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

ILLUSTRATIONS.
────
To face page

1. Maharana Kumbha ... Frontispiece.
2. H.H. Maharana Sahib Sir Bhopal Singhji
   Bahadur, G.C.S.I., of Udaipur. v
3. Pichola Lake and Jag Mandir „ 9
4. „ and Udaipur „ 10
5. Rāwat Chonda ... ... „ 21
6. Rao Ran Mal ... ... „ 25
7. Rao Jodha ... ... ... „ 69
8. Kumbhalgarh ... ... „ 125
9. Katargarh and the Vedi ... „ 131
10. Fortress of Chitor ... ... „ 137
11. Tower of Victory, Chitor ... „ 139
12. Temple of Ranpur ... ... „ 147
13. Eklingji ... ... .. „ 155
14. Maharana Pratap ... ... „ 193

I am indebted to Rao Sahib Gopal Singhji of Kharwa
(Ajmer) for the portrait of Rao Ran Mal of Mandor,
and to Thakur Bhur Singhji of Malsisar (Jaipur) for
that of Rao Jodha, the founder of Jodhpur.
The portrait of Rawat Chonda comes from the
Rawatji of Begoon (Mewar) a direct lineal descendant
of Rawat Chonda.
The only portrait of Maharana Kumbha I was able
to find, is in the British Museum, London. A photogra-
phic copy of it was kindly obtained and sent to me by
the late Thakur Jessraj Singhji Sisodia, author of “The
Rajputs: A Fighting Race. London 1915 A.D.
HAR BILAS SARDA.

ADDITIONS AND CORRECTIONS.
——————
Page 3 Footnote 2, after "of Kumbha" read V. 235
,, 5 Line 1 for Khumbhalgarh ,, Kumbhalgarh
,, 5 Line 2 ,, 198 ,, 197
,, 5 Line 3 ,, Sloka 131 ,, Sloka 31
,, 6 Line 7 ,, 119 ,, 29
,, 6 Line 18 ,, Mahatamya ,, Mahatmya
,, 7 Line 14 ,, V. 119 ,, V. 30
,, 7 Line 18 ,, V. 119 ,, V. 199
,, 11 Footnote 2 ,, V. 3 ,, V. 31
,, 11 Footnote 3 ,, Ibid ,, "³ Chitor Kirtis-
thambha
Inscription"
,, 21 Line 17 ,, decedants ,, descendants
,, 26 Line 12 after 1460 A. D. ,, V. 221
,, 26 Line 20 ,, 1429 A. D. ,, Sloka 51
,, 27 Line 1 for suzereinty ,, suzerainty
,, 27 Line 5 ,, V. S. 1485 ,, V. 14
,, 27 Line 8 after 1460 A. D. ,, V. 221
,, 27 Line 11 ,, V. 44 ,, V. 43 & 44
,, 29 Footuote 1 ,, A.D. 1460 ,, V. 217
,, 55 Line 4 for Shahabuddin ,, Shahbuddin
Ghori Ghori
,, 56 Line 11 ,, hehind ,, behind
,, 82 Line 9 ,, suzereinty ,, suzerainty
,, 96 Footnote 2 after inscription ,, V. 21
,, 97 Line 19 for Gadday ,, Gadāī
,, 114 Line 4 ,, Bamaoda ,, Bambaoda

Maharana Kumbha xii
Page 117 Line 4 for Vyaspur read Vāyaspur
,, 117 Line 16 ,, "⁴ Chitor Tower ,, "⁴Kumbhalgarh
of Victory Ins- Inscription,
cription, V. 25" V. 253"
,, 117 Line 16 ,, "⁵ Ibid, V. 253" ,, '⁵ Chitor Tower
of Victory Ins-
cription, V. 25"
,, 121 Footnote 2 ,, Sl. 64 ,, Sl. 164
,, 122 Line 9 .. discernable ,, discernible
,, 124· Line 21 ,, decendants ,, descendants
,, 128 Line 10 ,, though ,, through
,, 128 Line 18 , enlosed ,, enclosed
,, 131 Line 2 ,, panneled ,, panelled
,, 131 Footnote 2 ,, Kumbhalgarh ,, Kirtisthambha
,, 135 Line 8 ,, through ,, thorough
,, 137 Footnote 1 ,, Kumbhalgarh ,, Chitor Kirtis-
Inscription thambha Inscrip-
Verses 130, 131, 143 tion Verses 130,
131, 143.
,, 141 Line 12 ,, though ,, through
,, 146 Line 1 ,, Achil Singh ,, Achal Singh
,, 167 Line 15 ,, Abfrecht's ,, Aufrecht's

