History of the Khaljis, A.D. 1290–1320 c8.31

c8.31

¹⁹ A number of Hamīr Rāsas depicting the life-story of Rana Hammīr of Rastambhapura (Ranthambhor) have been written from time to time. The earliest Rasa is by the Jain euridite Nyaya Chandra Sūri (C. 1450 V.S., 1393 A.D.) written at Gwalior. Almost all Rāsas give the same facts about the life of their hero, with a few minor differences here and there. According to these Mahākavyās Rana Hammīr was the son of Jaitra Singh and his queen Hīra Devi. After giving the prince excellent advice about the business of the government, the old father retired to jungle to live a life of recluse and conferred the government on Hammīr, in Sam. 1330 (1283 A.D.). Rana Hammīr gave shelter to a fugitive Mahim Shah who had incurred the displeasure of sultan ‘Alāúddin because a queen of the sultan, Chimna Begum by name, had bestowed her affections on the Mughal nobleman. (According to Muslim historians Muhhammad Shah had fled from the Muslim camp after the Jālor mutiny). Sultan ‘Alāúddin demanded the surrender of the fugitive but the Rana refused to surrender him. Consequently the Sultan invaded Ranthambhor. At that time Rāna Hammīr was twenty-eight years old. Secretly he threw hides into the provisions stored up in the fortress and thus polluted them. Muslim historians also affirm that the fort capitulated on account of scarcity of provisions. According to the Hammīr Kāvyās Rānā Hammīr was not killed on the field of battle but when he began to despair of victory he severed his head with his own hands and offered it to god Mahādeva. *J.A.S.B.* 1879 pp. 186-252. *Ind. Ant.* Vol. VIII, 1879 pp. 55-73.