Hammir Singh

Maharana Hammir Singh (1314–1364),[2] or Hammir (not to be confused with Hammir Singh of Ranthambore), was a 14th-century ruler of Mewar in present-day Rajasthan, India.[3] Hammir Singh, was a scion of the cadet branch Rana of the Guhila dynasty, who regained control of the region, re-established the dynasty after defeating the Tughlaq dynasty, and captured present-day Rajasthan from Muslim forces of Delhi and became the first of the 'Rana' branch to become the King of Mewar with title of Maharana. Hammir also became the progenitor of the Sisodia clan, a branch of the Guhila dynasty, to which every succeeding Maharana of Mewar has belonged. Mewar during Rana Hammir's reign, was one of the few ethnic Indian states that had withstood the Turkic invasions. According to John Darwin "Only in Mewar and in Vijaynagar had Hindu states withstood the deluge".[4]

Hammir Singh
Maharana of Mewar
Maharana of Mewar
Reign1326–1364
PredecessorAri Singh
SuccessorKshetra Singh
Born1302
Died1364 (aged 61–62)
SpouseSonagari
IssueKshetra Singh
Loona
Khangar
Varisaal[1]
DynastySisodia
FatherAri Singh
MotherUrmila

Mahavir Prasad Prashasti identify to Hammmir as Vanquisher of Turushkas.[5] After regaining Chittor, he built the Annapoorna Mata temple in Chittor Fort dedicated to Aai Birwadi.[6] He also built the old temple of Roopnarayan Ji in Sewantri.[7]

Relations with the Rawal Branch

Ancestors of Hammir Singh connecting to the Guhila Rawal Branch of Chittor are:[8]

  • Rann Singh
  • Rahapa
  • Narapati
  • Dinakara
  • Jasakarna
  • Nagapala
  • Karnapala
  • Prithvipal
  • Bhuvanasimha
  • Bhimasimha
  • Jayasimha
  • Lakhanasimha
  • Arisimha (Arasi)
  • Hammira (Hammir Singh)

Early years

Rana Laksha of Sisoda had nine sons, of whom the eldest was Ari Singh, who married Urmila, a Chandaana Chauhan Rajput lady from the village of Unnava near Kelwara.[9] Rana Hammir was the only child of this couple.

At the turn of the 13th century, Alauddin Khilji attacked Chittorgarh, Rana Laksha and his sons joined the garrison at Chittorgarh to defend it against the invading army. Rana Laksha died along with his seven sons performing saka (fighting to death) at the end of Siege of Chittorgarh. Ruling Rawal branch of Chittorgarh ceased to exist, as they all died performing saka. Ajay Singh was wounded and was smuggled out of Chittorgarh to preserve the blood line. He reached Kelwara and recovered of his wounds there. There he found out about Hammir and called him from Unnava. Rana Hammir killed Munja Balecha of Godwar, who was causing chaos in the nearby area. This event impressed his uncle and Hammir was chosen as the successor to the throne.[10]

Lakshman Singh was Thakur of Sisoda village. He died along with his seven sons performing saka (fighting to death), while their women committed jauhar (self-immolation in preference to becoming enemy captives). Laksha was descended in direct patrician lineage from Bappa Rawal and hence belonged to the Gehlot (Guhilot) clan. Laksha came from the village of Sisoda near the town of Nathdwara and thus his children came to be known as Sisodia.

Recovering Chittorgarh

Khaljis allocated administration of Chittorgarh to Sonagara Maldev, ruler of the nearby state of Jalore. After becoming the Rana of Sisoda, Hammir pursued an aggressive scheme of recovering Mewar.

He made several attempts at capturing Chittor, but failed, due to which his resources dwindled and many of his followers left. Hammir, wishing to give rest to his men and regroup, ceased the attacks and started on a pilgrimage to Dwarka with his remaining men. On the way, he camped at the Khod village in Gujarat, where lived a known mystic lady Aai Birwadi who was considered an incarnation of Hinglaj. Hammir paid homage and recounted his setbacks, at which he was advised to return to Mewar and make preparations for another attack. Hammir responded that he no longer has the manpower and capacity to launch another attack. The mystic Birwadi assured him that her son Baruji will join him in Mewar.[6]

In a few days, Baruji, a rich dealer in horses, arrived with a large caravan of 500 horses at Kherwara, where Hammir had camped.[6][11]

In a requirement to settle his rule, Maldev arranged for the marriage of his daughter Songari with Rana Hammir. Khiljis didn't like this matrimonial alliance and they took back Chittorgarh from Maldev and gave him Merta. This prompted Hammir to strive for expelling the Khilji's army from Mewar. Hammir and his Charan allies led by Baruji Sauda mounted an attack and succeeded to gain Chittorgarh after Muhammad bin Tughluq came to the throne.[12][13][14]