BIBLIOGRAPHY.
BOOKS (ENGLISH.).

1. Annals and Antiquities of Rajasthan, by Col.
   James Tod, 2 Vols., London, 1829-32 A. D.
2. Travels in Western India, by Col. James Tod.
3. Muhammadan Dynasties of India, by Stanley
   Lane Pool, 1894 A.D.
4. History of the Rise of the Muhammadan Power
   in India, by J. Brigg (Ferishta's History of India).
5. History of Gujrat, by Sir E.C. Bayley, 1886 A.D.
6. Indian Ephemeris, by Diwan Bahadur L.D.S. Pillai.
7. History of Mediæval Hindu India, by C. V. Vaidya.
8. History of Indian and Eastern Architecture, by
   James Fergusson.
9. Memoirs of Jahangir, by Alexander Rogers,
   (Translation of Tuzaki Jahangeri.)
10. History of India, as told by its own Historians,
    by Sir E. C. Elliot, Vols. I-VIII.
11. Outline of History, by Mr. H. W. Wells.
12. Archæological Survey Reports of India, Vols.
    VI for 1872-73, and XXIII for 1883-84 A.D.; and the
    Annual Report for 1907-8 A.D.
13. A Collection of Prakrit and Sanskrit Inscrip-
    tions, published by the Bhavanagar Archæological
    Department under the auspices of the Maharaja of
    Bhavanagar, by Mr. Peter Peterson. Short title, “The
    Bhavanagar Inscriptions.”

Maharana Kumbha. xiv
14. Gazetteer of Udaipur, by Major K. D. Erskine.
15. Proceedings of the First Indian Oriental
Conference Poona, A. D. 1919.
16. Progress Report of the Archæological Survey
of India, Western Circle, for 1908-9.
17. Report of a Second Tour in search of Sanskrit
manuscripts in Rajputana and Central India,
by Prof. S. R. Bandarkar in 1905-6.
18. Historical Fragments of the Mughal Empire,
of the Morattoes &c., by Robert Orme, 1805, A. D.
19. Early History of India, by Dr. Vincent Smith.
20. The Bombay Gazetteer Vol. I., by J.M. Campbell.
21. Reports of the Rajputana Museum, Ajmer, for
1917-1918, 1921, 1922, 1924 and 1926.
22. Catalogue of Manuscripts existing in the
Central Provinces, by F. Keilhorn.
23. Catalogus Catalogorum, by Aufrecht, Leipzig.
24. Ajmer: Historical and Descriptive, by the Author.
25. Hammira of Ranthambhor, by the Author.
A monograph on Hammir, the renowned Chauhan King
of Ranthambhor, one of the great heroes of Rajputana.
An account of his conquests, and a full account of his
war with Sultan Allauddin Khilji is given.
Journals.
26. The Indian Antiquary, Vol. 40.
27. Epigraphia Indica, Vol. II.
28. Journal of the Bombay Branch of the Royal

