Maharana Pratap of Mewar

[Simple_Guy]

Cross-post from Maharana Sanga thread

The power of Mewar was founded by Maharana Hammir (1314-78) of the Sesodia clan of Rajputs, who retook Chittor from the Turks and also raided neighboring Ranthambhor and Ajmer, even as the Delhi Sultanate began to disintegrate. Under his grandson Lakah (1405-20) silver and lead deposits were discovered in the kingdom, which increased the financial resources of Mewar. The real power of the Turks in India was now in the Bahmani Sultanate (southern India) and in the sultanates of Gujarat and Malwa (in western India).

New Rajput states also to rose to power in other parts of Rajasthan where the tide of Islam was turned back.

Fresh from his triumph over Malwa, Sanga led an army estimated at 40,000 horse and foot, which included contingents from Dungarpur, Jodhpur, and Merta, to invade Gujarat. Nizam-ul-Mulk fled against these impossible odds; Rai Mal was made the ruler and the mosque (majeet in old Rajasthani/Apabhramsa) built by the invaders was broken and the original temple (prasad) rebuilt:

Idar thake majeet uthape
Thay Idar thapya prasad

Sultan Muzaffar had left Ahmadabad for the more secure fort of Champaner (renamed Mahmudabad)and The Rajput army crushed away all opposition in the open and besieged Ahmadnagar. Elephants were sent to ram the gates open, but shied away from the iron spikes lodged in them. Then a brave Rajput youth, Kanh Singh Chauhan, climbed up on the spikes and urged the elephant drivers forward. Even as he was impaled and was taking his last breath, Kanh Singh saw his comrades rushing in and falling on the surprised Muslims.

The territory now under Maharana Sanga spread across Western and Central India, and the weakness of all his rivals gave the Mewar ruler an opportunity to spread his rule north and east.

 

[Simple_Guy]

Ajja Singh's great-grandson was Raj Rana Bida Man Singh, popularly known as Jhala Maan, and he fought in the Battle of Haldighati. This was the first battle fought by the young Maharana Pratap, and when all hope was lost and the Hindupat Maharana was in danger of being surrounded, Jhala Maan wore the Crown and snatched the royal standard from Pratap, roaring out to the enemy to come and fight him.

With his sacrifice Jhala Maan saved the life of Maharana Pratap and did his bit in saving Mewar itself from foreign rule. Today Bari Sadri is as much a tourist destination as Haldghati, Chittor or Udaipur.

Statue of this brave warrior at the Jhala Manna Circle, Barisadri, Distt. Chittorgarh

 

[Simple_Guy]

Another important estate of Mewar was Salumber, the oldest and senior most in rank, because it was founded by an elder brother of one of the Maharanas. Salumber fort:

.

The statue of a warrior and attendant is curiously called Hadi Rani memorial. The attendant is carrying her decapitated head.

The warrior is Rawat Ratan Singh II, chieftain of Salumber in the 17th century. a battle was fought between Maharana of Mewar and Aurangzeb. The Maharana Raj Singh called all his vassals, including Salumber, for the war. But Ratan SIngh hesitated about going to war as he had married only a few days earlier. However, being a Rajput and to protect the Rajput honour he had to join the battle and he asked Hadi Rani to give him some memento to take with to the battlefield.

Hadi Rani thought that she was an obstacle to her husband in completing his duty of being a Rajput. So, to motivate her husband to fight selflessly and protect Mewar, she cut off her own head and had it sent to her husband. On seeing the head of his beloved Hadi Rani, the Rawat was shattered but then tied her head around his neck as a memento. He fought bravely in the battlefield, where the Rajputs defeated the forces of Aurangzeb. But all that was dear in life was already lost to the Rawat of Salumber. So after the victory he refused to leave the battlefield and cut off his own head to join his beloved wife in swarg.

 

[Peter]

The statue of a warrior and attendant is curiously called Hadi Rani memorial. The attendant is carrying her decapitated head.

The warrior is Rawat Ratan Singh II, chieftain of Salumber in the 17th century. a battle was fought between Maharana of Mewar and Aurangzeb. The Maharana Raj Singh called all his vassals, including Salumber, for the war. But Ratan SIngh hesitated about going to war as he had married only a few days earlier. However, being a Rajput and to protect the Rajput honour he had to join the battle and he asked Hadi Rani to give him some memento to take with to the battlefield.

