About the Book

Ransingh ascended the throne of Chittor in the thirtieth generation from the founder of the Mewar state, Bappa Rawal, the first king of the Guhil dynasty of Chittor. Two branches named Rawal and Rana were born from him. After Ransingh, Rawal Ratan Singh, son of Samar Singh, a descendant of the Rawal branch, ascended the throne of Chittor. The reign of Rawal Ratan Singh is said to be from 1301 AD to 1303 AD. Alauddin Khilji left Delhi in January 1303 to besiege Chittor and after eight months of the same year, he was able to subjugate the fort only after Jauhar and Saka. Later, after this Saka of Ratan Singh, the rule of the Rawal dynasty ended in Chittor.

There have been three Saka and Jauhar in the history of Chittor, in which the first Saka and Jauhar was of Rawal Ratan Singh and Padmini. Although there is no evidence of this in history, but this story is definitely mentioned in folk tales. To protect their honour from the greedy Sultan of Delhi, Alauddin Khilji, Rani Padmini and 16,000 women of Chittor fort committed Jauhar by surrendering themselves in the burning fire, and after that, by opening the gates of the fort, only 30,000 warrior Rajputs wearing saffron robes fought against almost three times the army of Khilji! This very story is the subject of this poetic composition Agni Samadhi written in 9 segments!

About the Author