xv BIBLIOGRAPHY
Asiatic Society, G. B. & Ireland, Special No. LVIII
by Captain E. Barnes, June 1902 A.D.
29. The Krita, Gupta, Saka and other Eras in the
Modern Review for July, 1932 A. D.
30. Journal of the Bengal Asiatic Society, Volume 55.
31. The Vedic Magazine of Aswin, S. 1969. (A.D.
1912).
32. The Udaipur Temple of Malwa by K. P.
Jaiswal in the Modern Review for June, 1932 A.D.
Sanskrit.
33. The Eklinga Mahatmya.
A Sanskrit poem written during the time of Maha-
rana Kumbha, who wrote a part of it. The Chapter
headed Rajvarnana Adhyaya, contains verses from
various old inscriptions giving the geneology of the
Rulers of Mewar. (Unpublished).
34. Rasik Priya, (Nirnaya Sagar Press, Bombay.)
It is a commentary by Maharana Kumbha on Jaideva's
celebrated lyric poem, Gita Govind. It contains a short
account of Maharana Kumbha and his predecessors.
Hindi.
35. Barva Devidan's Bahi. (Unpublished).
It is a record kept by the State geneologist of the
geneologies of the kings of Mewar and contains
various matters of historical importance.
36. “ Aitihasik Baton Ka Sangrah ” by Kaviraj
Bankey Das. (Unpublished).
It is a miscellaneous record of historical events and

Maharana Kumbha. xvi
interesting incidents of the lives of various historical
personages, Hindus, Muslims, Marhattas. Kaviraj
Bankey Das was the Court poet of Maharaja Man
Singh of Marwar, and lived in Jodhpur in the 19th
century. It is a most valuable collection of miscella-
neous historical information in the Marwari language.
37. Mehta Nainsi's Khyat (Chronicles).
Mehta Nainsi was the Prime Minister of Maharaja
Jaswant Singh I of Jodhpur. The book contains very
valuable historical information about the various States
of Rajputana and other parts of India, such as Bundel-
khand, Rewa, Kathiawar, Cutch, etc. It was written
in the old Marwari language between A. D. 1648 and
1664. A Hindi rendering of it is being published by
the Nagri Pracharini Sabha, Benares.
38. Vir Vinod, by M. M. Kaviraja Shamal Das.
It gives an exhaustive account of the history of
Mewar, and brief histories of the other States of
Rajputana, Kathiawar and other parts of India, and of
the Sultans of Malwa, Gujrat, etc., and the Moghal
Emperors of Delhi. It was written under the orders
of Maharana Sajjan Singh of Mewar (A. D. 1874 to
A. D. 1884). It was printed in two parts containing
about 3000 pages quarto. It is not published.
39. Prachin Lekh Sangrah, by Muni Jin Vijai.
It is a collection of Jain inscriptions found in
Rajputana, Gujrat and other places, and was printed at
Bhavanagar in A. D. 1921.

xvii BIBLIOGRAPHY
40. Jodhpur Khyat or Marwar Khyat (Unpublished).
It is a history of the Jodhpur State in the
Marwari language compiled during the reign of Maha-
raja Man Singh (A. D. 1803-43).
41. Udaipur ka Itihas, (History of Udaipur) by
Mahamahopadhyaya Pandit Gauri Shankar Ojha.
42. Sirohi ka Itihas, (History of Sirohi) by Maha-
mahopadhyaya Pandit Gauri Shankar Ojha.
43. Maharana Yash Prakash, by Thakur Bhur
Singh of Malsisar (Jaipur).
It is a collection of old poems eulogising the deeds of
the various Maharanas of Mewar, with Hindi translations.
44. Devakulapataka, by Vijayadharmsuri.
It is a collection of Jain inscriptions found in the
various temples at Delwara in the Udaipur State.
45. Nagri Pracharni Patrika, New series, Benares.
A quarterly journal of historical and literary research,
published by the Nagri Pracharini Sabha of Benares.
Persian.
46. The Mirati Sikandari.
A History of Gujrat by Sikandar bin Muhammad,
written in 1611 A.D. (See Bayley's History of Gujrat.)
47. Tarikhi Alfi by Maulana Ahmad and others.
(See Elliot's History of India, Vol. V, p. 150.)
48. Akbarnama by Abul Fazal.
49. Wakiati Mushtaqi by Rizaqulla Mushtaki. See
Elliot's History of India, Vol. IV, p. 532.

Maharana Kumbha. xviii
INSCRIPTIONS.

