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

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

Maharana Sāngā. the spear of Sānsla Ratan Singh. The Rana, when incited to revenge, replied “that he who had thus dared to insult the honour of a father and that father in distress, richly merited his fate.” Prithviraj, the brother of the deceased, was then an exile in Marwar; he had just signalized his valour and ensured his father’s forgiveness, by the redemption of Godwar. The catastrophe at Badnor determined him to accept the gage thrown down to Jai Mal. Fame and the bard had carried the renown of Prithviraj far beyond the bounds of Mewar; the name alone was attractive to the fair, and when thereto he who bore it added all the chivalrous ardour of his Chauhān namesake and pro- totype, Tara Bai, with the sanction of her father, consented to be his, on his simple asseveration that “he would restore to them Toda or he was no true Rajput.” The anniversary of the martyrdom of the sons of Ali was the season chosen for the exploit. Prithviraj formed a select 26

Maharana Sāngā. band of five hundred cavaliers, and, accompanied by his bride, the fair Tara, who insisted on partaking of his glory and his danger, he reached Toda at the moment the tazzia or bier containing the martyr-brothers was placed in the centre of the "chauk" or square. The prince, Tara Bai, and the faithful Senger Chief, the inseparable companion of Prithviraj, left their cavalcade and joined the procession as it passed under the balcony of the place in which the Afghan was putting on his dress preparatory to descending. Just as he had asked who the strange horsemen were that had joined the throng, the lance of Prithviraj and an arrow from the bow of his Amazon bride stretched him on the floor.¹ Before the crowd recovered from the panic, the three had reached the gate of the town, where their exit was obstructed ¹ The following old couplet extant in Rajputana sums up the popular view of the incident:— भाग लल्ला प्रथिराज आयो सिहं कै सांथरे स्वाल आयो । Run away, Lalla, Prithviraj has arrived. A jackal has been born in a lion’s den (it cannot stay there). 27

Maharana Sāngā. by an elephant. Tara Bai with her scimitar divided his trunk, and the animal fleeing, they joined their cavalcade, which was close at hand. “The Afghans were encountered, and could not stand the attack. Those who did not flee were cut to pieces ; and the gallant Prithviraj inducted the father of his bride into his inheritance.¹ A brother of the Afghan, in his attempt to recover it, lost his life. “Nawab Malloo Khan, then holding Ajmer, determined to oppose the Sesodia prince in person ; who, resolved upon being the assailant, advanced to Ajmer, encoun- tered his foe in the camp at day-break, and after great slaughter entered Garh Beetli, the citadel, with the fugitives. ‘By these acts,’ says the chronicle, ‘his fame in- creased in Rajwara : one thousand Rajputs, animated by the same love of glory and devotion, gathered round the nakarras of ¹ द्रड चढे प्राथिमल्ल भाजे टोडो लल्ला तणैं घर घारे लोह । Prithviraj arms himself against Lalla and heading an army breaks Toda. 28

Maharana Sāngā. Prithviraj. Their swords shone in the heavens, and were dreaded on the earth; but they aided the defenceless.' " ¹ Another instance of Prithviraj's high spirit, energy and enterprise is, says Colonel Tod, "recorded and confirmed by Muham- madan writers as to the result, though they are ignorant of the impulse which prompted the act. Prithviraj on one occasion found the Rana conversing familiarly with an ahdy" (a military officer) of the Malwa King, and feel- ing offended at the condescension, expressed himself with warmth. The Rana ironically replied: 'You are a mighty seizer of kings, but for me I desire to retain my land.' Prithviraj abruptly retired, collected his band, made for Neemuch, where he soon gathered five thousand horse, and reaching Depalpur, plundered it, and slew the governor. The King of Malwa on hearing of the irruption, left Mandu at the head of what troops he could collect. The Rajput prince, instead of retreating, rapidly ad- vanced and attacked the camp while ¹ Tod's Rajasthan, Vol. I, p. 674. 29

Maharana Sāngā. refreshing after the march. Singling out the royal tent occupied by eunuchs and females, Prithviraj made Mahmud captive, and plac- ing him on an express camel beside himself he warned the pursuers to follow peaceably or he would put his Majesty to death, adding that he intended him no harm, but that after having made him ‘touch his father’s feet,’ he would restore him to liberty. Hav- ing carried him direct to Chitor and to his father’s presence, he turned to him saying, ‘Send for your friend the ahdy,’ and ‘ask him who this is.’ The Malwa king was detained a month within the walls of Chitor, and having paid his ransom in horses, was set at liberty with every demonstration of honour. Prithviraj returned to Kumbhal- garh, his residence, and passed his life in exploits like these from the age of fourteen till death, the admiration of the country and the theme of the bard.” ¹ The amazing rapidity with which Prithviraj moved from one place to another and the lightning-like speed with ¹ Tod’s Rajasthan, Vol. I, p. 675. 30

