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

Maharana Kumbha.

Simh as the conqueror of Sultān Allauddin
(Khilji) and the Chauhān king Kituka, and Rana
Lakhshman Simh as the vanquisher of the
king of Mālava (Malwa). Of Maharana
Kumbhakaran, the inscription says:—
“The lion of the forest, viz., (his) family,
the king Rana Sri-Kumbhakarna, who had
demonstrated the pride of the effulgence of a
conqueror by seizing, in mere play, the several
great fortresses (such as those) of the very
inaccessible and impregnable Saramgapura,
Nāgapura, Gagarana, Naranaka, Ajayameru,
Mandora, Mandalakara, Bundi, Khatoo, Chata-
soo, Jana, and others; who was like the lord
of elephants, being exalted by his own bhuja
(arms) and having acquired many bhadras
(auspicious qualities, or elephants of a
particular class); who was the lord of birds
i. e. Garuda, in having destroyed hoards of
snakelike Mlechchha kings, whose foot-lotus
was caressed by the rows of the foreheads
of the kings of various countries, whose
obstinate resistence was baffled by his terrible
staff-like arm; who was a Govinda for his
amorous dalliance with the faithful and love-
ly Lakshmi (goddess of sovereignty or the

172

Maharana Kumbha.
goddess Lakshmi); by the spreading of whose
valour, which acted like wild fire to burn the
thicket of bad polity, droves of beasts, viz.,
all the powerful hostile kings, were fleeing
away; whose title as the Hindu Sultān was
proclaimed by the umbrella of royalty given
(him) by the Sultans protecting Gurjaratra and
the territory of Dhilli which were occupied
by his great exploits; (who was) the asylum
of the sacrifice of gold; who was the suppor-
ter of the duties (enjoined) in the six systems
of philosophy; who was the ocean to
the river, viz., his quadripartite army;
who imitated Sri-Rama, Yudhishthira, and
other kings by his fame, virtue, protection
of his subjects, truthfulness and other
qualities."
5. A big stone inscription of Māgh Sud 5,
V. S. 1500 (25th January, A. D. 1444), fixed
in a wall in a temple of Krishna on a hill
near the village of Kadiyān about 15 miles
from Udaipur. It records that during the
reign of Maharana Kumbhā, a Brahmin named
Tilla Bhatta built the temple of Krishna.
Tilla Bhatta is stated to have belonged to the
173

Maharana Kumbha.
Bharadwaja Gotra and his two predecessors
were Sihad and Villa Bhatta. Tilla Bhatta had
received honours from Maharana Kumbha.
(Unpublished).
6. Rupāhéli Inscription.—An inscrip-
tion engraved on the back of a Jain image in
the Jain temple at Rupāheli (Mewar). It is
dated the 1st day of the dark half of Ashādha,
Samvat 1505 (A.D. 1448) and records that the
image was set up by Sā (Saha) Sāliga, his wife
Hānsū, their son Narasinha, his wife Jivani,
their son Israna and his wife Lisi; all belong-
ing to the Ukesa (Oswāl) family and Malya
Gotra. See Report of the Rajputana Museum,
Ajmer, for A.D. 1926, p. 2.
7. Four inscriptions dated the full moon
day of the bright half of Mārga (Margasirsha),
Sam. 1505 (A.D. 1448) recording the installa-
tion of the images of Sridhara, Krishna-Rukmini,
Rama-Lakhmana and Madhava-Tulasi by
Maharana Kumbhakarna of Mewar. The
inscriptions are engraved on the pedestals of
the images which are placed in the niches
of the Mandapa of the temple of Kumbha-
174

