Chittorgarh: The Devoted Fort

Chittorgarh, renowned for its tales of sacrifice and valour, is also a remarkable testimony to secular harmony and religious heritage that flourished over centuries. Beyond battles and sieges, the fort and its surroundings are dotted with numerous temples, talabs (reservoirs), kunds (water tanks), and temple complexes; some intact, others abandoned or in ruins, each narrating stories of devotion, culture, and royal patronage.

The Legend of Meera Bai: Devotion and Defiance

One of the most inspiring figures linked to Chittorgarh’s spiritual legacy is Meera Bai, the saint poetess and princess of Merta. Married in 1513 AD at age 14 to Maharaj Kumar Bhoj Raj Singh Sisodiya, the eldest son of Rana Sanga, her story is one of profound devotion.

As a child, Meera Bai was deeply attached to the idol of Lord Krishna, whom she considered her true husband, an attachment sparked by a childhood curiosity and nurtured with daily conversations and care for the idol. This devotion distanced her from worldly matters early on. After losing her mother at age nine and being cared for by her grandfather, Rao Dudha of Jodhpur, family pressures sought to quell her spiritual fervour through marriage. Bhoj Raj, a lover of music and poetry and a protector of Meera’s faith, became her husband and strongest ally.

While Bhoj Raj encouraged Meera’s bhajans and encouraged her to attend midnight religious gatherings at the Kumbha Shyam Temple complex, tragedy struck in 1526 AD when he died in battle. Rana Sanga, honouring both Meera and his son, built the Krishna Temple, now famously known as the Meera Temple, where Meera spent her days in prayer with her companion Sakhi Lolita.

After Bhoj Raj’s death, internal court conflicts arose, particularly from Vikramaditya Rana Sanga’s younger son, who coveted Meera. To protect her, especially after Rana Sanga's death, Karnavati, Vikramaditya’s mother and Bhoj Raj’s stepmother, escorted Meera out of Chittor through the Suraj Pol. Meera left behind her beloved Girdhaar with Karnavati and journeyed to Merta, then Vrindavan, where she ultimately vanished, believed to have become one with Lord Krishna. Her unwavering devotion remains a timeless message of love and faith from Chittorgarh. The most popular saying in Chittor is that "Luck left Chittorgarh the day Meera Bai was asked to leave, and she had left her Girdhar behind." It is deemed true that not long after a lot many years since she left the fort, the fort was captured by Bahadur Shah in 1535, leading to the Jauhar led by Rani Karnawati.

The Kumbha Shyaam Temple: Architectural and Spiritual Jewel

The Kumbha Shyaam Temple holds a special place in Chittorgarh’s religious landscape. Originally dedicated to Lord Vishnu by Rana Kumbha, the temple later came to honour Krishna through Meera Bai’s profound influence on Vaishnavism. Its intricate carvings portray vivid stories from the Puranas, illustrating mythological narratives with delicate architectural finesse.

The temple was a favoured site where Chittorgarh’s queens performed their daily worship and continues to be a place of active devotion, with pilgrims and locals alike offering prayers.

The Talabs and Kunds: Ancient Reservoirs of History and Myth

Chittorgarh’s Talabs and Kunds, though no longer pristine, are integral to its historical fabric. Notable among them:

Mandakini Kund, Bhimlat Kund, and Surya Kund each carry centuries-old associations.
The Surya Talab was a royal bathing spot for kings.
The Mandakini Kund was venerated by queens.
The Vishnu Talab remains a popular site.
The Gaumukh Kund, the largest surviving reservoir, is named after the cow-head-shaped water inlet. Located near the Samadhiswara Shiva Temple, itself a site of ancient spiritual significance linked to Mahabharata legends and devotion of Bhim, Arjun, and Draupadi, this Kund is a testament to Chittorgarh’s mystical past.

The Samadhiswara Temple was reconstructed by Rana Kumbha after the devastation wrought by Alauddin Khilji’s siege nearly a century earlier.

Sacred Temples of Shiva and Devi

In addition to Vaishnavite sites, Chittorgarh is home to numerous temples dedicated to Lord Shiva and Devi Parvati. Among these, the Kalika Mata Temple and Amba Devi Temple stand out for their religious importance and architectural beauty, continuing to attract devotees and tourists.

The Impact of Invaders on Chittorgarh’s Religious Sites

Despite its spiritual richness, Chittorgarh’s temples did not remain untouched by history’s turmoil. Invaders, especially during the Mughal sieges, caused extensive damage. It is recorded that Akbar destroyed at least 56 temples during his conquest, all of which were originally constructed or patronised by the Sisodia royal family, attesting to both the scale and the cultural loss endured.

A Structure Near the Meera Temple

Adjacent to the Meera Temple, remnants of structures from Chittorgarh’s golden era remain, evoking the spiritual ambience that once flourished here. These ruins symbolise resilience amidst destruction, a poignant reminder of the fort’s layered past.

