Bara Bazaar, Udaipur, a bustling shopping area down from the City Palace, between CLOCK TOWER and DELHI POL.

baradari, (Hindi) a pillared hall, generally open on all four sides; used for meetings, festivities, and music concerts.

Barbari Devi, a CHARAN woman said to have clairvoyant powers, the daughter of a Chokhna Charan of the village of Khor (Kheda) in Gujarat. She met Maharana HAMIR SINGH I (1326-1364) who, at the time, had lost all hope of regaining Mewar and its capital, Chittor from Muslim dominance. Allegedly, she said, "Hamir, I bless you with the throne of Chittor", prophesying that he would rule Mewar. Indeed, in 1326 he recaptured Chittor and the throne of Mewar. In this act, Barbari Devi is similar to Karni Mata of Deshnok (Bikaner) who blessed Bika of Bikaner and Jodha of Jodhpur, inspiring them to form strong Rathore kingdoms.

bards, an ancient and much honoured institution of writers and storytellers throughout the States of Rajputana. They recorded and recited, in verse and prose the (often eulogistic) history and genealogy of a Rajput kingdom. Generally they lived in small communities with other bards, visiting the various kingdoms to collect historical information and to give public or private recitations of their findings. They were highly regarded throughout Rajputana, not only because of their entertainment and heritage value, but because they were often considered to have supernatural powers. This regard is evident in a well-known quotation, "The Rajput worships his horse, his sword and the sun, and attends to the martial Song of the Bard than to the Litany of the Brahman." Bards tended to overwrite reality concerning a particular historical person or event, giving them legendary status (no doubt inspired by the epic proportions of the Ramayana and the Mahabharata). Nevertheless they have been a valuable source of historical research for scholars, as they were around long before historians began capturing the past for posterity. In most cases, when information was not available from ancient temple inscriptions, early historians wrote down the stories of the bards; the more astute presented them as possible legends, others took them on face value and presented them as actual history. Many historical accounts seem far-fetched to modern scholars. (Some examples of this in Mewar chronicles are the PADMINI legend and several of the extraordinary exploits of BAPPA RAWAL. But then, accounts by some contemporary historians tended to be prejudiced as well: the accounts of the battle of HALDIGHATI differ depending on whether the reporter was a Muslim or a Rajput.)

There were complementary castes of bards, one being the Bhats, who served variously as genealogists, and raconteurs of historic tales. They also acted as intermediaries in negotiating marriages, in guaranteeing settlement of debts and disputes, and as emissaries in times of war. They were regarded as sacred: at feasts they were invited to eat first, and whenever they came into a ruler's presence he would rise to greet them quite often rewarding them with hereditary grants of land (jagirs). In return, bhats were strong supporters of the Rajput community.

At court, bardic roles were shared with others who also played a part in preserving the past and ensuring the present was not forgotten. In Dhrangadhara, the Raj-Gayak (Royal Poet) was a singer, a Brahman who was both a composer and vocalist. His job was to celebrate great occasions in verse and had the right to recite at durbars even if it "made everyone squirm"! He was considered so important he took precedence over other bards present, some better versifiers than he was. The Raj-Barot (Royal Herald), who was an institution in himself, automatically held the post of Kula Vahivanca. For example, Jhala Kula Vahivanca was the genealogist of the Jhala clan. He was a rare visitor to the area, his home being in Malwa. His post was hereditary, so he succeeded to it by recognition, not by appointment. Having received the seal of recognition, he did not recite in public but would be received in private audience by the clan chieftain of the time. He sat on the floor before the gadi and placed the bulky Vahi (his hand-written genealogical records wrapped in cloth) before him. He asked, "What shall I read, Annadata (Giver of Food)?"; the chief named a predecessor. Before looking up the requested person, the bard saluted the Vahi three times, touching it, then his forehead, with his right hand. He untied the knot of the cloth (later he received the 'untying-the-knot' fee of 1001 rupees) and read out the requested information.

With the Jhala clan, the first of the Barot line, Akheraj, was appointed in AD 1143, so the size of the collected genealogical records, covering whole of Jhala clan, was enormous. In his capacity of genealogist the Barot also made periodic visits to a State's outlying estates and villages in which members of his clan had settled, noting down in the Vahi births, marriages, and deaths. Also recorded were clan names and abode, the names of wives, fathers and grandfathers, sons and provisions made for them, and major events. There were also detailed dates of successive Raj-Barots and gifts made to them (fifteen horses, twenty camels, so many gold bangles, shawls, etc.) The Barot made his rounds accompanied by a large entourage, which had to be fed and entertained. His arrival in a village "was feared like the coming of locusts". Despite their awesome reputation over past centuries, bards later gained new respect when they were utilised by wealthy Rajput families to educate their children in their historical heritage. Even today, storytellers are popular with children, in libraries and even on television, although their tales are mainly fiction and not based on history.

