Annals and Antiquities of Rajasthan, or the Central and Western Rajput States of India v3.c42.s1.t2.30

v3.c42.s1.t2.30

Rāo Banda, c. A.D. 1485.—Banda has left a deathless name in Rajwara for his boundless charities, more especially during the famine which desolated that country in S. 1542 (A.D. 1486).¹ He was forewarned, says the bard, in a vision, of the visitation. Kal (Time or the famine personified) appeared riding on a lean black buffalo. Grasping his sword and shield, the intrepid Hara assaulted the apparition. “Bravo, Banda Hara,” it exclaimed ; “I am Kal (Time) ; on me your sword will fall in vain. Yet you are the only mortal who ever dared to oppose me. Now listen : I am Byalis (forty-two) ; the land will become a desert ; fill your granaries, distribute liberally, they will never empty.” Thus saying, the spectre vanished. Rao Banda obeyed the injunction ; he collected grain from every surrounding State. One year passed and another had almost followed, when the periodical rains ceased, and a famine ensued which ravaged all India. Princes far and near sent for aid to Bundi, while his own poor had daily portions served out gratis : which practice is still kept up in memory of Rao Banda, by the name of Langar-ki-gagari, or ‘anchor of Banda.’²