Maharana Kumbha.
svami at Chitor. Vide, The Rajputana Mu-
seum Report for 1917-18, p. 2.
8. An Inscription engraved on a pillar
in the temple, known as Singār Chanvri
at Chitor. It is dated Samvat 1505 (A.D.
1448). It refers to "the time of Rana Kumbha-
karna (Kumbha), son of Rana Mokal, son of
Rana Lakha." It records the erection of a
temple of the Jain Tirthankara Santinatha by
Bhandāri Velaka, son of Saha Kelha, the
treasurer of Rana Kumbhakarna (Kumbha).
It mentions Velaka's wives Vilhanadē and
Ratnadē, and his sons Mundharaja, Dhanaraja
and Kumarapala. The consecration was per-
formed by Jinasenasuri of the Kharatara-
gachchha. It also mentions the names of the
Jain pontiffs Jinaraja, Jinavardhana, Jina-
chandra, Jinasagara and Jinasundarasuri in
order of succession. Pandit Udayasilagani is
also mentioned as paying his obeisance. See
Rajputana Museum Report for 1920-21, p. 5.
9. Inscription of Asādh Sud 2, S. 1506
(A.D. 1449) engraved on a pillar in the court-
yard between the famous temples of Vimal Shah
and Tejpāl at Abu. It records the abolition,
175

Maharana Kumbha.
at the request of the Maharana's minister Dunger
Bhoja, of the Pilgrim tax, Customs, Valhavi
(armed escort) and Chaukidari and Cattle taxes
levied in Abu in those days. This inscription
is published in the Nāgari Prachāriṇī
Patrikā, New Series, Vol. I, p. 450-51.
10. An inscription on a perforated stone
window in the second storey of the Kirti-
sthambhā (Tower of Victory) of Maharana
Kumbha at Chitor. It is dated the 5th day of
the bright half of Phālguna, Samvat 1499
(A.D. 1443). It belongs to the reign of
Maharajadhiraja Maharana Kumbhakarna
(Kumbha) and records the offering of obeisance
to god Samiddhesva (Samiddhesvara) by
Sūtradhara (architect) Ja-i-ta (Jaita) and his
two sons Nāpā and Punjā. (Unpublished).
11. An inscription engraved on the
pedestal of a Jain image lying in the Jain
temple at Vasantgarh in the Sirohi State.
The inscription is greatly defaced. It is of
the reign of Maharana Kumbhakarna of Mewar
and is dated Wednesday, the 11th day of the
bright half of Māgh, Samvat 1507 (A.D. 1450).
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Maharana Kumbha.
It states that the image was set up in the
Vasantpura Chaitya (temple) by Bhadaka, son
of Dhansi and others, and was consecrated by
Muni Sundersuri. Vide, Rajputana Museum
Report for 1924, pp. 3-4.
12-15. Four inscriptions engraved on the
pedestals of the images of Vasudeva, Damodar
etc. in Kumbhalgarh, all dated Asoj Sud 3rd,
S. 1516 (A.D. 1459) recording the erection of
the images of Vasudeva etc. by Maharana
Kumbha. All these inscriptions are deposited
in the Udaipur Museum.
16. The famous Kumbhalgarh inscription
of Magsar Bad 5, V. S. 1517 (A.D. 1460) in
the Mamādeva (Kumbhasvami) temple. This
inscription was engraved on five big slabs, of
which the first, third and fourth slabs and a
small part of the second, are deposited in the
Victoria Hall Museum at Udaipur. The
fifth and the greater part of the second slab
have disappeared. The first slab contains 64
slokas, and gives an account of the temples,
lakes and sacred places of Mewar. The third
gives the traditional accounts of Bappa Rawal
and others. Sloka 138 says: "An account
177

