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Rae Singh (1571-1611), the ruler of Bikaner, whose younger brother, PRITHIRAJ, wrote a note that persuaded Maharana PRATAP SINGH I (1572-1597) not to submit to Emperor Akbar but to continue his fight for freedom of the Rajput race.
Raepur: see RAIPUR.
raga, (Sanskrit) colour. In the classical music of India, a raga is the concept and practice in which a given set of notes, usually five to seven, is used without exception for the duration of a performance. The piece is often associated with a particular time of day (e.g., an evening raga). One is usually entertained by musicians playing ragas while dining at Shiv Niwas or Fateh Prakash palaces in Udaipur.
Raghav Dev (Raghavdeo): see RAGHUDEO.
Raghu Paigya, one of the Maratha chieftains that Maharana ARI SINGH II (1761-1773) called upon to help him in his fight against the Pretender to the Mewar throne, Kunwar RATAN SINGH.
Raghudeo (Raghav Dev) Chhatri, Chittorgarh; one in group of temples on the fort's west side; the chhatri (pavilion) of its name is supported by four pillars; it was built in memory of the assassinated younger brother of Choonda, RAGHUDEO.
Raghudeo (Raghav Dev), Kunwar, second son of Maharana LAKHA (1382-1421) and younger brother of CHOONDA who, when he quit Mewar, entrusted Raghudeo with looking after Mewar's interests. However, Rao Ranmal of Jodhpur (Marwar) the brother of Rajmata Hansabai, was intent on taking over Mewar. His plans were temporarily foiled when Maharana Mokal was assassinated, and Ranmal vowed to avenge his nephew's death. He pursued, and slew the perpetrators, Chacha and Mera. Maharana Kumbha, Ranmal's grandson, had already succeeded Mokal, when Ranmal, to further avenge the assassination, rounded up a great many girls from Chacha and Mera's clan and ordered them to marry his Rathore soldiers. Raghudeo objected to this startling turn because the girls belonged to Mewar and, he claimed, should not be forced into such unions. Ranmal and Raghudeo became enemies and Ranmal decided to get rid of Choonda's troublesome brother. When tempers had cooled, Ranmal invited Raghudeo to Kumbha's Court to honour him with a saropas (the gift of a special garment). In the presence of the young Maharana Kumbha, Ranmal presented Raghudeo with a long-sleeved gown (anga kha). However, the sleeves had been stitched up at the cuffs and when Raghudeo donned it, he was unable to remove his arms, rendering him helpless. Ranmal then gave a signal and, in front of the assembly, Raghudeo was struck dead with a sword. Young Maharana Kumbha was shocked by his maternal great-uncle's action as was Rajmata Hansabai, who was also acting as Regent for her grandson, Kumbha. Immediately and secretly, she recalled Choonda from his self-exile in Mandu. The valiant ex-prince raced to Chittor at the head of small force, determined to avenge his brother's vile murder. In the ensuing battle, Ranmal was killed, and only a handful of Rathores escaped back to Marwar. Raghudeo was so beloved for his virtues, courage, and manly beauty that his murder became a martyrdom, and obtained for him divine honour and a place amongst the 'Pitra Deva' of Mewar. His image is in every home, where it is worshipped daily. Twice each year, on the eighth day of Desera, and on the tenth day of Chait (Spring, March/April), the public, particularly members of the Sisodia clan, pay him public homage.
Raghudeo, Raj Rana, a Jhala clan chieftain from Delwara, an offshoot of Bari Sadri. An ancestor acquired the perpetual gratitude of the Sisodia family at the Battle of HALDIGHATI.
Raghunath Singh. There were several leading members of clans who had this name. They came from Barlias (Sisodia); Bedla (Chauhan); Bhainsrorgarh (Choondawat); Daulat-gadh (Choondawat); Dharyavad (Sisodia); Gyangadh (Choondawat); Hamirgarh (Choondawat); Parsoli (Chauhan); Salumbar (Choondawat), and Taloli (Choondawat).
Rahap, Rana of Sisoda, son of Rawal Karan Singh I (1158-1168) and (possibly) brother of Rawal Kshem Singh (1168-1172). He found cause to quit the then capital, Ahar, and formed a breakaway branch of the Guhilot family at SISODA, changed the family name to SISODIA (after the town), and took the title of Rana (see MEWAR FAMILY SPLIT). Rahap's son was Narpati and his descendants settled in Dharmpur.
Rai, a title: see RAJA.
Rai Angan, incorrect name for the RAJ ANGAN or Rajya Angan, City Palace.
Rai Singh. There were several leading members of clans who had this name. They came from Bari Sadri (Jhala Rajputs); Dharyavad (Sisodia), and Prasad (Sisodia). Also Kunwar Rai Singh, sixth son of Maharana RAIMAL (1473-1509).
Raikat, a title: see RAJA.
Railway Training Auditorium, Udaipur, available for conferences and live performances.
