Saturday, November 25, 2017

LEGENDARY LION KING CHHATRASAL BUNDELA - IMMORTAL RAJPUTS

"इत जमना उत नर्मदा इत चंबल उत टोंस। छत्रसाल से लरन की रही न काह होंस।”

- यमुना से लेकर नर्मदा तक और चम्बल नदी से लेकर टोंस तक राजा छत्रसाल का राज्य है। उनसे लड़ने का हौसला अब किसी में नहीं बचा।

सनातन धर्म रक्षक,

बुन्देल केसरी,
मुग़लो के काल
वीर राजपूत योद्धा महाराजा छत्रसाल की जयंती पर सभी को हार्दिक बधाई व शुभकामनाएं।

भारत के मध्ययुग के प्रतापी योद्धा थे जिन्होने मुगल शासक औरंगजेब से युद्ध करके बुन्देलखण्ड मे अपना राज्य स्थापित किया और 'महाराजा' पदवी प्राप्त की।

सत्ता और संघर्ष की बढ़ी-चढ़ी घटनाओं से इतिहास भरा पड़ा है, परंतु स्वतंत्रता और सृजन के लिए जीवन भर संघर्ष करने वाले विरले ही हुए हैं। मध्यकालीन भारत में विदेशी आतताइयों से सतत संघर्ष करने वालों में छत्रपति शिवाजी, महाराणा प्रताप और बुंदेल केसरी छत्रसाल के नाम विशेष रूप से उल्लेखनीय हैं, परंतु जिन्हें उत्तराधिकार में सत्ता नहीं वरन ‘शत्रु और संघर्ष’ ही विरासत में मिले हों, ऐसे बुंदेल केसरी छत्रसाल ने वस्तुतः अपने पूरे जीवनभर स्वतंत्रता और सृजन के लिए ही सतत संघर्ष किया। शून्य से अपनी यात्रा प्रारंभ कर आकाश-सी ऊंचाई का स्पर्श किया। उन्होंने विस्तृत बुंदेलखंड राज्य की गरिमामय स्थापना ही नहीं की थी, वरन साहित्य सृजन कर जीवंत काव्य भी रचे। छत्रसाल ने अपने ८२ वर्ष के जीवन और ४४ वर्षीय राज्यकाल में ५२ युद्ध किये थे। शौर्य और सृजन की ऐसी उपलब्धि बेमिसाल है । वीरों और हीरोंवाली माटी के इस लाड़ले सपूत ने कलम और करवाल को एक-सी गरिमा प्रदान की थी।

उनके पिता चंपतरायने पूरे जीवनभर विदेशी मुगलों से संघर्ष करते हुए अपने ही विश्वासघातियों के कारण सन १६६१ में अपनी वीरांगना रानी लालकुंआरि के साथ आत्माहुति दी ।

इतिहास पुरुषः महाराजा छत्रसाल

चंपतराय जब समय भूमि मे जीवन-मरण का संघर्ष झेल रहे थे उन्हीं दिनों ज्येष्ठ शुक्ल ३ संवत १७०७ (सन १६४१) को वर्तमान टीकमगढ़ जिले के लिघोरा विकास खंड के अंतर्गत ककर कचनाए ग्राम के पास स्थित विंध्य-वनों की मोर पहाड़ियों में इतिहास पुरुष छत्रसाल का जन्म हुआ। अपने पराक्रमी पिता चंपतराय की मृत्यु के समय वे मात्र १२ वर्ष के ही थे। वनभूमि की गोद में जन्में, वनदेवों की छाया में पले, वनराज से इस वीर का उद्गम ही तोप, तलवार और रक्त प्रवाह के बीच हुआ। मुगल सम्राट शाहजहाँकी सेना चारों ओरसे घेरा डालनेके प्रयत्न में थी । छिपे रहना आवश्यक समझकर पुत्र के जन्मपर भी महाराजाने कोई उत्सव नहीं मनाया था । एक वार तो शत्रु इतने निकट आ गये कि लोगों को प्राण बचानेके लिये इधर-उधर छिपनेके लिये भागना पड़ा । इस भाग-दौड़में शिशु छत्रसाल अकेले ही मैदानमें छूट गये; किंतु-

जाको राखै साइयाँ मार सकै नहिं कोय ।

वाल न बाँका करि सकै जो जग बैरी होय।।

बालक छत्रसालपर शत्रुओंकी दृष्टि नहीं पड़ी । भगवानने शिशुकी रक्षा कर ली । चार वर्षकी अवस्थातक इन्हें ननिहालमें रहना पड़ा और केवल सात वर्षकी अवस्थातक पिताके साथ रह सके। पाँच वर्षकी अवस्था में श्रीरामजी के मन्दिर में इन्होंने भगवान राम-लक्ष्मण की मूर्तियों को अपने-जैसा बालक समझकर उनके साथ खेलना चाहा और कहते हैं सचमुच भगवान इनके साथ खेले।

पांच वर्ष में ही इन्हें युद्ध कौशल की शिक्षा हेतु अपने मामा साहेबसिंह धंधेर के पास देलवारा भेज दिया गया था। माता-पिता के निधन के कुछ समय पश्चात ही वे बड़े भाई अंगद राय के साथ देवगढ़ चले गये। बाद में अपने पिता के वचन को पूरा करने के लिए छत्रसाल ने पंवार वंश की कन्या देवकुंअरि से विवाह किया।

दिल्ली के सिंहासन पर औरंगजेब बैठ चुका था। उसके अन्याय का दौर सारे देश को आतंकित कर रहा था। छत्रसाल की अवस्था उस समय लगभग १३-१४ वर्ष की थी। विन्ध्यवासिनीदेवी के मन्दिर में मेला था। चारों ओर चहल-पहल थी। दूर-दूरसे लोग भगवती के दर्शन करने चले आ रहे थे। महाराज सुजानराव बुन्देले सरदारों के साथ वार्तालाप करनें में लगे थे। युवराज छत्रसाल ने जूते उतारे, हाथ-पैर धोये और एक डलिया लेकर देवीकी पूजा करने के लिये पुष्प चुनने वे वाटिकामें पहुँचे। उनके साथ उसी अवस्था के दूसरे राजपूत बालक भी थे। पुष्प चुनते हुए वे कुछ दूर निकल गये। इतने में वहाँ कुछ मुसलमान सैनिक घॊड़ॊंपर चढे आये। पास आकर वे घोड़े से उतर पड़े और पूछने लगे-'विन्ध्यवासिनी का मन्दिर किधर है?'

छत्रसाल ने पूछा-'क्यों, तुम्हें भी क्या देवी की पूजा करनी है?

मुसलमान सरदार ने कहा-'छिः, हम तो मन्दिर को तोड़ने आये हैं।

छत्रसाल ने फूलों की डलिया दूसरे बालक को पकड़ायी और गर्ज उठे-'मुँह सम्भालकर बोल! फिर ऎसी बात कही तो जीभ खींच लूँगा।'

सरदार हॅंसा और बोला-'तू भला क्या कर सकता है। तेरी देवी भी.....।' लेकिन बेचारे का वाक्य पूरा नहीं हुआ। छत्रसाल की तलवार उसकी छाती में होकर पीछे तक निकल गयी थी। एक युद्ध छिड़ गया उस पुष्प-वाटिका में। जिन बालकों के पास तलवारें नहीं थीं, वे तलवारें लेने दौड़ गये।

मन्दिर में इस युद्ध का समाचार पहुँचा। राजपूतोंने कवच पहने और तलवार सम्भाली; किंतु उन्होंने देखा कि युवराज छत्रसाल एक हाथ में रक्त से भीगी तलवार तथा दूसरे में फूलों की डलिया लिये हॅंसते हुए चले आ रहे हैं। उनके वस्त्र रक्त से लाल हो रहे हैं। अकेले युवराज ने शत्रु सैनिकों को भूमिपर सुला दिया था। महाराज सुजानरावने छत्रसाल को हृदय से लगा लिया। भगवती विन्ध्यवासिनी अपने सच्चे पुजारी के आज के शौर्य-पुष्प पाकर प्रसन्न हो गयीं।

जिसने आंख खोलते ही सत्ता संपन्न दुश्मनों के कारण अपनी पारंपरिक जागीर छिनी पायी हो, निकटतम स्वजनों के विश्वासघात के कारण जिसके बहादुर मां-बाप ने आत्महत्या की हो, जिसके पास कोई सैन्य बल अथवा धनबल भी न हो, ऐसे १२-१३ वर्षीय बालक की मनोदशा की क्या आप कल्पना कर सकते हैं ? परंतु उसके पास था बुंदेली शौर्य का संस्कार, बहादुर मां-पिताका

अदम्य साहस और ‘वीर वसुंधरा’ की गहरा आत्मविश्वास। इसलिए वह टूटा नहीं, डूबा नहीं, आत्मघात नहीं किया वरन् एक रास्ता निकाला।

पिताके दोस्त राजा जयसिंहके सेनामें भरती होना

उसने अपने भाई के साथ पिता के दोस्त राजा जयसिंह के पास पहुंचकर सेना में भरती होकर आधुनिक सैन्य प्रशिक्षण लेना प्रारंभ कर दिया।

राजा जयसिंह तो दिल्ली सल्तनत के लिए कार्य कर रहे थे अतः औरंगजेब ने जब उन्हें दक्षिण विजय का कार्य सौंपा तो छत्रसाल को इसी युद्ध में अपनी बहादुरी दिखाने का पहला अवसर मिला । सन १६६५ में बीजापुर युद्ध में असाधारण वीरता छत्रसाल ने दिखायी और देवगढ़ (छिंदवाड़ा) के गोंडा राजा को पराजित करने में तो छत्रसाल ने जी-जान लगा दिया। इस सीमा तक कि यदि उनका घोड़ा, जिसे बाद में ‘भलेभाई’ के नाम से विभूषित किया गया उनकी रक्षा न करता तो छत्रसाल शायद जीवित न बचते पर इतने पर भी जब विजयश्री का सेहरा उनके सिर पर न बांध मुगल भाई-भतीजेवाद में बंट गया तो छत्रसाल का स्वाभिमान आहत हुआ और उन्होंने मुगलों की बदनीयती समझ दिल्ली सल्तनत की सेना छोड़ दी।

