Mewar as Focus of Guhila State (Part-XVII)
In this period the Ghuhil State of Mewar had to forge close socio-political linkages with the Mertia Rathaurs and Jains of Mewar. — Prof. Nandini Kapur Sinha
The Annals understandably highlight the importance of the early fifteenth century rulers of Mewar since by being pitted against old Rajput elements in the polity, including royal kinsmen, they greatly furthered the consolidation of Guhila royal power.
Hence, it was essential of the Rathaurs in the early stage of their rise to establish close links with the Guhilas of Mewar. The fact that the traditions of Mewar do not list Rathaur queens till Rana Raimalla’s period except for Lakha, testifies to the fact that the rise of the Rathaurs took place sometime in the fifteenth century. It is well-known that Rao Jodha (Rao Ranamala’s son and successor) could found the Rathaur capital Jodhpur only in AD 1459. More Rathaurs had lived in Mewar before AD 1459. After their expulsion from Mewar in AD 1444, they acquired land in the Marwar region. For instance, Jodha obtained Sojat in AD 1455. No Rathaur queen is listed for Mahârânâ Kumbha, but Badvâdevidan Khyat lists six Rathaur queens for Mahârânâ Räimalla as well as for Mahâränä Sänga. However, the historically known three sons of Räimalla, Prthviraj, Jayamal and Sängã are traditionally assigned to his Jhali Queen Rajdhar Ratankanwar. Although the historicity of the names of the Rathaur chiefs, their daughters and their contemporaneity with the Guhila kings of Mewar are questionable, the list helps in comparing the number of Guhila queens that were Rathaurs with that of those queens who were non-Rathaur.
Duda, the founder of the Mertiyâ Râthaurs, established his seat in the locality of Mertâ in the Marwar region. His son Viramdeva and grandson Jaimal are known to have united the region under the banner of the Mertiya Räthaurs. Beginning with Merta, they brought under their control Parbatsar, Nava, Marot, Jaitarana Kaulia, Daulatpura and held some estate in Nagaur as well. Thus they made their presence felt in a larger part of Marwar. They ruled over buffer-states situated between Mewar and Marwar and it became strategically necessary for the Guhilas to establish political and social links with the Mertiya Rathaurs. On their part, the Mertiya Rathaurs who were in the process of expansion looked towards bigger powers for political and military alliances. This led to the incorporation of a number of Mertiya Rathaurs in the political structure of Mewar through service-grants. This is evident from the following list of the estates granted to Mertiya Rathaurs in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries in Mewar.
1. Badnor: Mahârânâ Udaisimha-II had granted Badnor to Rão Jaimal. It continued to be in possession of his son Mukundas and his successors.
2. Chand Maharani Raimalla granted Chanod to his grandson (by daughter) Pratapsimha
3. Ghanerds. This locality was granted to Thakkur Pratapsimha’s (Chanod) son Gopaldas by Mahäränä Udaisinha (II). It has remained is the possession of his successors.
The estate of Chanod dates to the period I am discussing (the late fifteenth century) since Mahäränä Räimalla granted this locality to the Mertiya Rathaurs in Mewar. Even more Mertiya Rathaur personalities figure in the political structure of Mewar in the sixteenth century. Sundardas, son of Mertiya Kisansimha (Jaimalot), was granted the estate of Dasalana. Kisansimha died at the battle of Haldighati Manohardas, grandson of Jaimal and son of Vittaldas, was in the service of Maharana Pratap.
Thus, Guhila links with the Mertiya Rathaurs further strengthened the political advantages that the Guhilas derived from the existence of a buffer Rajput power. In AD 1496, a daughter of Mahäränä Räimalla was marned to the crown prince of Mertã, Viramdev, son of Rão Duda. Mirabai, granddaughter of Rão Duda and daughter of Ratnasimha was married to Bhojarâja, son of Rana Sangramsýmha (Sänga). Thus by the early sixteenth century the Guhilas had established reciprocal marital exchange (Bevra) with the Mertiya Räthaurs.
Before I finish my discussion of the political and social linkages of the Guhilas with other political powers, I must mention the fort of Jajpur (modem Jahazpur) which was probably the stronghold of the Kherâdâs in the fourteenth-fifteenth centuries. Although no contemporary Kherâdâ record has been discovered, Amarakâvyam (seventeenth century) refers to the conquest of Kherädäkula of Jajpur by Räòâ Khetä. It is significant that Rãnã Kumbha claims the conquest of Yagpur (Jâjpur) since it indicates that it was a non-Guhila fortress.
The Jains and the Royal family in Mewar
The majority of western Indian merchants were Jains and the study of political links between the Jains and the Guhila dynasty between the thirteenth and the fifteenth centuries reveals the story of the induction of Jain merchants into the political structure of Mewar. The state depended greatly upon this wealthy community because it was the Jain merchants who were responsible for generating more and more resources. This was especially so because the Guhilas were engaged in many wars during this period. Jains were equally interested in seeking political links with the Guhilas because they sought state support to carry on with that but not thus, the state often actively contributed to further commercial activities in
There is a vast corpus of inscriptional and literary sources which throw light on the elite Jain families of Mewar and the extent of their resources. A brief survey of these families and the circuit of the pilgrim age centres is necessary before the political linkages between the Jains and the Guhilas can be understood
Chittaurgarh was the most popular Jain pilgrimage centre in Mewar Acariya Haribhadra Süri, the great reformer, operated from Chittaurgarh the eighth century. His literary works indicate the popular patronage enjoyed by Haribhadra Sari The continuing presence of fain acaryas Chitaurgarh is evident from records and indicate increasing patronage by the Jain laity and points to the considerable influence that the dearyas weilded For instance, a Digambar Jain inscription of the reign of Guhila Jaitrasimha from Chittaur contains a prasasti of Acarya Subhacandra. Who was venerated by the Paramaras, the Cahamanas and the Gurjara rulers Citraköra became an important reference point for the Jains and a pilgrimage-cum-monastic centre, The Kharataragaccha pandvall vividly describes the acaryas and the training of disciples at Citrakuta.
(to be continued ...)
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