Maharana Sāngā. which he marched and fell on his enemy earned for him the title of Udnā Prithvi- raj, the “winged Prithviraj.” ¹ One of the earliest exploits of Prithvi- raj, which made him famous in Rajputana, was his daring raid on Girnār in the heart of Gujrat. Maharana Rai Mal's sister— Maharana Kumbha's daughter—Ramā Bai, had been married to Raja Mandlik Jādava (Yadava) of Surashtra (Girnār).² ¹ Mehta Nainsi says that Prithviraj attacked Toda and Jalor—two places separated by 200 miles from each other—on one and the same day, and that thenceforth he was called “Udnā Prithviraj.” ² Mehta Nainsi in his Chronicles says that King Mandlik was a powerful ruler and commanded an army of twenty thousand Rajputs, and used to construct new tanks every year. He used to bathe every day with Ganges water and drink no water but that of the Ganges. The reason of his fall, according to Nainsi, was his uncontrolled passion for the wife of a Charan. Akho, son of Surtan, was a Charan attached to the principal gate of his fortress. His wife Nagdevi, was possessed of supernatural powers. Nagdevi's son had married a Padmini, whose son, Nagarjuna, went to Sultan Mahmud Begara and won his favour and obtained from him two mares named Labah and Lakshmi. From them, Nagarjuna had two horses, Uchasaro and Amolak, which became famous. Raja Mandlik hearing of their fame sent for them. The Charan refusing to give them up, the Raja himself went to Nagarjuna for them, but was no more successful than his men. After some time, a barber of the Raja happened to go to Nagdevi, who asked him 31

Maharana Sāngā. Owing to some disagreement between the husband and the wife, Mandlik began to illtreat his Queen. Prithviraj heard of this, and with a chosen band of his veterans started to punish King Mandlik. Traversing the long distance by rapid marches, Prithviraj surprised Mandlik in his palace. In his helplessness, he appealed to Prithviraj's clemency. Prith- viraj spared his life, but as a mark of punishment cut a little piece off his right ear and returned with his aunt Ramā Bai, to to pare the nails of her daughter-in-law, the Padmini. Struck by her surpassing beauty, he repaired to Mandlik and spoke to him about her. Mandlik resolved to go and see her. His queen, Ramā Bai, expostulated with him and tried her best to dissuade him. Mandlik persisted in his nefarious design and went to the village where Nagdevi lived. Nagdevi supplied the entire following of the Raja with provisions from a small kotri (cell) of hers. Surprised at this supernatural feat, the king's attendants told him that she was a goddess and nothing should be done to displease her. The king, mad with desire, did not listen to them. The bar tree under which he sat began to shoot jets of blood, but the king did not take the warning. He asked Nagdevi to show him the Padmini. The Devi brought her out properly decked, but her feet did not touch the ground. Mandlik thrust forward his hand to catch hold of her. She, however, assumed the form of a goddess and pro- nounced a curse upon him, that he would lose his fortress, 32

Maharana Sāngā. Mewar. The Maharana gave the parganah of Jāwar for maintenance to Ramā Bai, who, with her savings, built the temple of Rama- swami and the lake Ramkund at Jāwar (Yogini Pattan), the inauguration ceremony of which took place on Chaitra Sukla 7th (Sunday) S. 1554¹ (A. D. 1497). She also built the Damodar temple to Vishnu at Kumbhalgarh and a tank to the south of Kundeshwar. become insane, throw dust on his head and become a slave of the Turks (Mussalmans.) Mandlik returned home and Padmini went to Kedar in the Himalayas, and like the Pandavas gave herself up to the eternal snows. Nagdevi repaired to Sultan Mahmud Begara and told him that she had bestowed Girnār on him. The Sultan, who had not been able to take the stronghold of Girnār owing to its great strength, asked for some sign of assurance of his success. The Devi said that on waking up the next morning he would find coloured rice in his turban. Finding the prophecy come true, the Sultan started to attack Girnār and laid siege to the fortress. Mandlik became mad and came and handed over the keys of the fort to the Sultan and embraced Islam. The fortress was not taken, however, till a thousand Rajputs who defended it bravely were all slain. This story shows that Mandlik by his misconduct displeased a Charan, with whose assistance, Mahmud Begara took Girnār, and that Ramā Bai left Girnār when she found that Mandlik was not behaving himself. ¹ Inscription on Ramkund at Jawar of Chaitra Sud 7th, S. 1554. Jawar is situated 5 miles from Tidi, in the Magra Zillah of Mewar. 33