Maharana Kumbha.
of Rājvamsa (Rulers of Mewar) based on
several inscriptions is here given." It gives
an account of the geneology of the kings of
Mewar from Guhil to Rāwal Ratna Singh and
an account of Lakhshman Singh of Sisodā.
The fourth slab records that Maharana
Lakhamsi went to Heaven with his seven sons,
while fighting with the Mussalmāns (Allāuddin
Khilji) In his family was born Arisimha who
was like Narasimha and pierced the temples of
the elephants of his enemies with his sword.
He (Arisimha) was succeeded by his son Ham-
mira, who was very liberal and brave. He
conquered the fortress called Chelvāta
(Jilwara.) He was succeeded by his son
Kshetrasimha, who defeated the army of the
Yavanas near Chitor. He defeated Dafar Khān
(Zafar Khān), the lord of Pattan (Pātan i. e.
Gujrat), Ami Shah (Dilawar Khān Ghori of
Malwa, vide, Memoirs of Jehangir by Alexan-
der Rogers, Vol. I, page 407, and Elliot's
History of India, Vol. IV, page 552) and
imprisoned Ranamalla (Raja of Idar). He
conquered the rulers of Hādāvati (Hāravati),
brought their country under his control and
178

Maharana Kumbha.
destroyed their fortress of Mandalakara
(Māndalagarh). He also defeated the ruler
of Malwa several times and imprisoned the
rulers of Gujarāt. His son was Lakshasena
(Lakhamansimha, Lākhā), who weighed himself
against gold and liberated Tristhali (Kāsi,
Prayāga and Gayā) from the Sakas
(Musalmans). He defeated the Medas (Mers)
and took from them the mountain Vardhana
(fortress of Badnor). His son was Mokalendra,
who made those Brahmans, who had become
cultivators, study Vedas, and weighed himself
against gold. He conquered the whole
country of Sapādalaksha and took Sākamabhari
(Sāmbhar). He defeated Peroz (Firoz Khan
of Nagor), Muhammad (Ahmad Shāh of
Gujarat) and destroyed their elephants. He
repaired the temple of Samiddhesvara at Chitor
and also built the holy places known as
Ranamochana, Pāpamochana and a beautiful
reservoir. He set up in the temple of devi,
a lion made of all the metals and presented
a gold Garuda (eagle) to the temple of Vishnu.
His son was Kumbhakarna, whose mother was
Sobhagyadevi. He rebuilt the ruined temple
of Eklinga and adorned it with golden
179

Maharana Kumbha.
kalasas. He was clever in composing poems
and fearless in battles. He was a jewel of
the family of Guhadatta, Khomana, Śalivā-
hana, Ajaya, Kshetra, Laksha and Mokal.
He subjugated the ruler of the town called
Nāradiya, conquered Yoginipura, (Jāwar),
humbled the pride of the ruler of Sodhyā and
took possession of Mandovara (Mandor). He
captured Hammirapur from Ranavira, des-
troyed Dhānyanagara and conquered Yagapura
(Jahazpur). He placed his left foot on the
head of the brave lord of Mālava (Malwa) and
took Janakāchal. He defeated the ruler of
Vrindavati (Bundi), burnt his town and
captured the fortress of Gargarata (Gagroon).
He burnt Mallaranyapur (Malarna), wrested
Simhapuri (Sihor), destroyed Ratnapura and
imprisoned several rulers. He overran the
country of Sapadalaksha, conquered Rana-
sthambha (Ranthambhor), Amradadri (Amber),
Kotra and Bombaovada, and captured the
fortress of Mandalgarh. He conquered
several countries and fortresses, subjugated the
rulers of Haravati and exacted tribute from
them. He devastated Visalanagara, conquered
180

Maharana Kumbha.
Giripura (Dungarpur) and put its ruler
Gayapāla to flight. He humbled the pride
of the Muhammadans at Sārangapur and
imprisoned several young women of the Lord
of Pārasikas (Muhammadans).
The unfortunate loss of the fifth slab
renders the account of Maharana Kumbha
incomplete. The fact that some of the slokas
are common to this and the Chitor Kirtistham-
bha Inscription (no. 14 below), as also the
fact that both bear the same date, show that
both of them were composed by the same poet.
This inscription gives a more detailed account
of Kumbha, while the Chitor Kīrtisthambha
Inscription is brief. These two are the most
important of all inscriptions of Kumbha's
time.
17. The Chitor Kīrtisthambha (Tower of
Victory) Inscription of Magsar Bad 5th, S.
1517 (A. D. 1460). It was engraved on
several stone slabs, of which only two are
now in existence, first and the last but one,
containing slokas 1 to 28 and 168 to 187
respectively. A photo transcript of these
181

