Bhan, the Sonigira chief whom PRATAP SINGH I left in charge to defend KUMBHALGARH against the Mughals, when he was forced to retire and make his new capital at CHAVAND in 1578. The loyal chieftain died in a resulting battle against the enemy. See PRATAP SINGH I, MAHARANA.

Bhan Singh. There were a couple of leading members of clans who had this name. They came from Kanor (Choondawat), and Sardargarh (Dodia Rajput).

bhandar, (Hindi) a repository for gold and silver; also a storehouse for grain, which was also known as a kothar.

Bhandari Belka, treasurer of Maharana KHUMBA (1433-1468). He built Chittorgarh's SRINGAR CHAVRI TEMPLE (1448), a beautifully carved Jain temple at the northeastern corner of BANBIR-KI-DAWAR. It is dedicated to Shantinath, the sixteenth Jain TIRTHANKARA.

Bhandarkar, Dr., b. November, 1875; a leading historian, renowned teacher, and archaeologist who wrote many books on Ancient Indian History; Carmichael Professor of Ancient India, History and Culture; Superintendent Archaeological Survey Western Circle, 1911-1917, Joint Editor of Indian Antiquity, 1911-1920. Publications include Carmichael Lectures 1918 and 1921; Ashok, Some Aspects of Ancient Polity; Origin of the Saka Era; and Gujars.

Bhandarkar, R.G., b. July, 1837, a teacher and researcher; the first Indian to be appointed Assistant Professor of Sanskrit at the Deccan.

Bhangra, a traditional rhythmic dance from the Punjab.

Bhanjgarh, a system of power wherein CHOONDA and his descendants (the CHOONDAWATS) were authorised to act as Mewar's administrators to sign royal decrees and look after State affairs. See DIWAN (PRIME MINISTER) OF MEWAR.

Bhanji, (Hindi) a sister's daughter; niece.

Bhanji, a SAKTAWAT and heir of BHAINSRORGARH on the Chambal River (his castle was on a rocky confluence of the Chambal and Bamani rivers); he was the eldest of the seventeen sons of SAKTA and nephew of Maharana PRATAP SINGH I (1572-1597). In a power play at the time of Sakta's funeral, when all the sons except Bhanji attended their father's funeral rites, Bhanji would not let his brothers back into Bhainsrorgarh. They found the gates barred against them by their brother, who told them "there were too many mouths", and that they must find their fortunes elsewhere while he attended his sovereign as the new head of the Saktawats. Bhanji himself had five sons: Dayal, Ber, Man, Gokuldas and Puranmal.

Bhanpur (Bhanpura), a town 35 km. north of Gogunda, and 85 km. from Udaipur; the estate (jagir) of the son of Kunwar Dulha, son of Maharana LAKHA (1382-1421).

Bharadwaja, a pious Brahman, father of the legendary warrior, Drona. See BHIL ARCHERS, LEGEND OF THE.

Bharat Singh. There were several leading members of clans who had this name. They came from Bassi (Choondawat); Bhadu (Choondawat); Kherabad (Baba); Muroli (Bhati), and Shahpura (Sisodia).

Bharat Singh, Raja Dhiraj, of Shahpura, son and successor of the disloyal Daulat Singh. Bharat fought for Maharana Sangram Singh II in the battle against Mewati Ranbaj Khan. Later, his son, Umaid Singh, put Daulat in prison where he died.

Bharatri Patt: see BHERT PATT.

Bhargavi Kumari Mewar (b. March 24, 1976 at Breach Candy Hospital, Bombay), elder daughter of ARVIND SINGH and VIJAYARAJ MEWAR. Affectionately known as Arvi, she married polo player Thakur LOKENDRA SINGH RATHORE of Kotri, Marwar (March 27, 1995); they have a daughter, Lokaviaa. Bhargavi is a Consultant for the HRH Group's RAMGARH RESORT AND POLO COMPLEX, Jaipur; Executive Director, the HRH GROUP of Hotels, and RAJPUT HOTEL AND RESORTS; Director, CHETAK EXPORTS (INDIA), and SHIKARBADI HOTEL.

