http://www.thetajtours.com/rani-padmini/
In
the 13th and 14th centuries, the Khilji dynasty was ruling from Delhi. The
Sultans made repeated attack on Mewar on one pretext or the other. Here we may
recollect the story of Rani Padmani who was the pretext for Alauddin Khilji attack
on Chittor. In those days Chittor was under the Rule of King Ratansen, a brave
and noble warrior-king. Apart, from being a loving husband and a just ruler,
Ratansen was also a great patron of the arts. In his court were adorned with many
talented People one of whom was a musician named Raghav Chetan. But unknown to
anybody, Raghav Chetan was also a sorcerer. He used his evil talents to run
down his rivals and unfortunately for him was caught red-handed in his evil act.
On
hearing about him King Ratansen was furious and he banished Raghav Chetan from
his kingdom. This harsh punishment earned king Ratansen an uncompromising
enemy. Sulking after his humiliation, Raghav Chetan made his way towards Delhi
with an aim of trying to incite the Sultan of Delhi Alauddin Khilji to attack
Chittor.
On
approaching Delhi, Raghav Chetan settled down in a forest near Delhi which the
Sultan used to visit frequently for hunting deer. One day on hearing the
Sultan's hunt party entering the forest, Raghav-Chetan started playing a
melodious tone on his flute. When the alluring notes of Raghav-Chetan flute
reached the Sultan's party they were surprised as to who could be playing a
flute in such a masterly way in a forest.
The
Sultan ordered his soldiers to fetch the person. When Raghav-Chetan was brought
before him, the Sultan Alauddin Khilji asked him to come to his court at Delhi.
The cunning Raghav-Chetan asked the king as to why he wants to have an ordinary
musician like him, when there were so many other beautiful objects to be had.
Wondering what Raghav-Chetan meant, Alauddin asked him to clarify. Upon being
told of Rani Padmini's beauty, Alauddin's greed was aroused and immediately on
returning to his capital he gave orders to his army to march on Chittor.
But
to his dismay, on reaching Chittor, Alauddin Khilji found the fort to be
heavily defended. Desperate to have a look at the legendary beauty of Padmini,
he sent word to King Ratansen that he looked upon Padmini as his sister and
wanted to meet her. On hearing this, the unsuspecting Ratansen asked Padmini to
see the 'brother'. But Padmini was more worldly-wise and she refused to meet
the Sultan personally.
On
being persuaded by her husband Rana Ratansen, Rani Padmini allowed Alauddin to
see her only in a mirror. On the word being sent to Alauddin that Padmini would
see him he came to the fort with his selected his best warriors who secretly
made a careful examination of the fort's defenses on their way to the Palace.
On
seeing Padmini, in the mirror, 'brother', Alauddin Khilji decided that he
should secure Padmini for himself. While returning to his camp, Alauddin was
accompanied for some way by King Ratansen. Taking this opportunity, the wily
Sultan deceitfully kidnapped Ratansen and took him as a prisoner into his camp
and demanded that Padmini come and surrender herself before Alauddin, if she
wanted her husband King Ratansen alive again.
The
Rajput generals decided to beast the Sultan at his own game and sent back a
word that Padmini would be given to Alauddin the next morning. On the following
day at the crack of dawn, one hundred and fifty palanquins (covered cases in
which royal ladies were carried in medieval times) left the fort and made their
way towards Alauddin's camps The palanquins stopped before the tent where king
Ratansen was being held prisoner. Seeing that the palanquins had come from
Chittor; and thinking that they had brought along with them his queen, king
Ratansen was mortified. But to his surprise from the palanquins came out, not
his queen and her women servants but fully armed soldiers, who quickly freed;
Ratansen and galloped away towards Chittor on horses grabbed from Alauddin's
stables.
On
hearing that his designs had been frustrated, the Sultan was furious and
ordered his army to storm Chittor. But hard as they tried the Sultans army
could not break into the fort. Then Alauddin decided to lay siege of the fort.
The siege was a long drawn one and gradually supplied within the fort were
depleted. Finally King Ratnasen gave orders that the Rajputs would open the
gates and fight to finish with the besieging troops. On hearing of this
decision, Padmini decided that with their men-folk going into the unequal
struggle with the Sultan's army in which they were sure to perish, the women of
Chittor had either to commit suicides or face dishonor at the hands of the
victorious enemy.
The
choice was in favor of suicide through Jauhar. A huge pyre was lit and followed
by their queen; all the women of Chittor jumped into the flames and deceived
the enemies waiting outside. With their womenfolk dead, the men of Chittor had
nothing to live for. Their charged out of the fort and fought on furiously with
the vastly powerful array of the Sultan, till all of them perished. After this Pyrrhic
victory the Sultan's troops entered the fort only to be confronted with ashes
and burnt bones of the women whose honor they were going to violate.
These
women who committed Jauhar had to perish but their memory has been kept alive
till today by bards and songs which glorify their act which was right in those
days and circumstances. Thus a halo of honor is given to their supreme
sacrifice.
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