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.

Uttara's Hope

This is part of the "Uttara Series" You will find under the Mahabharata. The series is also available on Wattpad. She was clad in white attire. Her churamani and jewellery were all taken away. She sat numbly in front of his dead body for a whole day, pregnant with his heir, looking at his face as though he was asleep. He had told her more than once that this day could come and that she had to protect their heir. He feared her future without him. That one day turned the fifteen-year-old Princess of Matsya into an aged lady. She became quiet and aloof. Her only concern now was her baby. Her baby wiggled in her womb. She remembered him saying, " I will always be with you." All she wanted now was a son like his father. But she knew all Hastinapur wanted was an heir to the throne. The war had ended five days after his death, and they were back in the palace of Hastinapur victorious. She, for the first time, entered her real in-laws' home, but without him. All sh...

Asuras are not Demons

Demons in the Abrahamic religion are not the same as Asuras of Hinduism. Originally deities of Iranian origin, they were seen in the tribal context as no different from Devas but as counterparts to maintain balance. In early epics and Puranas, asura meant a chosen leader of great capacity. Only later, perhaps due to the Iranian link, their image declined. It was with the Brahmanas that the sharp divide appeared: devas as divine, asuras as evil. Puranic myths demonised them mainly to assert the superiority and immortality of devas, while asuras were cast as symbols of the "other." Since Tribes still worshipped them and embraced their power of negativity, being important to balance, they soon became synonymous with tribes, which was not the case mythologically. There are instances of Bali or Ravana being Kshatriya or Brahmin Asuras and competent kings. Indian demonology itself is vast and layered, shaped by surviving tribes, each with unique myths. Celestial, aerial, and terres...

Maharana Pratap: The Sun of Mewar

Many of you have read my fan fiction as well as historical representations of the life and times of Maharana Pratap Singh of Mewar. I provided small details of his life in many articles. But never have I ever made a separate historical post on him. It is very difficult to put together his life without the help of folklore because historical evidence is scarce. This one was requested, and hence here it goes. Needless to say, this one is very special. This is a blend of history and folklore. Leave your love. ❤️ Background and Birth: The year was 1540. Mewar was under a cloud of uncertainty. Banbir, their ruler for four years now, was a very incompetent ruler who always spent his time in luxury, drinking and dancing with girls. The crown prince Udai Singh was rumoured to have been killed by him. Chittorgarh was in darkness. Around March 1540, Mewar once again saw hope as some trusted generals, along with Kunwar Udai Singh, attacked Chittorgarh, taking Banbir by surprise. He was soon ...

Sisodiya: Kings, Queens and Princes (1538 - 1597)

I am back with another History post, this time it is on the wives and sons of Rana Udai Singh II of Mewar, his son and heir Maharana Pratap and Rana Amar Singh. This is a continuation of the Sisodia Family History I posted some time back. The information has been taken from Annals of Mewar by James Todd, Maharana Pratap by B.N. Rana, and Maharana Pratap by Rima Hooja. Udai Singh II was the son of Ranisa Karnawati and Rana Sangram Singh. He was born on 4th August 1 522, at Chittorgarh and died on 28th February 1 572 at Gogunda . He was the Ruler of the Sisodia Dynasty. He is believed to have 56 sons and 2 5 wives, apart from the many insignificant queens in his Rani Mahal. Here is a list of his main queens and their sons. Maharani Jaivanta Bai Songara of Jalore was his chief queen and consort. Her son is Maharana Pratap. He was married to her before he went to war with Banbir, as her father, Akshayraj Rao, was a friend and ally of his father, Rana Sanga. Saj...

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 his g...

Rakhi Tales

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, of great 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 Raj Singh-Aurangzeb, yet ...

Mewar: Origin of Guhilots

Origin: Lord Rama had two sons, Labh and Kush . The Ranas of Mewar are descendants of the former. Labh had built his capital at Lah-Kot (Lahore) , and the branch from which the Mewar blue blood arrives resided there until Kanaksen (Often traced as the founder)moved to Dwarika, Saurashtra. "Sen" was used as a title term for many decades by this Suryavanshi clan until it later changed to "Dit" or "Aditya", names of the Sun. Aditya was changed to Guhilot permanently after the expulsion from Saurashtra when they settled in the Ahar valleys (Aravallis). The Sisodia clan sprang from a Prince of Chittoor who had killed a hard chase hare (sissoo in local dialect). The branch often used " Ranawat ", meaning "Royal Blood", as a title, but over time, Sisodia emerged as the retained branch name. Kanaksen wrestled dominance of the Parmar race and founded Birnagar in AD 144. Four generations hence, Vijay Sen ...

The Reva Cries

Roopmati had watched the troops leave. She had stood behind the chief queen as she traditionally bid goodbye to her sons. She had waited for the Sultan to come to her. He did. He was confident that the sudden advancement of Akbar’s foster brother Adham Khan could be curbed. It was not war, just precaution. He reassured her. Malwa would never bow to the Timurids. And he would not let anything happen to her. To Her. Roopmati felt suffocated by her husband’s affectionate hug. She felt trapped in the scrutinising eyes of all the people in the palace. Angry, blaming eyes. She tried to pace herself and sing, but her voice cracked in fear. Her melody was drowned in tears. Every evening, a messenger would come to the chief queen with the news of war. Roopmati was kept in the darkness. She was not told about anything. She knew the rumours. She was a witch. A temptress who caused doom to the Sultan of Malwa. She was a spy of the enemy planted in his life to destroy him. She wondered if he came b...

Rani Padmini: The Valiant Queen

This story is a retelling of some parts of Malik Mohammad Jayasi's Padmavat, which was a historical fiction poem written in 1540, an odd 200 years after the siege of Chittorgarh by Allauddin Khilji. Historically, the Rajputs of Mewar didn't keep accounts of their queens, even by name, so the name Padmini or Padmavati was made up by Jayasi to represent the women of Chittor who chose the Jauhar. Historically speaking, Allauddin Khilji wanted the trade route to Surat for himself, which went through Mewar and Rana Ratan Singh, a patron of art, was not known for his military skills. So when Khilji surrounded the fort, the only way out was the Saka and Jauhar. Rani Padmini's Jauhar, as it is now popularly called, is also not the first Jauhar Khilji witnessed. The Jauhars of Ranthambore and Jaisalmer happened before he attacked Chittorgarh. Also, the act of Jauhar happened as early as the Greek invasions of Porus's state, when it is described as the "Mass immolation of Sa...

The Emperor's First Wife

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 the mere age ...

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