TOWER OF FAME - THE JAIN KIRTI STAMBH OF CHITTORGARH

जैन कीर्तिस्तंभ से संबंधीत शिलालेख -डा गोपीनाथ शर्मा की पुस्तक राजस्थान के इतिहास के स्रोत में जैन कीर्ति स्तम्भ से संबंधीत कुछ शिला लेखो का वर्णन दिया गया है जो निम्नानुसार है |

जैन कीर्तिस्तंभ से संबंधीत तीन लेख-(१३ वी सदी )

इन तीनो लेखो का सम्बन्ध चित्तोड़ के जैन कीर्ति स्तम्भ से है , क्योकि तीनो में स्तम्भ के स्थापनकर्ता शाह जीजा तथा उनके वंश का विवरण उपलब्ध होता है |वैसे तो इनमे कही भी समय अंकित नहीं मिलता है परन्तु चित्तोड़ की स.१३५७ की एक प्रशस्ति में, जिसका वर्णन ऊपर दिया गया है, जिस गुरु परंपरा का वर्णनमिलता है,उसी का वर्णन प्रथम प्रशस्ति में मिलता है | इससे ये स्पष्ट है की ये प्रशस्तिया भी १३ वि शताब्दी की है |प्रथम लेख में ४५ श्लोक है | इसके प्रारम्भ में दीनाक तथा उसकी पत्नी वाछी के पुत्र नाया के द्वारा एक मंदिर के निर्माण का वर्णन है|नाय की पत्नी नागश्री और उसका पुत्र जीजा थे |इनके सम्बन्ध में उल्लेखित है की इन्होने चित्तोड़ में चंद्रप्रभु मंदिर और खोखर नगर में भी एक मंदिर बनवाया | इनके पुत्र पूण्यसिंह ने अपने धन का उपयोग दान के द्वारा किया | इनके गुरु विशालकीर्ति के शिष्य शुभकीर्ति के शिष्य धर्मचन्द्र थे| महाराणा हम्मीर ने इनका खूब सम्मान किया था | इनके द्वारा कीर्तिस्तंभ की स्थापना करवाई गई थी | चित्तोड़ के वर्णन में वहा वृक्षावली के कारण शीतल वायु का उल्लेख से वहा की जलवायु पर अच्छा प्रकाश पड़ता है |

दुसरे लेख का मुख्य भाग श्याद्वाद के सम्बन्ध में है |इस लेख का नतीम पंक्ति में बघेरवाल जाती के नाय के पुत्र जीजा द्वारा स्तम्भ निर्माण का उल्लेख है |

तीसरे लेख के प्रारम्भ में निर्वाण भक्ति का विवेचन दिया गया है और अन्तिम भाग में जीजा के युक्त संघ की मंगलकामना की गई है |

जैन कीर्तिस्तंभ से संबंधीत खंडित लेख

ये लेख दो खंडो में मिले है जिनके द्वारा जैन कीर्ति स्तम्भ के सम्बन्ध में कुछ अपूर्ण सूचना मिलती है| इनमे किसी में भी तिथियाँ नहीं है |प्रथम खंड में कैलाश शैल शिखर स्थित देवता की तथा अरिस्ठनेमी की स्तुतिया है और पावापुरी का वर्णन है | इसमें कुल १२ श्लोक है | इसके अंत के भाग में 'संघजिजान्वित सहा ' का पाठ मिलता है - 'बघेरवाल जातीय सा.नाय सूत जिजकेन स्तम्भ कारापित '

चित्तोड़ का एक अन्य लेख

यह लेख चित्तोड़ के जैन स्तम्भ के पास किसी मंदिर में लग रहा था , जहा से संभवत किसी तरह इसे हटाया गया हो| अब इसकी तीन चार शिलाओं में से एक ही शिला उपलब्ध है जिसे गोसाईं जी के चबूतरे के पास लगा दिया गया है| इस शिलालेख में २१ से ४५ श्लोक है | श्लोक ४४ में हम्मीर का और श्लोक ४५ में पुण्यसिंह द्वारा मानस्तंभ की प्रतिष्ठा का वर्णन है |अन्य कई श्लोको में श्रेष्ठी पुण्यसिंह का विस्तार से वर्णन है | प्रस्तुत लेख से हम पूर्वमध्यकालीन युग के चित्तोड़ में विधा की प्रगति का अध्ययन कर सकते है |उस काल में जैन साधू विशाल कीर्ति ,शुभकीर्ति आदि साहित्य और दर्शन के प्रकांड विद्वान थे | जैसा की इस लेख से स्पष्ट है , इस लेख से हमें तिथि ,संवत आदि की सुचना उपलब्ध नहीं होती |

प्रसिद्द इतिहासकार श्री रामवल्लभ सोमानी जी की पुस्तक (History of Mewar-from earliest times to 1751 CE.) पृष्ट क्रमांक ९२ के अनुसार।

