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Bagada Lake: see BAGHDADA LAKE.
Bagh Singh. There were several leading members of clans who had this name. They came from Bhunas (Baba Ranawat); Karjali (Ranawat); Kherabad (Baba); Nimri (Machecha Rathore), and Pipalya (Saktawat). Others were: 1. Kunwar Bagh Singh, a son of Maharana LAKHA (1382-1421); 2. Rawat Bagh Singh of Deolia (a village about 15 km. from Pratapgarh); great grandson of Maharana MOKAL (1421-1433) and chief of Mewar's Deolia Pratapgarh clan, having succeeded his father, Rawat Surajmal (1527). When Bahadur Shah of Gujarat marched on Chittor (1534), the teenage Maharana VIKRAMADITYA II quit the fort with a small guerrilla force, and his younger brother, UDAI SINGH, was sent to safety in Bundi. To protect the dignity of Chittor's deity (Kali Mata, the Mother Goddess), only royalty could defend Chittor. Therefore, the nobles chose Rawat Bagh Singh, a member of the Sisodia royal family, who was among the many chieftains who had come to help defend Chittor. He was put in command of the thirty-two thousand Rajputs in the fort, and died leading the final suicide charge. James Tod, from his Annals and Antiquities of Rajasthan: "Rawat Bagh Singh, the heir of Surajmal, abandoned his new capital of Deolia to defend the abode of his father. The banner of Mewar, the Golden Sun, was raised amidst shouts of the defenders; they donned their saffron robes, the main gates were thrown open and the Deolia chieftain at the head of the survivors, with a blind and important despair, rushed to his fate." A small memorial platform at the left of Padan Pol marks spot where he died fighting. 3. Maharaj Bagh Singh who, with Maharaj Arjun Singh, administered Mewar while Maharana Hamir Singh II was still a minor, until the boy's ambitious mother, Rajmata Sardar Kunwar Jhali took control as the young king's Regent.
Bagh Singh Memorial, Chittorgarh; a memorial to Rawat BAGH SINGH of Deolia, just outside PADAN POL, the first entry gate into Chittor.
Baghdada Lake, 24 km. from Udaipur; a small but deep lake surrounded by hills which, in the past, were the domain of many tigers, Baghdada meaning abode of the tigers. Nearby is the Debari Zinc Smelter.
Bagherwal Mahajan Sahanai, a Jain merchant of the Digamber sect, whose son, Jija is said to have built Chittorgarh's KIRTI STAMBH (Tower of Fame) in the 12th century.
Baghji (of Deolia): see BAGH SINGH, RAWAT.
Bagolia, a tank (lake) constructed (1955-56) on a tributary of the Berach River near MAVLI village. The water spread of the tank is 3.08 sq. km., the height of the dam 11.6 m. and its capacity 686 mcft. Its irrigation capacity is 4850 acres.
Bagore, a village in the Bhilwara District, 40 km. from Bhilwara, the estate (jagir) of Nath Singh, brother of Maharana JAGAT SINGH II (1734-1751). Their father, Maharana Sangram Singh II, gave the jagir, and the title of 'Maharaj', Nath Singh, his second son, and, ostensibly, to his descendants as well, although this was not to be (see NATH SINGH). Bagore became a major branch of the Mewar ruling family; however, it had a very complicated lineage (see SHER SINGH AND THE BAGORE LINE).
Genealogy: Nath Singh (the first Maharaj of Bagore); Shivdan Singh; Sher Singh; Shambhu Singh; Samarth Singh; Sohan Singh; Sakti (Shakti) Singh.
Bagore-ki-Haveli, Udaipur, situated on the eastern bank of Pichola Lake and incorporating the spacious Gangaur Ghat. This grand mansion was built in the second half of the 18th century by AMAR CHAND Barwa, the then Prime Minister of Mewar (1751-1761). After Amar Chand's death, the Mewar Royal Family took charge of it. Maharana Sangram Singh II (1710-1734) gave it to his brother, Nath Singh, along with the thikana of Bagore. In 1878, Maharaj Shakti Singh of Bagore, extended the haveli and built the triple-arched gateway, which gives access to Gangaur Ghat. It remained the possession of Mewar State until the 1947 Independence, when it was taken over by the Government of Rajasthan to house government employees. Unfortunately, for almost forty years the haveli was not maintained properly. Its damaged condition neglected, the once-magnificent building deteriorated. In 1986, when the Government of India formed the West Zone Cultural Centre, the Rajasthan Government handed over the haveli as headquarters for the new cultural body. They embarked upon a program of faithful restoration, which continued into the 21st century. There are one hundred and thirty-eight rooms, balconies, courtyards and terraces. The Chambers of the Royal ladies (zananas) contain fine fresco paintings, and the glass and mirror inlay work in the Haveli is worth seeing. One room, possibly a room of 'pleasure', features some erotic decoration around the base of the walls. See also WEST ZONE CULTURAL CENTRE.
Bagrawat, a little-known tribe of Mewar. There is a temple of the Bagrawats in Gopalpur, which houses their divinity Deo. A legend connects the tribe with Maharana SANGRAM SINGH I (Sanga) (1509-1527): see SANGRAM SINGH I AND THE GOD DEO.
Bahadur, a title meaning brave, champion, hero; used by both Hindus and Muslims, often bestowed by government.
Bahadur Shah, Sultan, of Gujarat who coveted the throne of Mewar. The Sultan was determined to conquer the Mewar capital of Chittorgarh to avenge the defeat and captivity of his predecessor, Muzaffar. Muzaffar had been taken by Crown Prince PRITHVI RAJ, the heir of Maharana RAIMAL (1473-1509) and was ransomed by the Maharana for a large sum of money and seven hundred horses. Bahadur Shah decided to take advantage of a division at Chittorgarh, brought about by the disturbing actions of Maharana VIKRAMADITYA II. Bahadur Shah mounted a substantial army and marched on Chittor (1534); although taking the fort, he was forced to leave shortly after and hurry back to Gujarat when Mughal Emperor HUMAYUN intervened. See CHITTOR, 2ND SACK.
Bahadur Singh. There were several leading members of clans who had this name. They came from Bhunas (Baba Ranawat); Jarkhana (Sisodia), and Vijaipur (Saktawat).
Bahi, (Hindi) genealogical (ancestral) records. See also BARDS.
Bahlol (Bahlul, Buhlul) Lodi, Sultan, founder of the Lodi line of Delhi sultans (r. 1451-1489). He was called upon to help Mewar's discredited Maharana UDAI SINGH I (1468-1473) to march on his older brother, Crown Prince RAIMAL and regain the throne that he (Udai) had usurped. See UDAI SINGH I, MAHARANA.
Bahu Temple (Nagda): see SAS-BAHU TEMPLES.
Bai, a mistress or lady, a title added to names of women and dancing girls.
Baiji Raj, a title of respect often used when addressing Mewar princes.
Bairath (Vairath), Rawal, twenty-sixth ruler of the Mewar Dynasty (r. 1068-1088); succeeded Rawal YOGRAJ; ruled from AHAR. Little is known of his twenty-year reign. His son, HANSPAL, succeeded him. See also MEWAR'S LOST GENERATIONS.
Bairisal. There were several leading members of clans who had this name. They came from Bassi (Choondawat), Bijolia (Paramara), and Taloli (Choondawat).
Bairongarh: see BHENSRORGARH.
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