Mewar

Historical Region of North India Mewar (मेवाड़)
Location	southern Rajastan
Flag of 19th c.
Guhil State established:	AD 734
Language	Mewari
Dynasties	Moris (up to AD 734) Guhilots(734-1303) Parihar's Sisodias (1326–1949)
Historical capitals	Chittorgarh, Udaipur

Mewar (मेवाड़ مئور also called Udaipur Kingdom) is a region of south-central Rajasthan state in western India. It includes the present-day districts of Pratapgarh, Bhilwara, Chittorgarh, Rajsamand, Udaipur, Dungarpur, Banswara and some of the part of Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh. The region was for centuries a Rajput kingdom that later became a princely state under the British. It was ruled by the Chattari rajputs of Mori Guhilot Parihar and Sisodia dynasties for over 1,400 years.

It was originally called Medhpaath, and Lord Shiva (Ekling Nath) is called The King of Mewar so he is called as a Medhpateshwar (lord of Medhpaath) later on it was due to long journey of words Medhpaath became Mewar, Mewar region it includes lies across the Aravali Range to the northwest, Ajmer lies to the north, Gujarat and the Vagad region of Rajasthan lie to the south, the Malwa region of Madhya Pradesh state lies to the southeast, and the Hadoti region of Rajasthan lies to the east.

Geography

Mewar Region

The northern part of Mewar is a gently sloping plain, drained by the Bedach and Banas River and its tributaries, which empty northwest into the Chambal River, a tributary of the Yamuna River. The southern part of the region is hilly, and marks the divide between the Banas and its tributaries and the headwaters of the Sabarmati and Mahi rivers and their tributaries, which drain south into the Gulf of Cambay through Gujarat state. The Aravalli Range forms the northwestern boundary of the region, composed mostly of sedimentary rocks, like marble and Kota Stone, which has traditionally been an important construction material.

The region is part of the Kathiawar-Gir dry deciduous forests' ecoregion. Protected areas include the Jaisamand Wildlife Sanctuary, the Kumbhalgarh Wildlife Sanctuary, the Bassi Wildlife Sanctuary and the Sitamata Game Sanctuary.

Mewar has a tropical climate. Rainfall averages 660 mm/year, and is generally higher in the southwest and lower in the northeast of the region. Over 90% of the rain typically falls in the period June to September every year, during the southwest monsoon.

History

Gahlot Dynasty of Mewar

A certain Kanak-Sen left Koshala in the 2nd century and settled in Saurashtra. His descendents established themselves and became rulers at Vallabhi. Ages later, Prince Grahaditya also known as Guhil obtained the small kingdom of Idar. His name became the patronymic Grahilot, later corrupted to Gahlot. They sometimes supported the Pratiharas (the dominant clan in Rajasthan) along with Chauhans against Arab invasions of 7th century. Later the wilds of Idar had to be abandoned and the clan settled at Ahar, and the new name Aharya came into use. Around the 12th century sons of Karan Singh I, namely Mahup established himself at Dungarpur while his younger brother Rahup established himself near Sisodia village. Later the term Sisodia supplanted both Gahlot and Aharya.^[1]</ref>^[2]

Gahlot rulers at Idar

Name[1]</ref>[2]		Reign Began C.E.	Reign Ended C.E.
1	Grahaditya
2	Bhoja
3	Mahendra I

• The dynasty moved to a new capital city, Nagda.

Gahlot rulers at Nagda

Name[1]</ref>[2]		Reign Began C.E.	Reign Ended C.E.
1	Nagaditya
2	Siladitya
3	Aparajita
4	Mahendra II

• Last King of Mori Dynasty of Malwa, Mun Singh Mori, kills Mahendra II, his brother-in-law, to conquer Mewar.
  • Kalbhoj son of Mahendra II returns with allies to recover Mewar from his uncle and establishes himself at the new capital of Chittor.^[1]</ref>^[2]

Gahlot rulers at Chittor

Name[1]</ref>[2]		Reign Began C.E.	Reign Ended C.E.
1	Kalbhoj Bappa Rawal	734	753
2	Khuman I
3	Matatt
4	Bhartribhatt I
5	Singha Gahlot
6	Khuman II
7	Mahoyak
8	Khuman III
9	Bhartribhatt II	942
10	Allat Singh - forced by Siyaka II of Paramara dynasty to abandon Chittor and move to Ahar.	951	953

