Known to be one of the most powerful and famous ruler of the Mewar Dynasty, Bappa Rawal is a member of the Guhila dynasty, which is a clan of Rajputs. He founded the state of Mewar in 728 CE, which is a region in the south- central part of the Indian state of Rajasthan. He is also credited with building the Eklingji temple in Udaipur. As per the 15th century Ekalinga Puranas, Bappa Rawal is known to be the 9th descendent of the Guhila dynasty founder Guhadatta.
Legendary Accounts of Bappa Rawal
As per the sacred texts and other bardic chronicles, there are several accounts which state that the father of Bappa Rawal, Nagaditya and all other male members of his family were killed in a battle with the Bhils of Idar. Bappa Rawal had to remain in disguise accompanied by his 2 loyal Bhil servants, and was raised by a Brahmin lady of Nagda. There he was employed as a caretaker of cows and eventually he came across a sage named Harit Rashi, who eventually became his guru.
Harit Rashi was an introspective and perceptive sage, who agreed to initiate Bappa Rawal to the Shaivite order and to grant him immortality and supernatural powers, under one condition that Rawal had to take the sage"s spit in his mouth. When the moment came, Bappa Rawal recoiled in disgust and the sage"s spit fell on his foot. Therefore, he could only obtain immunity from weapons instead of immortality. With this power, he defeated his father`s killers, and established the Mewar Kingdom.
History of Bappa Rawal
Bappa Rawal played an important role in the Battle of Rajasthan and especially in the conquest of the Chittor Fort. During the 8th century, a series of wars were fought between the regional rulers of north- western India and the Arabs of Sindh. Bappa Rawal was the first Hindu warrior of Mewar, who defeated the Arab invaders from entering India. Bappa Rawal is eternally remembered historically and in legend as a great warrior.
Bappa Rawal combined his army, including Paramara vassals, with those of the rulers of Jaisalmer, Ajmer, and other smaller Rajput kingdoms. It is said that, to celebrate the victories of Bappa Rawal, he married several Persian princesses and sired a large family of warriors with over 100 children.