Maharana Kumbha.
two slabs is published in Cunningham's
Archæological Survey Report, Vol. 23, Plates
20 and 21. Several more slabs were in exis-
tence in A.D. 1678, when a Pundit copied the
inscription engraved on them, in a book of 22
leaves on Fagan Bad 7th, S. 1735 (A.D. 1678).
This copy is in Mahamahopadhyaya P. Gauri
Shankar's possession. The first two verses
are devoted to the praise of Siva and Ganesa.
The description of the family of Bappa
commences from verse 3. Verses 4—8 are
devoted to Bappa who is said to have been
a great warrior, a leader of the princes and a
devotee of Siva. In his family was born,
Hammir who destroyed his enemies. He was
very liberal and was called Vishamdhāti Pan-
chānana (a lion in vigorous attacks). He
captured his enemy's fortress Chelvāta (Jilwārā)
(verses 9—20). His son was Kshetrasinha who
destroyed the army of the Yavanas (Ami
Shāh, alias Dilāwar Khān Ghori of Mālwā)
near Chitor and imprisoned Ranamalla of Idar
(verses 21—29). His son was Lakshasinh
who liberated Gayā from the Muhammadans.
He weighed himself against gold and captured
Vardhamanagiri (Badnor) from the Mevas
182

Maharana Kumbha.
(Mers; verses 30—39). His son was Mokal
(V. 40).
After this, 193 verses are devoted to the
description of Rana Kumbhakarna's reign
and the number of the verses again begins
with one.
Rana Kumbha brought the image of Hanu-
mana from Māndavyapura (Mandor) and
established it in the fortress of Kumbhalgarh.
He exacted tribute from the country of
Sapādalaksha (Sāmbhar) and brought from
there the image of Umā. He levied taxes
from the salt mines at Dindvana (Didwana in
Jodhpur State), took the town of Naraina
(in Jaipur State) and conquered the whole
kingdom of Mudafar (Muzaffar Shah). He re-
populated the town of Vasantapur near the
holy fountain of Vasishtha (i.e., Mt. Abu) and
built there seven tanks. He built to the east
of the temple of Eklinga, a Mandapa known
as Kumbhamandapa. He with his cavalry
attacked Gokarnagiri and the kingdom of
Arbuda (Mt. Abu), on the peak of which
he built the fortress of Achaldurga (Achalgarh);
183

Maharana Kumbha.
he erected there the grand Vishnu temple of
Kumbhasvāmī, and near it, built a tank. This
crest-jewel of kings built four other tanks on
Mount Abu. He subjugated Muhammad,
destroyed the town of Nagapur (Nagor) with
the lofty mashiti (masjid), built by Peroz
(Firoz), imprisoned several young Muham-
madan women and took possession of the
treasure of Shams Khān while fighting in the
country of Jāngal. He laid waste Khandela
and erected the lofty temple of Kumbhaswami
at Chitor. Near it, he also erected another
temple of Adivarāha, dug a tank called
Ramakund, erected the lofty Kirtisthambha
and constructed a road for chariots from the
the bottom of the fort to its top. At Chitor,
he constructed Rāmarathyā (Rampol gate),
Hanumanagopura (Hanumanpol), Bhairav-
ankavisikha (Bhairavapol), Mahalakshmirathyā
(Mahalakshmipol), Chāmundapratoli (Chamun-
dapol), and Tararathya (Tarapol; VV. 1—42).
(Verses 43—124 were missing even at that time, A.D. 1678.)
He (Kumbhakarna) built Rājapratoli
(Rājpol=the palace gate) with an ornamental
Torana (V. 125). He built the fortress of
184

