Heart Wrenching story of the Rajput Jauhar @ Chittorgarh.

While the First Jaujar happened in 1303 CE when Padmavati / Padmini conducted it with 700 odd Rajput Women to avoid misery at the hands of Aladuddin Khilji the other two Jauhars & massacre are lesser known.

The Second Jauhar happened when Rani Karnavati the Widow of Rana Sanga (Who was killed at the hands of Babur at the Battle of Khanua) conducted it along with 8000 brave Rajput Women in 1527 to escape any further humiliation at the hands of Qutub-ud-din Bahadur Shah, Sultan of Gujarat, who had sensed the opportunity of Rana Sanga demise & attacked the Mewar kingdom with his huge army. Rani Karnavati appealed to other Rajput rulers to help them save the honor of Chittorgarh. Meanwhile, the rulers advised Rani Karnavati to send both the princes Vikramjit and Udai Singh to Bundi for their safety. Rani Karnavati reached to the Mughal Emperor Humayun by sending a Rakhi as a token to accept her as her sister & save Chittor & her honor from Bahadur Shah. However by the time the Mughal Forces had arrived it was too late.The Rajputs were prepared to fight till death with the advancing troops all dressed up in Kesariya clothes and turbans and exchanged paan with each other as a sign of parting. 

Rani Karnavati knew that with such unequal struggle, the Rajput army would surely perish. So she chose the way of Jauhar where women of Chittor led by Rani Karnavati jumped in the pyre of flames. Later the Mughal forces defeated the army of Bahadur Shah but couldn’t save Rani Karnavati. Mughala Emperor Humayun could only get to see the ashes of Rani Karnavati by the time he arrived in the Chittaurgarh after his forces broke through the defenses of the Bahadur Shah. However by that time Bahadur Shah had unleashed a reign of murder, loot & rape of the innocent civilians within Chittaurgarh.

The third destruction at Chittorgarh was done by Abu’l-Fath Jalal-ud-din Muhammad Akbar or simply ‘Akbar’. In the spring of 1568 CE, he wanted to conquer Mewar which was being ruled by the 53rd ruler of Mewar dynasty and the fourth son of Rani Karnavati and Rana Sanga, Rana Uday Singh.On the advice of his council of advisors, Rana Uday Singh left the fort to camp in the vast plains of Udaipur. Two brave army chieftains Jaimal and Patta were left behind to defend the fort along with 8000 Rajput warriors. On the other hand, Akbar laid siege on the fortress.

The Rajput army fought heroically. During this situation, Akbar even vowed to visit the shrine of Sufi saint Khwaja at Ajmer to pray for divine help for achieving victory. Jaimal and Fatta Sisodiya estimated the incapability of victory the next day so he ordered Jauhar and on the night of February 22, approximately 14000 women burned themselves down to prevent themselves from slavery.

Next day, the gates were opened and all the Rajput soldiers dressed up in saffron robes exchanged betel leaves and charged out bravely to fight the enemies committing Shaakh. Akbar was furious that the siege took so long and ordered the slaughter of more than 5,000 unarmed old men, women, and children of Chittorgarh. This enraged Maharana Pratap to the extent that he made up his mind of never to accept Akbar & was determined to thwart all his advances on Mewar based out of the Kumbhalgarh Fort.

Even today the current Rana of Mewar offers a pooja on behalf of the entire Royal Family & conducts havan or Yagna in the memory of those departed souls for their eternal peace.

Pic 2 # Handmarks of Rajput Women before jumping into the sacrificial fire.
Pic 5 # The Yagna sthal.
Pic 1# The Original Jauhar Kund in the early 70's.
Pic 3& 4 # The current day Jauhar sthal filled up by earth & beautified by ASI in the early 90's.