natani, a professional dancer at Court and in publicly, who also entertained by performing acrobatic feats.

Natani (Natanai/Natanika)-ka-Chabutra: see NATNI-KA-CHABUTRA.

Nath Singh. There were several leading members of clans who had this name. They came from Bagore (Ranawat); Bemali (Choondawat); Falichra (Chauhan); Jamoli (Baba); Mangrop (Purawat); Sangramgarh (Choondawat), and Tana (Jhala).

Nath Singh, Maharaj, of BAGORE, a noble of Mewar; son of Maharana SANGRAM SINGH II (1710-1734), who gave him his jagir; younger brother of Maharana JAGAT SINGH II (1734-1751). He was also the chief of Bagore during the reigns of his nephews, Maharanas PRATAP SINGH II (1751-1753) and RAJ SINGH II (1754-1761), and great uncle of Maharana ARI SINGH II (1761-1773), who tried to depose Maharana Pratap Singh II. During the reign of Jagat Singh II, the Maharana's son, Crown Prince Pratap Singh, without his father's permission, granted the jagir of Lakhola to Deep Singh, younger brother of Umaid Singh of Bundi. Annoyed by this, Jagat Singh enlisted the help of his brother, Nath Singh to arrest the errant prince. The Maharana summoned Pratap to what is today known as Krishna Vilas in the City Palace and, on a predetermined signal, Nath Singh grabbed his nephew from behind, and the Prince was imprisoned in the Palace. However, concerned that Pratap might seek revenge if and when he succeeded to the throne, Nath Singh tried to poison him, without success. Eventually, Pratap did become the new Maharana, in 1751, but did not exact his revenge on uncle Nath Singh for the part he played in his capture and imprisonment or for the attempt on his life. Thus Nath Singh survived Pratap's brief two-year reign, his successor Raj Singh II's five years on the throne, and saw the accession of the new Maharana, Ari Singh II in 1761. Because of Ari Singh's belligerence, the nobles were not very happy with him, including the aging Maharaj Nath Singh who, by then, was a powerful noble in Mewar. Fearing his great uncle, Maharana Ari Singh ordered Lal Singh of Bhainsrorgarh to kill Nath Singh. At first Lal Singh refused this heinous request, but relented under constant pressure. On February 4, 1764, Lal Singh went to a temple where Nath Singh was praying. He greeted the old man, wishing him well; Nath Singh returned the greeting, apologising for not getting up as he was in the middle of praying. Suddenly Lal Singh stabbed him and Nath Singh died on the spot. A few months later Lal Singh, perpetrator of this vile act of cowardice died, some say through shame and self-pity. Nath Singh was not succeeded at Bagore by a member of his own family but by Shivdan Singh, son of Bhim Singh of Bagore.

Natha Temple, Eklingji; an ancient temple now used as a storeroom in the EKLINGJI TEMPLE complex. The association of the Maharanas of Mewar with Eklingji is explained in an inscription found in the Natha Temple. Dated AD 971, the inscription is in the form of a dedication to LAKULISH, a form of SHIVA represented as bearing a club, and refers to the Saiva sect (worshippers of Shiva) known as Lakulisa-Pasapatas. It records the name of a king named Sri-Bappaka, "the moon among the princes of the Guhila Dynasty" (BAPPA RAWAL, formerly of the GUHILOTS) who reigned at Nagahvada (NAGDA), about 1 km. from the Eklingji Temple. Bappa Rawal is the traditional founder of the Mewar Dynasty (in 734 AD), which had Nagda as its capital prior to relocating to Chittor, and who is credited with construction of the temple. From this inscription it is clear that the Eklingji Temple was in existence before 971 and, as mentioned by James TOD in his ANNALS, "... shows that the old tradition about Nagendra (Rawal MAHENDRA II) and Bappa Rawal's infancy had some historical foundation."