छत्रपति शिवाजी महाराजसे मिलके स्वराज का मंत्र लेना

इन दिनों राष्ट्रीयता के आकाश पर छत्रपति का सितारा चमचमा रहा था। छत्रसाल दुखी तो थे ही, उन्होंने शिवाजी से मिलना ही इन परिस्थितियों में उचित समझा और सन १६६८ में दोनों राष्ट्रवीरों की जब भेंट हुई तो शिवाजी ने छत्रसाल को उनके उद्देश्यों, गुणों और परिस्थितियें का आभास कराते हुए स्वतंत्र राज्य स्थापना की मंत्रणा दी एवं समर्थ गुरु रामदास के आशीषों सहित

‘भवानी’ तलवार भेंट की-

करो देस के राज छतारे

हम तुम तें कबहूं नहीं न्यारे।

दौर देस मुगलन को मारो

दपटि दिली के दल संहारो।

तुम हो महावीर मरदाने

करि हो भूमि भोग हम जाने।

जो इतही तुमको हम राखें

तो सब सुयस हमारे भाषे।

शिवाजी से स्वराज का मंत्र लेकर सन १६७० में छत्रसाल वापस अपनी मातृभूमि लौट आयी परंतु तत्कालीन बुंदेल भूमि की स्थितियां बिलकुल भिन्न थीं। अधिकाश रियासतदार मुगलों के मनसबदार थे, छत्रसाल के भाई-बंधु भी दिल्ली से भिड़ने को तैयार नहीं थे। स्वयं उनके हाथ में धन-संपत्ति कुछ था नहीं। दतिया नरेश शुभकरण ने छत्रसाल का सम्मान तो किया पर बादशाह से बैर न करने की ही सलाह दी। ओरछेश सुजान सिंह ने अभिषेक तो किया पर संघर्ष से अलग रहे। छत्रसाल के बड़े भाई रतनशाह ने साथ देना स्वीकार नहीं किया तब छत्रसाल ने राजाओं के बजाय जनोन्मुखी होकर अपना कार्य प्रारंभ किया। कहते हैं उनके बचपन के साथी महाबली तेली ने उनकी धरोहर, थोड़ी-सी पैत्रिक संपत्ति के रूप में वापस की जिससे छत्रसाल ने ५ घुड़सवार और २५ पैदलों की छोटी-सी सेना तैयार कर ज्येष्ठ सुदी पंचमी रविवार वि.सं. १७२८ (सन १६७१) के शुभ मुहूर्त में शहंशाह आलम औरंगजेब के विरूद्ध विद्रोह का बिगुल बजाते हुए स्वराज्य स्थापना का बीड़ा उठाया।

औरंगजेबके विरूद्ध संघर्ष का शंखनाद

छत्रसाल की प्रारंभिक सेना में राजे-रजवाड़े नहीं थे अपितु तेली बारी, मुसलमान, मनिहार आदि जातियों से आनेवाले सेनानी ही शामिल हुए थे। चचेरे भाई बलदीवान अवश्य उनके साथ थे। छत्रसाल का पहला आक्रमण हुआ अपने माता-पिता के साथ विश्वासघात करने वाले सेहरा के धंधेरों पर। मुगल मातहत कुंअरसिंह को ही कैद नहीं किया गया बल्कि उसकी मदद को आये हाशिम खां की धुनाई की गयी और सिरोंज एवं तिबरा लूट डाले गये। लूट की सारी संपत्ति छत्रसाल ने अपने सैनिकों में बांटकर पूरे क्षेत्र के लोगों को उनकी सेना में सम्मिलित होने के लिए आकर्षित किया। कुछ ही समय में छत्रसाल की सेना में भारी वृद्धि होने लगी और उन्हेांने धमोनी, मेहर, बांसा और पवाया आदि जीतकर कब्जे में कर लिए।

इसके उपरांत महाराजा ने अपनी रणपताका लहराते हुए सागर, दमोह, एरछ, जलापुर, मोदेहा, भुस्करा, महोबा, पनवाड़ी, अजनेर, कालपी और विदिशा जीत डाला।

आतंक के मारे अनेक मुगल फौजदार स्वयं ही छत्रसाल को चैथ देने लगे। बघेलखंड, मालवा, राजस्थान और पंजाब तक छत्रसाल ने युद्ध जीते। परिणामतः यमुना, चंबल, नर्मदा और टोंस मे क्षेत्र में बुंदेला राज्य स्थापित हो गया।

महाराज ने ओरंगज़ेब को अनेक बार हराया।

ग्वालियर-खजाना लूटकर सूबेदार मुनव्वर खां की सेना को पराजित किया, बाद में नरवर भी जीता। सन १६७१ में ही कुलगुरु नरहरि दास ने भी विजय का आशीष छत्रसाल को दिया।

छत्रसाल बुंदेला अपने अश्व भलेभाई पर

औरंगजेब के सेनापती को पराजित करना

ग्वालियर की लूट से छत्रसाल को सवा करोड़ रुपये प्राप्त हुए पर औरंगजेब इससे छत्रसाल पर टूट-सा पड़ा। उसने सेनापती रणदूल्हा के नेतृत्व में आठ सवारों सहित तीस हजारी सेना भेजकर गढ़ाकोटा के पास छत्रसाल पर धावा बोल दिया। घमासान युद्ध हुआ पर दणदूल्हा (रुहल्ला खां) न केवल पराजित हुआ वरन भरपूर युद्ध सामग्री छोड़कर जन बचाकर उसे भागना पड़ा। इस विजय से छत्रसाल के हौसले काफी बुलंद हो गये।

सन १६७१-८० की अवधि में छत्रसाल ने चित्रकूट से लेकर ग्वालियर तक और कालपी से गढ़ाकोटा तक प्रभुत्व स्थापित कर लिया।

सन १६७५ में छत्रसाल की भेंट प्रणामी पंथ के प्रणेता संत प्राणनाथ से हुई जिन्होंने छत्रसाल को आशीर्वाद दिया-

छत्ता तोरे राज में धक धक धरती होय जित जित घोड़ा मुख करे तित तित फत्ते होय।

बुंदेले राज्य की स्थापना

इसी अवधि में छत्रसाल ने पन्ना के गौड़ राजा को हराकर, उसे अपनी राजधानी बनाया। ज्येष्ठ शुक्ल तृतीया संवत १७४४ की गोधूलि बेला में स्वामी प्राणनाथ ने विधिवत छत्रसाल का पन्ना में राज्यभिषेक किया। विजय यात्रा के दूसरे सोपान में छत्रसाल ने अपनी रणपताका लहराते हुए सागर, दमोह, एरछ, जलापुर, मोदेहा, भुस्करा, महोबा, राठ, पनवाड़ी, अजनेर, कालपी और विदिशा का किला जीत डाला। आतंक के मारे अनेक मुगल फौजदार स्वयं ही छत्रसाल को चैथ देने लगे।

बघेलखंड, मालवा, राजस्थान और पंजाब तक छत्रसाल ने युद्ध जीते। परिणामतः यमुना, चंबल, नर्मदा और टोंस मे क्षेत्र में बुंदेला राज्य स्थापित हो गया। सन १७०७ में औरंगजेब का निधन हो गया। उसके पुत्र आजम ने बराबरी से व्यवहार कर सूबेदारी देनी चाही पर छत्रसाल ने संप्रभु राज्य के आगे यह अस्वीकार कर दी।

मुहम्मद बंगस का आक्रमण एवं बाजीराव पेशवा का सहाय्य लेना

जगद्वै उपजे ब्राहामण भृगु और बाजीराव.

उन ढाई राजपुतीय इन ढाई तुरकाव.

महाराज छत्रसाल पर इलाहाबाद के नवाब मुहम्मद बंगस का ऐतिहासिक आक्रमण हुआ। इस समय छत्रसाल लगभग ८० वर्ष के वृद्ध हो चले थे और उनके दोनों पुत्रों में अनबन थी। जैतपुर में छत्रसाल पराजित हो रहे थे। ऐसी परिस्थितियों में उन्हेांने बाजीराव पेशवा को पुराना संदर्भ देते हुए सौ छंदों का एक काव्यात्मक पत्र भेजा जिसकी दो पंक्तियां थीं

जो गति गज और ग्राह की सो गति भई है आज बाजी जात बुंदेल की राखौ बाजी लाज।

फलतः बाजीराव की सेना आने पर बंगश की पराजय ही नहीं हुई वरन उसे प्राण बचाकर अपमानित हो, भागना पड़ा। छत्रसाल युद्ध में टूट चले थे, लेकिन मराठों के सहयोग से उन्हेांने कलंक का टीका सम्मान से पोंछ डाला।

यहीं कारण था छत्रसाल ने अपने अंतिम समय में जब राज्य का बंटवारा किया तो बाजीराव को तीसरा पुत्र मानते हुए बुंदेलखंड झांसी, सागर, गुरसराय, काल्पी, गरौठा, गुना, सिरोंज और हटा आदि हिस्से के साथ राजनर्तकी मस्तानी भी उपहार में दी। कतिपय इतिहासकार इसे एक संधि के अनुसार दिया हुआ बताते हैं पर जो भी हो अपनी ही माटी के दो वंशों, मराठों और बुंदेलों ने बाहरी शक्ति को पराजित करने में जो एकता दिखायी, वह अनुकरणीय है।

राज्य संचालनके बारेमें महाराजा छत्रसाल का सूत्र

छत्रसाल ने अपने दोनों पुत्रों ज्येष्ठ जगतराज और कनिष्ठ हिरदेशाह को बराबरी का हिस्सा, जनता को समृद्धि और शांति से राज्य-संचालन हेतु बांटकर अपनी विदा वेला का दायित्व निभाया। राज्य संचालन के बारे में उनका सूत्र उनके ही शब्दों में –