Maharana Kumbha.
Kumbhalmeru (Kumbhalgarh) with four gates
on the top of Vindya mountain, constructed
there the temple of Kumbhasvāmī in honour
of Vishnu, and near it, built a beautiful lake.
On the top of the fortress, he set up the
image of Ganēsa brought from one of his
enemies' fortresses. (VV. 126—146). He
was called Rājguru, Dānaguru, Śailaguru and
Paramaguru of Kings. He killed several
of his enemies to take revenge of his father's
death. He was versed in the four Vedas,
composed Sangītarāja, Sūdaprabandha and
four dramas. He wrote commentaries on
Chandīshataka and Gīta Govinda. He was the
head of poets, princes, and skilled in playing
on the lute (vīnā). In dramatic composition, he
was a Bharat and followed the rules of
Nandīkesvara, while composing poems in
praise of Siva. He destroyed the combined
armies of the lords of Mālwā and Gurjrat in
war and captured several elephants. He
assumed the titles, Asvapati, Gajapati and
Narapati. He was the son of Sobhāgyadevi,
and husband of Kumbhaladevi. He built a
new Visikhā (gate) on the 13th day of the
185

Maharana Kumbha.
dark half of Kārtika, Samvat 1507; Kumbhal-
meru on the 13th day of the dark half of
Chaitra, Samvat 1515; Kirtisthambha on the
10th day of the bright half of Māgha, Samvat
1505, and Achaldurga on the 15th day of
the bright half of Māgha, Samvat 1509.
(VV. 147—187).
In the family of Bhrigu was born
Somnāth. His son was Narahari whose son
was Kesáva also called Jhoting. Jhoting’s
son was Atri, who composed a part of the
Prasasti. His son Mahesh, who was highly
honoured by Kumbhakarna, completed the
Prasasti on Monday the 5th day of the dark
half of Mārgasirsha, Samvat 1517 (A.D. 1460).
18. The second Kumbhalgarh Inscription
of Magsar Bad 5, (Monday) V. S. 1517
(A.D. 1460). Of this inscription, the first
slab containing 64 slokas, alone remains; the
remaining slabs are lost. The first slab con-
tains a part of an account of Maharana
Kumbha. It says that the account is con-
tinued in subsequent slabs. The slab is in the
Museum at Udaipur. (Unpublished).
19. Inscription dated the Vaisakh Sud
186

Maharana Kumbha.
4th, V.S. 1518 (A.D. 1461) engraved on the
pedestal of the magnificent brass image of
Adinātha in the Achalgarh Jain temple at
Abu. It records that while Maharajadhiraja
Kumbhakaraṇa was ruling at Kumbhalmeru,
the image was made at Dungarpur during
the reign of Rāwal Somadāsa and brought to
Abu by the Sangha (community) of Tapa-
gachchha. It was set up by Sā Sābha, his
wife Karanādē and their sons Sālā and Mālā.
The consecration ceremony was performed by
Lakshmīsāgarasuri of Tapagachchha.
COINS.
Maharana Kumbhā struck gold, silver and
copper coins. Ferishta (Briggs' Translation,
Vol. IV, page 221) mentions gold coins of
Kumbhā. In the Mamādeva temple in the
fort of Kumbhalgarh, there is an image, of
the size of a man, of Kuvér, treasurer of the
gods, with two attendants pouring coins from
bags into plates. One plate is full of circular
coins and the other square ones, which shows
that Maharana Kumbha's coins were of two
varieties, circular and rectangular. The coins
that have come to light so far are only copper
187

