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

Rawat Chonda.

Maharana Kumbha.
her from her resolution saying that Mokal
was a child, and she, the Queen mother, must
watch over the welfare of the Rana. The
Queen had not expected this steadfast fidelity
from Chonda. She praised his unexampled
conduct and declared that he (Chonda) should
ever have the first place in the Council, and
no grant by the Rana should take effect till
it was confirmed by him. This is still main-
tained, and in all grants the lance of the
Salumbra still precedes the monogram of the
Rana."¹
This assignment of the first place in
the council and a recognition of the premier
position amongst the vassalage of Mewar,
became the cause of its ruin, when, in the 18th
century, the decendants of Chonda strenuously
worked to maintain the position thus assigned
to Chonda, but forgot the self sacrifice of
that great man, and proved incapable of
following in the footsteps of the illustrious
founder of their family, when their country
¹ In old days all grants were written in Sanskrit and
signed by the King. But Maharana Kumbha discontinued
signing grants. Henceforth instead of the signature, only
the word सही confirmed began to be written by the Maharana.
21

Maharana Kumbha.
had need of those qualities of head and heart,
which are so gloriously illustrated in the life
of Chonda.
Rana Lakhsh Singh died some time
between A.D. 1419 and A.D. 1421. A stone
inscription ¹ found in Kot Solankian in the
Godwar district of Marwar says that the
Paraswanath temple in the Asalpur fort was
renovated on Monday the Asar Sud 3rd,
S. 1475 (A.D. 1419) during the victorious
reign of Rana Laksh Singh. The earliest
inscription of the time of his son and succes-
sor Mokal, is dated the Pos Sud 6, S. 1478
(A.D. 1421). This shows that Rana Lakhsh
Singh died sometime after the year A.D.
1419 and before A.D. 1421, in which year
Mokal the youngest of Lakha's sons ², was
reigning in Mewar.
¹ Muni Jinvijaya's Prachin Jain Lekh Sangrah, part II.
p. 221, inscription No. 370. The Asar, S. 1475, of the Mewar
State Sambat corresponds with the Chaitra, S. 1476 of the
ordinary Vikrama era.
² Maharana Lakhsh Singh had nine sons, Chonda, Ragha-
vadeva, Ajja, Uda, Dula, Gajsingh, Dungersingh, Manda and
Mokal. Nainsi's Khyat, p. 25, omits Ajja.
22

CHAPTER III.
MAHARANA MOKAL.
As MOKAL, when he ascended the throne,
was very young, Chonda was at the head of
affairs in Mewar. His high character, love of
justice, and utter unselfishness made the admi-
nistration most efficient and won the admira-
tion and love of the people. The Queenmother
of Chitor, Hansbai, was young and in-
experienced, and interested parties began to
poison her ears. The intrigue developed, and
Hansbai became apprehensive because of the
predominant influence of Chonda. At last,
one day she sent for Chonda and said that
either he should leave Mewar, or some place be
fixed where she would retire with her minor
son Mokal. The chivalrous Chonda, who had
willingly renounced the throne of Chitor in
favour of Mokal, determined to leave Mewar
and told her that he was leaving Chitor
immediately and asked her to look carefully
after Mewar. Apprehensive of the designs
23

Maharana Kumbha.
of the unscrupulous people round the Queen-
mother, Chonda asked his younger brother
Rāghavadeva to watch over the young Maha-
rana, and himself went away with his brother
Ajja and others to Māndu, where the Sultan
received him with open arms and granted him
the district of Hallar as jagir.¹
After Chonda's departure, Ran Mal, the
brother of Hansbai, became her chief adviser
and the Rathods were given high offices and
jagirs in Mewar. But events occurred in
Mandor which sent Ran Mal back to Marwar.
On the death of Rao Chonda of Mandor in
1410 A.D., his son Kānha had succeeded him,
the eldest son Ran Mal having renounced his
claim to the throne in favour of Kanha in
deference to his father's wishes.
Kānha after ruling Marwar for some years
died without leaving a son. Kanha's eldest
brother Ran Mal was in Chitor and Satta and
Randhir, his other two elder brothers were in
Mandor. Randhir, the youngest of the 3
brothers, asked Satta what would be given to
Randhir if the latter put Satta on the throne
¹ Tod's Rajasthan, Vol. I, p. 278.
24

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Rao Ran Mal of Mandor.