राजी सब रैयत रहे, ताजी रहे सिपाहि

छत्रसाल ता राज को, बार न बांको जाहि।

यही कारण था कि छत्रसाल को अपने अंतिम दिनों में वृहद राज्य के सुप्रशासन से एक करोड़ आठ लाख रुपये की आय होती थी। उनके एक पत्र से स्वष्ट होता है कि उन्होंने अंतिम समय १४ करोड़ रुपये राज्य के खजाने में (तब) शेष छोड़े थे।

कलाका सम्मान करनेवाले महाराजा छत्रसाल

छत्रसाल की तलवार जितनी धारदार थी, कलम भी उतनी ही तीक्ष्ण थी। वे स्वयं कवि तो थे ही कवियों का श्रेष्ठतम सम्मान भी करते थे। अद्वितीय उदाहरण है कि कवि भूषण के बुंदेलखंड में आने पर आगवानी में जब छत्रसाल ने उनकी पालकी में अपना कंधा लगा दिया तो भूषण कह उठेः

और राव राजा एक चित्र में न ल्याऊं-

अब, साटू कौं सराहौं, के सराहौं छत्रसाल को।।

प्रतापी छत्रसाल महाराज का निधन

प्रतापी छत्रसाल ने पौष शुक्ल तृतीया भृगुवार संवत् १७८८ (दिसंबर १७३१) को छतरपुर (नौ गांव) के निकट मऊ सहानिया के छुवेला ताल पर अपना शरीर त्यागा और विंध्य की अपत्यिका में भारतीय आकाश पर सदा-सदा के लिए जगमगाते सितारे बन गये। बुंदेलखंड ही नही संपूर्ण भारत देष ऐसे महान व्यक्तित्व के प्रति पीढ़ी दर पीढ़ी कृतज्ञ रहेगा।

The cenotaph of Maharaja Chattrasal Bundela

The Bundelkhand region of the state of Madhya Pradesh is among the most interesting areas in India. Dotted with splendid monuments, scenic rivers, medieval palaces and temples — each area is full of legendary stories about people. Among the most famous names is that of Maharaja Chhatrasal who is counted among other greats such as Maharana Pratap and Chatrapati Shivaji.

“Veer Chhatrasal” a name that he is often referred by, is considered the bravest fighter that the Mughals faced in the region.

This is the story of an unsung warrior Chhatrasal Bundela who took on the might of the Mughals at the age of 22.

List of Mughal generals defeated by Maharaja Chhatrasal Bundela in his lifetime:

>Bahlol Khan Mayana

>Rohilla Khan

>Kaliq Khan

>Munawwar Khan

>Sadruddin

>Sheikh Anwar

>Sayyid Latif

Neglect at the hands of history and the meek and unassertive nature of the Hindi speaking people are probably the two reasons why so few in India know so little about Veer Chhatrasal. There is famous saying about him:

‘‘इत जमना उत नर्मदा इत चंबल उत टोंस।

छत्रसाल से लरन की रही न काह होंस।’’

Meaning; From the banks of Yamuna in north on one side till Narmada in south , with Chambal in west while Tons river in East. Everyone was defeated and no one remained with guts to fight with him.

The Lion of Bundelkhand, who fought against the Mughals in around 44 battles.. He not only established an independent state in Bundelkhand, he was also a patron of fine arts, and a good writer himself. Bravest among so many brave men was Rao Chhatrasal Bundela, the chieftain of Bundi and the hero of fifty- two fights. Of the 82 years he lived, Chhatrasal fought 52 battles during his 44 year old reign. He won all his battles and avenged few tactical reverses quickly, till his last fight with Mughal general Bangash Khan. This famous battle was won by the help of another great undefeated warrior Peshwa Baji Rao-I. Veer Chhatrasal had already defeated Bangash twice before this last battle.

Bundelkhand known for it’s harsh climate, aridity and barren spaces, an environment that has produced some of the hardiest warriors and rulers of India. As also it's magnifcient temples, palaces and forts at Orccha, Jhansi, Khajuraho. The Chandela Rajputs who built the stunning temples at Khajuraho, Rudra Pratap Singh, who founded the princely state of Orcha, and is famous for the magnificient buildings and above all the brave Rani Laxmibai of Jhansi were all from Bundelkhand. In modern times, the hockey wizard Dhyan Chand, the great Hindi poet Maithili Sharan Gupt, prominent Hindi movie lyricist Indeevar, novelist Vrindavan Lal Verma, all hailed from Bundelkhand.

The origins of Chhatrasal go back to the Orchha state founded in 1501 by Rudra Pratap Singh, who moved the capital to Orccha(now in MP) from Garhkunder around 1531.Rudra Pratap was succeded by his son Bhartichandra, who gave the Jagirdari of Mehba, to Rao Udayajit Singh. Chhatrasal was born to the brave warrior couple of Champat Rai and Lal Kunwar on May 4, 1649, in the village of Kachar Kachnai now located in the Tikamgarh district of Madhya Pradesh.Chhatrasal was just 12 years when his parents perished fight against the Mughal Army in 1661.

Amidst the forests, the hills, under the shadow of the forest Gods, Chhatrasal was born in conflicted times, amidst cannons, swords and bloodshed. Along with his elder brother Angad Rai, Chhatrasal, moved to Delwara, to learn the art of warfare from his uncle Saheb Singh Dhander, Chhatrasal had no money power, nor an army, he had to live with the torment of his parents committing suicide in battle due to betrayal, and with his jagir seized away, he had virtually nothing to him, when he was just 12 years old.

But Chhatrasal had something more precious, the famed Bundela courage, the sanskaar, and the self confidence of Veera Bhogya Vasundhara(The World is for the Brave). He was not broken in spirit,and armed with courage and faith, decided to fight back. Along with his brother, he joined the army of Raja Jai Singh, where he undertook military training.Jai Singh then was a vassal of Aurangzeb, and when he was entrusted with the Deccan campaign, it was an occasion for Chhatrasal to show his bravery.

We know Maharana Pratap's horse was named Chetak, Amar Singh Rathor's horse was named Bahadur.

But how many of you know the name of Maharaja Chhatrasal's horse?

He was named Bhalebhai, and was very brave, following picture is of Bhalebhai's Smarak in Dubhela, Chharpur, MP.

Maharaja Chhatrasal was a benevolent general, he understood the importance of cavalry & treated his soldiers as his very own, these famous lines r attributed to him:

'तोडादार घोडादार बीरन सों प्रीति करि'

"Always love those soldiers & cavalrymen, who win the battle with courage"

Maharaja Chhatrasal started his journey with 5 horses, they were named as Bhalebhai (his own horse), Lakshchhi, Mrigchhona, Bhabhooka & Damini, the female horse.

He soon got to know their importance and started producing good horses of foreign breed in Bundelkhand itself.

On May 1665, Chhatrasal showed exemplary bravery in the Battle for Bijapur, and also played a crucial role in defeating the Gond king of Chhindwara too risking his own life. It was Chhatrasal’s horse “Bhalebhai” that saved it’s master from danger. However when Chhatrasal did not receive due credit for the victories, and instead the credit went to relatives of Aurangzeb and court nobels, his self respect was hurt, and he left the Mughal Army.

Maharaja Chhatrasal founded Panna State. Budelkhand Kesri Maharaja Chhatrasal (4 May 1649 – 20 December 1731), was a Bundela Rajput warrior who chose to turn against the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb and seek to establish his own kingdom in Bundelkhand. He effectively dominated Bundelkhand region from 1671- 1731. He is now a legendary figure in Madhya pradesh and Southern Uttar Pradesh, the area between Yamun and Naramda rivers. This huge part of central India was freed from Mughals clutches by Veer Chhatrasal only. Chhatrasal was born in Kachar Kachnai on the 4 May 1649, to Champat Rai and Lal Kunwar. He was a descendent of Rudra Pratap of Orchha and his ancestors were vassals of the Mughal emperor. . His father Champat Rai had raised the banner for freedom a generation earlier but was killed in battle with the Mughals after himself killing the favourite of the emperor, Abu Fazl. Chhatrasal was just 12 years when his parents perished fight against the Mughal Army of Akbar in 1661.

One day he left the Mughal camp on the pretext of hunting and proceeded to meet Shivaji, whom he admired. Shivaji being the rising star of Hindu nationalism then, Chhatrasal felt it fit to ally with the great Maratha ruler. He made a long journey through the difficult terrain to meet Shivaji and received a warm welcome in Shivaji’s camp in the winter of They met in 1668-69.

Chhatrasal stayed with Shivaji for a few months. A letter written by Chhatrasal towards the end of his life he proudly talked about learning archery with Shivaji’s forces. Chhatrasal wanted to serve under Shivaji, but Shivaji advised him to start his independent resistance in Bundelkhand so that the Mughal energies could be divided. This is what Shivaji told him “We shall rule over our independent kingdoms, kill the Mughals, destroy their army.” Shivaji also gifted him the sword of Bhavani. Motivated by Shivaji’s call for Swaraj, Chhatrasal, returned to his native Bundelkhand in 1670, however by now, most of it was under the control of the Mughals.

Once Chhatrasal had set his foot in any battle, he never lost it. Aurangzeb lost to him on every occasion. Veer Chhatrasal started from nothing and carved out his Kingdom right under the nose of Aurangzeb, defeating his armies every time without fail.

Bundelkhand Kesri Maharaja Chhatrasal alongwith Shivaji form a alliance of rebels who rose against Aurangzeb’s bigotry and tyranny in the late 18th century. Aurangazeb’s 4 most dreaded nemeses were Hindupat MahaRana Raj Singh, Durgadas, Shivaji, Chhatrasal These four rose around similar timeline and were the reason behind the final downfall and defeat of tryant Muslim Aurangazeb.

In Medieval India, Veer Chhatrasal stands along side with Hindupat Maharana Raj Singh, Chatrapati Shivaji and Durgadas Rathore, as one of the bravest fighters for freedom from the Muslim rule, a man who fought for freedom till the end of his life.His illustrious names shine bright in long list of Hindu warriors. Most of the local chieftains were vassals of the Mughal empire, his own relatives were not in a mood to oppose Delhi. Chhatrasal received no cooperation from any of the local rulers be it Sujan Singh of Orchha or Shubkaran of Datia, who advised him against conflict. When the kings refused to support him, Chhatrasal began to rally the ordinary people against the Mughals , he was helped financially by his childhood friend Mahabali, due to which he was able to raise a small army of just 25 infantry and 5 cavalry.