1. The (Chitor) Samiddeshwar (Mokalji) Temple
   Inscription of Magh Sud 3, V.S. 1485 (A.D. 1429). It
   is published in the Epigraphia Indica, Vol. II, p. 410,
   and also in the Bhavanagar Inscriptions, p. 96.
   It is a long inscription containing 80 Sanskrit verses.
   It records the erection (renovation) of the temple of
   Samiddeshwar, and mentions the names of the Guhil
   rulers of Mewar from Ari Singh to Mokal, and says
   that Maharana Lakha freed the holy place Gaya, from
   the distress brought upon it by the Muhammadans. His
   son Mokal defeated Feroz Khan of Nagor, and built
   the temple of Vishnu and excavated a tank near it.
2. The Eklingji Temple Inscription of Chait Sud
   10, S. 1545 (A.D.1489). It is published in the Bhava-
   nagar Inscriptions, p. 117.
   This also is a long inscription containing 100.
   Sanskrit verses. It records the various gifts of villages for
   the maintenance of the temple, and mentions the
   wars waged by Maharanas Mokal, Kumbha and Rai Mal
   with the Muslim Kings of Delhi and Gujrat. The
   writer, Maheshwar, was Poet Leaurate of Mewar
   in Maharana Rai Mal’s time.
3. The Shringirishi Inscription of Sawan Sud 5, S.
   1485 (A.D. 1428). (Unpublished). It was engraved on
   a slab built into a wall at Shringirishi about 6 miles
   from Udaipur. The slab broke into 6 pieces, 3 of which
   are missing. A summary of it is given in the Report
   of the Rajputana Museum, Ajmer, for 1924-25 A.D.

xix BIBLIOGRAPHY
It records that Rana Hammir took Chelakhyapur
(Jilwara) from the Bhils. He killed Jaitreshwar
(Jaitsi of Idar) and burnt the town of Prahladandpur
(Palanpur in Gujrat). His son Kshetra Singh defeated
Ami Shah (of Malwa) and took Mandalgarh from his
enemies. Mokal defeated Feroz Khan (of Nagor) and
got himself weighed against gold and silver 25 times,
once in the Adi Varah temple in Pushkar. It also
mentions that Mokal erected a rampart round the
temple of Eklingji, with 3 gates, and constructed a
well at Shringirishi for the spiritual welfare of his
wife, Gaurambika of the Baghel family.
(All the verses from the 3 Inscriptions described
above—the Samiddheshwar Temple Inscription, the
Eklingji Temple Inscription and the Shringirishi
Inscriptions—to which references have been made in
this book, are given in original in the Appendix.)
4. Goganda Seetlamata Temple Inscription of
Ashadh Bad 13, V.S. 1423 (A.D. 1366). (Unpublished).
It records the construction of a temple during the reign
of Rana Kshetra Singh.
5. An Inscription in the baodi (stepped wall) at
Ghosundi, near Chitor, of Baisakh Sud 3, V. S. 1561
(A.D. 1504). It is published in the Journal of the Bengal
Asiatic Society, Vol. LVI, part I, p. 79. It records the
construction of a baodi by Shringar Devi, daughter of
king Jodha of Marwar and wife of Maharana Rai
Mal, son of Maharana Kumbhakarna.
6. Jawar Inscription of the Temple of Ramaswami,

Maharana Kumbha. xx
dated Chaitra Sud 7th, V. S. 1554 (A. D. 1497).
(Unpublished.) The Inscription is engraved on a stone
slab built into a niche in a Kund (water reservoir)
near the temple of Ramaswami. It is in 3 pieces and
contains 40 verses. It states that the temple of
Ramaswami and Ramakund were built by Ramabai,
daughter of Maharana Kumbhakarna, and wife of Raja
Mandlik of Sorath, at Jawar. See Rajputana Museum
Report for 1924-25 A.D.
7. Kot Solankian Inscription of Ashadha Sud 3,
V. S. 1475 (A. D. 1419) published in the Journal of
the Bengal Asiatic Society, Vol. XII, p. 115. It
records that during the reign of Rana Lakha, the
Mandap of the Paraswanath Temple was repaired
by Saha Kadua and members of his family.
8. Jawar Shantinath Temple Inscription, dated Pos
Sud 6, V. S. 1478 (A. D. 1421) engraved on a lintel
of the temple. It is published in Prachin Jain Lekh
Sangrah, Vol. II, p. 22, by Muni Jin Vijaya. A
summary of it is given in the Report of the Rajputana
Museum for 1924-1925, p. 3. It records that the
temple of Shantinath was erected by the descendants
of Saha Nana of the Pragvat (Porvad) family.
9. The Rāja Prashasti, dated Magh Sud 15, S. 1732
(A.D. 1676).
It is an epic poem in 24 cantos, engraved on 25
slabs, each slab containing a canto, and a prelimi-
nary slab containing laudatory verses. The slabs are
fixed in the niches of the embankment of the Lake