Maharana Kumbha.
instead of Ran Mal, the eldest of them all.
Satta promised to give half the territory to
Randhir. Randhir placed Satta on the throne
himself getting half the estate. But he had
not counted with Narbad, the warlike son
of Satta, who did not like that half the income
of Marwar should go to Randhir. Narbad
determined to get rid of Randhir. Randhir's
son Napa soon died of poison, and one Dayal
having apprised Randhir of his impending
doom, Randhir repaired to Chitor and insti-
gated Ran Mal to claim his patrimony.¹
Both Satta and Ran Mal were maternal uncles
of the Maharana Mokal, but as Ran Mal
was the rightful successor of Kanha, the
Maharana expoused his cause and furnished
him with a large army, with which he invaded
Mandor, defeated Satta and recovered his
rightful inheritance. The Maharana called Satta
and Narbad to Chitor and bestowed a jagir
of a lakh of rupees with the town of Kāyalānā
on Narbad and enrolled him among his vassals.
Ran Mal thus began to reign in Mandor.²
¹ See Vir Vinod, p. 312.
² Mehta Nainsi in his Khyat (p. 25) says that after
recovering Mandor with the help of Maharana Mokal's
army, Ran Mal gave Mandor to his eldest son Jodha and
himself took up residence at Nagor.
25

Maharana Kumbha.
Mokal's short reign of about 13 years—he
came to the throne about the year 1420 A.D.
and was assassinated in 1433 A.D.—was full
of great events. He maintained the traditions
of the House by inflicting a defeat on
Muhammad Tughlaq, the king of Delhi, in
the field of Raipur. Maharana Mokal "overran
Sapādalaksha (Ajmer) territory and took
Sāmbhar from the Sultan of Delhi." The
Kumbhalgarh Inscription of the time of Maha-
rana Kumbha, dated Monday the 3rd of Novem-
ber, 1460 A.D., says that "the ruler of Jalor
(Jabalipur) trembled before him, and the King
of Delhi became anxious about his territory."
A principality subordinate to Gujrat had
been established at Nagor about 1404 A.D.
by Shams Khan, who was succeeded by his
son Firoz Khan. The Samiddheshwar Maha-
deva Temple Inscription of Magh Sud 3rd,
S. 1485 (A.D. 1429) says that "Maharana Mokal
invaded Nagor and defeated Sultan Firoz Khan.
Firoz Khan's two sons, Modood and Masti and
his numerous elephants were killed in the
battle." ¹ The Khan of Nagor accepted
¹ Mehta Nainsi's Khyat, p. 26, foot note.
26

[Header] Maharana Kumbhá.

Maharana Mokal's suzerainty, and in acknowledg-
ment of it used to send all colts born in Nagor
to the Maharana's stables at Chitor. ¹ The
Shringirishi Inscription of A.D. 1428
(V. S. 1485) says that Padshah Ahmad (of
Gujrat) was defeated by Mokal and had to flee
for his life, leaving his treasure behind. Also,
Kumbhalgarh Inscription of 1460 A.D. says
that both Firoz and Muhammad (Ahmad) were
defeated and had to flee for their lives. The
Eklingji Temple Inscription,² V. 44, of
1488 A.D., of the time of Maharana Raimal
says that Maharana Mokal obtained a victory
at Jahazpur over Firoz Khan.
Mokal rebuilt the great temple of Samidd-
heshwar Mahadeva³ near the "Tower of
Victory" at Chitor and made a grant of
Dhanpur for its upkeep; and gave the villages
of Bándanwara (now in the Ajmer District)
and Ramgaon (2 miles from Eklingji) for the
upkeep of the Eklingji temple. He construc-
¹ Kaviraj Bankey Das' Miscellany of Historical Records :
Record No. 943.
² Bhavanagar Inscriptions, p. 120.
³ This temple was originally built by Raja Bhoja, the
famous Paramra King of Dhar, and was called Tribhuvan Narain
Temple after Bhoja's surname, Tribhuvan Narain.
27

