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engraved on a
stone fixed in a pillar to the left on the entrance into the
Chaumukha temple at Ranakpur, about six miles from Sadri, in
the Pali district. For the study of the progress of the
Sanskrit language and script, it forms an important source of
the 15th century. It records the name of the architects of
repute of that age. It also informs us that the word nanak was
used for the coins then in circulation. Tile Chittor
Vijayasthambha inscription commonly called Kirtistambha
inscriptions of 1460 A.D. gives details of the region of Abu
and progress of art and literature during the period. It also
helps us to study the relations of the rulers and the peasants
regarding the land rights. The Kumbhalgarh inscription of 1460
A.D. records the description of Chittor and Trikut hills along
with t he details of the commoner’s life. There are references
in the epigraph regarding the institution of slavery, ashram,
vedic sacrifices, modes of penance and existence of inns and
educational institutions. The record also mentions the rite of
weighing (tuladan) against gold. The Nandia Copperplate grant
of 1937 records grant of a well and land to one Prabha
Brahaman. There are about 60 copper – plate grants which throw
a flood of light on several religious and charitable
institutions of the period under review. The study of the
coins of Maharana Kumbha also helps us to appreciate his age
as an age of prosperity. He struck gold, silver and copper
coins. The study of the coins reveals that his coins were of
two varieties, circular and rectangular. There were
copper-coins also for daily transactions. The obverse contains
the name of Maharana Kumbhakakaran, and on the reverse either
Kumbhalmeru or Eklingji. They form an important source of
study regarding the conditions of trade and commerce during
Kumbha’s age.
The Eklingamahatmya, an important
contemporary work in Sanskrit verse, shows that Maharana
Kumbha was well versed in the Vedas, Smritis (Law), Mimansa
(Philosophy), Rajaniti (Politics), Natya Shastra (Drama),
Ganita (Mathematics), Vyakarana (Grammar), Tarka (Logic) etc.
He also knew several language like Kamatai, Maharastri and
other languages. The Rasikapriya is a Commentary on Gita
Govinda, which shows that Kumbha was a great scholar of
Sanskrit and that he composed poetry with as much ease as
prose. The monuments of Kumbha are the important sources of
information for the study of civil and military architecture.
He took great interest in strengthening the defenses of his
kingdom by constructing forts of Abu, Chittor, Kumbhalgarh and
other places. These forts and some of the important towns were
adorned with works of art such as temples, images, lakes etc.
All these combined constitute a source of study for the
progress of art and culture of his period. Kumbha’s cultural
achievement can be studied in the domain of his activities
attaining particularly to the social set-up and to the
progress of art and literature of the period.
Kumbha’s Monuments
The most important contribution of Kumbha was in the field of
architecture. He took great interest in architecture and was
an enthusiastic builder. His architectural activities may best
be studied with reference to the forts, places, lakes etc.,
which adorned his age. Kumbha constructed the fort of
Achalgarh on a peak of Mount Abu in 1452 A.D. it consists of
portals, towers, guardrooms, and ruins of granary, altars and
palaces. The main object of its construction was that it may
serve as a military watch and alarm post against the
penetration of the army from Gujarat, Sirohi, Nagaur, and
Jalor. An equestrian brass statue of Maharana Kumbha with
those of two other Maharanas and a bigger one of the family
priest are objects of divine honour housed in a humble
strawshed on the descent of the fort.
“The highest monument of Kumbha’s military and constructive
genius, however, is the wonderful fortress of Kumbhalgarh or
Kumha and Kumbhalmer, second to none in strategically
importance or historical renown. It was to this impregnable
fortress that the Maharanas of Mewar always turned their eyes,
when Udaipur became unsafe and Chittor untenable. Kumbhalgarh,
situated on 25.9’ North and 73-35’ East, about 60 miles north
of Udaipur, stands on a high peak of the most westerly range
of the Aravali Hills on the site of an ancient stronghold,
which, according to traditions was built by the famous Jain
king Samprati, who flourished in the third century in the
Christian era. Kumbha began the construction of the fort in
1433, and it was completed in 1448 A.D. it was designed and
built by Kumbha’s architect Mandana.” “Kumbhalgarh is defended
by a series of walls and battlements and bastions bolt on the
slopes of a hill, and contain a domed placed and buildings
which are reached through several gateways along a winding
approach. The palace in it is built by Kumbha and stands 3,568
feet above sea-level, and commands a fine panoramic view of
the wild and rugged scenery of the Aravalis and sandy plains
of Marwar. Below his peak, on every side and enclosed with in
a high battlemented wall, so thick as to allow 8 horsemen to
ride abreast the uneven ground is studded with numerous old
temples and reservoirs, barracks for the garrison, grain
stores and other domed buildings. The formidable bastions in
the battlemented wall of Kumbhalgarh are peculiar in shape and
so built that the enemy may not be able to scale them by means
of ladders.”
The fort has seven gates leading to it. The inner fort is
called Katar-garh which is on higher elevation and crowned
with palaces called Jhalia-ka-Mahal, Badal Mahal and Tara Burj.
Other notable monuments within the forts are Topkhana, Nava
Choki, Vedi, Nilkantha temple and Mamadeo temple. The fort
provides space for habitations and agriculture. These are
facilities for irrigation through inter-connected reservoirs.