After returning to Bundelkhand, Chhatrasal raised the banner of revolt against the Mughals in Bundelkhand. While he didn’t get the support of other Bundela clans initially. Most of the local chieftains were vassals of the Mughal empire, his own relatives were not in a mood to oppose Delhi. Chhatrasal received no cooperation from any of the local rulers be it Sujan Singh of Orchha or Shubkaran of Datia, who advised him against conflict. Aurangzeb’s religious policy, especially his drive towards temple demolitions drew a strong opposition from Bundelas and many of them united under Chhatrasal’s banner And in 1671, Chhatrasal raised the bugle of revolt against the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb and the establishment of a Swarajya. His modest army did not have any royalty, but were mostly made up of commoners like Telis, ordinary peasants, craftsmen etc. His cousin Baldiwan also joined hands with him, and his first attack was against the Dhanderas of Sehore, who had betrayed his parents. The Mughal vassal Kunwar Singh was not only defeated and imprisoned, but Hashim Khan who assisted him was also routed. Sironj and Tibra, were attacked and the looted wealth was used by Chhatrasal to build his army and also to motivate people to join it. In no time, Chhatrasal managed to raise a large army and soon Pawai, Bansa, Damoh, Meher, were all conquered. Munawar Khan, the subedar of Gwalior was routed, and the treasury was sacked, and it came under his control.

The Bundela Rajputs fight under the leadership of Chhatrasal, against the Moghuls became unexpectedly successful, conquering swathes of territory from them and paving the way for an independent state.

Furious at the loss of Gwalior, Aurangzeb sent a huge army under the command of Rohilla Khan which had 8 cavalry units, and an infantry of 30,000. In a pitched battle fought at Garhkot, Rohilla’s army was not just routed by Chhatrasal, but he himself had to flee from the battlefield to save his life. In a pitched battle fought at Garhkot, Rohilla’s army was not just routed by Chhatrasal, but he himself had to flee from the battlefield to save his life. The victory made Chhatrasal that much more stronger. The victory made Chhatrasal that much more stronger.

Between 1671-1731, Chhatrasal ruled over a vast kingdom that stretched from Chitrakoot to Gwalior and Kalpi to Garhkot.

In 1675, Chhatrasal met Mahamati Prannathji the guru of the Pranami Sampradaya at Mau, through his nephew Dev Karanji who was a disciple of the Pran Nathji. Chhatrasal highly impressed by Pran Nathji became his disciple. when Maharaja Chhatrasal came to meet him, he was going for a battle against Mughals. Swami Prannathji gave him his own sword and covered his head with a scarf. Guru Prannathji blessed him saying “You will always be victorious. Diamond mines will be discovered in your land and you will become a great emperor.” Pran Nathji came Chhatrasal’s spiritual guru and advisor.”

These famous line convey the blessing of Guru Prannath

छत्ता तोरे राज में धक धक धरती होय

जित जित घोड़ा मुख करे तित तित फत्ते होय।

Meaning: O Chaatrasal, in your rule, there will always be battles but wherever your horse proceeds you will see victory.

Chhatrasal defeated the Gond ruler of Panna, and made it his capital as per advice of Pran Nathji. This would prove beneficial, as the diamond mines at Panna, bought him prosperity, and helped him to build a mighty kingdom. Swami Prannathji was not only the religious Guru of Chhatrasal, but he guided him too in political, social, and economic matters. It was by being granted the boon of finding diamonds in Panna by Swami Prannathji that Maharaja Chhatrasal became prosperous And soon the forts of Orchha, Sagar, Damoh, Kalpi, Mahoba, Ajner and Vidisha were conquered by Chhatrasal. The Mughal jagirdars themselves began to pay tax to Chhatrasal now. His victory march continued as far as Malwa, Punjab, Rajasthan, establishing the Bundela kingdom.

It was the year 1680, Bahlol Khan, Emperor Aurangzeb's trusted commander, advanced with a large force of about nine thousand upon the fort of Madiaduh which was commanded by Maharaja Chattrasal's son, Prince Jagat Singh. The Bundelas led by Prince Jagat Singh offered tough resistance, that was preceded by a surprise attack on the enemy convoy that was enroute for the seige. After a seven day battle, the Bundela Rajputs were successful in thwarting the Mughal Forces.

Bahlol Khan, with a view to retrieve his lost prestige marched upon Rajgarh and began the siege of the fort. But Maharaja Chhatrasal received intelligence reports of the designs of Bahlol Khan, and hastened with his army to relieve the beleaguered garrison at the fort. As the battle ensued, the commander of the imperial Mughal vanguard was killed on his elephant and his Mahout fled with a disheartened Bahlol Khan, watching it all. Surrounded on all sides, Bahlol knew what was to come next and decides to puts up a final stand, in futility. The battle continued for three more days and on the fourth, Bahlol Khan was mortally wounded and died while fleeing from the Rajput Army. The fort of Rajgarh due to the intervention of Maharaja Chattrasal was saved, the Mughals, vanquished, and the Bundelas, victorious.

In 1730, The Subedar of Allahabad, Mohd Khan Bangash, launched final attack on Chhatrasal capital Jaitpur. Chhatrasal was around 80 years of age then. Facing a retreat at Jaitpur, Chhatrasal sent a long letter to the Peshwa Baji Rao, reminding him of the need to protect the honor of the Bundelas. The seasoned warrior sent a letter to Peshwa Bajirao I, with these lines, now a part of popular folklore:

Chhatrasal reminded Baji Rao of the assistance Bundela Rajputs gave to Marathas and requested him to help. With the advent of Baji Rao’s army, Bangash’s army had to suffer a humiliating rout, and Mohd. Khan Bangash himself had to run away from the battlefield in disgrace.

In gratitude Chhatrasal, adopted Baji Rao as his 3rd son, and also gave him the entire Bundelkhand region of Jhansi, Sagar, Kalpi etc, as also his a Muslim courtesan Mastani.

The unity shown by the Bundela Rajputs and Peshwa Brahmans in repelling the Mughal forces and creating an independent kingdom in the Deccan is to date an exemplary episode in history. Maharaja Chhatrasal gave a third of his kingdom to the Marathas for their assistance, while the other areas of his kingdom were divided equally as states amongst his sons Jagatraj and Hrideshah the eldest son was given most important area, Panna State and the others Ajaigarh State, Bijawar State and Charkhari State.

The ruined palace of the Bundela ruler Hriday Shah, son of Chhatrasal. Dates back to 1733.

Chhatarpur town, its district in Madhya Pradesh and other important places are named after Maharaja Chhatrasal, including the Maharaja Chhatrasal Museum. The Chhatrasal Stadium in Delhi has also been named in honour Maharaja Chhatrasal.

The museum is surrounded by picturesque ruins of the kingdom of Maharaja Chhatrasal. The royal chhatris and a large fort are in ruins, but there is a lovely lake that creates splendid views for photographers.

The Cenotaph of Maharaja Chhatrasal, is considered a very important historical monument from the view of Bundeli architecture.

Maharaja Chhatrasal’s Cenotaphs

This beautiful example of Bundeli Architecture was built in the memory of Maharaja Chhatrasal in 1736 A.D. Among the other monuments worth seeing include the Maharani Kamlapati Cenotaph, the Sheetal Garhi, the Mahoba Gate and Sri Krishna Pranami Mandir.

The royal family has continued to live in Chhatarpur — at present H H Vikram Singh and his family occupy the royal residence. Quite recently, the wedding of Princess Trisha Kumari Singh of the erstwhile royal family and H.H. Yaduveer Krishnadatta Chamaraj Wadiyar of Mysore, was celebrated in a lavish traditional ceremony that retained all its traditional rituals. Over 2,000 VIPs from across the country were invited for the grand reception held in the Durbar hall the Mysore Palace. Chhatrasal was not just a great warrior, but an equally able and wise ruler too, whose governance ensured, his kingdom always had a full treasury. On Dec 1731, Chhatrasal passed away near Chhatarpur, but he would remain forever in the consciousness of Bundelkhand.

Sharp as his sword was, equally sharp was his pen too. An excellent poet himself, he would felicitate and honor other poets too. When the great poet Kavibhushan came to Bundelkhand, Chhatrasal himself carried the palanquin bearing him.

Veer Chhatrasal, a great warrior, builder of an empire in Bundelkhand, an eqully good writer and an able administrator too. On his Jayanti, Naman to the Lion of Bundelkhand, a truly great hero and son of Bharat.

Paying homage to the Torchbearer of Independence & self rule in Central India, the Maharaja who carved out a Hindu Kingdom at the center of Mughal rule & was one of the factors behind it's downfall, Veera Bhogya Vasundhara.