Maharana Kumbha.
Mokal’s short reign of about 13 years—he
came to the throne about the year 1420 A.D.
and was assassinated in 1433 A.D.—was full
of great events. He maintained the traditions
of the House by inflicting a defeat on
Muhammad Tughlaq, the king of Delhi, in
the field of Raipur. Maharana Mokal “overran
Sapādalaksha (Ajmer) territory and took
Sāmbhar from the Sultan of Delhi.” The
Kumbhalgarh Inscription of the time of Maha-
rana Kumbha, dated Monday the 3rd of Novem-
ber, 1460 A.D., says that “the ruler of Jalor
(Jabalipur) trembled before him, and the King
of Delhi became anxious about his territory.”
A principality subordinate to Gujrat had
been established at Nagor about 1404 A.D.
by Shams Khan, who was succeeded by his
son Firoz Khan. The Samiddheshwar Maha-
deva Temple Inscription of Magh Sud 3rd,
S. 1485 (A.D. 1429) says that “Maharana Mokal
invaded Nagor and defeated Sultan Firoz Khan.
Firoz Khan’s two sons, Modood and Masti and
his numerous elephants were killed in the
battle.” ¹ The Khan of Nagor accepted
¹ Mehta Naiusi’s Khyat, p. 26, foot note.
26

Maharana Kumbha.
Maharana Mokal's suzereinty, and in acknowledg-
ment of it used to send all colts born in Nagor
to the Maharana's stables at Chitor. ¹ The
Shringirishi Inscription of A.D. 1428
(V. S. 1485) says that Padshah Ahmad (of
Gujrat) was defeated by Mokal and had to flee
for his life, leaving his treasure behind. Also,
Kumbhalgarh Inscription of 1460 A.D. says
that both Firoz and Muhammad (Ahmad) were
defeated and had to flee for their lives. The
Eklingji Temple Inscription,² V. 44, of
1488 A.D., of the time of Maharana Raimal
says that Maharana Mokal obtained a victory
at Jahazpur over Firoz Khan.
Mokal rebuilt the great temple of Samidd-
heshwar Mahadeva³ near the "Tower of
Victory" at Chitor and made a grant of
Dhanpur for its upkeep; and gave the villages
of Bándanwara (now in the Ajmer District)
and Ramgaon (2 miles from Eklingji) for the
upkeep of the Eklingji temple. He construc-
¹ Kaviraj Bankey Das' Miscellany of Historical Records :
Record No. 943.
² Bhavanagar Inscriptions, p. 120.
³ This temple was originally built by Raja Bhoja, the
famous Paramra King of Dhar, and was called Tribhuvan Narain
Temple after Bhoja's surname, Tribhuvan Narain.
27

Maharana Kumdha.
ted a beautiful tank at Pāpamochana Tīrtha.¹
He also built the Dwarkanath temple at
Chitor with the tank attached to it.
“He overcame the Nishadas (Bhils) and
struck terror into the hearts of the Turushkas
(Muslims).” An inscription in the temple of
Mokalji at Chitor, v. 46, of S. 1485 (A.D. 1428)
published in the Epigraphia Indica, Vol. II,
p. 416, says: “He (Mokal) extirpatedthe Nishads
and conquered the Turushkas (Mussalmans).”
He went on pilgrimage to Dwarka and
Sankhoddhāra.²
Maharana Mokal built the high wall (Kot)
round the Eklingji temple³ with its three
gates. He constructed a tank in memory of
his Bagheli queen Gaurambika⁴ at Shringirishi
at Chitor, and the Baghela tank after the
name of his brother Bagh Singh,⁵ who had
died childless. Mokal gave 24 gold and
silver tuladán, a gold tuladan being given
in the Varāh Temple at Pushkar.⁶ He
¹ He presented a temple of Devi with an image of a lion
made of Sarvadhat (all the metals) and a temple of Vishnu
with a gold image of Garuda. Vide, Kumbhalgarh Inscription.
² Raja Prasasti, Canto IV.
³ and ⁴ Shringirishi Inscription, V. 16.
⁵ Kumbhalgarh Inscription of 1460 A.D. Also Raja Prasasti, Canto IV.
⁶ Kumbhalgarh Inscription of 1460 A.D.
28