Gahlot rulers at Ahar

Name[1]</ref>[2]		Reign Began C.E.	Reign Ended C.E.
1	Narwahana		971
2	Shalivahana
3	Shakti Kumar	977
4	Amba Prasad
5	Shuchi Varma
6	Narvarma
7	Kirtivarma
8	Yograj
9	Vairath
10	Hanspal I
11	Bair Singh	1108
12	Hanspal II
13	Amar Singh I
14	Kod Singh
15	Vikram Singh
16	Karan Singh I - Father of Rahup & Mahup	1158	1168
17	Kshem Singh		1172

• Kshem Singh forced to move his capital to Dungarpur due to Muslim Invasions.^[1][2]

Gahlot rulers at Dungarpur

Name[1]</ref>[2]		Reign Began C.E.	Reign Ended C.E.
1	Samant Singh
2	Kumar Singh
3	Manthan Singh - Fought alongside Prithviraj Chauhan against Muhammad of Ghor & was one of the few Rajput rulers to survive.	1192
4	Padma Singh - His successor moves the seat of government to Nagda

Gahlot rulers at Nagda

Name[1]</ref>[2]		Reign Began C.E.	Reign Ended C.E.
1	Jaitra Singh - Recovered Chittor after fall of Malwa to Sultan Iltutmish	1213	1253

Gahlot rulers at Chittor

Name[1]</ref>[2]		Reign Began C.E.	Reign Ended C.E.
1	Jaitra Singh	1213	1253
	Mewar without ruler for Eight Years	1253	1262
2	Tej Singh	1262	1273
3	Samar Singh	1273	1302
4	Ratan Singh - Siege of Chittor by Alauddin Khilji & conquest of Mewar by Delhi Sultanate	1302	1303

• Interregnum - Sanchore Rulers at Chittor under Alauddin Khilji (1303–1326)
  • Galhot dynasty is replaced by its junior branch Sisodia founded by Rahup.^[1]</ref>^[2]

Sisodia Dynasty of Mewar

Rana Laksha of Sisodia clan with all his 10 sons had rallied in defense of Chittor but in vain. The Sardars decided that it was time to safeguard the royal lineage. There is mention of only two sons of Rana Laksha by name, Ari Singh I and Ajay Singh. Ari Singh I had a son named Hamir Singh I who was taken by his uncle Ajay to Kelwara for safety. After the defeat of Mewar at Chittor by Alauddin Khilji in which Rana Laksha and his son Ari Singh perished, the people began to rally behind Ajay who began a guerrilla campaign till he too died in 1320s. The Sardars now picked Hamir Singh I as head of the Sisodia clan and rightful heir to the throne of Mewar. He married the daughter of Maldeo of Jalore who now governed Chittor for the Delhi Sultanate. He overthrew his father in law and reclaimed his ancestral homeland.^[1]</ref>^[2]

Sisodia Dynasty at Chittor

Name[1]</ref>[2]		Reign Began C.E.	Reign Ended C.E.
1	Maharana Hamir Singh I - First to take the title of Maharana of Mewar	1326	1366
2	Maharana Kshetra - Takes Ajmer and Mandalgarh
3	Maharana Lakha - Takes remaining Mewar territories from Delhi. Killed in Battle.		1421
4	Maharana Mokal – Marwar invades Mewar and Mokal is assassinated at age 24.	1421	1433
5	Maharana Kumbha	1433	1468
6	Maharana Udai Singh I	1468	1473
7	Maharana Rai-Mal	1473	1509
8	Maharana Sangram Singh Rana Sanga - Defeated at the Battle of Khanwa by Mughal Emperor Babur in 1527.	1509	1527
9	Maharana Ratan Singh	1528	1531
10	Maharana Vikramaditya Singh	1531	1537
11	Maharana Banbir Singh	1537	1540
12	Maharana Udai Singh II – He lost Chittor to Mughal Emperor Akbar in February 25, 1568. He moved his capital to Udaipur.	1540	1568

Sisodia Dynasty at Udaipur

Name[1]</ref>[2]		Reign Began C.E.	Reign Ended C.E.
1	Maharana Udai Singh II	1568	1572
2	Maharana Pratap Singh I	1572	1597
3	Maharana Amar Singh II	1597	1620
4	Maharana Karan Singh II	1620	1628
5	Maharana Jagat Singh I	1628	1654
6	Maharana Raj Singh I	1468	1681
7	Maharana Jai Singh	1681	1700
8	Maharana Amar Singh III	1700	1716
9	Maharana Sangram Singh II	1716	1734
10	Maharana Jagat Singh II	1734	1751
11	Maharana Pratap Singh II	1752	1755
12	Maharana Raj Singh II	1755	1762
13	Maharana Ari Singh II	1762	1772
14	Maharana Hamir Singh II	1772	1778
15	Maharana Bhim Singh	1778	1828
16	Maharana Jawan Singh	1828	1838
17	Maharana Swaroop Singh	1842	1861
18	Maharana Shambhu Singh	1861	1874
19	Maharana Sajjan Singh	1874	1884
20	Maharana Fateh Singh	1884	1930
21	Maharana Bhopal Singh	1930	1955
22	Maharana Bhagwat Singh - Last ruler of Mewar (Udaipur)	1955	1971