Bhartendu Harish Chandra, a famous poet laureate and dramatist of his time. He was invited to Udaipur by Maharana SAJJAN SINGH (1874-1884) who appreciated Bhartendu Harish Chandra's literary creations. The Maharana made comfortable arrangements for his stay and honoured him with siropas (gifts to honour a person) and a cash presentation of Rs. 10,000/-.

Bhartiya Lok Kala Mandal (Folk Museum), a Folk Arts Institute, Udaipur (Kala Mandal is Hindi for Art Zone); in the city's northern sector, just past Chetak Circle; a small foundation for the preservation of local and regional folk arts and crafts. It is located near Mohta Park, within walking distance of Hathi Pol and Chetak Circle. Founded by Padam Shri Devilal Samar, this autonomous and fascinating institution promotes folk art, artefacts, folk literature, folk dances and music (in an adjoining open air performance space with tiered seating), and puppetry. Mewar puppetry is well-known in India and abroad, and has been introduced to a wider audience by the initiative taken by the Bhartiya Lok Kala Mandal. Regularly, there are short evening performances of puppet shows in a mini puppet theatre. Although it is a rabbit warren of corridors and small rooms, the museum, located in the same building, has a fascinating collection of Rajasthani folk articles and photographs, especially of tribal people. A room just inside the entrance gate displays Theatre memorabilia; adjoining rooms have collections of folk music instruments and tribal ornaments. There are also displays of henna handprints, and colour decorations of cow dung floors, a temple of wood, terra-cotta devras (small shrines in village temples) from the village of Molela near Nathdwara, and interesting collections of dresses, dolls, masks, and paintings.

Bhartri Batt: see BHERT PATT.

Bhatewar, a village about 35 km. east of Udaipur, on the Chittor road near Surajpura. It belonged to the chief of Kanor, one of the 16 great chieftains of Mewar. Traditionally, the bells of seven hundred and fifty temples, chiefly of the Jain faith, once sounded within its walls, which were almost 4 km. in length. A few vestiges now remain amidst the village's swampy ground.

Bhati, a Rajput clan: see following entry.

Bhatiyani Chouhatta, a bazaar, and the location of Meera Park, a little beyond Jagdish Mandir Road, Udaipur. Bhatiyani was a queen from the Bhati clan of Rajputs; Chouhatta means there are shops on all four sides of the bazaar.

Bhatiyani, Rani, favourite wife of Maharana UDAI SINGH II (1573-1572) and mother of Kunwar JAGMAL, whom Udai Singh willed to follow him on the throne. He was forcibly removed at his coronation in Gogunda (February 18, 1572) by Mewar's nobility who gave the throne to the rightful heir, Crown Prince PRATAP SINGH (I). See PRATAP'S CORONATION DILEMMA.

Bhats, performance poets and collectors of genealogies. They come from tribes of mixed descent, whose members are genealogists and poets. See BARDS.

Bhawani Singh. There were several leading members of clans who had this name. They came from Barlias (Sisodia); Bavlas (Sisodia); Kareda (Choondawat); Mangrop (Purawat), and Salumbar (Choondawat).

Bhawanidas, Kunwar, seventh son of Maharana RAIMAL (1473-1509).

Bhawnagar, a small state of the GUHILOT family in Gujarat, founded in 1723 by Bhao Singh, son of Sejak. They claim their origin from Kher, a place in the Barmer District (Jodhpur), near JASOL. Kher was the capital of Rawal Mallinath, ruler of the district of Mehwo.

bhayats, (Hindi) kinsmen. In some Rajput states potential male adoptees known as bhayats were brought in and raised at court, in case it might be necessary to call upon one of them to become the heir-apparent: "They were educated by the state, lived at the palace, ate with the ruler of the time, were taught how to behave and what to say and what not to say, with the idea that if the ruler did not have any sons he would adopt one of these bhayats." See also ADOPTION OF MEWAR RULERS.