Chhatrasal

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Chhatrasal
Maharaja of Bundelkhand
Maharaja Chhatrasal 1.jpg
Ruler of Bundelkhand
Reign1675–1731
PredecessorPost established
SuccessorHriday Shah(Panna State)
Jagat Rai (Jaitpur State)
Bharti Chand (Jaso State)
Born(1649-05-04)4 May 1649
Kachar Kachnai,
Mughal Empire
(Present day:
Kachar Kachnai,
Tikamgarh District,
Madhya Pradesh,
India)
Died20 December 1731(1731-12-20) (aged 82)
SpouseDev Kunwari,

Sushila Bai


Ruhaani Bai (protected)
IssueHarde Sah
Jagat Rai
Bharti Chand
Mastani
HouseBundela
FatherChampat Rai
MotherSarandha
ReligionHinduism

Maharaja Chhatrasal Bundela (4 May 1649 – 20 December 1731) was an early modern Bundela Rajput[1][2][3] ruler who resisted the Mughal Empire, and established his independent kingdom in Bundelkhand till the end of his reign.[4].after the death of his father in war, he along with his mother went to his mother's homeland and took training for the fighters out there. At the young age of 18 he cone back to Bundelkhand and with just 16 of his loyal commander he won his first battle against his uncle.

Early life[]

Chhatrasal was born at Kachar Kachnai in Tikamgarh, on 4 May 1649, to Champat Rai and Sarandha. He was a descendant of Rudra Pratap Singh of Orchha.[5]

Power Struggle against the Mughals[]

Chhatrapati Shivaji sending Chhatrasal to liberate his ancestral lands.

Chhatrasal was 12 when his father Champat Rai of Mahoba was killed by the Mughals during the reign of Aurangzeb. Inspired by Chhatrapati Shivaji's ideals he travelled to Maharashtra and sought guidance from him. Chhatrasal raised the banner of revolt against the Mughals in Bundelkhand at the age of 22, with an army of 5 horsemen and 25 swordsmen, in 1671.[6]

Chhatrasal declared independence from Mughals in 1720s and was able to resist the Mughals until he was attacked by Muhammad Khan Bangash in December 1728. Chhatrasal was 79 years old when he led his army against Bangash, after a severe battle Chhatrasal was defeated and was forced to retreat to his fort at Jaitpur. The Mughals besieged him and conquered most of his territories. Chhatrasal made several attempts to ask the Baji Rao I, the Peshwa of Maratha Empire, for help. However, the Peshwa was busy and could not help Chhatrasal until March 1729. In a letter sent to Baji rao, Chhatrasal wrote: "Know you Bajirao! That I am in the same plight in which the famous elephant was when caught by the crocodile. My valiant race is on the point of extinction. Come and save my honour".[7] Peshwa Baji rao I personally led his army towards Bundelkhand and attacked several Mughal outposts, the Mughal supplies were completely cut off by the swift Cavalry of the Peshwa in the Battle of Malwa. Bangash who was surprised by the sudden involvement of the Marathas, sent several letters to the Mughal emperor for aid, however upon being denied any help he started negotiations with Chhatrasal and Bajirao. Bangash was allowed to retreat on the condition that he never returns or shows aggression towards Bundelkhand. Chhatrasal rewarded the peshwa with large tracts of lands and diamond mines in Bundelkhand which helped the Marathas to gain access in Central and North India.[8][9]

Relations with Bajirao I[]

Mastani, the wife of the Maratha Peshwa Baji Rao I was Chhatrasal's daughter

The Maratha Peshwa Baji Rao I's second wife Mastani was Chhatrasal's daughter born from his Muslim concubine.[10] [5] In his book Mastani, the historian D. G. Godse states that the relationship between Chhatrasal and Baji Rao I was like that of father and son.[citation needed]

Before his death on 20 December 1731, Chhatrasal bequeathed Mahoba and the surrounding area to Baji Rao I in return for Baji Rao's assistance against the Mughals. Also, Chhatrasal put an army of 5,000 men under service of Peshwa in Pune. Chhatrasal also paid 12 lakh rupees as a tribute to Maratha Emperor (Chhatrapati) so as to establish long time relationship with Satara royal family.[citation needed]

Patron of literature[]

Chhatrasal was a patron of literature, and his court housed several noted poets. His eulogies written by Kavi Bhushan, Lal Kavi, Bakhshi Hansaraj and other court poets helped him gain lasting fame.[11]

Religious views[]