Hadi Rani thought that she was an obstacle to her husband in completing his duty of being a Rajput. So, to motivate her husband to fight selflessly and protect Mewar, she cut off her own head and had it sent to her husband. On seeing the head of his beloved Hadi Rani, the Rawat was shattered but then tied her head around his neck as a memento. He fought bravely in the battlefield, where the Rajputs defeated the forces of Aurangzeb. But all that was dear in life was already lost to the Rawat of Salumber. So after the victory he refused to leave the battlefield and cut off his own head to join his beloved wife in swarg.

Very tragic tale. It shows us the true selflessness and bravery of the Rajput warriors.

 

[Simple_Guy]

Two sons of Rajodharji, Ajja and Sajja, took up service under the Maharanas of Mewar receiving the estates of Bari Sadri and Delwara, representing the Jhala Rajput dynasty of Saurashtra in the army of Mewar.

The Rajputs of Idar were equally famous for their resistance to the Sultans of Gujarat. They were also part of the powerful Rajput empire in Rajasthan of the Maharanas of Mewar.

Another warrior lineage from Gujarat, Solanki Rajputs, made their name as vassals of the Maharanas of Mewar.

Thakurs of Roopnagar

The ancestors of this family originally lived in Gujarat, and were descended from Raja TRIBHUVANPAL, the last Solanki King of Gujarat (1241/1244)

Thakur RAIMAL 1480/1491, settled at Kumbalgarh during the reign of Maharana Raimal (1473/1509), who granted them the pargana of Desuri (Roopnagar)

Thakur VIRAM DEO I, served with Maharana Amar Singh I (1597/1620) during his conflict with Mughal prince, Khurram

Thakur BIKA SINGH, fought against Emperor Aurangzeb during the reign of Maharana Raj Singh I (1653/1680), and took part in looting a Mughal treasure caravan

 

[Simple_Guy]

Parmar Rajputs were one of the oldest dynasties. Their greatest kingdom was Dhar (Malwa) in Madhya Pradesh, and their greatest ruler was Bhoja Parmar. But they were overrun by the Delhi sultanate in the 13th century and only minor principalities scattered across Rajasthan, Gujarat, MP and UP remained as a testament of their former power.

The Rao of Bijolia, one of the sixteen superior nobles of Mewar, is a Pramara of the ancient stock of Dhar, and perhaps its most respectable representative. The ancestors of the family were the Raos of Jagner, in the Agra district, who took up service under the Maharana of Mewar in the beginning of the sixteenth century. The estate of Bijolia was assigned to them.

13th century Vedesvara Temple, Bijolia​

The ancient name of Bijolia was Vindhyavalli ; it is a small walled town, picturesquely situated on a plateau called the Uparmal. Among places of antiquarian interest may be mentioned three Sivaite temples, probably of the tenth century; a reservoir with steps, called the Mandākini Baori ; five Jain temples dedicated to Pārasnātlr; and the remains of a palace built in the twelfth century. There are also two rock inscriptions of the period last mentioned ; one gives the genealogy of the Chauhans of Ajmer from Chahumān to Someshwar.

The estate consisted of 83 villages, and was held by one of the first-class nobles of Mewār, who had the title of Rao Sawai. The Raos of Bijolia are Ponwār Rajputs.

 

[LETHALFORCE]

@Virendra
Nice post.I learned a lot.However there is one thing that I always wanted to know .As per sources Maharana Pratap lost battle of Haldighati because he had little or no artillery.Despite the fact that artillery and gunpowder were game changers in wars why did our Indian kings not produce enough of them.Even the defeat of the later Indian kingdoms against British could be attributed to that.Also an interesting fact was that India had a lot of saltpetre(a key ingredient of gunpowder).The British in fact used to trade saltpetre and use this valuable resource which was found in India.Surely our kings had the resources then why did they not use it.Even the native American tribes(who initially had no knowledge about horses or gunpowder) used to value rifles more than their ancient bows and arrows.
I mean what was the reason behind our artillery or rifle deficient armies?

