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Paramaras (Panwars, Paramars, Pramas, Puars), a major Rajput (warrior caste) clan of the 10th and 11th centuries who originally ruled at Ujjain and later at Dhar in Malwa. Their ancestors were the famous Mauryan Rajput kingdom, which ruled North India before the advent of the Christian era. There were branches of the Paramaras in what was to become Mewar, at Mount Abu, Banswara, Dungarpur, Bhinmal and, most notably, at Chittorgarh. The clan's most celebrated chieftain was CHITRANG MORI who ruled a large area of southern Rajputana, including the district, which later became the Kingdom of Mewar; his capital was the ancient fortress of Chittor. In the 8th century, MAAN MORI was the Paramara ruler of Chittor. He is said to have been a relative, by marriage, of Kalbhoj, a prince of the Guhilot Rajput dynasty, which had been ruling at NAGDA. Kalbhoj had reason to be reared in secrecy (a legend similar to the childhood of GUHIL), however, on learning of his heritage, the young prince took Chittor and established the Mewar dynasty (734), taking the name BAPPA RAWAL. Possibly around 972, near the start of the reign of Rawal NARWAHAN (971-973), the Paramara king of Malwa, Munja Raja, invaded Chittor, forcing Mewar to re-establish its capital to the south at AHAR (see MEWAR'S LOST GENERATIONS). Munja Raja, and his nephew and successor at Chittor, Raja Bhoj, built some important monuments in the fort. In 1143, an attack by another powerful Rajput clan, the Chalukyas, weakened the Paramaras; although the dynasty was later re-established, it remained fragile. This is possibly the reason Mewar was able to retake their capital of Chittor during the reign of Rawal JAITRA SINGH (1213-1253). The Paramaras retreated to their capital, now Mandu in Malwa, where they remained until 1305. ALA-UD-DIN KHILJI of Delhi annihilated them after his destructive sack of Chittor (1303).
Paramars: see PARAMARAS.
Parasar, a caste of Brahmans.
Parasar, a rugged, mountainous district north of Udaipur, site of the town of NAGDA where Kalbhoj (later known as BAPPA RAWAL, eighth prince of Mewar) spent his childhood in the care of a Kul Purohitan (priest's wife).
Parashumram Mahadev, a Shiva Temple near Kumbhalgarh.
Parasnath Jain Temple, Chittorgarh, on the western side of the fort between the sacred GOMUKH KUND (reservoir) and the MAHASATI (royal cremation ground). The temple was built in the time of Maharana RAIMAL (1473-1509). The idol in the sanctum is thought to have been brought from the Deccan. A tunnel allegedly led from KHUMBA'S PALACE to this temple. Possibly (in legend) it was used by Rani PADMINI and the fort's women in 1303 when they committed jauhar-some records say that the women descended some steps in the palace, entered underground cellars, and possibly continued on through the tunnel to the Parasnath Temple.
parganas, (Hindi) districts of the State.
Pariharas, an ancient Rajput clan that ruled at Mandor, before Jodhpur was built.
parikrama, (Hindi) a temple enclosure.
Park Hotel Hall, Udaipur, available for conferences and live performances.
Parsad, a village 48 km. south of Udaipur, 18 km. from Chavand. Maharana RAJ SINGH I (1653-1680) gave this estate (jagir) to his grandson, Kalyan Singh, a brother of Maharana AMAR SINGH I (1597-1620).
Genealogy: Kalyan Singh; Jaswant Singh; Mokham Singh; Prithvi Singh; Naval Singh; Deep Singh; Rai Singh; and Shiv Singh.
Parshva and the Lord of the Nagas, a legendary figure portrayed many times in Jain Art. A magnificent carving of the following legend is to be seen on the right-hand courtyard at the RANAKPUR temple complex. One day Prince Parshva was out riding when he noticed a crowd of people by the roadside. Curious, he rode to the spot where he saw an ascetic performing the 'five fire penance' (seated with four fires burning around him and the fifth, the sun, blazing from above). Parshva recognised the ascetic as Kamatha, his evil brother in an earlier birth. Suddenly Parshva, who had transcendental knowledge, realised a snake was imprisoned in a log on one of Kamatha's fires. Overcome with pity, the Prince dismounted, took an axe from a bystander, and split the log, freeing the snake. This act infuriated Kamatha who felt he had been publicly humiliated. After his death, Kamatha, because of his penance, was reborn as a heavenly being, enjoying a trouble free existence. One day when he was travelling through the heavens in his celestial car, he looked down on earth and saw Prince Parshva in deep meditation. Recalling the humiliation in his previous birth, and seeking revenge, Kamatha created a terrible storm. The rain lashed Parshva and the wind howled around him. The water level rose rapidly and the Prince was soon in danger of drowning. However, he remained undisturbed and continued to perform his meditation. Now the snake that Parshva had saved had been reborn as Dharna, the Lord of the NAGAS, and he came to Parshva's rescue. He coiled his body under the Prince, lifting him above the water and spread his thousand hoods over Parshva's head. Thus the Lord of the Nagas protected his saviour from the fury of the deluge. This sight brought Kamatha to his senses and, repentant, he ceased his torment of Parshva.
Parsis (Parsees), modern followers of the prophet Zoroaster. They are descended from Persian Zoroastrians who fled from Persia (modern Iran) to India in the 7th century to avoid persecution by the Muslims.
Parsoli (Chauhan), a town 120 km. from Udaipur near Bari Sadri, a thikana of the descendants of Kesri Singh, son of Ramchandra of BEDLA. Kesri Singh was a trusted noble of Maharana Raj Singh I (1653-1680) who gave him the jagir of Parsoli and made him a Noble of 1st Rank. Kesri was always with the Maharana in various battles with Emperor Aurangzeb's forces. He joined Ratan Singh Choondawat, Durgadas Rathore and others in a conspiracy to bring Mughal Prince Muazam to their side against Aurangzeb, but they did not succeed. However, they did manage to persuade Prince Akbar to join them against his father. Later, when Kunwar Amar Singh rebelled against his father, Maharana Jai Singh (1680-1698), Kesri sided with Amar. The Maharana, not happy with Kesri, wanted him murdered. On the pretext of an important meeting at Thoor, Jai Singh invited Kesri, Gopinath Ghanerao, and Kandhal. The latter murdered Kesri who, before he died, managed to kill his murderer.
Genealogy: Kesri Singh; Nahar Singh; Raghunnath Singh; Raj Singh; Sangram Singh; Savant Singh; Lal Singh I; Laxman Singh; Ratan Singh; Lal Singh II.
Parsvanath Jain Temple: see KAREDA PARSVANATH JAIN TEMPLE.
Parsvanatha (a Hindu god): see RANAKPUR.
Parsvanatha Temple: see RANAKPUR.
Partabgarh: see PRATAPGARH.
Parvati (Mahadevi), (Sanskrit) daughter of the mountain. A Hindu goddess, wife of Shiva; she also appears as Durga and Kali. She is also known as Kamakshi, daughter of the Himalaya Mountains and sister of the river Ganges. With love, she lured Shiva from his asceticism. Parvati represents unity of god and goddess, man and woman.
Paryusana, a fasting period in Jainism.
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