 |
Jaimal and Kalla Chhatris, Chittorgarh. Two memorials on the right of the entrance road, near the second gate, BHAIRON POL. The first, with four pillars, is the Memorial of KALLA, a chieftain of MEHWA and kinsman of the Rathore JAIMAL of Badnor, to whom the second memorial (a bigger chhatri with six pillars) is dedicated.
Jaimal and Patta Palaces, Chittorgarh, standing on a rocky rise south of GOMUKH KUND. Both warrior heroes died in the third sack of CHITTOR fighting the forces of Emperor Akbar.
Jaimal Tank, Chittorgarh; a large reservoir east of the Jaimal and Patta Palaces. It is thought that a Buddhist temple occupied the site in olden times; six stone Buddhist stupas, which stood at this reservoir, now lie near the Topkhana (Archaeological Office) in the fort.
Jaimal, Kunwar, second son of Maharana RAIMAL (1473-1509), younger stepbrother of Crown Prince PRITHVI RAJ and elder brother of Kunwar SANGRAM (SANGA) SINGH. When he was a teenager, Jaimal abetted Prithvi Raj in a near-fatal fight against their younger brother, Sanga (see SANGA AND PRITHVI RAJ). During the lead-up to the brawl, a Charan woman prophesied that Sanga would be the next Maharana, not Prithvi Raj (which provoked the attack), and that both Prithvi Raj and Jaimal would die at the hands of outsiders. A few years later, Jaimal demanded from a Solanki Rajput the hand of his daughter in marriage. When Solanki refused the proposal, a fight ensued, and Jaimal was killed.
Jaimal, Prince (b. September 17, 1507-d. 1568, Chittor), a Rathore of Badnor in Marwar; the eldest son of Biramdeo of the House of Merta, and one of the heroes of the third sack of Chittor (1657-58). When Akbar's army attacked Merta en route to take Chittor, Jaimal hurried to the Mewar capital and offered his services in defending the fortress. With Maharana Udai Singh's departure from Chittor, he was given command of the fort. Towards the end of the subsequent siege, he was killed in battle, dying a hero's death. Akbar was so impressed by the Rajput warrior that, upon his return to Agra, he erected a statue to Jaimal, and to another hero, PATTA, at the gates of the Red Fort. See CHITTOR, 3RD SACK.
Jaimu Sindhal, in legend, the faithful Rajput servant of Kunwar Sangram Singh while he was in self-exile. See SANGRAM SINGH I, MAHARANA.
Jainism, an important religion though never of Rajasthan's rulers; its followers come from the trading class and wealthy section of society. Chief centres of Jain pilgrimage are RANAKPUR, Mahavirji, Dhulev, and Karera.
Jaipuri or Dhundari, one of the four main dialects of Rajasthan; used mainly in the east and southeast of the state.
Jaisamand (Jaisamudra or Dhebar) Lake, India's largest man-made lake, and one of the world's largest, situated about 52 km. southeast of Udaipur. During the reign of Maharana JAI SINGH (1680-1698), there was a great need for water for cultivation in Mewar's southeastern corner. The Maharana emulated his father (Maharana RAJ SINGH I who built RAJSAMAND LAKE) by damming a small river, the Gomati, and building a massive embankment; the height of the dam is 36.6 m. Jai Singh named the resultant lake JAISAMAND after himself - its often-used nickname is 'Ocean of Victory' ('mand' meaning 'ocean'). It is also known as DHEBAR Lake, a dhebar being a catchment area. Jaisamand, or more correctly Jaisamudra Lake, covers an area of 50 sq. km. and has a circumference of nearly 88 km., almost seven times the size of RAJSAMAND LAKE. It is 14-15 km. long, its breadth varies from 1.6 km. to 10 km. wide, and reaches a depth of 30 m. It holds about 560 million cubic metres of water, with a catchment area of 1787 sq. km., its western hills having considerable elevation. The lake generally remains full, except in periods of extended drought when its level becomes dangerously low. The dam itself measures 330 m. in length and 35 m. in height. On the day of its inauguration, June 2 1691, Maharana Jai Singh walked around the dam charitably distributing gold equal to his own weight. Along the embankment, Jai Singh built six chhatris or domed pavilions in white marble with finely embroidered elephants in front of the quadrangular Shiva temple in the centre of the embankment. There are two palaces, one being the Hawa Mahal (Palace of the Breeze), the other was a pleasure palace, the Rang Kunwar. The lake has seven natural islands, the largest being Bada Island, which is inhabited by Bhils and other tribals. Until the building of the Aswan Dam in Egypt, Jaisamand Lake remained the largest artificial lake in the world. The surrounding forest, part of the JAISAMAND WILDLIFE SANCTUARY used to be a 'shikargarh' (hunting area) of the erstwhile Maharanas of Mewar.
Jaisamand Wildlife Sanctuary, 50 km. southeast of Udaipur, situated on the banks of JAISAMAND LAKE amidst the lush green valleys of the Aravallis. The world famous lake is an integral part of the sanctuary. Encompassing a geographical area of 52 sq. km., the sanctuary supports a variety of terrestrial as well as aquatic fauna and preserves the following wild life: Carnivores - panthers, wolves, striped hyenas, jackals, foxes, jungle cats, and mongooses; Herbivores - sambhars, chittal or spotted deer, chinkaras, black buck, hares, bluebulls, civets and the common langur (monkeys); Omnivorous species - bears, Indian wild boar and porcupines. There is also a variety of migratory birds - peafowl, doves, parakeets, babblers, owls, partridges, quail, nightjars, woodpeckers, mynahs, flycatchers, curlews, orioles, vultures, kites and eagles. Among the snakes are cobras, kraits, vipers and ratsnakes. Aquatic fauna includes crocodiles, otters, turtles and a variety of fish and birds. A network of roads inside the sanctuary measures approximately 70.4 km.; all the watch towers are easily accessible by jeep. The Forest Department maintains a rest house on the banks of Jaisamand. The game sanctuary is under the charge of a Game Warden.
Jaisamudra Lake, the more correct name for JAISAMAND LAKE.
Jait Singh. There were several leading members of clans who had this name. They came from Bhindar (Saktawat); Delwara (Jhala Rajput); Kurabad (Choondawat); Salumbar (Choondawat), and Vijaipur (Saktawat).
Jaitra Singh, Rawal, thirty-ninth ruler of the Mewar Dynasty (r. 1213-1253); succeeded Rawal PADAM SINGH. Historical records show that, initially, he ruled from Nagda, then at the Dynasty's ancient capital of Chittor, quite possibly reclaiming it from the incumbent Paramara ruler of Malwa. Jaitra's reign was mainly concerned with opposing the Delhi Sultans subjugating Rajputana. When Iltutmish, the Sultan of Delhi conquered and destroyed Nagda, Jaitra Singh retreated, but managed to retake Chittor, possibly ousting the Paramaras. Thus he was able to re-establish it as the kingdom's capital. His fortunes seem to have changed after this, as records state that the rulers of Malwa or Gujarat could not conquer him, and that he managed to reclaim Ahar, and also defeated Iltutmish. Despite the earlier setbacks, Jaitra Singh is said to have enjoyed a glorious reign of forty years, which was a renowned chapter in the early medieval period of Mewar. His son, TEJ SINGH, succeeded him. See also MEWAR'S LOST GENERATIONS.
|