THE SCHOLAR KING BHOJA PARMARA -IMMORTAL RAJPUTS

१. माँ सरस्वती के वरदपुत्र ‘महाराजा भोज’

परमार वंश के सबसे महान अधिपति महाराजा भोज ने धार में १००० ईसवीं से १०५५ ईसवीं तक शासन किया, जिससे कि यहाँ की कीर्ति दूर-दूर तक पहुँची। विश्ववंदनीय महाराजा भोज माँ सरस्वती के वरदपुत्र थे! उनकी तपोभूमि धारा नगरी में उनकी तपस्या और साधना से प्रसन्न हो कर माँ सरस्वती ने स्वयं प्रकट हो कर दर्शन दिए। माँ से साक्षात्कार के पश्चात उसी दिव्य स्वरूप को माँ वाग्देवी की प्रतिमा के रूप में अवतरित कर भोजशाला में स्थापित करवाया।राजा भोज ने धार, माण्डव तथा उज्जैन में सरस्वतीकण्ठभरण नामक भवन बनवाये थे। भोज के समय ही मनोहर वाग्देवी की प्रतिमा संवत् १०९१ (ई. सन् १०३४) में बनवाई गई थी। गुलामी के दिनों में इस मूर्ति को अंग्रेज शासक लंदन ले गए। यह आज भी वहां के संग्रहालय में बंदी है।

महान शासक

महाराजा भोज मुंज के छोटे भाई सिंधुराज का पुत्र थे। रोहक उनके प्रधान मंत्री और भुवनपाल मंत्री थे। कुलचंद्र, साढ़ तथा तरादित्य इनके सेनापति थे जिनकी सहायता से भोज ने राज्यसंचालन सुचारु रूप से किया। अपने चाचा मुंज की ही भाँति वे भी पश्चिमी भारत में एक साम्राज्य स्थापित करना चाहता थे और इस इच्छा की पूर्ति के लिये इसे अपने पड़ोसी राज्यों से हर दिशा में युद्ध करना पड़ा। उन्होंने दाहल के कलबुरी गांगेयदेव तथा तंजौर (तंच्यावूर) के राजेंद्रचोल से संधि की ओर साथ ही साथ दक्षिण पर आक्रमण भी कर दिया, परंतु तत्कालीन राजा चालुक्य जयसिंह द्वितीय ने बहादुरी से सामना किया और अपना राज्य बचा लिया। सन् १०४४ ई. के कुछ समय बाद जयसिंह के पुत्र सोमेश्वर द्वितीय ने परमारों से फिर शत्रुता कर ली और मालव राज्य पर आक्रमण कर भोज को भागने के लिये बाध्य कर दिय। धारानगरी पर अधिकार कर लेने के बाद उसने आग लगा दी, परंतु कुछ ही दिनों बाद सोमेश्वर ने मालव छोड़ दिया और भोज ने राजधानी में लोटकर फिर सत्ताधिकार प्राप्त कर लिया।

सन् १०१८ ई. के कुछ ही पहले भोज ने इंद्ररथ नामक एक व्यक्ति को, हराया था जो संभवत: कलिंगके गांग राजाओं का सामंत था। जयसिंह द्वितीय तथा इंद्ररथ के साथ युद्ध समाप्त कर लेने पर भोज ने अपनी सेना भारत की पश्चिमी सीमा से लगे हुए देशों की ओर बढ़ाई और पहले लाट नामक राज्य पर, जिसका विस्तार दक्षिण में बंबई राज्य के अंतर्गत सूरत तक था, आक्रमण कर दिया। वहाँ के राजा चालुक्य कीर्तिराज ने आत्मसमर्पण कर दिया और भोज ने कुछ समय तक उसपर अधिकार रखा। इसके बाद लगभग सन् १०२० ई. में भोज ने लाट के दक्षिण में स्थित तथा थाना जिले से लेकर मालागार समुद्रतट तक विस्तृत कोंकण पर आक्रमण किया और शिलाहारों के अरिकेशरी नामक राजा को हराया। कोंकण को परमारों के राज्य में मिला लिया गया। महाराजा भोज के प्रराक्रम के कारण ही मेहमूद गजनवी ने कभी महराजा भोज के राज्य पर आक्रमण नहीं किया! तथा सोमनाथ विजय के पश्चात तलवार के बल पर बनाये गए मुसलमानों को पुन: हिन्दू धर्म में वापस ला कर महान काम किया!

भोज ने एक बार दाहल के कलचुरी गांगेयदेव के विरुद्ध भी, जिसने दक्षिण पर आक्रमण करने के समय उसका साथ दिया था, चढ़ाई कर दी। गांगेयदेव हार गया परंतु उसे आत्मसमर्पण नहीं करना पड़ा। सन् १०५५ ई. के कुछ ही पहले गांगेय के पुत्र कर्ण ने गुजरात के चौलुक्य भीम प्रथम के साथ एक संधि कर ली और मालव पर पूर्व तथा पश्चिम की ओर से आक्रमण कर दिया। भोज अपना राज्य बचाने का प्रबंध कर ही रहे थे कि बीमारी से उसकी आकस्मिक मृत्यु हो गई और राज्य सुगमता से आक्रमणकारियों के अधिकार में चला गया।

३. अनोखा काव्यरसिक – महाराजा भोज

माँ सरस्वती की कृपा से महाराजा भोज ने ६४ प्रकार की सिद्ध्या प्राप्त की तथा अपने यूग के सभी ज्ञात विषयो पर ८४ ग्रन्थ लिखे जिसमे धर्म, ज्योतिष्य आयर्वेद, व्याकरण, वास्तुशिल्प, विज्ञान, कला, नाट्यशास्त्र, संगीत, योगशास्त्र, दर्शन, राजनीतीशास्त्र आदि प्रमुख है! ‘समरांगण सूत्रधार’, ‘सरस्वती कंठाभरण’, ‘सिद्वान्त संग्रह’, ‘राजकार्तड’, ‘योग्यसूत्रवृत्ति’, ‘विद्या विनोद’, ‘युक्ति कल्पतरु’, ‘चारु चर्चा’, ‘आदित्य प्रताप सिद्धान्त’, ‘आयुर्वेद सर्वस्व श्रृंगार प्रकाश’, ‘प्राकृत व्याकरण’, ‘कूर्मशतक’, ‘श्रृंगार मंजरी’, ‘भोजचम्पू’, ‘कृत्यकल्पतरु’, ‘तत्वप्रकाश’, ‘शब्दानुशासन’, ‘राज्मृडाड’ आदि की रचना की। “भोज प्रबंधनम्” उनकी आत्मकथा है।

हनुमान जी द्वारा रचित राम कथा के शिलालेख समुन्द्र से निकलवा कर धारा नगरी में उनकी पुनर्रचना करवाई जो हनुमान्नाटक के रूप में विश्वविख्यात है! तत्पश्चात उन्होंने चम्पू रामायण की रचना की जो अपने गद्यकाव्य के लिए विख्यात है!

चम्पू रामायण महर्षि वाल्मीकि के द्वारा रचित रामायण के बाद सबसे तथ्य परख महाग्रंथ है! महाराजा भोज वास्तु शास्त्र के जनक माने जाते है! समरान्गंसुत्रधार ग्रन्थ वास्तु शास्त्र का सबसे प्रथम ज्ञात ग्रन्थ है! वे अत्यंत ज्ञानी, भाषाविद् , कवि और कलापारखी भी थे। उनके समय में कवियों को राज्य से आश्रय मिला था। सरस्वतीकंठाभरण उनकी प्रसिद्ध रचना है। इसके अलावा अनेक संस्कृत ग्रंथों, नाटकों, काव्यों और लोक कथाओं में राजा भोज का अमिट स्थान है। ऐसे महान थे राजा भोज कि उनके शासन काल में धारानगरी कलाओं और ज्ञान के लिए सारे विश्व में प्रसिद्ध हो गई थी।

महाराजा भोज की काव्यात्मक ललित अभिरुचि, सूक्ष्म व वैज्ञानिक दृष्टि उन्हें दूरदर्शी और लोकप्रिय बनाता रहा। मालवमण्डन, मालवाधीश, मालवचक्रवर्ती, सार्वभौम, अवन्तिनायक, धारेश्वर, त्रिभुवननारायण, रणरंगमल्ल, लोकनारायण, विदर्भराज, अहिरराज या अहीन्द्र, अभिनवार्जुन, कृष्ण आदि कितने विरूदों से भोज विभूषित थे।

४. विश्वविख्यात विद्वान

आइने-ए-अकबरी में प्राप्त उल्लेखों के अनुसार भोज की राजसभा में पांच सौ विद्वान थे। इन विद्वानों में नौ (नौरत्न) का नाम विशेष रूप से उल्लेखनीय है।

महाराजा भोज ने अपने ग्रंथो में विमान बनाने की विधि का विस्तृत वर्णन किया है। चित्रो के माध्यम से उन्होंने पूरी विधि बताई है! इसी तरह उन्होंने नाव एवं बड़े जहाज बनाने की विधि विस्तारपूर्वक बताई है। किस तरह खिलो को जंगरोधी किया जाये जिससे नाव को पानी में सुरक्षित रखा जा सकता था! इसके अत्रिरिक्त उन्होंने रोबोटिक्स पर भी कम किया था! उन्होंने धारा नगरी के तालाबो में यन्त्र चालित पुतलियो का निर्माण करवाया था जो तालाब में नृत्य करती थी!

विश्व के अनेक महाविद्यालयो में महाराज भोज के किये गए कार्यो पर शोध कार्य हो रहा है! उनके लिए यह आश्चर्य का विषय है, की उस समय उन्होंने किस तरह विमान, रोबोटिक्स और वास्तुशास्त्र जेसे जटिल विषयों पर महारत हासिल की थी! वैज्ञानिक आश्चर्य चकित है, जो रोबोटिक्स आज भी अपने प्रारम्भिक दौर में है उस समय कैसे उस विषय पर उन्होंने अपने प्रयोग किये और सफल रहे! महाराजा भोज से संबंधित १०१० से १०५५ ई. तक के कई ताम्रपत्र, शिलालेख और मूर्तिलेख प्राप्त होते हैं। इन सबमें भोज के सांस्कृतिक चेतना का प्रमाण मिलता है। एक ताम्रपत्र के अन्त में लिखा है – स्वहस्तोयं श्रीभोजदेवस्य। अर्थात् यह (ताम्रपत्र) भोजदेव ने अपने हाथों से लिखा और दिया है।

५. अप्रतिम स्थापत्य कला

Hinglajgarh

राजा भोज के समय मालवा क्षेत्र में निर्माण क्रांति आ गई थी। अनेक प्रसाद, मंदिर, तालाब और प्रतिमाएं निर्मित हुई। मंदसौर में हिंगलाजगढ़ तो तत्कालीन अप्रतिम प्रतिमाओं का अद्वितीय नमूना है। राजा भोज ने शारदा सदन या सरस्वती कण्ठभरण बनवाये। वात्स्यायन ने कामसूत्र में इस बात का उल्लेख किया है कि प्रत्येक नगर में सरस्वती भवन होना चाहिए। वहां गोष्ठियां, नाटक व अन्य साहित्यिक-सांस्कृतिक गतिविधियां होते रहना चाहिए।

