dhabai, (Hindi) the foster brother to a prince. A woman who was entrusted to nurse a prince, as a foster mother, was called a dhai. Her own son, usually raised as a companion for the young prince, was known as a dhabai. Dhabais later became trusted office bearers in the royal family. PANNA DHAI was the famous nurse of UDAI SINGH II when he was a child, who sacrificed her own son, Chandan, a dhabai, to save the Prince's life.

Dhabaiji-ki-Haveli, a well known mansion in Udaipur, where there are a number of havelis belonging to the families of a prince's foster brother (see DHABAI). Different dhabais held prominent posts at different times.

Dhabhai, a minor clan of Mewar.

Dhabhaiji-ki-Haveli: see DHABAIJI-KI-HAVELI.

dhai, (Hindi) a nursemaid or foster mother, often a wet nurse who is called in to breast-feed and raise a child when a mother is often physically incapable of doing so. See PANNA DHAI¸ also DHABAI.

Dhal, a circular and slightly curved shield made from the hide of buffaloes and other animals.

Dhammar, an ancient style of GAYAKI (classical singing), which, with Dhrupad, occupies an important place in Indian classical music.

Dhan Kunwar, Rani, of Jodhpur, one of the twenty-eight wives of Maharana SANGRAM SINGH I (1509-1527); daughter of Bagha who was the son of Rao Suja of Jodhpur. Dhan Kunwar was the mother of Sanga's son, Maharana RATAN SINGH II.

Dhaneria (Jharkana), a thikana (titled estate or jagir) near MAVLI, held by Prince Bahadur Singh, son of Arjun Singh and descendant of Shivrati Maharaj Arjun Singh.

Genealogy: Bahadur Singh; Javan Singh; Jaswant Singh; Prithvi Singh; Mod Singh; and Udai Singh.

Dhani, (Hindi) rightful owner, master, lord, or chief; the meaning differs from place to place. A woman would say to her husband, "You are my Dhani." Or another person would ask, "What is the name of your Dhani?" and the other would reply, naming his master, "So-and-so is my Dhani." Even today, to claim ownership of any property, one would say, "I am the Dhani of this land, or house or car."

Dhanmandi (Dhan Mandi), Udaipur; a grain market in the heart of the old city.

Dharam Sabha, Udaipur, a Religious Trust for the worship of Deities in the Palace, and perpetuation of traditional customary religious ceremonies and festivals.

Dhareswar, a town north of Chittor and about 4 km. north of KANERA; beautifully situated at the lowest point of descent from the Patar Plateau; a clear stream ran nearby, with timber planted to the south.

Dhariawad (Dharyavad) (Ranawat), a thikana (titled land holding) 127 km. southeast of Udaipur and 27 km. from Bansi; the estate (jagir) of the descendants of Kunwar Sahasmal, third son of Maharana PRATAP SINGH I (1572-1597) and brother of Maharana AMAR SINGH I (1597-1628). They have the title of 'Rawat'. Sahasmal was with Kunwar Karan Singh when he chased a Mughal caravan to Dunara village in Marwar, with the intention of looting it. Later, his son, Bhopat Ram, was with the Mewar army in its battles against the Mughals during the reign of Maharana Jagat Singh I (1628-1652).

Genealogy: Sahasmal; Bhopatram; Kesri Singh I; Veeramdeo; Vijai Singh I; Bakhat Singh; Sakat Singh; Jodh Singh (received the title of 'Rawat'); Surajmal; Prem Singh; Rai Singh; Raghunath Singh; Bakhatawar Singh; Vijai Singh II; Kesri Singh II; Pratap Singh; Jaswant Singh; Khuman Singh.

Dharmpur, a small State of the SISODIAS in the Surat District of Gujarat. The descendants of KUNWAR RAHAP who formed the breakaway SISODIA branch of the royal family settled it.

dharmshala, (Hindi) a sarai or inn; rest house.

Dharna, formerly a snake who was reborn as Lord of the Nagas. See PARSHVA AND THE LORD OF THE NAGAS.

Dharnasah, a wealthy Jain merchant in the time of Maharana KUMBHA (1433-1468). He was responsible for the founding of the RANAKPUR complex of Jain temples. Legend has it that Sheth Dharnasah (as he was also known) had a dream in which he saw the Nalinigulm Vimana, the vehicle for celestial beings as described in Jain scriptures. Resolving to create a comparable structure on earth, he took the idea to Maharana Kumbha who agreed to requisition a plot of land for the building of a temple, on condition that a township would be built around the temples and that it would bear the royal name; hence the name Rana(k)pur.