Conflict against the Tughluq dynasty

The Rajput bardic chronicles such as Nainsi ri Khyat by Nainsi (17th century) claim that amid the turmoil caused by the end of the Khalji dynasty in Delhi, Hammir Singh gained control of Mewar. He evicted Maldev's son Jaiza, the Chauhan vassal of the Delhi Sultantate, from Mewar. Jaiza fled to Delhi, prompting the Delhi Sultan Muhammad bin Tughluq to march against Hammir Singh. According to Muhnot Nainsi, Hammir Singh defeated Tughluq near the Singoli village, in the Battle of Singoli and imprisoned the Sultan. He then released the Sultan Six months later, after the Sultanate ceded to him Ajmer, Ranthambor, Nagaur and Sooespur; and paid 5 million rupees and 100 elephants as ransom.[15]

A 1438 Jain temple inscription attests that Rana Hammir Singh forces defeated a Muslim army; this army may have been led by a general of Muhammad bin Tughluq. It is possible that subsequently, Muhammad bin Tughluq and his successors did not assert their authority in the present-day Rajasthan, and Hammir Singh's authority was recognised by other Rajput chiefs, making Mewar practically independent of the Delhi Sultanate.[15]

Rana Hamir is a 1925 Indian silent film about the monarch by Baburao Painter.[16]

See also

References
  1. History of Rajputana, G.H. Ojha, pp. 555
  2. Ram Vallabh Somani 1976, p. 109.
  3. Sen, Sailendra (2013). A Textbook of Medieval Indian History. Primus Books. pp. 116–117. ISBN 978-9-38060-734-4.
  4. After Tamerlane: The Rise and Fall of Global Empires, 1400-2000 By John Darwin
  5. Ram Vallabh Somani 1976, p. 107.
  6. Bahadur), Har Bilas Sarda (Diwan (1935). Speeches and Writings. Vedic Yantralaya.
  7. Ram Vallabh Somani 1976, p. 108.
  8. D. C. Ganguly 1957, p. 91.
  9. Shayamldas, Vir Vinod, Part 1, pp290
  10. Ram Vallabh Somani 1976, p. 105.
  11. Gadhvi, Priyvrat (26 May 2020). "HISTORICAL REFERENCES TO THE HORSE IN INDIA". ResearchGate. Influx of the Kathiawari into Mewar was historically older, and apart from Charan traders regularly trading horses (a sub-class of Charans are known as 'sauda' barhats, such as those from Soniyana village in Mewar), a big example of the coming of Kathiawari horses into Mewar and beyond is the episode of the help provided by the Charan devi Aai Varvadi to Rana Hammir singh of the Sisodia clan when he reclaimed Chittor from Maldev of Jalore (under whom it was placed by Alauddin Khilji after sack of Chittor), by sending an army of 500 Kathiawari cavalry under her son Baruji to assist Hammir Singh in retaking Chittor. This was in early 14th century.
  12. Ram Vallabh Somani 1976, p. 106.
  13. Jain, Pratibha; Śarmā, Saṅgītā (2004). Honour, Status & Polity. Rawat Publications. ISBN 978-81-7033-859-8. The Charans who occupied significant positions in the courts of the rulers were known as Barhats. In Mewar, the descendants of Baru Charan, who came to be known as Sauda Barhats, acquired prominence on account of Baru's timely military assistance to Hammir in regaining his lost throne.
  14. Kishori Saran Lal (1950). History of the Khaljis (1290-1320). Allahabad: The Indian Press. p. 131. OCLC 685167335. Maldeva's greatest enemy was Hammir, Rānã of Sesoda, whose grandfather Lakshman Singh had died with his seven sons including Arsi Singh, father of Hamrair, fighting in the battle of Chittor. Hammīr who had survived the memorable battle, Hammir became the Rana of Sesoda estate and constantly waged war to obtain Chittor Maldeva tried to conciliate him. He married his daughter to Hammīr and ceded certain parts of Chittor to him, but the brave Ränā was determined to regain the whole of Chittor. At last his efforts were crowned with success and after the death of Maldeva in about 1321 A.D. Hammir became master of the whole of Mewar, and assumed the title of Mahãrānā. In an inscription of Mahārānā Kumbhā's time,dated 1438 A.D.;Hammīr is said to have killed a large number of Musalmans. Hammir's descendants have ruled Mewar to the present day
  15. R. C. Majumdar, ed. (1960). The History and Culture of the Indian People: The Delhi Sultante (2nd ed.). Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan. p. 70.
  16. Ashish Rajadhyaksha; Paul Willemen (10 July 2014). Encyclopedia of Indian Cinema. Taylor & Francis. p. 43. ISBN 978-1-135-94325-7.

Bibliography
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