Shiv Mandir

राजा भोज के नाम पर भोपाल के निकट भोजपुर बसा है। यहां का विशाल किन्तु खंडित शिवमंदिर आज भी भोज की रचनाधर्मिता और इस्लामिक जेहाद और विध्वंस के उदाहरण के रूप में खड़ा है। यहीं बेतवा नदी पर एक अनोखा बांध बनवाया गया था। इसका जलक्षेत्र २५० वर्गमील है। इस बांध को भी होशंगशाह नामक आक्रंता ने तोड़ कर झील खाली करवा दी थी। यह मानवनिर्मित सबसे बड़ी झील थी जो सिंचाई के काम आती थी। उसके मध्य जो द्वीप था वह आज भी दीप (मंडीद्वीप) नाम की बस्ती है।

महाराजा भोज ने जहाँ अधर्म और अन्याय से जमकर लोहा लिया और अनाचारी क्रूर आतताइयों का मानमर्दन किया, वहीं अपने प्रजा वात्सल्य और साहित्य-कला अनुराग से वह पूरी मानवता के आभूषण बन गये। मध्यप्रदेश के सांस्कृतिक गौरव के जो स्मारक हमारे पास हैं, उनमें से अधिकांश राजा भोज की देन हैं। चाहे विश्व प्रसिद्ध भोजपुर मंदिर हो या विश्व भर के शिव भक्तों के श्रद्धा के केन्द्र उज्जैन स्थित महाकालेश्वर मंदिर, धार की भोजशाला हो या भोपाल का विशाल तालाब, ये सभी राजा भोज के सृजनशील व्यक्तित्व की देन है। उन्होंने जहाँ भोज नगरी (वर्तमान भोपाल) की स्थापना की वहीं धार, उज्जैन और विदिशा जैसी प्रसिद्ध नगरियों को नया स्वरूप दिया। उन्होंने केदारनाथ, रामेश्वरम, सोमनाथ, मुण्डीर आदि मंदिर भी बनवाए, जो हमारी समृद्ध सांस्कृतिक धरोहर है। इन सभी मंदिरों तथा स्मारकों की स्थापत्य कला बेजोड़ है। इसे देखकर सहज ही अनुमान लगाया जा सकता है कि एक हजार साल पहले हम इस क्षेत्र में कितने समुन्नत थे।

महाराजा भोज ने अपने जीवन काल में जितने अधिक विषयों पर कार्य किया है, वो अत्यंत ही चकित करने वाला है। इन सभी को देख कर लगता है की वो कोई देव पुरुष थे ! ये सब कम एक जीवन में करना एक सामान्य मनुष्य के बस की बात नहीं है!

ये सब कम एक जीवन में करना एक सामान्य मनुष्य के बस की बात नहीं है!

Prabhavaka Charita (13th century) has reference to Maharajadhiraja Bhojadeva (of Paramāra Rājaputra): "मालवाधीशो विद्वच्चक्रशिरोमणिः" i.e. Mālava King who is the crest jewel of learned men.

It also mentions that he contributed in fields of Vyākaraṇa, Vāstu, Rāja-siddhānta etc.

MAHARAJDHIRAJ BHOJA - The Scholar King

Raja Bhoja was truly extraordinary monarch, a patron of arts, & himself a scholar and writer. As Vikramaditya is synonymous with valor, so Bhoja is famous for his poetic ability, his scholarship in several fields and his patronage of arts.

Other kings may have built temples and palaces, but Bhoja actually compiled an authoritative architectural treatise called Samarangana Sutradhara. This remarkable work on the science of architecture and sculpture (Vastusastra and Silpasastra) consists of eighty-three chapters.

BHOJESHWARA TEMPLE was founded by legendary Parmara RAJPUT Raja Bhoja (1010-53 CE). This temple has earned the nomenclature of the Somnath of the East. Its sad that people of this country don't know the history of their own region.

Bhojpur in Bihar and infact the BHOJPURI language got it's name from Raja Bhoj Parmar. Ujjaynia Parmar Rajputs of Ujjain, after migrating to east, named the area ruled by them as "Bhojpur" after their illustrious ancestor the Great Raja Bhoj, and from Bhojpur we got Bhojpuri :)

Ujjainiya Parmars fought Jaunpur Sultanate for 100 yrs till their end, later fought British army in 1857. Veer Kunwar Singh, the great revolutionary of 1857 was an Ujjainiya Parmar Rajput.

"कहां राजा भोज - कहां गंगू-तेली"

has also been immortalized on Raja Bhoj.

'Gangu Teli' doesn't represent any community, but has been used to refer two great rulers of Bhoj's era, Gangayedev of Chedi & Tailap II of Chalukya Dynasty (as both were outshined by Raja Bhoj's prestige).

Raja Bhoja’s Vengeance

Amidst the horrific stench and screaming of dying men a battered and torn saffron flag fluttered. Over the defeated and crushed armies of the Yamini dynasty a band of warriors rode, heedless of the multitude of corpses ranged around them in the blaze of the midsummer Indian sun.

A defeat so calamitous had never been before thought of by the proud Yamini kings and their armies, also known as the Ghaznavids. Under their inspirational leadership of Mahmud of Ghazni the Central Asian Turk tribes had conquered from the borders of modern day Iraq to the doors of South Asia. There meeting determined opposition from the Hindu Shahi kings who sacrificed three generations of their kings to defend the entry to India the Ghaznavids broke through utilising their unmatched cavalry tactics which had defeated the Persians and Byzantines and were shortly to face down the Crusaders of Western Europe

The damage to the subcontinent was significant and the destruction of the ancient Hindu and Buddhist heritage of India was incalculable. The loss of population was significant due to war and pestilence and displacement of peoples.

The impact on the Indian psyche was enormous – the ancient seats of learning from Taxila to Nalanda were torn down – the seats of Buddhist learning once stretching into Central Asia in a vast circuit of Buddhist kingdoms collapsed like a house of cards. The once mighty Sassanid Empire of Persia who had defeated and humbled the Roman Empire and dragged the Emperor Valerian in chains to Ctesiphon , the custodians of Zoroastrianism were humbled and disappeared from the pages of history under the Arab Muslim onslaught. Their remnants fled to India for protection and others to the Chinese empire.

The waves of monotheism attack however did not subside. The organised and disciplined custodians of Buddha and Zoroaster were wiped from the pages of history in Persia, Central Asia and Afghanistan. It was at this juncture that the valiant Hindu Rajput clans united under the leadership of Bappa Rawal and the guidance of Guru Gorakhnath and in a vast clash of arms with the armies of the Arab Caliphate delivered to them their first great defeat at the Battle of Rajasthan in 745 CE and stopped forever the further Arab expansion into South Asia.

For 300 years this tenuous peace remained until the conversion of the Turk tribes to Islam in the last period of the first millennia Common Era which led to the infamous invasions of the subcontinent by Mahmud Ghazni. He was succeeded by his nephew Masud Salur who seeking to emulate Mahmud led a vast invasion of the Ghaznived forces into the subcontinent. Despite the success of his invasions Mahmud could not create an empire in India and Masud now sought to rectify this by leading the Ghaznavid veteran army into the north Indian plains. The proud soldiers who had marched from India to the Middle East under the banner of Islam entered India with an army of more than 100,000 men with 50,000 horses accompanied by two generals Meer Hussain Arab and Ameer Vazid Jafar in May 1031 AD

The march was joined by his uncle Salar Saifuddin, Meer Wakhtiar, Meer Sayyad Ajijuddin and Malik Bahruddin and their armies. After raiding through what is modern UP leaving a trail of plunder and rapine in their wake.

The invasion was stiffly opposed. His general, Syad Aziz-ud-din was killed by Hindus near Hardoi together with his relatives Jalaluddin Bukhari and Syed Ibrahim Bara Hazari whose graves can be found in Haryana today.

The famous Raja Bhoja who had faced down Mahmud Ghazni decades earlier and rebuilt the historic Somnath Temple after its desecration by the Muslims collected a coalition of Hindu warriors. Warriors from the disparate clans gathered under Raja Bhoja and on open plain near modern day Bharaich the coalition of Hindu clans faced up against their Islamic adversaries each side confident of victory.

The young Sultan Masur’s fame was already spread across the Ghaznivid Empire as an able soldier and general. In his ranks he boasted the famous light cavalry of the Central Asian Turkic tribes who were inspired with the zeal of their newly founded Muslim faith and eager to win victory and to finally establish their rule over Hindu dominated India or attain martyrdom and paradise as per the tenents of their faith.

The Hindu coalition was led by the Rajput Clans who emerged from the furnace of the decline of the Gupta Empire and the defeat of the Hun invasions which had devastated Europe to the early sixth century. From this crucible of endless conflict and religious turmoil rose the clans of the Rajput’s. Many traced their origin to the legendary Saint Gorakhnath and under his influence were able to repel and humiliate the Arab Caliphate in 745 AD. Their codes of conduct and bravery ushered in a new age of chivalry and honour of which the world has scarce seen.

Theses codes however were unable to cope with a new ruthless foe, Turmoil again engulfed the clans with the invasions of Mahmud of Ghazni and the northern plains were lacerated with violence and bloodshed. The terminal decline of Buddhism and Zoarasterism are also dated from this time. The swift footed cavalry and speed of movement was alien to the proud Rajput Hindu warriors and their concept of honour and valour. However it was only through their reckless bravery and raw courage that the Hindu warriors were able to hold the enemy at bay.

On this occasion under the skilful leadership of Raja Bhoja the Hindu army by swift movements were able to cut of the supplies of the Ghaznavids and pen them into a closely contested siege. Very soon the vast multitude of Muslim soldiers were running short on supplies and reinforcements. The close investment led Sultan Masur that he was left with only one choice – to force a decision on the battlefield.

