Abhai Singh of Marwar

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Maharaja Abhai Singh Rathore
Maharaja of the Jodhpur
Abhai Singh.jpg
Ruler of Marwar
Tenure24 June 1724 – 18 June 1749
Coronation17 July 1724, Delhi
PredecessorAjit Singh
SuccessorRam Singh
Born7 November 1702
Meherangarh, Jodhpur
Died18 June 1749(1749-06-18) (aged 46)
Ajmer
HouseRathore
FatherAjit Singh
ReligionHinduism

Maharaja Abhai Singh Rathore (7 November 1702 – 18 June 1749) was the Raja of Marwar (Jodhpur) Kingdom (r.  24 June 1724 – 18 June 1749).[1][2]

Coronation[]

The Six Sons of Maharaja Ajit Singh of Jodhpur on a Visit

Abhai Singh was crowned on the death of this father Maharaja Ajit Singh who himself was killed by a conspiracy of Abhai Singh and Bakht Singh. He was nonetheless as fearless as his father.

Khejarli Massacre[]

Main article: Khejarli massacre

In 1726, Maharaja Abhai Singh of Marwar granted the estate of Khejarli to Thakur Surat Singh, who he became the first 'Thakur of Khejarli'.

In 1730, under his order, a minister Giridhar Bhandari, led a royal party to the Khejarli village with the intention of felling some Khejri trees that were sacred to the villagers. The trees were to be burned to produce lime for the construction of a new palace.

A local woman called Amrita Devi Bishnoi protested against the tree-felling because such acts were prohibited by the Bishnoi's religion. The feudal party said that they would only cease if she paid them a bribe, which she refused to do because she saw that as ignominious and an insult to her faith. She said that she would rather give away her life to save the trees. She and her three daughters (Asu, Ratni and Bhagu) were then killed by the party.[3]

News of the deaths spread and summons to a meeting were sent to 84 Bishnoi villages. The meeting determined that one Bishnoi volunteer would sacrifice their life for every tree that was cut down. Older people began hugging the trees that were intended to be cut and many were killed.[3]

These efforts failed to have the desired impact and Bhandari claimed that the Bishnois were sacrificing ageing people whom they no longer saw as useful to society. In response to this, young men, women and children began to follow the example of the old. 363 Bishnois died in the incident.[3]

The development shocked the tree-felling party. The group left for Jodhpur with their mission unfulfilled and the Maharaja Abhai Singh of Marwar subsequently ordered that no more trees should be felled.[3][4][5]

March against Sarbalund[]

When an open challenge was made in court, only Maharaja Abhai Singh took the bida. On his way to Ahmedabad, Abhai first met the Jaipur prince at Pushkar. Abhai Singh took route to Sirohi, Where on the border of sirohi Thakur Maan singh of Chandana resisted his forces and died fighting. Later his forces looted rovada and posaliya where king of sirohi in fear of desolation against such a big Marwar Army, presented his daughter jas kanwar in marriage to Abhai Singh, Ram singh was scion born of this wedlock.[6]

Battle of Ahmedabad against Sarbuland Khan and Role of Kesari Singh Akherajot[]

The Battle with Sarbuland:[1][7] Sarbuland's plans of defense are minutely detailed. At each gate he posted two thousand men and five guns manned by Europeans of whom he had a body of musketeers round his person. The cannonade had been kept up three days on both sides in which the son of Sarbuland was killed. At length Bakhth Singh led the storm when all the ots and awaits performed prodigies of valour.

Kesari Singh Akherajot of Marwar, pride of Marwar, on his horse

The Rajpurohit Sevad Akherajot warrior Kesari Singh Akherajot [8] of khedapa, who was also the Rajguru of Abhai Singh, with his brothers Surajmal Singh Tinwari, Jai Singh Jatiyawas, sons of ‘Paatshah’ Akheraj Singh ji of Tinwari Marwar, were the first to be carried to the immortal abode but though the sun stood still to see the deeds of the sons of Harnath we cannot particularize the bard's catalogue of heroes transferred to Suryaloka. Both the sons of Kesari Singh ji- Pratap Singh and Anop Singh also shouldered their father in the war. Kesari Singh having pre-decided to perform Saka was in the foremost row and went in the war with swords in both the hands and no shield. Kesari Singh ji was metaphored with powerful Hindu deity Lord Hanuman, as he was ferociously slewing enemies with both hands like a lion and was all covered with blood, reflecting the aura of the greatest warrior of the time, seen in person by poet(bard) Karnidaan ji on the battlefield. He mentions the view to be completely awe-strucking and one of its own kind as Kesari seems to be unstoppable and a shivering nightmare for enemies. Although he had already steered the wheels of the battle towards victory for his clan by killing chief enemy commanders, however couldn't watch it by himself as the fate had it- immortalised for the dignity of the pious soil of the motherland.

