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

Maharana Kumbha.
deity; especially the Kiner or oleander, which
grows in great luxuriance on the Aravalli.
Groves of bamboo and mango were formerly
common, according to tradition; but although
it is deemed sacrilege to thin the groves of
Bal, the bamboo has been nearly destroyed:
there are, however, still many trees sacred to
the deity scattered around."¹
The temple of Eklingji is dedicated to
Mahadeva or Siva. Bappa Rawal is said
to have built the original temple. It was
rebuilt by Maharana Mokal who built a
wall round it. Maharana Raimal greatly
improved it and iustalled a four faced image
of Siva in it in V.S. 1545 (A.D. 1488).
Maharana Kumbha renovated² the temple,
constructed the magnificent Kumbhaman-
dapa (domed hall) in front of the sanctum
sanctorum and the toran (archway) leading
to the mandapa (dome). He presented the
temple with the gold flagstaff and numerous
Kalus and bestowed on the temple for its
maintenance, the four villages of Nagada³
¹ Tod's Rajasthan, Vol. I, p. 515.
² Kumbhalgarh Inscription verse, 241.
³ Nāgada, in olden days a famous town, was the capital
of the rulers of Mewar. It is situated not very far from
Eklingji.
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