Nathdwara, a small town 50 km. northeast of Udaipur, and 26 km. from the township of Eklingji. A cluster of hills shuts in the town to the east; to the west is the Banas River. The area is known as the Land of the Temples and one temple in particular has made Nathdwara one of the principal places of pilgrimage in Rajasthan, attracting the faithful, not only from India but from abroad as well. Many Gujaratis are followers of Pusti Marg (a sect that worships Lord Krishna as a child), and they visit their nearest pilgrimage centre at Nathdwara, which is also first point of call for expatriate Gujaratis returning home for a visit, especially during the Diwali festival. Nathdwara means 'The portal (dwara) of the god Lord Krishna (nath)', and for good reason. Although a principal resort of the followers of Vishnu, it owes its celebrity entirely to a boy-size, black-stone image of Shrinathji (Lord KRISHNA). It had been worshipped in Mathura (in Uttar Pradesh) ever since the god's deification between eleven and twelve centuries before Christ. How and why the famous statue made the shift from Mathura to Nathdwara is the subject of a well-known legend (see NATHDWARA'S STATUE OF KRISHNA). Unfortunately, temple rules do not allow non-Hindus to enter the temple that houses the famous statue.

Nevertheless, Nathdwara is still well worth a visit. The narrow cobbled streets leading up to the temple are crowded. Small bazaars sell a variety of local Indian sweets, handicrafts that include gold and silver trinkets, saris, waistcoats, paintings, and meena jewellery. The latter is an old craft involving inlaying enamel designs on silver; the first enamel workers were brought into Rajasthan by Raja MAN SINGH of Amber (later Jaipur) and soon became popular all over Rajasthan. Another thriving form of folk art are pichhwais (literally that which hangs behind), the yellow and red cloth scrolls that hang behind the image of Lord Krishna and depict stories from his legendary life. Early pichhwais are now scarce and the vegetable and mineral colours, which were once used, have been replaced with commercial colours. Pichhwais can be seen being painted at Nathdwara.

Nathdwara Temples, in the town of Nathdwara, 50 km. northeast of Udaipur. One of the most famous of these temples is that of SHRINATHJI, Lord KRISHNA as a child.

Nathdwara's Statue of Krishna. Lord Krishna, the much-adored Hindu god is worshipped, virtually with a cult following at the town of NATHDWARA, 50 km. northeast of Udaipur. The mahant (abbot) of the temple still enjoys semi-royal status, because of a 17^th century 'miracle' that occurred there. When the Mughal emperor AURANGZEB (1658-1707) came to power he became notorious for zealous destruction of Hindu (infidel) shrines and icons throughout India. He also outlawed the worship of Krishna. Anticipating a raid on the northern holy city of Mathura, traditional birthplace of the god, one of the faithful removed a famous black-stone statue of the deity (Khesavdeva, a form of Krishna). In 1671, Maharana RAJ SINGH I (1653-1680) offered sanctuary to the idol in Udaipur. En route via Kota and Rampura, the cart carrying the image became stuck in the mud at the village of Sihar in the fief of Delwara. A sanguni (augur or prophet) interpreted this accident as the pleasure of the god in that he desired to dwell there; the statue was duly removed from its chariot. Overjoyed at this decided manifestation of favour, the Delwara chieftain hastened to make a perpetual gift of the village and its lands, which was speedily confirmed by Maharana Raj Singh, who gave the land to the village, in perpetuity as requested. Twenty years later the famous temple that now houses the black marble statue was built, and the village was renamed Nathdwara. About twenty temples dedicated to the different forms of Lord Shiva now exist around the main shrine. Since then, many pilgrims have visited the temple annually. The famous statue had been saved, but not its original home: Emperor Aurangzeb destroyed the Mathura temple and built a mosque within its precincts.

Natni-ka-Chabutra (sometimes spelled Natani, Natanai, or Natanika), Udaipur; a raised platform on Pichola Lake, west of the Lake Palace. It is in memory of a NATANI who was an excellent tightrope walker. Legend has it that Maharana JAWAN SINGH (1828-1838), in a somewhat drunken state, made a wager with a young girl entertaining his male guests that she could not walk a tightrope stretched across the lake between a village on the west bank to the City Palace. Rashly, he promised her half the kingdom of Mewar if she succeeded. When the girl showed every sign of reaching her destination, someone surreptitiously severed the rope, saving the kingdom, but plunging the artiste to her death. However, before she drowned, the girl is said to have cursed the Maharana's family, saying that, henceforth, he would not have any direct heirs (see CURSE OF MEWAR).