Bari Canal, Udaipur; in the city's northwestern sector. It is fed with water by Bari Talao and in turn flows into Fateh Sagar Lake.

Bari Lake, 10 km. northwest of Udaipur; an ancient reservoir surrounded by natural beauty.

Bari Roopaheli, jagir of the Mertia Rathore clan, an offshoot of Badnore. Shyamaldas was the great-grandson of Jaimal Rathore one the heroes slain during the third sack of Chittor. Shyamaldas's third son, Sahib Singh was granted the jagir of Bari Roopaheli, along with the title of 'Thakur'. When Maharana Amar Singh II (1698-1710) attacked Dungarpur, Sahib Singh joined him. During the reign of the next Maharana, Sangram Singh II (1710-1734), Sahib was wounded fighting against Ranbaj Khan. Shiv Singh succeeded Sahib Singh. Shiv Singh was with Maharana Jagat Singh II in 1743 when he attacked Jaipur on the succession issue of Madho Singh. In 1756, Shiv Singh played an important role in the Banera-Shahpura dispute, Shiv Singh and his five sons and grandson fighting Madhav Rao Sindhia. Shiv Singh's grandson, Gopal Singh was a great fighter, taking part in many battles by the side of his grandfather. In the battle against Maratha general Ambaji Inglia, Gopal fought bravely, but fell wounded. Gopal's successor, Salim Singh was sent to Delhi to discuss truce with the Marathas. He also played an important role in repulsing the Mers. Maharana Bhim Singh, pleased with Salim Singh's services, duly rewarded him.

Genealogy: Sahib Singh; Shiv Singh; Anoop Singh; Gopal Singh; Salim Singh; Sawai Singh; Balwant Singh; Chatur Singh.

Bari Sadri, a town about 120 km. southeast of Udaipur (south Chittorgarh District) on the border with Malwa; originally the jagir (estate) of the Jhala Rajputs who held first rank among the nobles of Mewar (the First 16 Umraos); also the principal town of the estate. In 1506, two sons of Raj Singh of Halvad, Ajja and Sajja, migrated to Mewar and Maharana Raimal (1473-1509) gave Ajja the Bari Sadri estate and Sajja the jagir of DELWARA, accepting them as chief nobles with the title of Raja Dhiraj. At the Battle of Khanwa when Maharana Sangram Singh I (1509-1527) was wounded, Ajja took charge of the Mewar army, took up the Maharana's royal insignias and fought bravely until he was killed. Since then these royal insignias have been with the descendants Ajja which became the ruling family of Bari Sadri.

Genealogy: Ajja; Siha; Asa Sultan; Bida (Maan) Deda; Haridas; Rai Singh I; Sultan Singh; Chandra Sen; Kirti Singh I; Rai Singh II; Sultan Singh II; Chandan Singh; Kirti Singh II; Shiv Singh; Rai Singh III; Duleh Singh; Himmat Singh.

Bari Talao (Tank), a lake 10 km. northwest of Udaipur in Bari village which feeds water to Bari Canal and thence to Fateh Sagar; built by Maharana RAJ SINGH I in memory of his mother, Janadi (Karmeti).

Barisal. There were a couple of leading members of clans who had this name. They came from Bijolia (Paramara), and Delwara (Jhala Rajput).

Barlias: see BARLIAWAS

Barliawas (Barlias, Barlyawas)(Ranawat clan), a town 205 km. from Udaipur; jagir of the descendants of Sujan Singh's son, Fateh Singh of SHAHPURA, their title being 'Maharaj'.

Genealogy: Fateh Singh I; Himmat Singh; Kishore Singh; Kishan Singh; Shambhoonath; Chandra Singh; Sujan Singh; Bhawani Singh; Fateh Singh II; Jaswant Singh; Megh Singh.

Barlyawas: see BARLIAWAS

Barmer (Rathore - Barmera), a district in the erstwhile kingdom of Marwar, near the India-Pakistan border. Mallinath was the ruler of MEHWA; his grandson, Loonka, took Barmer from the Chauhans and established himself as the ruler. His descendants are known as Barmeras.

Baroli, a town 1.8 km. northeast of BHAINSRORGARH, where there are ruins of several magnificent temples dedicated to Shiva. They have exquisite carvings, the principal ones being of the god and his consort, Parvati, with their attendants. The main temple is just over 17 m. high. To preserve the temple from the iconoclasm of Islam, the locals covered the entire structure with fine marble cement. It stands in an area about 250 sq. m., enclosed by a wall built of unshaped stones put together without cement. TOD in his Annals and Antiquities of Rajasthan (pp. 1752-1763) describes, in interesting detail, the Baroli temples, their carvings and their immediate surroundings.

Barvadi (Barwadi), female saint: see ANNAPURNA.