On this day when the best blood of Rajputana was shed on the walls of Ahmadabad Both the princely brothers had their share in the play of swords and each slew more than one leader of note Amra who had so often defended Ajmer slew five chiefs of the grades of two and three thousand horse.[9]

One hundred and twenty of Abhai Singh's chieftains of note with five hundred horse were slain and seven hundred wounded. The next morning Sarbuland surrendered with all his effects. He was escorted towards Agra his wounded Mughals dying at every stage but the soul of the Fearless was sad at the loss of his kin. Abhai Singh of Marwar now ruled over seventeen thousand towns of Gujarat and nine thousand of Marwar besides one thousand elsewhere. The princes of Idar, Bhuj, Parkar, Sind and Sirohi, the Chalukya Ran of Fatehpur, Jhunjunu, Nagor, Dungarpur, Banswara, Lunawara, Halwad, every morning bowed the head to Abhai Singh of Marwar, Thus in the enlightened half of moon on the victorious tenth VS 1787 / AD 1731 the day on which Ramachandra captured Lanka the war against Sarbuland an Omrah lord of twelve thousand was concluded.[10]

The Champawats bore the brunt and lost Karan of Pali, Kishan Singh of Sandri, Gordhan of Jalor and Kalyan. The Kumpawats lost also several leaders of clans as Narsingh, Surtaan Singh, Padma son of Durjan. The Jodha tribe lost three leaders namely Hayatmall, Ghuman and Jogidas. The brave Mertias also lost three Bhum Singh, Kushal Singh and Gulab son of Hathi. The other chieftains the Jadons, the Sonigiras the Dhondals and Khichis had many brave men carried to Bhanuloka and even bards and purohits were amongst the slain.[11]

Plot of Battle of Gangwana[]

Abhai Singh wanted to take over Bikaner and he sent troops to Bikaner in order to take over the newly coronated Maharaja Zorawar Singh.The Marwar troops reached the gate of Chintamani Fort (Now known as ) during the sacred occasion of Holi. After getting the news that Marwar troops are standing outside his Fort. He sent letters to Bakht Singh(Jagirdar of Nagaur,as well as brother of Maharaja of Marwar), of Amer[12] and the Rajpurohit Kanot warrior Jagram Singh Rajpurohit[13] (His military advisor from village Desalsar,near Nokha),appealing for assistance. As per Bakht Singh,"Since Bikaner was also a Rathore state, thus a collateral branch who would serve Marwar in times of peril". Bakhth schemed with Vidyadhar, a minister with Jai Singh of Amber and the result was that Amber marched against Marwar.After getting this news, Maharaja Abhay Singh sent letter to the troops who have already damaged the walls of the fort and were engaged in Battle against the troops of Bikaner,to return back to Marwar for a Battle against the troops of Amer and allied Mughal powers[14].Rajpurohit warrior Jagram Singh Kanot leaved Desalsar and alongwith some Jat and Sankhla Rajputs reached the Fort and saw that the troops of Marwar are in much more superior position than that of Bikaner. Then they announced saka and began to defend the Maharaja Zorawar Singh. After getting letter from the Abhai Singh of Marwar,the Marwar troops began withdrawing from situation and one soldier with his naked sword in his hand attacked Maharaja Zorawar Singh, but Jagram Singh Rajpurohit came infront the Maharaja. And the main General of the battle gets wounded, his intestine came out, but he, with a cloth tightly packed his abdomen and fought till the whole Marwar troops withdraw from Bikaner and reached Nagaur and died on the shoulder of the Maharaja at a very young age of 21.[15] Discovering his loyalty to him,Maharaja Zorawar Singh gifted a 4000 bigga of land(named Rasisar,which is joined to Deshnok) to his son Lunkaran Singh Rajpurohit, and built a cenotaph of him in the [16]

Battle Of Gangwana[]

At Battle of Gangwana it was left to Bakhth singh to save Rathore grace and he did so with only 1,000 rathores against an army of 100,000 Mughals and Rajputs. Relations were later restored.

Ram Singh succeeds[]

His son Maharaja Ram Singh succeeded him but was soon deposed by his uncle Bhakt Singh.

Preceded by
 Maharaja of the Marwar
24 June 1724 – 18 June 1749 		Succeeded by

References[]

  1. ^ a b N.S. Bhati, Studies in Marwar History, page 6
  2. ^ R.K. Gupta, S.R. Bakshi, "Studies In Indian History: Rajasthan Through The Ages The Heritage Of Rajputs", Page 302
  3. ^ a b c d "Bishnoi villagers sacrifice lives to save trees, 1730 | Global Nonviolent Action Database". nvdatabase.swarthmore.edu. Retrieved 20 August 2017.
  4. ^ "The Bishnois". edugreen.teri.res.in. Retrieved 20 August 2017.
  5. ^ Sharma, B. K.; Kulshreshtha, Seema; Rahmani, Asad R. (14 September 2013). Faunal Heritage of Rajasthan, India: General Background and Ecology of Vertebrates. Springer Science & Business Media. ISBN 9781461408000.
  6. ^ R.K. Gupta, S.R. Bakshi, "Studies In Indian History: Rajasthan Through The Ages The Heritage Of Rajputs", Page 345
  7. ^ The Rajputana gazetteer, Volume 2 By Rajputana
  8. ^ Dr Prahalad Singh Rajpurohit,"Veer Kesari Singh Rajpurohit ka Jasprakash"
  9. ^ Visheshwar Sarup Bhargava,"Marwar and the Mughal emperors (A. D. 1526–1748)", page 153
  10. ^ Visheshwar Sarup Bhargava,"Marwar and the Mughal emperors (A. D. 1526–1748)", page 143
  11. ^ Visheshwar Sarup Bhargava,"Marwar and the Mughal emperors (A. D. 1526–1748)", page 139
  12. ^ R.K. Gupta,SR Bakshi(2008).Rajasthan Through The Ages,Volm.4,Jaipur Ruler And Administration. Sarup&Sons.ISBN 9788176258418
  13. ^ http://www.newsfastweb.com/bikaner-state-army-commander-jaganam-rajpurohit-gave-the-pushpajalli/
  14. ^ Bankidas Ri Khyat
  15. ^ https://www.bhaskar.com/rajasthan/bikaner/news/latest-bikaner-news-024503-2174216.html
  16. ^ Dayaldas Khyat Page-89 pilot gazette pristh 69
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