Chhatrasal was a disciple of Mahamati Prannathji and accepted him as his guru. Their meeting took place in in 1683, a place near Panna. His nephew Dev Karanji who had met Swami Prannathji, earlier in Ramnagar, was instrumental for this meeting. Chhatrasal was highly impressed of Prannathji and became his disciple. When Maharaja Chhatrasal came to meet him, he was going for a battle against Mughals. Swami Prannathji gave him his own sword and covered his head with a scarf, saying, "You will always be victorious. Diamond mines will be discovered in your land and you will become a great emperor." His prophecy came true and even today Panna region is famous for their diamond mines. Swami Prannathji was not only the religious Guru of Chhatrasal; but he guided him too in political, social, and economic matters. It was by being granted the boon of finding diamonds in Panna by Swami Prannathji that Maharaja Chhatrasal became prosperous.[12][13][14]

Successors and descendants[]

Chhatrasal gave a third of his kingdom to Marathas under Peshwa Baji Rao I for his assistance, the other parts of his kingdom was divided amongst his sons. The eldest son, Harde Sah was given the kingdom of Panna State; second son, Jagat Rai was given Jaitpur State and the youngest son Bharti Chand was given Jaso State.[15] The Jaitpur State was further divided into Ajaigarh State, Bijawar State, Charkhari State and Chhatarpur State by his descendants.[citation needed]

Legacy[]

Chhatri of Maharaja Chhatrasal, at Dhubela (near Chhatarpur)

The Chhatarpur town and its eponymous district in Madhya Pradesh are named after Chhatrasal. Several places in Chhatarpur, including the Maharaja Chhatrasal Museum, Maharaja Chhatrasal Station Chhatarpur railway station (a railway station in Chhatarpur), are named after him. The Chhatrasal Stadium in Delhi is also named after the Maharaja Chhatrasal.

In popular culture[]

  • Veer Chhatrasal is a 1971 Indian historical film about the king by , starring Ajit in the titular role.
  • Chhatrasal, a 2021 web series released on MX Player starring Jitin Gulati in the titular role of Maharaja Chhatrasal.[16]

References[]

  1. ^ Nandini Chatterjee (2020). Land and Law in Mughal India: A Family of Landlords across Three Indian Empires. Cambridge University Press. p. 84. Bundela Rajput
  2. ^ Eugenia Vanina (2012). Medieval Indian Mindscapes: Space, Time, Society, Man. p. 147.
  3. ^ Jaswant lal Mehta (2002). Advanced Study in the History of Modern India 1707-1813. p. 105.
  4. ^ Sen, Sailendra (2013). A Textbook of Medieval Indian History. Primus Books. pp. 187–188. ISBN 978-9-38060-734-4.
  5. ^ Jump up to: a b [http://www.historyfiles.co.uk/KingListsFarEast/IndiaBundelkhandPanna.htm
  6. ^ Advanced Study in the History of Modern India 1707-1813 pg.106
  7. ^ Srinivasan, Bajirao I, pg77
  8. ^ Advanced Study in the History of Modern India 1707-1813 pg.106
  9. ^ Advance Study in the History of Modern India (Volume-1: 1707-1803) By G.S.Chhabra pg.24
  10. ^ Jaswant Lal Mehta (1 January 2005). Advanced Study in the History of Modern India 1707-1813. Sterling Publishers Pvt. Ltd. p. 108. ISBN 978-1-932705-54-6. Of his own sweet will The Rajput king bestowed a large number of Personal Jagir to Bajirao near Jhansi and further offer hand of her daughter Mastani born from his Muslim Concubine
  11. ^ K. K. Kusuman (1990). A Panorama of Indian Culture: Professor A. Sreedhara Menon Felicitation Volume. Mittal Publications. p. 157. ISBN 978-81-7099-214-1. Retrieved 10 December 2012.
  12. ^ Pranami Faith : Saints of Pranami Dharma : Texts
  13. ^ The Pranami Faith: Beyond `Hindu’ and `Muslim’- Dominique-Sila Khan
  14. ^ Identity and religion: foundations of anti-Islamism in India By Amalendu Misra
  15. ^ Jain 2002, p. 3.
  16. ^ Rajadhyaksha, Ashish; Willemen, Paul (1999). Encyclopaedia of Indian cinema. British Film Institute. Retrieved 12 August 2012.

Further reading[]

  • Bhagavānadāsa Gupta, Life and times of Maharaja Chhatrasal Bundela, New Delhi, Radiant (1980). ISBN 1-135-47177-0
  • Bhagavānadāsa Gupta, Contemporary Sources of the Mediaeval and Modern History of Bundelkhand (1531-1857), vol. 1 (1999). ISBN 81-85396-23-X.
  • "Mastani" by D. G. Godse
  • Dharmika Teja, a Kannada language historical novel; the story revolves around Maharaja Chhatrasal's youth

External links[]

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