Maharana Kumbha.
ones. They are of five kinds, all square or rec-
tangular in shape. The Obverse contains the
name of Maharana Kumbhakaran, and the Reverse
either Kumbhalmeru or Eklingji. The biggest
of them, has the year V.S. 1517 (A.D. 1460.)
OBVERSE. $\qquad$ REVERSE.
सामने की तरफ़ $\qquad$ दूसरी तरफ़
१ [OBVERSE:]
श्रीकुंभल
मेरु महा
▫️⮑ ➔
राणा श्री कुं
भकर्णस्य
[REVERSE:]
श्रीएकलिं
ग | श्री | स्य
प्र | | ला
दात १५१७
२ [OBVERSE:]
राणा श्री
कुं | श्री | भ
कर्णस्य
[REVERSE:]
श्रीकुंभ
लमेरु
▫️⮑ ➔
३ [OBVERSE:]
राणा श्री
कुंभकर्ण
[REVERSE:]
श्री कुंभ
लमेरु
४ [OBVERSE:]
राणा कुं-
भकर्ण
[REVERSE:]
श्री कुंभ
लमेरु
▫️⮑ ➔
५ [OBVERSE:]
कुंभ
कर्ण
[REVERSE:]
एक
लिंग
188

CHAPTER XVI.
————
KUMBHA AS A SOVEREIGN.
Of the various Rajput clans, who have
ruled or are ruling in Rajputana, only the
Chauhans, the Guhilots (Sisodias) and the
Rathods ever fought for the liberties of their
country and played prominent parts in the
history of Rajputana during the last 800 years.
And of these three, the Chauhans of Ajmer
alone achieved Imperial position, and became
supreme rulers of India during the twelfth
century of the Christian era. The Guhilots
(Sisodias), after the decline of the Chauhans,
achieved suzerain power in Rajputana and
enjoyed a position, achieved by no other
Rajput clan.
When the first Afghan invasion of India
took place in 1191 A.D., it was the Chauhan
Emperor Prithviraj who fought against the
invader Shahbuddin Ghori. And later, when
Babur invaded India, it was the Sisodia king,
Maharana Sānga of Mewar, who, as the most
189

Maharana Kumbha.
powerful king of his time in India, headed the
confederacy of the Rajput kings of Rajputana
and the Pathan Sultan of Delhi, and opposed
the Turk invader. Thus, the Chauhans as the
Imperial Power in India, and the Guhilot
Maharana of Chitor as the suzerain power in
Rajputana, led the opposition, when the
Afghans and the Turks first came to conquer
India.
The Rathods came to Rajputana in the
thirteenth century A D. and rapidly spread in
its western parts. They had several times to
fight against the Afghan Sultans and Turk
Emperors of Delhi in defence of their country,
and materially helped in bringing about the
fall of the Turk empire in India.
The Kachhwāhas of Jaipur were minor
chieftains till the middle of the sixteenth
century, and only came into prominence under
Raja Bhagvandas in Akbar's time. They were
the first amongst the Rajputs to accept Turk
suzerainty: and they never took up arms
against the Emperors of Delhi.
190

Maharana Kumbha.
While the Rathods, and sometimes the
Deoras (Chauhans) of Sirohi, fought against the
Turk emperors of Delhi, it was the Maharanas of
Mewar, who continually opposed the Turks,
never bowing their head to them. They
sacrificed their all to preserve their indepen-
dance and self respect. Maharana Kumbha was
not only one of the greatest of the Maharanas,
but was the real founder of the greatness of
Mewar.
Maharana Kumbha reigned from A.D. 1433
to A.D. 1468. The period marks the consolida-
tion of the power of Mewar, which under the
great Hindupati Maharana Sanga and the
immortal Pratap, shone so brilliantly in the
following century when the great adventurer
from Samarkand invaded India, and his grand-
son Akbar, the greatest of the Mughal emperors
of India, founded a magnificent empire in this
country. The period also marks the rise of the
Rathod Power, which later becoming famous
in history as the Lākh Talwar Rathodān,
played a prominent part in the foundation and
the consolidation of the Mughal empire during
the reigns of Akbar, Jahangir and Shah Jahan;
191