Therefore on the blazing midsummer Indian plains that vast horde of the Ghaznavi army marched out to meet its Hindu enemy. the battalions of Turks, many of them veterans from the campaigns of Mahmud Ghanavi and brimming with the firmly held conviction that they marched in jihad against the enemies of their faith faced off against the aged Raja and his Rajput’s.

A desperate struggle ensued. The sweeping charges of the Turks were brought to bay by the Hindus. Trained from birth to excel in arms the Rajput warriors eagerly closed with their hated foe – before the gates of ancient Ayodhya they fought for ‘the ashes of their fathers and the temples of their Gods’ . The battle contended through the morning into the afternoon, charge after counter charge with brief moments of retreat and consolidation with neither side wiling to break. The battle cries of Allah how Akbar contended with the ancient cry of Har Har Mahadev as the soldiers closed in and grappled with their weapons and bare hands as thousands of their colleagues fell dead or dying amongst them.

The fighting continued unabated into the night with temperoay paused and the cool night air was rent with the shrieks of the dead and dying. The ground piled high in gore became slippery and unstable and the close fighting in the dark lent to the horror of enemies pouring out of the unknown at any time.

The high spirits of the Turk soldiers motivated by dreams of jihad and paradise were matched against the raw courage and matchless skill of the individual Hindu warriors with their flowing hair kept under check under steel caps and helmets fought whilst adopting the dread form of the God of Destruction, Shiva himself. Their utter contempt for their own lives and desire for freedom and dharma in the ancient land of the Rishis steadily began to wear down their enemies.

As the day wore on and the Muslims becoming increasingly enclosed in an ever tightening circle of steel the Sultan led a final desperate charge for victory. Here on the open plain he was brought to bay by the Rajput warriors and slain – the enraged Hindus cut of his head and displayed it on a pike to their enemies. This was the final straw for the Muslim army and it broke and fled. But there was nowhere to flee – hundreds of miles from their bases and surrounded by hostile foes the rout turned into a massacre and history tells us that not a single Muslim soldier returned to his home.

Raja Bhoja passed into legend. The terrible, slaughter of the Ghaznavids kept further attacks at bay and the Ghazanvaids never dared to attack India again.

Further attacks and counter attacks from Muslim kingdoms were defeated with great slaughter eventually passing into legend and merging with the later tragic tale of Prithviraj Chauhan. The defeat of Mohamad Ghouri in the first Battle of Tarain in which with great chivalry he released the captive Sultan was followed the next year by the second Battle of Tarain in which Prthivraj was defeated has entered into folklore. The tale has been magnified to indicate that Prithviraj defeated the Sultan no less than 17 times which is clearly a falsehood. In historical terms this is a garbled reference to the numerous attacks by the Arabs and Turk Muslims on India which were defeated by a succession of Hindu warrior kings from Bappa Rawal in the Battle of Rajasthan, to the wars from the Ghaznavi period onwards:

In 1072 CE Prince Mahmud was defeated and driven away by Lakshmadeva, the Paramara ruler of Ujjain. Mahmud also tried to take Kalanjar. But the Chandellas again proved more than a match for the army of Islam. Muslim historians record only his safe return from Hindustan.

Ibrahim’s successor, Masud III (AD 1099-1115), fared no better. The armies of Islam were defeated repeatedly by Govindachandra, the Gahadavad ruler of Kanauj. Inscriptions of Hindu princes around this period speak again and again of the rout of Turushka armies. These may refer either to the failure of feeble attempts which might have still been made by the Yamini (Ghaznavid) kings to extend their dominions in India or to the extermination of isolated pockets of Muslim domination beyond the Punjab.

One of the worst defeats suffered by the Muslims was at the hands of Arnoraja, the Chauhan ruler of Ajmer (AD 1133-1151). The Muslim commander fled before the Chauhans. Muslim soldiers died of exhaustion and an equal number perished from thirst. Their bodies lay along the path of retreat and were burnt by the villagers. A Chauhan prasasti of Ajmer Museum, line 15, states: The land of Ajmer, soaked with the blood of the Turushkas, looked as if it had dressed itself in a dress of deep red colour to celebrate the victory of her lord’

[box_dark]In an added irony of history the defeated Sultan Masurs body was flung into a pit by the enraged Hindus with the corpses of his soldiers and generals. Hundreds of years later the murderous Sultan Firuz Tughlaq raised a monument to the first ‘martyr of Islam’ in India.

In later times the monument became a shrine under the tutelage of Sufi preachers and in modern times incredulous and unwitting Hindus pay their respects to the shrine of a deceased ‘baba’ not knowing the history and background of the monument. That Sultan Masur came to India to murder and butcher the population or convert them to Islam was lost on the later generations of accommodating Hindu population.

The long and bloody history and struggle for survival of Hinduism has led to a growing awareness and confidence in our history and the facts of the great victories of Raja Bhoja are another reminder of the countless sacrifices made in the long and steady awakening and flowering of Hinduism under the challenge of relentless hatred and genocidal attack.

RAja Bhoja: The Glory And Tragedy Of The Setting Hindu Sun

bhoja's military and political career

The paramAra rAjpUts are supposed to have arisen from the sacrificial pit on arbuda parvata, which was the source of many kShatriyas who were generated by the devas for the destruction of the turuShkas and mlechChas who were a pestilence on Aryavarta. In historical reality paramAras were a subsidiary branch of the rAShTrakUTas, who were appointed as governors of central India in mAlava province by the main ruling branch. The paramAra rAjputs founded the notable city of dhArA in central India, which remained their capital until its ultimate conquest. It was here that their greatest king and a remarkable genius, bhoja rAja came to power by 1000 AD and ruled for more than half a century. He was the son of sindhurAja, who was notable conqueror, who defeated the chAlukyas, hUNas and shilaharas of the Konkan region. bhoja's path was similar to other great Hindu rulers of the time engaged in wasteful intercine struggles for supremacy. We get some glimpses of his remarkable life from the apocryphal biography bhoja prabandham. Early in his career, just before he came to power, bhoja was afflicted by a tumor in his brain which used to cause him intense head aches. Two learned brahmin brothers from the school of Ujjain, who were pre-eminent surgeons of the era, performed a surgery on his brain and relieved him of his tumor. The description of the surgery that survives suggests that they artificially induced a coma with a special preparation known as the sammohini and then opened his skull to remove the tumor. He was then brought back to consciousness with another drug.

bhoja survived this surgery remarkably well and had an illustrious reign both as a military commander and encylopaedic scholar. bhoja long desired to reduce his arch-rivals the chAlukyas of the Deccan and initiated several successful campaigns again them. Then he tried a remarkable political game to destroy the chAlukyas: by forming an alliance with the choLa king rAjendra, bhoja induced him to attack the chAlukyas from the south. Likewise he induced the kalachuri king kumara gangeyadeva (who claimed descent from the haihayas who had survived the ancient assault of the bhargavas) to attack the chAlukyas from the east. bhoja himself pressed on them from the north. For this purpose he erected the mighty fortifications of mANDu and intially put the chAlukyas on the retreat. But the chAlukyas, suddenly reviving the glory that pulakeshin-II had taken them to, remained firm in the 3 front war, eventually causing bhoja's allies to give up. someshvara, the chAlukya subsequently invaded the paramAra kingdom and stormed the fort of mANDu after a long siege, then took Ujjain, and finally captured dhAra the capital of bhoja from him. bhoja unfazed retreated north and with the help of rAjendra choLa who kept the pressure from the south, took back dhAra and ujjain. Then bhoja conquered chitrakuta (Chittor) and medhapatha (Mewar) from the shishodias and established his sway over the arbuda fort (Mount Abu).

Raja Bhoja then organized his armies to attack Mahmud Ghaznavi who had invaded Somnath. Ghaznavi fearing the powerful army of bhoja retreated via the desert of sindh to avoid a clash (reported by Turkic author Gardizi as Hindu padishaw parmar dev) with the hindu king and lost many of his men. bhoja repulsed the ghaznavid Masu'd who lead a huge army into India to attack the rich inner cities which his father had failed to raid. Then bhoja realizing the national threat from Islam, organized a confedration of Hindu kings including the kalachuri lakShmI-karNa, the Chahamana and other RajpUts to fight the Ghaznavid Maliq Salar Masud. In the great battle of Bahraich the Hindu confedracy fought a pitched battle for about a month with the Moslems and completely defeated them killing, Salar Masud in the process. They then went on to liberate Hansi, Thaneshvar, Nagarkot and other cities taken by the Ghaznavids and marched against Lahore and besieged it. Just at the point Lahore was about to fall to them, the Hindu kings had a disagreement over who would own the liberated territories and their armies disbanded and dispersed in a huff. bhoja started fighting his erstwhile allies in the war against the Moslems.

Raja Bhoja first defeated the Chahamanas of shakambhari, but the Chahamanas of nadola repulsed his attempt to take their kingdom. bhoja next tried to seize the kingdom of the chandellas, but they formed an alliance with the Rashtrakutas of Kannauj and kachchapaghatas of Gwalior and repulsed him. bhoja however, did keep the ghaznavids in check with help from his shishodia feudatories. bhoja then seized the territory of the western chAlukya bhIma of Gujarat. bhima unfazed by this formed an alliance with the haihaya, lakShmI-karNa to attack bhoja in a two front war on both east and west. bhoja was caught in the pincer grip, and while fighting his two enemies he was shot down by an arrow on the battle field. Thus, the great rAja bhoja having spent his career in numerous campaigns had fallen like a true Kshatriya in the defense of his capital.

Hence its said that when he was alive the poets would say:

"adya dhArA sadAdhArA sadAlambA sarasvatI |

paNDitAH maNDitAH sarve bhojarAje bhuvaM gate ||"

Today dhara is ever supported, and the Goddess Sarasvati is ever propped up. All the pundits are adorned with the coming of king Bhoja on this earth.

When he fell in the defending dhArA from his rivals they said:

"adya dhArA nirAdhArA nirAlambA sarasvatI |

paNDitAH khaNDitAH sarve bhojarAje divaM gate ||"

Today dhArA is unsupported, and the Goddess Sarasvati is without a prop. All the pundits are scattered with the ascent of king Bhoja to heaven.