Maharana Kumbha.
established a seminary to teach the Vedas¹ to
the Brahmins who had taken to agriculture.
In A.D. 1433, the Maharana left Chitor to
quell a revolt of the hill tribes in his
dominions. While he was encamped at
Madaria, a deputation came from the Chief of
Gagroon requesting immediate help in fulfil-
ment of a promise given by the Maharana at
the marriage of his daughter. Besides seven
sons, Mokal had a daughter named Lalbai,²
who had been married to Achal Singh, the
Kheechi Chief of Gagroon. Achal Singh had
at the Hathleva demanded and received from
the Maharana the pledge of succour on
invasion of his territory. As Sultan Hoshang
of Malwa, attacked Gagroon, Achal Singh sent
his son Dhiraj Singh to the Maharana demand-
ing fulfilment of his pledge. As the Maharana
was preparing to go towards Gágroon, news
arrived that Sultan Ahmad Shah of Gujrat had
passed through Dungerpur and had begun
to demolish temples in Jheelwara in Mewar.
Mokal started to drive the Sultan out of
¹ Kumbhalgarh Inscription of A.D. 1460.
² Kaviraj Bankeydas in his Miscellany gives her name as
Pushpawati.
29

Maharana Kumbha.
Mewar. The Vir Vinod says that in 1432
A.D., Ahmad Shah, the King of Gujrat
started with a large army on a conquering
expedition, and passing through Jheelwara
(part of Mewar) began to plunder the
country and break temples, and that the
Maharana hearing of this, started at once to
attack Ahmad Shah. He was, however, pre-
vented from going to Gagroon or driving out
the Sultan by an incident which cost the
Maharana his life, and which throws a lurid
light on the character of the Rajputs.
In the army of the Maharana there were
two natural sons of Rana Khshetra Singh by
a handsome girl named Karmān, daughter
of Mednimal carpenter—a class well known
for the physical beauty of their women.
They were named Chacha and Maira, and had
risen to be captains in the army of Maharana
Mokal. Some of the chiefs of Mewar, jealous
of their rise, wished to humiliate them and
had recourse to a trick which resulted in
the assassination of the Maharana.
One day while the Maharana was encamp-
ed at Madaria and was seated in a grove with
30

Maharana Kumbha.
his chiefs around him, he enquired the name
of a particular tree. Hārā Māldeva, feigning
ignorance whispered to him to ask either of
the brothers. Not perceiving the insinuation
involved in the question, Mokal turned to the
brothers and artlessly asked “Kakaji (uncle)
what tree is this ? ” The question reminded
them of their mother's origin and was taken
to be an insult.
They conspired to murder the Maharana,
and won over Mahipal Panwar popularly
called Mahpa and some other minor chiefs to
their cause. They however, failed to gain
over Malesi Dodiya,¹ brother of Shalji.
News of the conspiracy reached Ran Mal
and he warned the Maharana that an attempt
on his life was imminent. Sanwaldas, the
Raja of Idar, who had come with his army to
aid the Maharana in his attack on the King of
Gujrat came to know of the plot owing to his
intimacy with Chacha and warned Mokal,
but Mokal only laughed at the idea just as he
had taken no heed of Ran Mal's warning.
¹ Dodiya is the head of the guard at the entrance of a
palace.
31

