Bappa Rawal
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Bappa Rawal, born Prince Kalbhoj, was the 8th ruler of the Guhilot dynasty, founded by Guhil/ Guhiladitya. He founded the state of Mewar (c.734) in present-day Rajasthan, India.
Bappa was blessed by Harit Rishi, a sage of the Mewar region, with kingship. He based the capital of Mewar in the fortress city of Chittor. In order to fend off Muslim invasions across the western borders of Rajputana, Bappa united the smaller states of Ajmer and Jaisalmer to repel the invaders. During the next 800 years, Chittor became the symbol of Hindu resistance in western India.
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[edit] Bappa Rawal
Bappa Rawal (Kalbhoj) (b. Prince Kalbhoj, ca 713-d. 753, possibly at Eklingji), eighth ruler of the Guhilot Dynasty and founder of the Mewar Dynasty (r. 734-753); said by genealogists to be 80th in descent from the god Rama. Eventually, around the age of 21, he succeeded his father, Rawal Mahendra II.
Bappa Rawal is one of the most powerful and famous rulers of the Mewar Dynasty. Although a surviving member of the Guhilot clan, Prince Kalbhoj (his actual name) did not continue the family name of seven generations when he came to the throne; instead, he established the Mewar Dynasty, naming it for the kingdom he had just taken. He went on to become a celebrated hero on battlefields near and far, yet his fascinating life is full of enigmas, and many were the legends created about him. His father, Rawal Mahendra II had married a woman of the Paramara Rajput clan, possibly from Mt. Abu or Chandravati, both Paramara centres at that time. She was also the sister of Maan Mori, the Paramara king who ruled much of the State of Mewar. This included Guhilot clan land, which Paramara invaders from Malwa had annexed a century or so earlier, and set up their capital in the ancient fortress of Chittorgarh.
Prince Kalbhoj of the Guhilot clan, who would later establish the Mewar Dynasty (734), taking the name Bappa Rawal, spent his childhood near Nagda. As with most high-spirited princes, there are several legends from Bappa's early years as a youth in the wild Aravalli Hills. The pranks of this royal shepherd (he tended the sacred cattle of the Brahmans) include his allegedly innocent mischief among village damsels, although perhaps it was not so innocent. One afternoon, in a game of his own devising, he 'married' several of the young girls, which ended with his having to flee Nagda to a hide-out in the hills to escape the maidens' irate parents. An interesting footnote to this legend of potential virility is that Bappa Rawal is said to have married many women, Hindu and Muslim, and sired well over one hundred children.
[edit] Marriage
Bappa Rawal obtained Chittor in dowry from Maan Mori.
[edit] Legend
Bappa Rawal is known for his strong pride in his Dharma and culture, for defeating the alien Arabian invaders and being a great, glorious and brave king.
Bappa Rawal The founder of the Guhilot Rajavansa ( dynasty of rulers ) in Rajasthan, Bappa Rawal is known for his strong pride in his Dharma and culture, for defeating the alien Arabian invaders and being a great, glorious and brave king. He started as a ruler of a small principality in Nagahrad ( Nagda ), and extended his rulership up to Chittaud.
Bappa Rawal, born Prince Kalbhoj, was the 8th ruler of the Guhilot dynasty. He founded the state of Mewar (c.734) in present-day Rajasthan, India. Bappa Rawal obtained Chittor in dowry from Maan Mori.
Bappa was also blessed by Harita, a sage of the Mewar region, with kingship. He based the capital of Mewar in the fortress city of Chittor. In order to face of Muslim invasions across the western borders of Rajputana, Bappa united the smaller states of Ajmer and Jaisalmer to repel the invaders. During the next 800 years, Chittor becomes the symbol of Hindu resistance in western India.
In 39th century of Kaliyuga (i.e 8th century A.D.). Muslims started attacking India within a few decades of the birth of Islam. Bappa Rawal fought and defeated the Arab invaders in the country and also turned the tide against them and dominated the aliens in their own territory. For a few hundred years they had no success. Bin Qasim was able to defeat Dahir in Sindh but was routed by Bappa Rawal. Qasim attacked Chittor, which was ruled by Mori Rajputs, via Mathura. Bappa, of Guhilot dynasty, was a commander in Mori army and so was Dahir's son. Bappa defeated and pursued Bin Qasim through Saurashtra and back to Sindh. After this resounding defeat of the caliphate at the hands of Bappa, for next few hundred years there were no more Islamic incursions into India. (note Muslim historians rarely recorded the defeats of there kings)
Ruling thus over his kingdom for a long time he abdicated the throne in favour of his son - rather made his son as the king and himself turned into Siva upasaka ( worshiper of Shiva ) and became a Yati ( an ascetic who has full control over his passions ).
He had been extant in Kaliyuga's 39th (i.e. 5thA.D.) century.
[edit] References
- Annals and Antiquities of Rajasthan; or the Central and Western Rajput States (Hardcover) by James Tod. Edited by William Crooke. 3 volumes, hardcover. Publisher: Trans-Atl (1994) ISBN 81-7069-128-1
- http://www.mmcfindia.org/Bappa_Rawal.asp
