History of Aurangzib, Based on Original Sources v3.c54: Appendix X. Summary of the Narrative of the War as Given in the Rajasthani Bardic Chronicles and Traditions.

History of Aurangzib, Based on Original Sources v3.c54

Language: English

v3.c54.s1 A. — 14 parts
v3.c54.s2 B. Doings of the Sisodias. — 7 parts

Appendix X. Summary of the Narrative of the War as Given in the Rajasthani Bardic Chronicles and Traditions.

A.

Jaswant Singh died at Peshawar on Paush Krishna 10, 1735 Samvat (=28 Nov. 1678.) The news reached Marwar 18 days later. Shortly afterwards the Mughal subahdar of Ajmir informed the Rathor nobles and officers at Jodhpur that imperial administration would be established in Jodhpur and Mairta. They replied that the Emperor ought to wait and see if either of the two pregnant queens of the late Maharajah would deliver a male heir. A council of regency composed of high Rathor officers was formed in the meantime.

v3.c54.s1.3

Aurangzib prepared for invading Marwar and himself reached Ajmir on 20th February 1679. He sent Khan-i-Zaman [=Khan-i-Jahan] with 10,000 horse and Tahir Beg on to Jodhpur. On Chaitra Krishna 12 (=27 Feb.) the Khan, marching from Mairta, reached Palasani, where he was met by messengers from Lahor bringing the news of the birth of two sons to Jaswant, on Chaitra Krishna 4 (=19 Feb. 1679.) Later, he reached Jodhpur. The Rathors peacefully allowed Mughal administration to be set up in Marwar, in order to placate the Emperor.

v3.c54.s1.4

A deputation of Rathor nobles went to Delhi to urge the claims of Ajit Singh to the throne; but the Emperor would not listen to them, he gave Marwar to Indra Singh, 26 May, 1679.

v3.c54.s1.5

The Rathors in Delhi fought and carried off Ajit into safety, but both the queens and many of the captains and troops perished, some 40 men only escaping to Marwar. The news of this fight reached Jodhpur on 4th August, and the Rathors immediately embarked on war, attacking the imperial outposts. Dindar Khan, the Mughal agent in Jodhpur, fled to Nagor. Mairta and Siwanah were recovered by the Rajputs.

v3.c54.s1.6

The advancing Rathor army, under Raj Singh of Mairta, was met by Tahawwur Khan at Pushkar. A three days' fight took place with heavy slaughter among the Mairta contingent. At the end of it Tahawwur had to retreat to Ajmir.

v3.c54.s1.7

Indra Singh from Delhi reached Jodhpur on 31 Aug. 1679 and took possession of the city. In October, Maharana Raj Singh sent his minister Shah Dayaldas to the Rathors sheltering in the hills, with proposals for an alliance against the Mughals. The Rathors and Sisodias in concert invested Jhalor, the imperial qiladar of which, Fath Khan, was compelled to pay a ransom of Rs. 10,000.

v3.c54.s1.8

In November 1679 Aurangzib came to Ajmir again. He sent an army to occupy Udaipur, which the Maharana had vacated. Battle at the Deobari pass.

v3.c54.s1.9

The Emperor sent Akbar to invade Marwar. Battles were fought at various places. The Rathors had expelled the Mughal outposts at Mairta, Didwana, &c. These were now restored by the prince. Wherever the Rathors arrived they drove out the imperial forces, took plunder and pulled down the mosques. When the Muslim troops arrived they demolished the temples.

v3.c54.s1.10

As the war was not being conducted to his satisfaction, the Emperor himself went to Mewar and transferred Indra Singh from Jodhpur to Bednor. But after a time he sent Indra Singh back to Jodhpur to fight Durgadas. Indra was defeated at Osian, 36 miles n. w. of Jodhpur, on Jyaishtha Shukla 14 (=1 June 1680) and fell back on Jodhpur.

v3.c54.s1.11

In the month of June 1680, while Aurangzib was at Ajmir, he ordered Prince Akbar and Tahawwur Khan to attack the Maharana. The main battle was fought at Kundadhah. Then the imperialists encamped at Sojat, whence Tahawwur advanced into the Deosuri district of the Godwar province, fighting the Rathor-Sisodia forces for some days. On the 15th he was defeated at Narlai and forced to fall back on his base.

v3.c54.s1.12

Akbar could accomplish nothing in this war. He was between two fires: the Emperor's wrath at his failure and the unconquerable strength of the enemy. In despair, he listened to the seductive proposals of the Rajputs to make him Emperor of Delhi if he recognized Ajit's right to Marwar. Ram Singh of Ratlam was the medium of this conspiracy.

v3.c54.s1.13

Maharana Raj Singh died on 22 Oct. 1680, and the Rathor chiefs went and placed Jai Singh on his throne. The Rajputs raided the roads and invested the cities, levying ransom from all places and the traders on the roads.

v3.c54.s1.14

While Durgadas and Sonang were halting with their forces at Jaliwara in Godwar, Akbar's agents met them and settled the terms of the pact [evidently in December.] Then Akbar crowned himself Emperor at the village of Khod [or Badul, according to another account] and advanced on Ajmir to attack Aurangzib, who came out of the city and encamped at Dumara, a village 8 m. west of it.

B. Doings of the Sisodias.

v3.c54.s2.2

(From the *Raj-vilas.*)

v3.c54.s2.3

At the appeal of the Rathor leaders, Maharana Raj Singh wrote to Aurangzib pleading for the rights of Jaswant's infant son. It only angered the Emperor, who set his army in motion. The Mewar feudatories and Rathor nobles waited on the Maharana, who said, "Hear, ye Samantas! Aurangzib will not understand the case without a fight."

v3.c54.s2.4

The Rajput army under the Maharana marched out. Five detachments were sent to hold the passes against the enemy. The rainy season began and made the ghats impassable.

v3.c54.s2.5

The Mughals marched on Udaipur, but were struck with terror [before the ghats.] Khan Bahadur was afraid to advance. The Emperor then sent Sultan Akbar with 50,000 horse, (his Van being under Husain Aghar), to enter Udaipur. This was done and Mughal thanas were established at many places in Mewar. The Maharana ordered his vassals to guard their own homes and issue on raids. [Canto 10.]

v3.c54.s2.6

Vikram Solanki and Gopinath Rathor opposed the Mughal advance on Deosuri ghat, and made a heavy slaughter of the enemy. This was the first victory of the Maharana's troops and they captured much treasure. [Canto 11.]

v3.c54.s2.7

Udaybhan, son of Rukhmangad Chauhan, raided the thana of Udaipur. [Canto 12.] Prince Akbar advanced. The Maharana from Nenwari sent troops against the Mughals. They defeated Husain Ali [leader of the Mughal Van], who fell back 50 miles in one night, in the intense cold of Falgun [February], on the prince's camp. [Canto 13.]

v3.c54.s2.8

Gang (son of Kesari Singh Rawat, a Saktawat) raided Chitor ; Bhim (a son of the Maharana) raided Gujrat and Kathiawad ; Sambaldas Rathor attacked the imperial thana at Bednor (under Ruhullah Khan) ; Dayal Shah sacked Dhar, Sarangpur &c. in Malwa ; Jai Singh (the crown prince) defeated Mir Matang [? at Chitor ?] in June 1680, and then attacked Prince Akbar, who was in fort Chitrakot, defeating and plundering him and driving him back to Ajmir. [Cantos 14-18.]