Many native American tribes rode horses before Europeans arrived. Wild horses still
Run free in western USA. Native Americans in the north acquired rifles during french
American wars where different tribes fought for both sides. Other tribes particularly in
Western States acquired rifles from Mexicans. The number of rifles acquired by natives
We're not game changing and they still needed bullets resupplied.

 

[Bhadra]

Parmar Rajputs were one of the oldest dynasties. Their greatest kingdom was Dhar (Malwa) in Madhya Pradesh, and their greatest ruler was Bhoja Parmar. But they were overrun by the Delhi sultanate in the 13th century and only minor principalities scattered across Rajasthan, Gujarat, MP and UP remained as a testament of their former power.

The Rao of Bijolia, one of the sixteen superior nobles of Mewar, is a Pramara of the ancient stock of Dhar, and perhaps its most respectable representative. The ancestors of the family were the Raos of Jagner, in the Agra district, who took up service under the Maharana of Mewar in the beginning of the sixteenth century. The estate of Bijolia was assigned to them.

13th century Vedesvara Temple, Bijolia​

The ancient name of Bijolia was Vindhyavalli ; it is a small walled town, picturesquely situated on a plateau called the Uparmal. Among places of antiquarian interest may be mentioned three Sivaite temples, probably of the tenth century; a reservoir with steps, called the Mandākini Baori ; five Jain temples dedicated to Pārasnātlr; and the remains of a palace built in the twelfth century. There are also two rock inscriptions of the period last mentioned ; one gives the genealogy of the Chauhans of Ajmer from Chahumān to Someshwar.

The estate consisted of 83 villages, and was held by one of the first-class nobles of Mewār, who had the title of Rao Sawai. The Raos of Bijolia are Ponwār Rajputs.

That looks like the Sun Temple of Ranakpur !!

Sun Temple Ranakpur

 

[Simple_Guy]

Re: Maharana pratap. . The Lengendary freedom fighter

^^^ yeah, except the three Chhatris on the Bijolia temple.

 

[Simple_Guy]

Maharana Pratap and most of his army made out intact from the battleground. It was a small force of Tomar Rajputs who did the daring rear-guar action to prevent a chase from Mughals. Tomars suffered the maximum dead in Haldighati (unsung heroes in a way)

These Tomar Rajputs were the ruling family of Gwalior, and if any of this lineage had survived Haldighati, they would have got the grant of an estate under the Maharanas of Mewar. Just like the Jhalas, Solankis, and Parmars.

The chief areas of the Tanwar Rajputs are the district of Tuargarh, on the right bank of the Chambal towards its junction with the Yamuna. Another important lineage were the ex-rulers of Delhi, descended from Anangpal Tomar. They settled at Patan in the Tuarwati District of Jaipur State, Rajputana.

 

[Peter]

]Many native American tribes rode horses before Europeans arrived. Wild horses still
Run free in western USA.[/B] Native Americans in the north acquired rifles during french
American wars where different tribes fought for both sides. Other tribes particularly in
Western States acquired rifles from Mexicans. The number of rifles acquired by natives
We're not game changing and they still needed bullets resupplied.

@LETHALFORCE @pmaitra
How can Native Americans Americans ride horses before the arrival of the Europeans. The Europeans(the Spanish) introduced horses in America. To be said precisely Hernan Cortez managed to conquer America as he had horses and gunpowder. He defeated the Aztecs with only 500 Spaniards and some native american allies. Also the wild horses in America are the horses of European breed. There were no horses in america before columbus arrived.

Mustang horse - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

A Mustang horse is a free-roaming horse of the North American west that first descended from horses brought to the Americas by the Spanish. Mustangs are often referred to as wild horses, but there is debate over terminology. Because they are descended from once-domesticated horses, they can be classified as feral horses.

 

[LETHALFORCE]

Indian horses before Columbus | TUESDAY'S HORSE
@Peter

Please link above this is a highly debated topic

Pinto,mustangs etc... We're brought by spaniards you are right but spaniards also
Had laws that forbid selling giving horses to natives. So how did natives acquire them?
The answer is most likely the wild horses. This is off topic and would make a good
Separate thread.