xxi BIBLIOGRAPHY
Raj Samudra constructed by Maharana Raj Singh
(A. D. 1652-1680.) A short summary of it is pub-
lished in the Report of the Rajputana Museum, Ajmer
for 1917-18 A. D., pp. 2-3.
It describes the history of the family of the Maha-
ranas, and says that the construction of the lake Raj
Samudra was begun in 1665 A. D. and finished in
1676 A. D. It mentions that Bappa conquered Chitor
from the Mori king Man and adopted the title of Rawal.
His descendant Rawal Karan son of Rahap, defeated
Mokalsi of Mandor and adopted his title of Rana, and
took up residence at Chitor. It describes the wars
waged by Maharanas Kumbha, Sanga, and Pratap.
It mentions a curious incident of a Bhat (bard).
Maharana Pratap had given a turban to a Bhat who,
when he went to Akbar's Darbar, took the turban off
and held it in his hand when bowing. In explanation
of this insult to the Emperor, he said that the turban
was of the unconquered Pratap.
It describes how peace was concluded after the
war between Emperor Jahangir and Maharana Amar
Singh. The inscription mentions that prince Khurrum
(later Shah Jahan) under orders from Jahangir, came
to Rana Amar Singh to have a friendly talk, and
that the prince then concluded a treaty of peace.
Maharana Raj Singh's conquests of Ajmer, Sambhar,
Shahpura, Jahazpur, Ranthambhor, Bayana, Toda,
Lalsote, Tonk, Malpura and other places are mentioned.
The conquest of Sirohi and the Maharana's marriage

Maharana Kumbha. xxii
with the daughter of the Raja of Kishengarh who had
been previously betrothed to Emperor Aurangzeb are
then described. Further on, a description of the lake, its
construction, its measurements, and other things are
given. A full account of the visits of the Maharaja
of Jodhpur, Jaipur, Bikaner, Jaisalmer, Bundi, Rewa
and others who came as guests at the consecration
ceremony, which cost 7 lakh, is then given. Aurangzeb's
invasion of Mewar is described. The inscription
describes the sack of Badnagar, Ahmadnagar, Begam-
pur and Bhangora by the Maharana, and the defeat
of the Imperial army under Prince Akbar at the
hands of Maharana's heir apparant Kunwar Jai Singh.
The inscription mentions that prince Bhim Singh
destroyed one big and thirty small mosques at Ahmeda-
bad. It gives an account of the overtures of peace
made by Emperor Aurangzeb, and describes how
peace was actually made with an exchange of precious
ceremonial gifts.
10. An inscription in Hinglu Vava, near Amberi,
7 miles from Udaipur, of the time of Rana Mokal of Mewar.
It is engraved on a large slab containing 35 lines. The
upper right-hand portion of the inscription is broken
off. It is dated the 5th day of the bright half of
Jyeshtha, Samvat 1487 (16 May, 1431 A.D.) and Shaka
1352. It gives an account of the family of Surpala,
a Gauda Brahman of Hariyana and his descendants,
one of whom, Vidyadhar, built a well in Maharana
Mokal's time. The inscription has now been removed
to Udaipur.

