor, by 25