 

[Peter]

Indian horses before Columbus | TUESDAY'S HORSE
@Peter

Please link above this is a highly debated topic

Pinto,mustangs etc... We're brought by spaniards you are right but spaniards also
Had laws that forbid selling giving horses to natives. So how did natives acquire them?
The answer is most likely the wild horses. This is off topic and would make a good
Separate thread.

It is not a debatable topic. The link to the article you gave is actually a parody article or a fun article. The article was written for humour. Here is a paragraph from the articel.

Indeed, the oldest surviving travel account of an overseas explorer in the American Southwest comes from the Afghani Buddhist Monk, Hui Shen. He sailed to the West Coast of Fu Sang during the 5th century AD. According to the monk, the Native People of Fu Sang (or ancient Mexico) had both horses and wagons. If we jump over to the East Coast, we find a similar account dating to the 13th century. According to Bjorn of Iceland, he fell overboard while landing his dory in the Atlantic surf. He was rescued by a party of Celtic Natives, or Welsh Colonists, "riding on horseback."



The author is just joking here.

 

[LETHALFORCE]

You are thinking about central and South America where it is true but in North america
Tribes like nez perz had the appolasa breed of horses only found in North america

http://www.nezperce.com/Anthropologists


historians are not altogether clear about when the horse was acquired by the Nez Perce. It is generally believed and accepted that horses were introduced to the Americas by the Spanish about 1730 and that the Plains Indians soon acquired them. However, the Appaloosa, or spotted horse, has been found in pictographs of Asian and Chinese art. Prominent anthropologists have theorized that the Nez Perce and other Pacific Northwest tribes may have migrated across a land bridge that may have existed between the Asian and North American Continents somewhere near the Bering Straits off the coast of Alaska shortly after the last glaciers on the North American Continent began to recede. If this is true, then, perhaps the Nez Perce and the Appaloosa horse were interlinked much longer than thought.

 

[Simple_Guy]

Contribution of Chauhan Rajputs to the Independence of Mewar​

Even after the Battle of Tarain, and the killing of Prithviraja, the Chauhan Rajputs refused to submit to the invaders and continued resisting from their forts. The most important of these was Ranthambore. At least three sultans of Delhi were defeated by the Chauhan Raos of Ranthambore and it was said that this kingdom was like a dagger pressing into Delhi.

After a 100 years of resistance the barrier of Ranthambore was finally overcome and the surviving Chauhans scattered for survival. The sultans could not enjoy their success too long as Ranthambore was liberated by the Sesodia Rajputs, and many of the Chauhans took up service under the powerful Maharanas of Mewar.

For their military service these Chauhan chieftains were granted estates like Bedla, Parsoli and Kotharia. They played a glorious part in the Battle of Khanua, siege of Chittor, Battle of Haldighati, and the victories over the Mughals under Maharana Pratap, Amar Singh, and Raj Singh.

Kotharia, for example, situated on the right bank of River Banas, about 30 miles north-east of Udaipur city. The estate, which consists of 81 villages, was held by one of the first-class nobles of Mewar, who was styled Rawat and was a Chauhan Rajput from Mainpuri district in UP. The founder of the Kotharia family was Manik Chand, who fought for Rana Sangram Singh against Babar in 1527.

 

[Simple_Guy]

474th birth anniversary of Maharana Pratap​

474th Pratap Jayanti: Havan Pujan at Moti Magri, Procession at Gogunda

Maharana Pratap Smarak Samiti Moti Magri organized the program of Havan-Poojan before the giant monument of Maharana Pratap and his horse Chetak at Moti Magri garden today.

Samiti's president and descendant of Maharana Pratap, Lakshyaraj Singh Mewar, and his wife Nivritti Kumari Mewar performed havan pujan on the occasion.

Splendid Procession of Pratap Jayanti

PM Modi tweets tributes to Maharana Pratap:

— Narendra Modi (@PMOIndia) May 31, 2014

I bow to this proud son of India: PM offering tributes to Maharana Pratap on his birth anniversary

— Narendra Modi (@PMOIndia) May 31, 2014

Pratap, who was known for his courage, chivalry and partiotism, ruled the kingdom of Mewar, which is now a part of modern day Rajasthan. He belonged to the Sesodia clan of Rajputs.