Visiting Chittorgarh offers much more than a glimpse of heroic sacrifices; it reveals a vibrant canvas of religious tolerance, royal patronage, and poetic devotion. From the sanctity of Meera Bai’s story to the delicate art of the Kumbha Shyam Temple and the tranquil waters of ancient Kunds, Chittorgarh invites travellers not only to witness history but also to connect deeply with the spiritual soul of Rajputana. Here are some of the photos I clicked.

This Chambhuja is dedicated to Rana Kumbha in front of the Kumbha Shyam Temple.

A structure near the Meera Temple

Architecture at the Meera Temple

Meera Bai's Original Girdhar

Pillars of the Kumbha Shyaam Temple

Vishnu Talab

Gaumukh Kund

Nandi at the Shiva temple

Samaddhiswara Temple

The temple was destroyed by Akbar.

Rakhi Tales

A Rakhi to the Enemy: The year was 1535 CE. The Rajmata of Mewar, widow of Rana Sanga, was in a dilemma. On one hand was an attack from Bahadur Shah of Gujarat as a threat to her capital, Chittorgarh, and the throne of her beloved teenage son Vikramaditya. On the other hand, there was the son of her husband's archenemy, Humayun, who could be of some help. Rani Karnavati wrote a letter to Humayun, who was in the east at that time. Along with it, she sent a Rakhi, a thread of brotherhood, asking him, as a sister, for protection against the enemy. But the road was too long, and time was of the essence. Humayun arrived at Chittorgarh, in response to her letter, keeping his end of the bargain but a little late. Rani Karnavati had already performed the Jauhar. They never met. Humayun established Rana Vikramaditya on the throne of Mewar, as he had promised as a brother, and returned to his post. Two dynasties, political rivals and sworn enemies, from Sanga-Babur to Pratap-Akbar and even R...

The Thirteenth Night

This is part of the "Uttara Series" You will find under the Mahabharata. The series is also available on Wattpad. The night of the Bhadra Amavasya saw a funeral pyre in the Pandavas' camp. Wails of the ladies filled the air as the young brave heart was turning into ashes. The ashes lit up a celebration in the Kauravas' camp. Duryodhan, Dushyasan, Shakuni, and Jayadrata all succeeded in their mission. Breaking the Pandavas' backbone, killing their favourite son. Karna joined in the celebrations reluctantly; he had released the boy from the pain. The face kept coming back to him. After all, he was his nephew. He shut his eyes in pain. The air tonight seemed cursed. The pyre burning made the teenage widow run towards it. She had no hope of living without him. Life was already tough; each day, he went to war with a smile on his face. She had already lost her brother. Now she had none to return home to her. "Stop!" His mother pleaded between the wails. "...

The Emperor's First Wife

Rukaiya Begum Ruqaiya Sultana Begum was born to Babur's second surviving son, Hindal Mirza, and his wife, Sultanam Begum, in 1542 C.E., merely a few months after Hamida Banu gave birth to the heir Jalaluddin Mohammad Akbar. She was well-versed in Persian, Urdu and Arabic and was attracted to poetry and music. Being a proud descendant of the Timurid clan, most of Rukaiya's childhood was spent in Kabul, near the Bagh E Babur, built by Babur himself. From early childhood, she had seen the struggle of her family to regain their lost power in Hind. In 1551 C.E., just after her father died young at a battle for Humayun, leaving her and her mother in the harem of the emperor, it was Hamida Banu who wanted the marriage of Rukaiya to her first cousin, Akbar. Theirs was the first in-house marriage of the Mughals, soon to be followed by many more in the generations to come. At the mere age of nine, she had married the crown prince, and when Humayun won back Lahore, she was fifteen. At...

Etched In Stone

This historical short story is a fictitious account of Ashoka, the Mauryan Emperor and his first wife Devi, who finds no place in Magadhan History. There is another fiction about her in the blog as well. This story stemmed from a merge of two ideas, one was to mention the cave inscription found in Saru Maru that mentions Asoka spending some days there with his lover (presumed to be Devi), the other idea of how if words did not immortalise a lot of battles and achievements, the names of many great men would be lost in time. The prince stood on the edge of the cliff, looking at the horizon. Dawn arrived as the birds started leaving their nests, wings fluttering, eager to discover the world. He looked up at them, the thought of once again going back to exploring the length and breadth of his state making him feel a little restless as he eyed his healing wounds. He was left to die; his enemies wished so. Yet by some miracle of fate, as if his purposes were yet to be fulfilled, here he was ...