xxiii BIBLIOGRAPHY
11. A Copper Plate Inscription of V.S. 1462 (A.D.
1405) in the possession of Champalal suthar (architect)
at Udaipur. It states that the architect Mandana had
been especially called from Gujrat by Maharana Mokal.
INSCRIPTIONS OF MAHARANA KUMBHA'S TIME.
(These inscriptions are fully described in Chapter XV
of this book, pp 167-187.)
12. An inscription, dated Kartik Sud 2, V. S 1491
(A. D. 1434) with Yati Khemsagar in the village
Delwara (Udaipur State). See p. 170.
13. A copper plate inscription, dated Asadh Vad Ama-
vasya, V S. 1494 (A.D. 1437) found in the village Nandia,
now kept in the Rajputana Museum, Ajmer. See p. 170.
14. An inscription dated Magh Sud 11, V. S.
1494 (A. D. 1437) on the image of Shantinath in
the temple of Adabadanathji in the town of Nagda.
See pp. 170-71.
15. Ranpur Temple Inscription of A.D. 1439. See
p. 171. The complete text of this inscription is
published in the Appendix.
16. An inscription, dated Magh Sud 5, V. S. 1500
(25 January, A. D. 1444) fixed in a wall in a temple
near the village of Kadiyān. See p. 173.
17. Rupaheli Inscription, dated Asadh Bad 1st, V.S.
1505 (A. D. 1448) in a Jain temple. See p. 174.
18-21. Four Inscriptions, dated Magsar Sud 15th,
V. S. 1505 (A.D. 1448) on the images of Shridhara,

Maharana Kumbha. xxiv
Krishna Rukmani, Rama Lakshman and Madhava Tulsi,
in the Chitor Kumbhaswami temple. See p. 174.
22. Singar Chanvri Inscription at Chitor, dated
A.D. 1448). See p. 175.
23. Abu Dilwara Temple Inscription, dated Asadh
Sud 2, V. S. 1506 (A. D. 1849) See p. 175.
24. An Inscription on a perforated stone window in
the second story of the Kirtisthambha at Chitor, dated
Phagun Sud 5, V.S. 1499 (A.D. 1443). See p. 176.
25. Vasantgarh Jain Temple Inscription, dated
Magh Sud 11, V. S. 1507 (A. D. 1450). See p. 176.
26-29. Four Inscriptions on images in Kumbhalgarh,
dated Asoj Sud 3rd, V. S. 1516 (A.D. 1459). See p. 177.
30. The Kumbhalgarh Inscription, dated Magsar
Bad 5, V. S. 1517 (A. D. 1460) found in the Mama-
deva Temple, now kept in the Udaipur Museum. See
pp. 177-181.
31. The Chitor Kirtisthambha Inscription, dated
Magsar Bad 5th, V.S. 1517 (A.D. 1460) See pp. 181-186.
(The verses of the above two inscriptions—the
Kumbhalgarh and the Kirtisthambha inscriptions—to
which references have been made in the book are quoted
in original in the Appendix, pp. 205-224.)
32. The Second Kumbhalgarh Inscription dated
Magsar Bad 5th, V. S. 1517 (A.D. 1460). See p. 186.
33. Achalgarh Jain Temple Inscription, dated
Vaisakh Sud 4th, S. 1518 (A. D. 1461). See p. 187.

FOREWORD.
The first edition of this book was published in
1917 A.D. The present work is practically a new book:
many new chapters have been added, and old chapters
have been re-written and enlarged.
The accounts of the life and times of Maharana
Kumbhakarana of Mewar and his immediate predeces-
sors given in this book, are based principally on old ins-
criptions and contemporary records.
The more important of the inscriptions of Maharana
Kumbha's time are described in Chapter XV; but
for facility of reference, I have given in the Appendix
(pp. 205-224) the full text of the Ranpur Chaumukha
Temple Inscription, and all portions of (a) the Kumbhal-
garh, (b) the Chitorgah Kirtisthambha, (c) the Shringi-
rishi, (d) the Eklingji Temple and (e) the Samiddeshwar
Temple Inscriptions, and (f) the Eklinga Mahatmya,
to which references have been made in the various
chapters of the book. Many of these are being published
for the first time.
In writing this book, I have left untapped no source
of information available at the present time. I have
examined, in the light of inscriptions, coins and contem-
porary records, the accounts given in the Persian and
Hindi histories of the events that occurred during the
period with which the book deals. The following pages
give an accurate account of the life of Maharana
Kumbha as disclosed by these sources of information.