The Malwa great Parmar Rajput Ruler of 'Raja Bhoj' descendants Princely state of Baghal the then Raja Dhiyan Singh in his Princely Court(year 1890 C.E.)

bhoja the genius

An analysis of bhoja's military campaigns show that he was undoubtedly a good general in war and was studded with many major victories over rival rAjas and Islamic marauders. His military career was however, hardly any greater than his equally warlike and militarily successful contemporaries such as rAjendra choLa or lakShmI-karNa kalachuri or someshvara chAlukya. Yet rAja bhoja is remembered much more than any of these contemporaries of his and is often compared with the illustrious vikramAditya of the golden gupta era. His name is a household one amongst all brought up in the sanskritic culture. Why is this so?

The main reason for this is that Hindus have always remembered philosphers, poets and scholars much more than kings merely decorated with military success. A king who did good to the people was much more embedded in the collective memory of the Hindus than a king who conquered vast territories. rAja bhoja definitely stood out in this regard as one of historical India's most remarkable intellectuals with an astonishing variety of interests and oceanic knowledge.

Bhoja Raja constructed several spectacular temples, one of the most dramatic of which is seen in the form of the great temple of shiva termed bhojeshvara at bhojapura a some distance from the modern city of Bhopal.

Another notable construction, which is a historical civil engineering masterpiece, is the bhoja lake which was built by daming and channelizing the Betwa river.

Bhojtal/Upper Lake in Bhopal, a small remnant of Bhojpur Lake built by Raja Bhoja(1010-1055 CE).

Spread over 250 square miles(~650 sq kms) from Bhopal to Barkheda, it was the largest man made lake in India & possibly all of Asia, with depth of 100 feet(30 metres).

Built on the river Betwa and by diverting the nearby Kaliasot river, the lake was a true feat of Hindu engineering.

It started with 2 earthen dams(40 feet high & 100 feet broad at top) 20 miles off modern Bhopal & one even larger cycloplean dam near modern Bhopal.

One umbrella sheet of water as far as the eye could see, dotted by islands across which added to its beauty. Raja Bhoja would criss cross the lake on his boat houses everyday, going from his newly constructed Bhojpur city to inspecting nearby Gonar Fort. Imagine the scene

So what happened to the lake?

Fuelled by Jihad Hosang Shah(1405-34) ordered its destruction.

It took an army of workers 3 months to destroy the dam & 3 yrs elapsed before the lake was emptied of its waters & a further 30 yrs before the bed became dry enough for human habitation.

Destruction of lakes was a favourite tactic of M invaders in India, typical barbarian behaviour.

Hosang Shah also wanted to use the lake's bed for agriculture but his dreams would never come to fruition as he died before the bed became dry & the plan was abandoned. The story of how the lake was built is a worth a read itself.

The legend goes that Raja Bhoja was ill & a Sanyasi suggested that he build a lake that could capture 365 streams. When the initial lake was built it captured 359 streams.

A Gond chief Kaliya pointed out the existence of a stream formed by 6 hill springs in a nearby forest,

It was named Kaliasot river in his honour and a lake was built that diverted the Kaliasot river towards the Betwa.

The screenhots are from the book Bhoja Raja by P.T. Srinivas Ayyangar.

Raja Bhoja has a number of other notable constructions to his credit, He is also supposed to have paid great attention to the education of his people, so much so that even humble weavers in kingdom are supposed to have composed metrical sanskrit kAvyas. Paramāra Maharajadhirāja Bhoja - had earlier built Shārdasadan & beautified Dhārā Nagarī, around 1018 CE.

In addition to patronizing the ancient schools in ujjaini he also built a large university in bhojapura with an attached temple of sarasvatI in 1034 CE .

This university was apparently attended by 1400 advanced students, and also housed a number of noted sanskrit writers and poets such as uvaTa and dhanapAla.

The university was later destroyed by Dilaawar Khan Ghori and Mahmud Khalji during their invasions of Malava.

The sarasvatI idol from the temple was taken by the Britons to the museum in London.

Bhojaśālā,a Saraswatī Mandir & center of learning named after the founder, the great Paramāra Bhoja.

Mahārājādhirāja Bhoja was a great scholar & contributed in many branches of learning as mentioned in Prabhāvakacharita. Parijata Manjari during reign of Paramāra King Arjunavarman (ca. 1210-1218 CE) also describes this Shārdasadan (Sanskrit Pāthshālā) in Dhārā Nagarī.

Parijata Manjari written by Mahākavi Madana during reign of Paramāra King Arjunavarman (ca. 1210-1218 CE) describes Shārdasadan (Sanskrit Pāthshālā) in Dhārā Nagarī:

"चतुरशीतिचतुष्पथसुरसदनप्रधाने...शारदादेव्याः सद्दानिसकलदिगंतरोपगतानेकत्रैविद्यसहृदयकलाकोविदरसिकसुकविसंकुले..."

अर्थात् - धारा नगरी के चौरासी चौराहों के चौरासी मन्दिरों में प्रधान, और अन्य देशों से आये हुए तीनों विद्याओं के जानने वाले विद्वानों और रसिक कवियों से पूर्ण शारदासदन में ...

"Bhojshala"- Saraswati Temple & Gurukul Built by Raja bhoj in Dhar MP in 12 CE

Temple was Attacked by Khilji in 1305, killed 1200 Students bcz they refused to Convert & Converted it into a Dargha.

Bhojaśālā was later turned into Kamāla mosque by invaders is another example of Maratha collaboration with Muslims. Anand Rao Pawar declared it a mosque in 1930!

Currently Site used by Peaceful on Friday for Namaz and Tuesday by Hindus for Puja Bhojshala, Dhar: A mosque made by Muslim conquerers of Malwa over remains of a famous Saraswati temple

Slabs containing rules of Sanskrit grammar placed on the floors so that they were stepped upon by 'true believers'

UPA allowed Muslims to do Namaz inside Bhojshala temple on BasantPanchami 2013,based on report given by NDA Govt. Chief Minister Shivraj Chouhan

In 2016, Hindu nationalist govt of narendra modi issue orders allowing Muslims to do Namaz inside Bhojshala temple on Basant Panchami day.

Extract taken from "Dhar & Mandu: A sketch for sightseers", published 1916 C.

Raja Bhoja also wrote 84 books during his life of which several survive and we shall summarize a few below to illustrate the remarkable breadth of his knowledge and originality:

sarasvati kaNThabharaNa: a treatise on Sanskrit grammar for poetic and rhetorical compositions. Some of the poetic examples provided by him in this work are still appreciated as the highest cream of Sanskrit poetry.

rAjamArtANda (pata~Njali yoga sUtra bhAshya): Major commentary on the yoga sUtras of pata~Njali, wherein the rAja clearly explains various forms of meditations such as savitarka, savichAra, sAnanda and sAsmita, which are critical for understanding the nature of cognition from the view point of yoga.

samarangaNa-sUtradhara: A treatise on civil engineering detailing construction of buildings, forts, temples, idols of deities and mechanical devices including a so called flying machine or glider. It is composed largely in the anuShTubh meter and in about 83 chapters.

Tattva-prakAsha: A remarkable siddhAnta tantra work providing a synthesis of the entire ancient and voluminous literature of the siddhanta tantras of shiva. It was the basis of all subsequent developments of the siddhantic pAshupata streams that followed.

Rasa-raja-mriganka: A treatise on chemistry, especially dealing with the extraction of metals from ores, and production of various drugs.

jyotiSha-raja-mriganka: A treatise on astronomy and construction of instruments for astronomical observations.

yuktikalpataru: A technological manual describing the construction of ships for naval warfare and the making of glass amongst other things.

shR^i~NgAra prakAsha: A treatise on Hindu erotics.

dharmashAstra vR^itti: A commentary on the Hindu legalistic literature.

champU rAmAyaNa: A re-narration of the rAmAyaNa in mixture of prose and poetry, which characterizes the champUs. The description of hanumat's qualities are particularly poetic.

Maharajadhiraj BHOJA has authored a scholastic treatise on Sanskrit rhetorics. It is

SARASWATI KANTHAVARANAM.

Vikramāditya stories reached Mongolia and became a part of popular Mongolian folklore. Raghu Vira translated one collection into Hindi with Devanāgarī transliteration of Mongolian. बिकर्मिजिद् = विक्रमादित्य, आराजि बोजि = राजा भोज.

The Goddess of Wisdom Maa Saraswati wears it as an ornament necklace. Truly excellent. BHOJA's wisdom at the Zenith.

The classical Hindu twilight and modern India

Perusing bhoja's surviving works one sees that the Hindu world just prior to its eclipse by the violent Islamic whirlwind from Central Asia was not one on its decline. On the contrary, due geniuses like bhoja, it was in the peak in of achievements in terms of arts, technology and science. Yet, this India and its illustrious rulers were almost opaque to impending doom that loomed large. Some authors have attributed to this to regionalism or the lack of a national Hindu spirit. This was not entirely lacking as evidenced by the confedration that overthrew the Ghaznavids. Yet, the fact that these illustrious rulers were pulling down each other even as their common enemy Mahmud was savaging North India is rather striking. Another paradoxical point to note is that a Raja bhoja became a pan-Indian epitome of a great ruler from the Tamil country to Kashmir. This suggests that the cultural unity of greater India remained intact even in this period--there were indeed figures who capable of being pan-Indian heros even if they were only regional in the military achievements. Thus, there was a collective Indian mind, that appreciated the scholarly king, but failed to collectively respond to the problem possed by Islam. Likewise, the kings of bhoja's era did not lack in courage or military skills, but remained in their childish coccoons of romantic military adventures even as a greater danger threatened to extinguish them.

The lesson of the twilight of classical Hindu India is a chilling one for modern India. The modern Indians in the same way as their ancestors pride themselves of their intellectual and technological achievements. Despite the depredations of centuries they have the vestiges of cultural unity and continue to have pan-India icons, howsoever crass they may be in comparison to the legendary rAja bhoja. But sadly they remain as naive as their predecessors in the twilight era to the impending threats from Islam and Christianity.