चितौड़ दुर्ग की राम पोल में प्रवेश करने के बाद उत्तर ( बायीं ) की तरफ जाने पर कुकड़ेश्वर तालाब और रावल रत्नसेन के महल वाले रास्ते में आगे गोलाई में घूमते हुवे लाखोटा बारी से आगे जाने पर दक्षिण दिशा में जाती सड़क के बाई तरफ सात मंजिला कीर्ति स्तम्भ दूर से ही दिखाई दे जाता है | कीर्ति स्तम्भ के पास ही समकालीन महावीर स्वामी को समर्पित जैन मंदिर बना हुवा है | दोनों का निर्माण लगभग साथ साथ चौदहवी शताब्दी के प्रारम्भ का है |

गौरीशंकर हीराचंद ओझा के अनुसार सात मंजिल वाले इस कीर्ति स्तम्भ का निर्माण दिगंबर जैन सम्प्रदाय के बघेरवाल महाजन सेठ नाया के पुत्र जीजा ने (विक्रम संवत १३५७ तदनुसार इसवी संवत १३०१ मे) करवाया था | यह स्मारक जैन सम्प्रदाय के प्रथम तीर्थंकर आदिनाथ को समर्पित है | स्तम्भ की चारो दिशाओं में पार्श्व में आदिनाथ जी की चार दिगंबर (नग्न) खड़ी प्रतिमाये लगाईं गई है | कहते है की बिजली गिरने से ये स्तम्भ क्षतिग्रस्त हो गया था और इसकी शीर्ष की छत्री गिर गई थी जिसे तत्कालीन महाराणा फ़तेह सिंह जी ने ठीक करवाया था | स्तम्भ के ऊपर वाली मंजिल में जैन धर्म से सम्बंधित सेकड़ो अद्भुत मानवीय आकृतियों उकेरी गई है| आदिनाथ जी की चारो प्रतिमाओं के नीचे की तरफ भी मूर्ति शिल्पकला को देख कर आप दंग रह जाते है | मूर्तियों में तत्कालीन सामाजिक जीवन का शायद ही कोई विषय अछुता रहा हो| स्तम्भ के चारो और लगी छोटी छोटी नृत्यांगनाओ की मुर्तिया बड़ी सुन्दर तरीके से उकेरी गई है|

जैन मंदिर-

कीर्ति स्तम्भ के पास ही महावीर स्वामी का जैन मंदिर स्थित है जिसके महाराणा कुम्भा के शासनकाल में १४३८ में ओसवाल महाजन गुणराज द्वारा जीर्णोधार करवाने का उल्लेख आता है ऊँची जगती पर बने इस मदिर के पार्श्व की और पीछे की दीवारों में लगी मूर्तियों में कमनीय नायिकाओ का तक्षांकन अद्भुत है।

The Kirti Stambh stands as another famous attraction that was built in the 13th century. Kirti Stambha is located inside the Chittorgarh Fort Complex. Kirti Stambha is dedicated to Sri Adinath, the first Tirthankara in Jain Faith. Figures of Tirthankaras indicate that it belongs to the Digambara sects. Many Jain followers consider Kirti Stambha as a major pilgrimage center. Visiting the Kirti Stambha not only gives you a chance to know about history but also makes you a spectator of a great view.

The temple was built around 1167 Vikram era and the Kirti Stambh was constructed in 12th CE by the Bagherwal Jain merchant Jijaji Rathod during the reign of Rawal Kumar Singh (1179 – 1191 CE). Kirti Stambha is older than another tower in the magnificent Chittorgarh fort, which is Vijay Stambha it is also known as the Tower of Victory. The Kirti Stambha personifies Solanki Style of Architecture at its best. 

An albumen photograph of the Jain temple tower, the Kirti Stambh, by Bourne and Shepherd, 1870's

After becoming ruin , kirti stambh was again renovated by MahaRana Fateh Singhji of Udaipur. The short way near fateh prakash museum leads to a great jain architecture Kirti Stambh or Tower of Fame at chittorgarh fort.

This tower is 22 meter high and have beautiful figures made on it. The ground portion of tower have 30 ft of area and upper part have 15 ft of area. Lot of small images are carved on all sides of the tower.

Kirti stambh have 7 floors and each floor have remarkable structure. Top most floor gives great view of other parts of fort like victory tower, Fateh prakash.

Jain Saint’s figures are neatly carved on the Stambha, adding to more charm are columned balconies and latticed arches, there is an observation hall, which can be reached through a narrow flight of stairs; visitors are awarded a splendid view of the vicinity.

Just near to kirti stambh (tower of fame), a beautiful jain temple is made with unique carving made on it.

