- Shekha of Amarsar
Infobox Monarch
name =Rao Shekha
title =Rao
caption =
reign =
Capital State =Amarsar
coronation = Vikram Samvat 1502,(at the age of 12)
othertitles =
full name =
native_lang1 =
native_lang1_name1=
predecessor =
successor =Rao Raimal
suc-type =
heir =
queen =6 Ranis.
consort =
spouse 1 =
spouse 2 =
spouse 3 =
spouse 4 =
spouse 5 =
offspring =
royal house =Shikhargarh Fort, Shekha Garh Fort
dynasty =Kachwaha (Amber/Jaipur State)
royal anthem =
father =Rao Mokal Ji
mother =Rani Nirban Ji
date of birth =B.S. 1490 (A.D.1433), Dashehra, Sunday
place of birth =Nan-Amarsar
date of death =B.S.1545 (A.D.1488), Baisakh Sudi 3 (Akha Teej)
place of death =Ghatwa(in the Battle of Ghatwa)
date of funeral =
place of funeral =|Rao Shekha (1433 – 1488) was a
Rajput chieftain belonging to theKachwaha clan of Amer/Jaipur. He ruled overAmarsar , The Shekhawati gets its name from him, comprising the districts ofSikar andJhunjhunu in the present-dayIndia n state ofRajasthan . The descendants of Rao Shekha formKachwaha clan of Rajputs.Birth
Maharao Shekha Ji was born in B.S.1490, (A.D.1433), son of Rao Mokal Ji and Rani Nirban Ji. Rao Mokal was a chieftain who held the estate of Nan in fief from the ruler of Amber (Jaipur). The story of Shekha’s birth is rather interesting. Mokal and Nirban were much troubled as they had no son for several years. They heard about the miraculous powers of the Sheikh Burhan, a Muslim mendicant. They decided to pay the man a visit. After they received the blessings of the Sheikh, a son was born to the couple. In honour of the mendicant, the couple named their son Shekha.
As the Ruler
At the age of 12 year he succeeded his father in V.S.1502, A.D 1445.
He was granted the title of MAHARAO by Raja Udaikaran Ji (ruler of
Amber ).The first act of his valour at the age of 16 years, was his sudden attack on Napa (Sankhala Rajput) at Nagarchal, Saiwar, Multhan etc. From V.S.1530 to 1534, (A.D. 1473 to 1477) with the help ofPanni Pathan s, Rao Shekha conquered Dadri fromNop Singh Jatu andBhiwani from Othe Jatu Rajputs,Hansi fromIkhtar Khan andHissar fromHeda Khan Kaimkhanis . Thus he extended his territory and become powerful.Shekha’s reputation and growing power attracted the notice of the lord of Amber, whom up-to this time, they had acknowledged as head-Tikai of Kachawa Dynasty, and used to send as a tribute all the colts reared on their land. Shekha refused to send the colts and as a result of it Raja Chandersen(ChandraSena) of Amber sent in forces to attacked him. They fought several battles and in the last one, in V.S.1528, (A.D.1471), Rao Shekha repulsed the forces of Raja Chandersen at the bank of
Kokus river , near Amber. A treaty was made between both of them and according to it, the practice of sending colts to Amber was abandoned. After this, they lived peacefully and Shekha become independent and founded a union which was the birth of Shekhawati federation.Establishment of Amarsar as capital
In V.S.1506, (A.D.1449) Shekha Ji founded Amarsar other sources mention that it was founded in V.S.1517, (A.D.1460). In Amarsar Shekha built the temple of Bhagwan Jagdish and in V.S.1534, (A.D.1477), he built here the SHIKHARGARH FORT.
Conflict with Gaurs
Kolraj Gaur was ruling at Ghatwa under his commands tank was being excavated at Jhotari village and he had made a rule that any one passing that way should remove a quantity of earth from the tank. A Rajput person of Kachawa clan was returning home with his bride, the Rajput obeyed the rule and removed the earth but the Gaurs insisted that his wife should do the same. The Rajput did not agree to it and was killed in the defence of his honour. According to his last wish, his widow went to Amarsar and placed a handful of dust before Shekha and told him the fame of the Kachawas would be tarnished if they did not take revenge upon the Gaurs. There upon, in V.S.1535, (A.D.1478) and Shekha invaded Ghatwa the battle took place at the same talab (tank) and Kolraj was killed. Shekha took the head of Kolraj pierced on his Bhala (spear) and returned to Amarsar where it was shown to the widow and was hung on the Pol (gate) of his fort.Battle of Ghatwa
The Gaur Rajputs fought about 12 battles with Shekha Ji. They also got the help from
Sultan Behalol Khan ofDelhi . In the last battle, they met near Ghatwa on the “Khontiya” tank and fought fiercely. Rao Ridmal of Maroth wounded Shekha with his arrows and Shekha gave him a blow with his spear.Nawalraj , a son of Kolraj, killedKunwar Durga andKunwar Puranmal , sons of Shekha Ji. Shekha tried to save his sons and gave a serve blow with his sword and killed the Nawalraj. Rao Ridmal Maroth left the battle field. At last Shekha conquered Ghatwa and the other villages of Gaurs.Raimal (youngest son of Shekha Ji) with a force of two thousand horsemen arrived to help his father.Rao Shekha was severely wounded and before his end, he nominated Raimal as his successor. Shekha expired peacefully at Ralawata on Baisakh Sudi 3 (Akha Teej), V.S.1545, (A.D.1488), His chattri(
cenotaph ) was built there.Maharao Shekha fought 52 battles in his life. He is the founder and ancestor of the
Shekhawat sub-clan of Jaipur’sKachwaha Dynasty.Progeny
Rao Shekha had 10 sons and 3 daughters.
* Kunwar Durga, ancestor of the Taknet clan. He died 1488 in Ghatwa battle.
** Roop Kanwar Ji Sahiba
* Kunwar Puran Mal, died 1488 in Ghatwa battle.
* Kunwar Ratna, ancestor of the Ratnawat clan.
** Rani Lachalde, married Rao Bhaldev of Jodhpur
* Kunwar Abha
* Kunwar Achala
* Kunwar Tilok, he was given Mallikpur jointly with his two older brothers and their descendants are known as Mallikpuria.
* Kunwar Kumbha
* Kunwar Ridmal
* Kunwar Bharmal, he was given Khejroli jointly with his two older brothers, and their descendants are known as Khejroliya.
*Rao Raimal , he succeeded his father as the ruler ofAmarsar .
* Rani Raghav Kanwar Ji Sahiba (Rani Sahiba of Merta), married,Rao Duda of Merta son ofRao Jodha of Jodhpur
* Parvat Kanwar Ji Sahiba
* Maya Kanwar Ji sahibaee also
*
Shekhawat
*Shekhawati
*Rao Bhojraj
*Kachwaha Dynasty
*Jaipur Rajwara
*List of Rajputs History of Rajasthan
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