naubat (shahnai), (Hindi) a performance by two shahnai players, and another playing on two nagaras (tablas). A set of naubat is played on festivals, also at marriages and the birth of children, or any other auspicious occasion.

naubatkhana, a place where a NAUBAT performance is given; also nagarkhana.

Nauchoki Rajanagar, an embankment at Rajsamand (Rajsamudra) Lake, 65 km. from Udaipur, where the TORANS OF TULADAN are erected.

Naugan Well, the sole water resource for KUMBHALGARH. After the Mughals defeated Maharana PRATAP SINGH I (1572-1597) for a second time (1577), the Maharana returned to Kumbhalgarh. The following year, the Mughal general, SHAHBAJ KHAN (Emperor Akbar's foster-brother) attacked the fort. Pratap put up a long and effective resistance. However, insects polluted their water source, the Naugan Well. This pollution was rumoured to have been the work of the treacherous Deora chief of Abu, who had joined the forces of Akbar. Pratap was forced to retire to CHAVAND, which he made his new capital.

Naugaza Pir, grave of, Chittorgarh. This grave, southwest of KALI MATA TEMPLE on the fort's western side, near Padmini's Palace, is that of a Pir (Muslim holy man; Musslaman) who came to Chittor while the Paramara (Maurya) Rajputs were still in power (before Bappa Rawal took the fort). Pir Naugaza, who was allegedly 3 m. tall, wanted to marry a princess of the Paramara dynasty of the same height but his desire went unfulfilled. Possibly there was no girl that tall, but more likely it was because a Muslim marrying a Rajput girl was unthinkable at that time. He died at the fort.

Naulakha Bhandar, Chittorgarh, the first imposing edifice after entering the fort through Ram Pol, the top gate. It is a small citadel in itself, with massive, lofty walls, and towers built entirely of ancient ruins. Its name suggests that it was a storehouse (bhandar) for treasure, though it is said to have been the residence of the usurper BANBIR. At the northeastern corner there is a small, richly sculptured temple called the Singar Chaori, erected in 1448 by Bhandari Bela, the son of Maharana Kumbha's treasurer and dedicated to Santinath, the sixteenth Jain Tirthankara.

Naulakha (Navlakha) Palace or Mahal, in Udaipur's SAJJAN NIWAS GARDEN, part of Gulab Bagh or the Rose Garden, near Saraswati Bhawan; built by Maharana JASWANT SINGH (1828-1838). It is where the founder of the ARYA SAMAJ sect, Swami DAYANAND SARASWATI, a guest of Mewar State at the time, wrote his famous book Satyarth Prakash.

nautch girls, professional dancers and entertainers, an important part of a palace's social life: "very dignified ladies and very skilled at their job". They also acted as prostitutes. See also TAWAIF.

Navachoki Mamadeva Temple, Kumbhalgarh; constructed by Maharana KUMBHA (1433-1468); situated in a gorge below the fort. It houses an image of Kuber (the Hindu god of wealth) and contains several black marble slabs, the earliest of which dates back to 1491. They are inscribed with the history of Mewar, the fourth slab of which has been published. There are also two chhatris (pavilions), commemorating Maharana Kumbha, and his grandson, PRITHVI RAJ who, though the Crown Prince, was exiled from Mewar because of a fight with his brother, Sanga, and became a celebrated adventurer.

Naval Singh. There were several leading members of clans who had this name. They came from Amargadh (Kanawat); Daulat-gadh (Choondawat); Prasad (Sisodia); Roopnagar (Solanki); Sardargarh (Dodia Rajput); Singoli (Poorawat), and Vijaipur (Saktawat).

Navkotha (Naukotha) Magazine, Chittorgarh; on the western end of BANBIR-KI DIWAR. It was a hall used as the TOPKHANA where various guns, relics of the plunder of Chittor, were kept; the biggest of them was 4.2 m. long with a bore of 2.5 cm.

Navlakha Bhandar, a vaulted chamber in the BANBIR-KI-DIWAR, the large wall just inside Ram Pol, the main entrance gate at Chittor.

Navlakha Mahal: see NAULAKHA MAHAL.

Navratri. In Hindu mythology, the demons became very powerful and started troubling the gods and sages. The latter went to Lord Vishnu for help. He created Durga (Devi), and all the gods gave her their weapons to destroy the demons. Mahisasur, King of the demons, fought with Durga who eventually killed him and all the other demons. Today, an annual festival is held to celebrate this victory of truth and justice over evil; it is held over nine days ('nav' means 'nine') and is thus called the Navratri Festival. See DURGA NAVRATRI FESTIVAL.

Navratri Festival: see DURGA NAVRATRI FESTIVAL.

Nawab, the title of a Muslim ruler; also governor of a town under Mughal rule.

Nawabzada, the son of a NAWAB.

nazar (nazrana), (Persian) an offering of presents or coins on ceremonial occasions made to a ruler or a man of status as tokens of respect or allegiance. The size of the nazar was immaterial; it might have ranged from an elephant to a rupee.

nazrana: see NAZAR.