Maharana Kumbha.
An occasion soon presented itself to the
traitors for carrying into execution their
nefarious design. One night while the Maha-
rana was encamped at Bāgor, the two traitors,
collecting a small force, surprised the Maharana
in his tents. The Maharana's attendants
prepared to defend him. Nine men stood
by the Maharana, five by his Queen Hadiji
and five by Malesi Dodiya, the gatekeeper of
the palace. The Maharana, Rani Hadiji and
Malesi defended themselves bravely but were
killed, not however, till they had slain 19
of the conspirators and wounded Chacha and
Mahpa. Seventy of the Maharana's men,
including Sanwaldas, were slain. The Maha-
rana's eldest son Kumbha escaped with
difficulty. Going to the house of a Patel
who owned two of the fleetest horses in
Mewar, he mounted one and killing the other
at the suggestion of the Patel to baffle
pursuit, escaped and reached Chitor. The
traitors, who were looking out for Kumbha,
were at the Patel's house soon after his
departure, but seeing one steed lying dead
and the other gone, they returned to their
tents. The traitors thence went to Chitor
32

Maharana Kumbha.
but finding the gates shut against them,¹
returned to Madaria and proclaimed Chacha as
Maharana of Mewar, Mahpa becoming his
Diwan. Finding however their position un-
tenable, they fled to the hills of Pai Kotra
with their families and throwing themselves
into the stronghold of Rātākot, fortified it.
Maharana Mokal left seven sons, Kumbha-
karan, Khshemakaran, Shiva, Satta, Nath-
singh, Viramdeva, and Rajdhar. Kumbha-
karan or Kumbha the eldest of the seven sons
succeeded Mokal.
Only four stone inscriptions of Maharana
Mokal's time have so far come to light. The
first is engraved on the lintel of the Jain
temple of Śantinatha at Jāwar and is dated
the Pos Sud 6th, S. 1478 (A.D. 1421). It
is published in Prachin Lekh Sangrah, Vol. I,
p. 35, Inscription No. 118 (Bhavanagar). The
second is in a tibari (veranda) in the Shringi-
rishi 6 miles to the south east of the Eklingji
Temple and is dated the Sravan Sud 5th,
S. 1485 (1428 A.D.) A portion of it has
¹ The Vir Vinod says that the traitors went to Chitor,
brought their families and sought shelter in the hills of Pai
Kotra.
33

Maharana Kumbha.
disappeared. It was composed by Kaviraj
Vanikdas Yogeshwar. A summary of it is
published in the Rajputana Museum Report
for 1925 A.D. The third inscription which
is dated the Magh Sud 3rd, S. 1485 (1429
A.D.) exists in the Samiddheshwar temple at
Chitor. It was composed by Bhatta Vishnu's
son Aiknath, a dashora brahmin. It is
published in the Bhavanagar Inscriptions,
p. 96.
The fourth inscription, which has come
to light only in March this year, is engraved
on a stone which has recently been removed
from the Hinglu Vāva (Hinglu stepped well)
near the village of Amberi, 6 miles from
Udaipur between that place and Eklingji.
It is dated Thursday the Jeth Sud 5th,
S. 1487,¹ corresponding with 16th May 1431
A.D. It records the construction of the
Vāva (well) by a Brahmin in Maharana
Mokal's reign.

¹ Indian Ephemeris by L.D.S. Pallai Vol. V. According
to current Vikarma era, the year of the inscription must be
S. 1487.
34

CHAPTER IV.
Kumbha ascends the throne.
Maharana Kumbha ascended the throne of
Mewar at Chitor in 1433 A.D. His first care
was to punish the traitors Chacha and Maira
and their fellow conspirators. This involved
military operations and a war with Mandu.
When the news of the tragedy of Mokal’s
death reached Rao Ran Mal, the brother of
Mokal’s mother Hans Bai, this valiant Rathod
king, remembering the debt of gratitude
he owed to Mokal, with whose help he had
recovered the throne of Marwar, threw off the
turban he was wearing, put on a phenta
(a piece of cloth generally worn when in
mourning) and swore that he would put the
turban on his head only when he had avenged
Mokal by slaying his murderers. Leaving
Mandor he came to Chitor, showed Nazar to the
Maharana and with 500 horsemen started in
pursuit of the traitors towards the Pái hills.
35