 

[Simple_Guy]

Long Exposure-The Camera at Udaipur 1857-1957. This book is prepared by Maharana Mewar Historical Publication Trust, an arm of Maharana Mewar Charitable Foundation.

The book contains 245 black & white and color photographs of various wedding ceremonies, social function which took place in Mewar between the year 1857 to 1957.

 

[Simple_Guy]

Great Wall of India

Not all forts in India are so grand as Kumbhalgarh Fort and only few of them provide an opportunity to walk on the outer walls. Kumbhalgarh Fort is mightiest and grandest and you can also walk on its 15 feets thick outer walls. Every evening the Kumbhalgarh Fort is illuminated with flood lights and a special Sound and Light show starts at 6.45 PM on the story of Rajput Royals.

Built by Rana Kumbha in 15th century, its unique location and its grandeur makes it a must visit place in that part of Rajasthan. It is believed that Rana Kumbha built about 32 forts during his reign, of which Kumbhalgarh is the largest and most elaborate. This fort is inducted in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

After entering through the main entrance, you come across the group of temples at both sides of the main entrance. At the left hand side there is a Ganesha Temple and a Swami Narayan Temple. At the right hand side, there is a Vedi Complex, Neelkanth Mahadeva Temple, Parsvanath Temple etc. Many of these temples were built during the reign of Rana Kumbha. Palaces that include Kumbha Palace, Badal Mahal and the Birthplace of Maharana Pratap

Riding from Udaipur to Kumbhalgarh through the continuously changing landscapes was one of the most pleasant experience of the whole trip. I passed through the battlefield of Haldighati, where I roamed in the green fields of Chaitri Roses with a local shopkeeper, saw the whole process of making world famous perfume and nectar and clicked many pictures. After Haldighati, lush green fields converted into a landscape surrounded by thorny bushes and barren lands, where I found many abandoned bucket wheels on the wells.

The area is part of the Wildlife Sanctuary of Kubhalgarh. This wildlife sanctuary is the home of a rich wild life that includes wolf, leopards, sloth bear, hyena, jackal, jungle cat, sambhar, nilgai, chausingha (the four horned antelope), -----ara etc.

 

[abhi_the _gr8_maratha]

I hope maharashtra government learn something from rajasthan and repair historical forts and make them attractive tourist spots

 

[Simple_Guy]

It's not the government but the people of Rajasthan that have developed these tourist spots. Forts/palaces are privately owned.

The Maharanas of Mewar run the following commercial heritage properties:

Shiv Niwas Palace
Lake Palace Hotel, Udaipur
Fateh Prakash Palace, Udaipur
The Promenade, Udaipur
Jagmandir Island Palace, Udaipur
Arsi Vilas, Udaipur
Garden Hotel & Restaurant, Udaipur
Ranakpur Hotel & Restaurant, Ranakpur
The Aodhi Hotel, Kumbhalgarh
Ghas Ghar, Udaipur
Khas Odhi, Udaipur
Air Charter Service, Udaipur
Fateh Bagh, Ranakpur
The Vintage & Classic Car Collection of the Palace, Udaipur
Shikarbadi Hotel, Udaipur
Shikarbadi Airport, Udaipur

Gorbandh Palace Hotel, Jaisalmer
Karni Bhawan Palace, Bikaner
Maan Bilas Hotel, Bikaner
Ramgarh Resort & Polo Complex, Jaipur
Gajner Palace Hotel, Gajner (Bikaner)

The Lake Palace Trade & Travels Private Limited.
Mewar Memorable Millennium Melodious Music Private Limited, Udaipur
Chetak Exports (I) Private Limited (Anmol Gems, Aashka)
Udaipur Equine Institute, Cricket Institute, Polo Federation of India

Non-commercial: Maharana of Mewar Charitable Foundation, Shree Eklingji Trust, Maharana Mewar Historical Publications Trust, Maharana Kumbha Sangeet Kala Trust, Vidyadan Trust, Chetak Trust, Shree Goverdhan Trust.