Nawab E Bengal

Background: Nawab Alivardi Khan was ruling Bengal at the peak of Nawabi rule, expanding his strong empire. He had successfully suppressed the Marathas and had given a strong message to the British East India Company’s rising influence at Calcutta. Highly aware of the British Colonial policies across the globe, Nawab Alivardi Khan was strict with his policies and stronghold over Murshidabad, the then capital of Bengal (including present-day Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Orissa, and Bangladesh). He had two daughters and no sons. Amina Begum was the elder one, followed by Ghaseti Begum. Amina had three sons with her husband and courtier, Ahmed Khan. The second son, Mirza Mohammad, fondly called Siraj-Ud-Daulah (light of the country)by his grandfather, was born in 1733C.E. He was his grandfather’s favourite because he was born while he won over the Marathas. Alivardi Khan never let the “fortune child” of the family out of his sight. Siraj grew up accompanying...

Roopmati's Renewal

The entourage was too large and extravagant for a musician. Roopmati remembered that as a child, during festivities, she would ride on her father’s shoulder to see the entourages pass by the main streets of the town nearby. She had seen many a musician. None had such a huge entourage. Roopmati frowned a little, unsurely as she took her father’s leave. His warning rang in her ears. “Remember what you do, how you behave will all come back to me.” She nodded. The chief queen was at a loss for words. She had never seen the Sultan himself step into the Mahal to check the chambers to be allotted to one of the girls who were coming in. She was not one of the girls. She was a musician. The queens were curious. What would her position be then? She could not be a concubine, and she was not a queen. A musician in the royal palace of the ladies? Had the Sultan lost his senses? Or did he have some other agenda? If he wanted someone, he had them. He was the Sultan. There was no way he was tryin...

The Naga Princess

The Nagas (symbolically snakes) were a tribe who were well acquainted with life in forests and on rivers. They were said to be the ones who ruled the waters. Historically speaking, the Nagas lived in the northeastern parts of Aryavarta, close to Manipur, and extended their villages up to the land of Burma. The Naga tribe staying in the current state of Nagaland are proof of this. Now, this brings us to the story. The Naga Chief was Kauravya, who ruled the waters of the Ganges. His daughter was Ulupi. Some say she was a widow at a tender age, and some say she was unmarried. The Pandava prince Arjun was roaming around Aryavarta in exile, for he had broken a promise and entered his elder brother's intimate room with their Shared wife. The punishment was this. He roamed all the way from Indraprastha to the mystic lands of Manipur and Nagaland. Ulupi, like any other princess of that time, desired the handsome and brave prince of Hastinapur. On hearing of his arrival in their land, she w...

The Idea of Independence

Independence is not merely about a free country, a flag, a democracy or a monarchy as the power seat of a region. It is a feeling and a choice. Entitlement to one’s own opinion and rights. Often, a reason to reform. Independence is about individuality and mass. As we grow up, we often write essays on “My Inspiration.” The word inspiration is, in reality, deeper than we understand at that young age and is more often than not merged with our childhood ideas of an ideal man, an idol, or someone who helps us, namely, our own teachers or parents. Some of the students even mug up essays that tell the tales of the lives of Swami Vivekananda or Mahatma Gandhi. But it takes us years, or even perhaps a lifetime, to be mature enough to know and understand the true meaning of inspiration and idol. When we do, it is then that we choose ones that appeal to our morals, thoughts and souls. I remember Independence Day as a child. Every 15 th of August used to be about our locality dressed up in a ...

Neel Kanth

In the vast tapestry of Hindu mythology, Neelkanth Sasti holds a significant place as a day that honours Lord Shiva’s act of supreme compassion and courage. According to the Puranas, this day commemorates the pivotal moment during the Samudra Manthan, the cosmic churning of the ocean, when the deadly poison Halahal emerged. Halahal, described as the collective essence of all the universe’s negativity and toxicity, began to spread destruction among both Devas and Asuras. Its effects were so perilous that even the gods could not approach it, symbolising the universal truth that adversity and suffering make no distinction between divine or mortal beings. With the balance of creation at risk and the churning brought to a standstill, Mahadev Lord Shiva, the Destroyer and Transformer within the Hindu Trinity, was invoked for help. In an act of unparalleled self-sacrifice, he consumed the Halahal to protect all existence from annihilation. However, the potency of the poison was such that it t...

The Garuda Cannon of Krishna Chandra

Maharaja Krishna Chandra was an influential king in Nadia, Bengal, who formed his capital at Krishnanagar. During the preparation of the Battle of Plassey that sealed the deal for British Colonisation in Bengal in 1757, Krishna Chandra was under the Mughals of Delhi, who did not support Bengal Subah Nawab Siraj Ud Daulah in his attack against the British in Calcutta. As a result, he too was vocal against Siraj and supported the British. Siraj ordered for him to be imprisoned for not paying his due taxes to the Nawab, and he found freedom only after Robert Clive and Mir Jafar ousted Siraj by betraying him. Once Krishna Chandra was back in his state, the Mughal emperor, who was now reduced to a puppet of the British, by suggestion of Robert Clive, gifted the king a token of appreciation for his support, a cannon, which the Raja named the Garuda Cannon. What was so special about the cannon? This is the only cannon found in any museum with an inscription in Bengali scripture. Most cannons ...

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