Ran Singh. There were a couple of leading members of clans who had this name. They came from Amargadh (Kanawat), and Shahpura (Sisodia).

Ran Singh, Rawal: see KARAN SINGH I, RAWAL.

Rana, a title: see RAJA.

Rana Pratap: see PRATAP SINGH I, MAHARANA.

Rana Pratap Nagar Railway Station, the main railway station of Udaipur.

Rana Pratap Sagar, at large dam at Rawatbhata, constructed after Independence.

Rana Punja: see PUNJA.

Rana Punja Award, one of the annual State of Rajasthan awards in Udaipur. See MAHARANA MEWAR FOUNDATION AWARDS.

Rana Sanga: see SANGRAM SINGH I, MAHARANA.

Rana Sanga's Devra (Temple), Chittorgarh. Situated south of Shringar Chanwari, this small temple was built by Sanga (Maharana SANGRAM SINGH I) for worshipping Bhagwan Devanarayan; it is believed the Maharana, to sanctify his armour, used to wear it in this temple before going into battle.

Ranakpur, a magnificent Jain temple complex situated in a remote and peaceful valley of the Aravalli ranges, on the banks of the Maghai River, 152 km. northwest of Udaipur. It is one of the most important and largest Jain temple complexes in India, and attracts some fifty thousand pilgrims each year. In keeping with the austere ideals of Jainism it is isolated by mountains, its beauty accentuated by its seclusion; the only buildings are the temples and a dharamsala (an inn or rest house) for pilgrims. A short distance away is the township of Ranakpur. This region was part of Mewar during the reign of Maharana KUMBHA (1433-1468) who donated the land on which the temples were built, and contributed financially to their construction.

There are five temples in all to be seen here, each a fine example of Jain ecclesiastical architecture. The largest sits on a platform at the centre of the complex. It is popularly known as Chaumukha, a four-faced image of Adinath, the first Jain Tirthankara (revealer of the truth). Photography of the shrine is not allowed. Dharnasah commissioned the architect, Dipa, to build it and it was completed during Kumbha's reign. A shloka (poetic inscription) in Sanskrit, carved close to the entrance of the main temple, details its origin. This impressive temple is fashioned from white marble. It is three storeys high and covers 4,469 sq. m. A 61-m. wall surrounds the entire structure. There are one thousand four hundred and forty-four carved marble pillars, each having a different appearance, supporting a mass of domes. Rows of small shrines, each containing an image of a Tirthkankara, surround the large central shrine that houses the statue of Adinath, which was installed by the Jain, Muni Som Sunder in 1441. Both the inner and outer surfaces of the building are covered with intricate carvings of figures and floral designs. A place of peace, the temple gives the impression of being in the "cool glade of a marble forest". Building of the temple began in 1439, the cost of construction was Rs. 90 lakhs (Rs. 900,000).

Also within the main complex are two other Jain temples, one to Neminath, the other being Parsvanath in black marble. The ruins of a temple dedicated to Surya the Sun God are a little distance away. The Amba Mata Temple is 1 km. from the main complex. Non-Jains are permitted entry to the complex from noon to 5 p.m. daily. There are two routes from Udaipur to Ranakpur, both scenic drives that take the visitor through a string of historic townships. The longer route is through the villages of Kailashpuri (Eklingji Temple), Nathdwara, Kankroli, Charbhuja (Garbor), Desuri-ki-Nal and Sadri, a journey of about 161 km. The second and shorter route (152 km.) is through the villages of Gogunda and Saira, before turning on to the steep, serpentine valley road, which has beautiful forest scenery and (eventually) a good high distant view of the Ranakpur Temple complex. See also RANAKPUR, FOUNDING OF.

Ranakpur, founding of. One night in 1394, Sheth Dharanashah, a prosperous Jain merchant, a wealthy pillar of the community famous for his business acumen, had an unusual dream. In the vision he saw a god riding in the Nalini-gulm Vimana (in Jain Scriptures, the celestial vehicle for heavenly beings) who asked the merchant to create a temple in the form of the heavenly vehicle. Dharanashah went to see Maharana KUMBHA who allotted him land beside a stream in a beautiful valley at the foot of the Aravallis where he could build the temple of his dream. Kumbha applied two conditions: that only a small township be set up in the vicinity of the temple, and that the place would bear the royal name. Dharanashah invited architects from different parts of the country to provide him with site plans (resembling the form of the heavenly chariot). Many came forward but none resembled the vehicle of Dharanashah's dream. Then the architect Sompura Depa produced a blueprint, which Dharanashah happily accepted. Dharanashah began construction of his temple, fulfilling both Maharana Kumbha's conditions, in that he built only a few houses in the vicinity, and he gave it the name Rana-ka-Pur, later known as Ranpur, then Ranakpur. The site was consecrated in 1439 and, accompanied by joyous celebrations, Dharanashah dedicated it to Lord Adinath, the first of the twenty-four TIRTHANKARAS of the Jains. The temple took more than sixty-five years to build.

Ranawats, a major Mewar clan.

Ranchhod Bhatt, writer of the Rajprashasti, the 1,017-verse inscription on white marble tablets at RAJSAMAND LAKE.

Rang Karma (Hindi: theatre work), Udaipur; a movement that encourages the relatively contemporary resurgence of live theatre by independent groups after plays lost their royal patronage and, gradually, their popularity. See also THEATRE IN UDAIPUR and PERFORMANCE VENUES IN UDAIPUR.

Rang Niwas Palace (Rang Nivas), Udaipur, on Lake Palace Road near Gulab Bagh; built by Maharana Fateh Singh (1844-1930), it served for some time as the Mahkma-khas (Law Courts); later it became a residence for Maharaj Arjun Singh, uncle of the present head of the Sisodia family, Arvind Singh Mewar.

Rang Rai, a beautiful prostitute who was the centre of attention in a rather unexpected turnabout sequence of events in 1557. See HAJI KHAN.

Rang Sagar, Udaipur; a man-made lake outside Chand Pole near Amba Mata.

Rani, the title of the wife of a Maharana; the chief queen is called Maharani.

Rani-bhandar (Chittor): see GOMUKH KUND.

Ranjeet Singh. There were several leading members of clans who had this name. They came from Deogarh (Choondawat); Gyangadh (Choondawat); Loonda (Choondawat), and Mangrop (Purawat).

Ranmal, Rao of Marwar. His sister, HANSABAI, married Maharana LAKHA (1382-1421). Following Lakha's death, and in the early days of Maharana Mokal's reign, Rao Ranmal and members of his family moved to Chittorgarh in what is believed to have been a covert takeover bid of his young nephew's kingdom. Later, during Kumbha's reign, his plans to dominate Mewar were foiled, and he was killed. See RAGHUDEO, KUNWAR.

Ranthambhor, a Rajput fort in Jaipur State, taken by ALA-UD-DIN KHILJI prior to his conquest of Chittorgarh. Emperor Akbar also took it in 1569 after the third sack of Chittor.

Rao, a title: see RAJA.

Rao Ranmal (Rinmal), House of, Chittorgarh; near Gora-Badal domes, on the western road leading to the northern part of the fort. These are the ruins of the Marwar Rao's house where he lived when he stayed at the fort, in his thwarted attempt to take over the Mewar Kingdom (see CHOONDA, also RAGHUDEO). Nearby are the ruined houses of other vassals (serfs, servants) of Chittor.

Rao Soorajmal: see SURAJMAL.