Chittorgarh: The First Jauhar

The concept of Jauhar holds a profound place in Rajputana history. It is a ritual where Rajput women willingly choose death by jumping into a fire altar, invoking the gods, and embracing honour rather than living under the humiliation of enemy conquest. Unlike Sati, Jauhar was never forced or compulsory; it was considered the most honourable death a Rajputani could choose when their men lost battles and the enemy laid siege.

The Historical Setting: Jauhar Gate and Chittorgarh Fort

Chittorgarh Fort once housed the palace of Rana Ratan Singh near the famed Vijay Stambh and his Jal Mahal at the fort’s main gate. When Alauddin Khilji invaded Chittor, much of this was destroyed. However, later ruler Rana Kumbha rebuilt the Jal Mahal and re-established the Jauhar Sthal to honour Queen Padmavati (also known as Padmini).

Ratan Singh, who ruled Mewar during Khilji’s reign as Sultan of Delhi, was known to be a peace-loving monarch who enjoyed music and poetry. One of his court poets, Raghav Chetan, was revealed to be a spy for Khilji. Upon discovering this betrayal, Ratan Singh expelled him, sparking a chain of events that would lead to one of history’s most tragic episodes.

The Story of Rana Ratan Singh and Queen Padmavati

Ratan Singh had fifteen wives and nineteen sons. His chief queen was Padmavati, the princess of Singhal ( assumed to be present-day Sri Lanka). Official histories blend with poetic accounts (like the Padmavat by Jayasi, written two hundred years after the incident), but the truth centres on Khilji’s lust for Padmavati after Raghav Chetan’s vengeful report.

Khilji’s desire to conquer Chittorgarh was strategic, controlling taxes on the route to the ports in Gujarat and asserting dominance in the west, but also personal, as he sought to possess Padmavati. Despite knowing Khilji's intentions, Ratan Singh welcomed him as a guest in line with Rajput hospitality. Khilji requested to see Padmavati, and Ratan Singh, proud of her beauty, agreed under certain conditions. Padmavati only appeared in front of Khilji, in the Jal Mahal, the reflection of her beauty falling in the water of the Kund and reflecting on the mirror at the Palace, for Khilji, thus preserving her dignity. Khilji agreed, and it is said that in a drunken state, when he lay his eyes on her, Khilji ran to the mirror to hug it. Jayasi says that despite being so brash, he was forgiven by Ratan Singh in his vanity and accompanied to the foothill of the fort by the Rana. A very scandalous move, because the moment they were out of the fort, Khilji ordered the capture of the Rana. A pawn to trade for Padmavati's surrender.

Padmavati cleverly set terms: she would appear accompanied by 1,000 women (Sakhibaan) in 800 palanquins, their faces veiled to maintain dignity, and she wished to see her husband one last time before her surrender.

The Ingenious Escape and Siege

At dawn, Mewar’s best warriors, disguised as women, journeyed in palanquins, led by Padmavati's trusted companions, Gora and Badal. Once inside the camp, they revealed themselves and fought bravely. Ratan Singh was given a horse by Padmavati’s uncle Gora to escape, but Gora and his nephew Badal both fell defending the fort. Six months later, with supplies dwindling and defeat inevitable, Padmavati and the other queens made a heartrending plea to accept Jauhar, choosing death over dishonour.

The warriors donned saffron robes of Saka, symbolising their readiness to fight to the death, while the Rajput women wore their wedding finery, applied sindoor, and performed prayers. They sought blessings from the goddess Eklingji, applying a tilak to their husbands before the final, tragic act.

The Day of Jauhar: August 13, 1303

When the gates finally opened, Khilji’s forces brutally killed Ratan Singh’s sons and valiantly faced the final battle. As the cries of “Jai Bhawani” filled the air, the enemy smelled burning and rushed inside, only to find the fort engulfed in flames.

Thousands of noble Rajput women, led by Padmavati and other queens such as Rani Suhag Kanwar, Suraj Kanwar, Jaith Kanwar, and Swarupa Kanwar, Amar Kanwar, Chahu Kanwar Ratta Kanwar, Chand Kanwar, Pith Kanwar, Jahaj Kanwar, Padam Kanwar, Again Kanwar, Shyam Kanwar, and Ajab Kanwar among others, embraced the fire’s embrace without tears or fear, true warriors to the last breath. They took the blessing of the goddess, wished to be born and die again for Mewar and jumped into the burning Jauhar Kund. Not one wailed, not one shed tears. They were fighters, true Rajputanis.

Khilji found a burnt and desolate palace, heard no cries or laments, and believed the fort was cursed by the souls of the bravest Rajputanis. In his anger, he destroyed what remained and left.

Personal Reflections from the Light and Sound Show

Listening to this story during Chittorgarh’s Light and Sound show was a deeply moving experience. Though I had read it many times, seeing it performed made the emotions tangible. Padmavati’s courage and the stoicism of those women sent chills down my spine.

Preservation and Legacy

The Jal Mahal today is a simple reconstruction, offering a glimpse into the events. The original palace of Rana Ratan Singh near Vijay Stambh now stands as a barren site, but the sacredness is preserved in the Jauhar Gates constructed by Rana Kumbha to protect the area.

The remains of the Jauhar Kund are still visited by Rajputs from across India who come to offer prayers. This site is as revered as any temple at Chittorgarh and marks a significant chapter in Rajput history as the first documented Jauhar, a sacrifice that echoed through centuries.

Clarification on the Ratan Singh Palace

It’s worth noting that the Ratan Singh Palace at the opposite end of the fort is often confused with the residence of Rawal Ratan Singh. However, it was built by Rana Ratan Singh II, son of Rana Sanga, and was his brief seat before his early demise.

The Enduring Truth of Rani Padmavati’s Tale

What was once considered legend has been substantiated through the discovery of the site and multiple records of Jauhar at Chittorgarh. The courage, sacrifice, and dignity of Rajput women like Padmavati remain woven into the fabric of Mewar’s identity and continue to inspire generations.

Visiting Chittorgarh and standing at these hallowed spots offers not just a glimpse of history but a profound connection to the spirit of resistance and honour that defined Rajputana.

Jauhar Gate

Jal Mahal Entrance

Padmini Jal Mahal Palace

Palace of Ratan Singh (Jal Mahal)

A view inside

The original Jal Mahal

The Mirrors where reflection can be seen

Jauhar Sthal

Remains of Jauhar Sthal

Jauhal Sthal of Rani Padmini

Gate of the Ratan Singh Palace of 1535

Ratan Singh Palace

Ratan Singh's Palace is actually the palace of Rana Sanga's second son, Ratan Singh, not to be confused with Padmini's husband of the same name.

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