Raimal, Maharana, forty-ninth ruler of Mewar (r. 1473-1509); son of Maharana KUMBHA and legitimate heir to the throne. When he was the Crown Prince, Raimal had been sent into exile after he had taken sides with the CHARANS who had predicted Kumbha's demise. With the death of Kumbha, Raimal's younger brother, Udai Singh (Uda Singh) usurped the throne and set himself up as Maharana UDAI SINGH I (1468-1473). Because of discrepancies, depending on which stories by locals or bards that research may discover, there exist two versions of what occurred next: 1. Historically, according to Ozha in his Vir Vinod, Prince Raimal mounted a small army, attacked and routed his errant younger brother. Udai and his sons escaped to Sojat in Marwar, then stayed a couple of days at Bikaner, before going to Mandu in Malwa to seek the assistance of the ruler, Ghiyas-ud-Din Khilji, in helping him to regain his (usurped) throne. 2. According to TOD in his Annals, Udai and his family fled to the king of Delhi, Bhalol Lodi, and bribed him for assistance by giving the Delhi monarch his daughter in marriage. Not long after, through what may be called Divine Intervention, Udai Singh was killed by lightning, after which Sultan Bhalol, aided by Udai's sons, Sahasmall and Surajmal marched on Mewar. Whoever led the invading force, Mewar's chiefs, including those of Abu and Girnar, were faithful to their legitimate prince, Raimal, and bolstered his army with their forces. At the head of 58,000 horse (horsemen) and 11,000 foot soldiers, Raimal gave battle to the enemy near Nathdwara. The conflict was ferocious. (In Tod's version, "the streams ran blood", and the King of Delhi was so completely routed that, though try as he did later, he never again entered Mewar.)
Raimal rewarded his brave supporters with daughters in marriage for some, and titles for others, and pardoned his nephews, Sahasmall and Surajmal. The following year, 1474, he finally mounted the throne of Mewar (although his reign is usually recorded as having begun, legitimately, in 1473). When time allowed, Raimal was, like his father, a patron of the Arts and learning, and rebuilt the Eklingji Temple. However, most of the time he had to continue the warlike reputation of his predecessors by defending his kingdom against Sultan Ghiyas-ud-Din of Malwa. The scenario was predictable and repetitive: Mewar defeated the Malwa force; Ghiyas-ud-Din retired to his capital at Mandu, then sent another force, commanded by his general, Jafar Kahn, who entered Mewar and began plundering the countryside. Again, Maharana Raimal mustered his army-at one time it included five of his sons, among them Crown Prince Prithvi Raj, Jaimal, and Sangram Singh, plus loyal nobles such as Kandhal Choondawat and Sarangdeo Ajjawat, and also his pardoned nephews, now in the Mewar army. They marched on Mandalgarh where, once again, Jafar Khan and the Malwa force were routed. Finally, the Malwa Sultan sued for peace, renouncing his intentions of conquering Mewar-but this would change. (As mentioned before, the Lodi king of Delhi continued his skirmishes along Mewar's northern border, but Raimal was always able to prevent any invasion.)
Raimal had eleven queens who gave him thirteen sons: 1. Crown Prince Prithvi Raj; 2. Jaimal; 3. Sangram Singh (otherwise known as Sanga); 4. Kalyanmal; 5. Patta; 6. Rai Singh; 7. Bhawanidas; 8. Kishandas; 9. Naryandas; 10. Shankerdas; 11. Devidas; 12. Sunderdas; and 13. Venidas. Unhappily for the kingdom and their father's peace of mind, fraternal affection between his sons, Prithvi Raj and Sanga, was discarded for deadly rivalry (see SANGA AND PRITHVI RAJ). The troublemaker was the Crown Prince whom Raimal was ultimately forced to exile to Kumbhalgarh. Sanga, fearing for his life, went into self-exile north of Mewar (see SANGRAM SINGH, MAHARANA). However, hard times continued for Raimal with the outbreak of civil warfare (see PRITHVI RAJ, CROWN PRINCE).Time went by; ultimately, both Prithvi Raj and Jaimal were killed, and Sanga had disappeared. Thinking all three of his elder sons had not survived him, Raimal named JESA as his successor, not a comfortable move as the man was too incompetent to rule. (Again the line between fact and fiction is blurred: Although Mewar's historic annals record this event, there is no mention of a son named Jesa in Mewar's official genealogy. Possibly, he was a relative.) Shortly, however, Maharana Raimal learned that Sangram Singh was still alive, which automatically made him heir to the throne. He sent word for Rao Karamchand to bring Sanga back to Chittor. When they arrived, Raimal rewarded Karamchand by granting him the large jagir of Bambori. (Today, Karamchand's descendants are now distinguished 2nd Class Nobles of Mewar.) The Rao also became a member of the Mewar Government and, in his later years, was to feature in an episode of insult and injustice, which again altered the course of history for Mewar (see VIKRAMADITYA II, MAHARANA). In 1509, Raimal died, and his son, Sangram Singh, succeeded him, ushering in one of the more memorable reigns in Mewar history. Had discord not disunited the family, perhaps Raimal's thirty-six year reign would have equalled any of his predecessors.
Rainfall of Mewar: see NATURAL FEATURES OF MEWAR.
Raipur, a district of Mewar (sometimes spelled Raepur.)
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