Another important fort, constructed on old ruins by the Rana,
was that of Chittor. He had the credit to strengthen the
defenses of the fort by constructing seven gates, circular
bastions and towers. He also provided a broad road up the hill
so that chariots and horses could reach the fort easily. He
also built several step wells, reservoirs and temples in the
fort.
There the Tower of Victory is the most important monument
genius ever erected by the Rana. It was constructed to
commemorate the victory of the Rana over Mahmud Khilji I of
Malwa. The construction of this tower was entrusted to Jaita,
a celebrated architect off the Chittor zone. It is one hundred
and twenty feet in height. There are nine distinct storeys
with planning on all sides, columns, pilasters, numberless
horizontal bands and cornices. A stair passes up the tower
from the first story to the eighth connecting central and
gallery part of the storeys. The entire exterior and interior
body of the tower is ornamented with sculptures pertaining to
mythological depiction and exposition of everyday life. The
tower of victory has proved a large treasure house of
continuous series of relief sculptures, which has ever come to
light. Five images of gods and goddesses, and relief
sculptures illustrate the ornaments, dresses and manners and
mode of living belonging to the 15th century. The rich and
varied contents of the sculptures of the tower hold before us
a mirror, as it were, reflecting heavenly and earthly life of
the age. Mr. Fergusson has rightly better taste as an
architectural object than the Roman example.” Col. Tod also
expresses his impression about the tower by saying “who could
look, on the lovely, this majestic column, which tells in
language more easy of interpretation than the tablets within…”
Other forts, minor and major, constructed by Kumbha were about
80 in number which fortified the passes between the frontiers
of Mewar, Marwar, Sirohi and Malwa. The fort of Kolana, Vairat
and Ahore were either built or repaired by him to defend the
northern and western frontiers of Mewar, Marwar, Sirohi and
Malwa. The fort of Kolana, Vairat and Ahore were either built
or repaired by him to defend the northern and western
frontiers of Mewar. To safeguard the south-western boundaries
of Mewar and overawe the Bhumiyas and Bhils of Jhdole, Panarva
etc., several other forts were constructed.
Maharana Kumbha also built quite a large number of temples in
Mewar. The Kumbhaswami temples of Chittor and Kumbhalgarh were
of highly elaborate pattern and decorated with sculptures. The
temple of Kumbhaswami of Chittor dedicated to Lord Krishna is
said to have been constructed, with the material brought from
the ruins of the ancient shrine at Nagari, situated 7 miles
from Chittor. “This temple has carvings in parts of its
exterior walls and roofs which are generally found in Buddhist
buildings.” Abul Fazi has named it the temple of Govind Shyama.
It was built in the year 1448 A.D. by the Rana. Of all the
temples erected by Kumbha, the Ranakpur Temple is the most
important and majestic. It was erected in the Sadri Pass and
is dedicated to Rishabhadeva. The temple covers 48,000 square
feet area and consists of Shikhars, domes and Sabhamandap off
extra-ordinary size. There are about 20 domes supported by
about 420 columns. Mr. Fergusson praises this temple in the
words : “It is the most complicated and extensive Jaina
temple, I have myself ever had an opportunity of inspecting.
Indeed, I know of no other building in India of the same class
that leaves so pleasing an impression or afford so many hints
for the graceful arrangements of columns in an interior”. The
temple was designed by one Dipaka or Dipa, a Sompura Brahmin
of Mundata. It was originally designed to have seven storeys
but only four could be completed. There is another important
temple of Ekligna which was renovated by Maharana Kumbha. It
consists of mandapa, sanctum, toran, double storeyed porch,
double storeyed sanctuary and pyramidal sikhara. It contents
four-faced divinity and a brazen bull Nandi of the natural
size, caste in excellent proportions. The approach to the
temple is through a gate connected with narrow passages and
courtyards of different sizes and levels. Another important
temple, named Singar Chauri was, built by Bhandari Velaka, the
treasurer of Kumbha, in 1448 A.D. “The exterior walls of the
temples are beautifully sculptured in horizontal bands
containing numerous figures and floral scrabs and are worth
study by anyone who is a carver. The central part of the
building is covered by a circular Jain dome built in
horizontal layers richly ornamented. Its architecture is
admirable and building, although small, is one of the most
attractive in Chittor.”
Maharana Kumbha also constructed residential palaces, one at
Kumbhalgarh and another at Chittor. He also built several
reservoirs at Chittor, Abu and Kumbhalgarh, He laid out a
garden at Kumbhalgarh. Kumbha’s palaces consist of plain
chambers, one over the other, adjoined by two side rooms. The
male and female apartments were separated by narrow walled
gallery running from one end to the other. They were so
designed that in a way they may be termed self sufficient with
rooms, rectangular halls, stables, temples, store-houses,
towers and residential quarters of the which towers and
residential quarters of the princes. Thus the epoch of Kumbha
is memorable in the political and cultural history of
Rajasthan. Many of the poets and writers flourished during his
time. Under him Mewar became a great center of learning.
Kumbha for all such achievements bore the title of paramaguru,
the highest preceptor of kings. We may conclude by saying,
“Maharana Kumbha was a great sovereign, a great military
commander a great builder and a great scholar”. |