Head of Sisodia Dynasty of Udaipur

Name[1]</ref>[2]		Reign Began C.E.	Reign Ended C.E.
1	Rana Bhagwat Singh	1971	1984

Economy

The economy of the Mewar region relies primarily on tourism, the marble and stone industry, mining, handicraft, zinc smelters, cement and tire factories, as well as agriculture. Major crops include maize, groundnut, soybean, wheat, and mustard. Opium is also grown in the adjoining regions of the southeast (Pratapgarh and Nimbahere). Fishery also thrives in the region's various lakes, supported by a government fisheries department.

Tourism

Lake Palace, Udaipur

• The massive Chittorgarh hilltop fort is one of the main tourist attractions of Mewar. The fort is a depiction of Rajput culture and values. It stands on a 2.4 square kilometre site on an 180 m high hill that rises rapidly from the plains below. The fort was sacked thrice by a stronger enemy. The first sacking occurred in 1303 by Alauddin Khilji. In 1535 Bahadur Shah of Gujarat besieged the fort causing the women to commit Jauhar. In 1568 Mughal emperor Akbar razed the fort to the rubble and once again the history repeated itself. In 1616 Mughal emperor Jehangir restored the fort to the Rajput but it was not resettled.
• Udaipur, also known as the city of lakes, is a world famous and a very popular tourist destination with its grand palaces, lakes, temples, gardens and narrow lanes.
• The Lake Palace is a palace inaugurated in 1746 that is completely made of marble and situated in the middle of lake Pichhola.
• Jaisamand Lake
• Udaisagar lake
• Fatehsagar lake
• Shilpgram, a crafts village located north west of Udaipur, hosts a crafts fair every year which is one of the biggest in India.
• Eklingji, a temple dedicated to lord Shiva the Ruling deity of Mewar.
• Keshariaji, a temple of Rishabhdev
• Nathdwara, a temple of Lord Shrinathji is one of the most important pilgrimage site of India.
• Haldighati, a mountain pass in Rajsamand district that hosted the battle between Rana Pratap Singh and the Mughal emperor Akbar.
• Kumbhalgarh, a 15th century fortress, built by Rana Kumbha, with 36 kilometres of walls. Over 360 temples are within the fort. It also has a wildlife sanctuary.
• Charbhuja Temple, dedicated to Indian Goddess of the same name.
• Rajsamand, a huge lake near the city which derives its name from.
• The Ranakpur village is home to one of the most important Jain temples, that escaped the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb's efforts to destroy Hindu and Jain temples because it is hidden in a geographically difficult terrain.

See also

• Baansi
• Bhinder
• Gogunda
• Ajmer-Merwara
• Mewar Residency

Further reading

• Mewar through the ages, by D. L. Paliwal. Sahitya Sansthan, Rajasthan Vidyapeeth, 1970
• The Kingdom of Mewar: great struggles and glory of the world's oldest ruling dynasty, by Irmgard Meininger. D.K. Printworld, 2000. ISBN 8124601445.
• Costumes of the rulers of Mewar: with patterns and construction techniques, by Pushpa Rani Mathur. Abhinav Publications, 1994. ISBN 8170172934.

rathore mertiya

References

1. ^ ^{a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o} The Rajputs of Rajputana: a glimpse of medieval Rajasthan by M. S. Naravane ISBN 81-7648-118-1
2. ^ ^{a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o} Rajput by Eva Ulian ISBN 978-1-4497-0060-7(sc) ISBN 978-1-4497-0061-4(e)

• "Udaipur State (also called Mewar): History". The Imperial Gazetteer of India. 1909. pp. v. 24, p. 87.. http://dsal.uchicago.edu/reference/gazetteer/pager.html?objectid=DS405.1.I34_V24_093.gif. 

External links

• Books about Mewar (Mewad/Mevad):: MevadNa Maharathee : NareeRatna PannaDai, MevadNi TejChhaya, MevadNo Kesari in Gujarati