Maharana Kumbha. xxvi
Colonel James Tod's monumental work, The Annals
and Antiquities of Rajasthan, published in 1829-32 A.D.,
was written at a time when the history of Rajputana
was practically a sealed book to the public. A century
has since passed, yet such are the intrinsic merits of
"that wonderful work," that it still remains the chief
source in the English language, to which a student of
Rajput history has to turn for enlightenment and know-
ledge. It is a book which should be read by every one
who belongs to Rajputana or who has Rajput blood in
his veins. It should be taught to the students of the
Mayo College, Ajmer, and in schools in the Rajput
States. Copies of it should be freely given as prize books.
Rajputana has produced several remarkable men,
who, by their character and achievements, have made the
name Rajput, a synonym of chivalry and heroism, and
the history of this province the brightest page in the
history of Mediæval India. Their heroic lives and
chivalrous deeds are a source of perennial inspiration
and interest to Indians.
My sincere obligations are due to Mahamahopadhyaya
Pandit Gauri Shankar Ojha, whose unique knowledge of
Indian History and vast collection of epigraphic finds
have always been available to me. I have received most
valuable assistance from him in preparing the Appendix.
The illustration of Maharana Kumbha which appears
as Frontispiece to this book is from a photographic copy
of an old portrait taken away from Mewar and deposi-
ted in the British Museum, London.
AJMER,
1st October, 1932. HAR BILAS SARDA.

CHAPTER I.
———
THE GUHILOT FAMILY OF MEWAR.
MAHARANA KUMBHAKARANA or Kumbhá, as
he is popularly called, was one of the greatest
of the sovereigns who have ruled in Rajputana.
The Surya Vamsha is the most famous of
the ruling families of India, and the most
celebrated of its many branches is the Guhilot
family, which has ruled Mewar without a
break for nearly fourteen centuries. It has
produced some of the greatest and most
powerful kings that have made the name of
Rajputana resplendent in the annals of India.
Inspired by the highest patriotism, ever up-
holding Dharma though surrounded by power-
ful foes and faced with almost insuperable
difficulties, enduring without flinching untold
suffering, and overcoming all by a self-sacri-
fice and heroism which have wrung the
highest praise from their bitterest foes, they
have made the pages of history a continuous
record of high inspiration and noble purpose.
1

Maharana Kumbha.
Their immortal deeds, their chivalrous charac-
ter, their high ideals, their elevated and noble
patriotism have placed them at the head of the
Hindu nation and earned for them the title of
Hindua Suraj, "the Sun of the Hindus."
"It has rarely occurred in any country,"
says Col. Tod, "to have possessed successively
so many energetic princes as ruled Mewar
through several centuries."¹ Jaitra Singh,
Hammir, Kumbhá, Sángá, Pratáp, Ráj Singh
are names that will shine bright throughout the
ages, and will be revered so long as chivalry
is not despised, patriotism not discarded, and
valour not condemned.
Maharana Kumbha ascended the throne
of Mewar² in A.D. 1433 in the renowned
fortress of Chitor, and ruled till A.D. 1468, a
period of nearly 35 years, which is one of the
most prosperous and important in the history
¹ Tod's Annals and Antiquities of Rajasthan, Vol. I,
p. 286.
² Colonel Tod, in his Annals and Antiquities of Rajas-
than, Vol. I, p. 286, gives S. 1475 (A.D. 1419) as the year of
Kumbha's accession to the throne. This is incorrect. The
Chitor Samiddheshwar Temple Inscription of Mágh Sud 3rd,
S. 1485 (A.D 1429) says that Maharana Mokal renovated that
temple in 1429 A.D. See Infra p. 13. Barva Devidan's bahi
gives 1433 A.D. as the year of Kumbha's accession to the
throne.
2