Maharana Sāngā. Soon after Jai Mal's death, Maharana Rai Mal conferred the parganah of Bhains- ror of the annual rental of Rs. 50,000 on Rawat Suraj Mal (Rana Mokal's grand- son) as jagir. When the news of this grant reached Prithviraj in Godwar, he recol- lected the prophecy of the Charanidevi and the duel he had with Suraj Mal, and sent a letter to the Maharana protesting against the grant. The Maharana replied that he on his part had made the grant and that Prithviraj was at liberty to take it back if he could. As soon as this reply reached Prithviraj, he started to attack Bhainsror with two thousand horsemen. Putting Suraj Mal and Sarangdeva, a grandson of Rana Lakha, to flight, he took possession of the castle and turned the families of the two chieftains out of the fort. Suraj Mal, whose vaunting ambition had persuaded him that the crown was his destiny, plunged deep into treason to obtain it. Winning over Sarangdeva to his cause, they both repaired to Sultan Nāsiruddin Khilji of Malwa. The Sultan 34

Maharana Sāṅgā. welcomed the opportunity these internal dissensions in Mewar gave him to inflict a blow on Chitor, and thus avenge the defeats the successive Maharanas had inflicted on his ancestors. He sent a large army against Mewar. Thus aided, the two trai- tors assailed the southern frontier of their fatherland and rapidly possessed themselves of Sadri, Batarda and a wide tract extending from Nye to Neemuch, attempting even Chitor. With the few troops that were in the fort, the Maharana started to punish the rebels, who met the attack on the river Gambhiri. The Maharana, fighting like a common soldier, had received two and twenty wounds and was nearly falling through faintness when Prithviraj, who had heard of the invasion, with lightning speed arrived with one thousand fresh horse from Kumbhalgarh and averted a disaster. Looking out for his uncle Suraj Mal, he soon sighted him. Cutting his way up to him, he covered him with wounds. Both sides lost many brave men but neither would yield. When night fell they retired from the field and bivouacked in sight of each other. 35

Maharana Sāngā. Soon after nightfall, Prithviraj paid a visit to his uncle Suraj Mal, and the meet- ing between the rival uncle and the nephew is described by Colonel Tod as “unique in the details of strife, perhaps since the origin of man.” Prithviraj found his uncle in a small tent reclining on a pallet, having just had the barber (surgeon) to sew up his wounds. He rose and met his nephew and heir to the throne of Mewar with the customary respect, as if nothing unusual had occurred ; but the exertion caused some of the wounds to open afresh, when the following dia- logue ensued :— “ PRITHVIRAJ. ‘ Well, uncle, how are your wounds ? ’ SURAJ MAL. ‘ Quite healed, my child, since I have the pleasure of seeing you.’ PRITHVIRAJ. ‘ But, uncle (kaka), I have not yet seen the Dewanji.¹ I first ran to see you, and I am very hungry ; have you anything to eat ? ’ ” ¹ The Maharana is called Diwanji, owing to his being the chief priest of the famous temple of Eklingji. 36

Maharana Sāngā. Dinner was soon served, and the extra- ordinary pair sat down, and 'ate off the same platter (tháli);' nor did Prithviraj hesitate to eat the 'pān'¹ presented on his taking leave. "PRITHVIRAJ. 'You and I will end our battle in the morning, uncle.' SURAJ MAL. 'Very well, child; `come early!'" They met: but Sarangdeva bore the brunt of the conflict, receiving thirty-five wounds. During four ghurries, swords and lances were plied, and every tribe of Rajput lost numbers that day. At last the rebels were defeated and fled towards Sadri, and Prithviraj returned in triumph, though with seven wounds, to Chitor. Suraj Mal took up his abode at Sadri and Sarangdeva at Batarda. The Maharana did not wish to trouble them any further, but Prithviraj was relentless in his efforts to drive them out of Mewar. Many personal encounters took place between the uncle and the ¹ Pān has frequently been a medium for administer- ing poison. 37