The Jain Kirtistambh of chittor is a fine piece of jain art. Numerous inscriptions and casual literary references are known about it. Two fragmentary inscription of 13th century A.D.,collected by G.S. Ojha from the heaps of stones lying at the foot of this edifice, mention the name of one Jija Bagherwal as the constructor of this Kirtistambh. However, these inscriptions are very much damaged and do not throw any light on the history of his family. One of these inscriptions contains 12 verses from the Nirvana-Kand and other some text from jain scriptures.The family of Jija subsequently migrated to central india,where one of his descendants installed an image at Nandganva in V.E.1541 (1484A.D.) and engraved an inscription on its pedestal, which has also a reference that this kirtistambh was completed by Punyasingh son of Jija Bagherwal, one of his ancestors.

There is another group of inscriptions which mention that this pillar was originally get constructed by one kumarpal, while the renovation was done by Gunraj in V.E. 1494( 1438 A.D). In new inscription which has got verses from 21 to 45. A perusal of it proves that the construction was got done by the family of Jija. His father was Naya, who got the Chandraprabha Tample completed at Chittor. He spent lavishly in constructing other numerous jain temples at Chittor,Khohar,Sanchor etc. But his most momentous work was the construction of the jain Kirtistambh. However, he could not see it completed during his own life time and his son Punysingh did it. The consecration ceremony was done by Jain acharya Dharmachandra of Mulasangh. on the basis of another unpublished inscription of V.E. 1357 (1300 A.D.), now lying in the Office of the Central Archaeological Deptt. Chittor, it may be proved that it had been completed by them.

RANKA RAJ - JHARKHAND

Ranka Raj, Jharkhand Founded by Raja Dusashan Shah in around 1560 AD. He belonged to chamar-gaur branch of Gaur rajputs, settled at Sheopur & served as commander in the imperial army.

Descendants of this family are called Surwar taking name from their settlement of Sausonpur.

He made several conquests and obtained from the Emperor some Khilat as a mark of honour and a grant of the talukas of Bagaha, Adulpura, and Pathalgarh, in the District of Mirzapur, and

also the whole of Kirat Pargana and of the Talukas of Dhandand and Tilothu in Sasseram Pargana.

His son, Rajah Sarangdhar, had a castle erected at Dhandand and was also in possession of the royal fortress of Rohtas.

He was succeeded by his son, Rajah Deo Sahi. It was during this time that the Chero Chief, Bhagwant Rai, sustained a defeat by a force despatched by Jahangir at Morang, Tirhut, and Bhojpur respectively, and then took refuge with the Rajput Chief, Deo Sahi, at fort of Dhandand.

Thakurai Puranmal, the younger brother of Rajah Deo Sahi, took Bhagwant Rai with himself and marched to Palamau, which was then ruled by the Raksels, the ancestor of the present Maharajah of Sirguja in the Contral Provinces.

Puranmal conquered Palamau and got Bhagwant Rai installed on the gadi in 1613. An agreement was entered between them, that henceforward it would rest only with the Thakurais to manage the country and to select a future Rajah of Palamau from among the descendants of Bhagwant Rai.

Accordingly the Thakurais of Ranka state continued to exercise the power of virtual king-makers until the British conquest. Ranka Royal family also made a huge donation in the bhoodan initiative of Vinoba bhave.

Courtesy His grandson Govardhan Singh

Raja Bahadur Giriwar Narayan Singh , C.B.E., Raja of Ranka(Garhwa Jharkhand) donated 111,101 acres of land to the Vinoba Bhave Bhoodan initiative which became the highest acreage of land given by any landlord or estate-owner in India .

Source: The Ruling Chiefs Nobles & Zamindars of India

MARATHON OF MEWAR - THE UNSUNG BATTLE OF MAHARANA PRATAP THE GREAT - IMMORTAL RAJPUTS

विजयादशमी शुभा भवतु।
श्रीमहाकाली महालक्ष्मी महासरस्वती च सर्वदा तुष्टा वरदाश्च सन्तु,
अविद्याया अधर्मस्य असत्यस्य अन्यायस्य नाशञ्च कुर्वन्तु ॥

          

विजयदशमी पर्व के दिन ही १५८२ ही महाराणा प्रताप और उनकी सेना ने दिवेर में लुटेरे मुग़ल सेना पर भयंकर आक्रमण कर उन्हें परास्त किया था। युद्ध में लुटेरे मुग़ल सेनापति और बहुत से लुटेरे मुग़ल मारे गए, जो बचे वो भाग गए।

नवरात्रि में महाराणा प्रताप अपनी सेना सहित कुलदेवी और हमीर के खड़ग की पूजा करते हुए।

हल्दीघाटी के बाद अक्टूबर १५८२ में दिवेर का युद्ध हुआ। इस युद्ध में मुगल सेना की अगुवाई अकबर का चाचा सुल्तान खां कर रहा था । इस दिन विजयादशमी थी और महाराणा ने अपनी नई संगठित सेना को दो हिस्सों में विभाजित करके युद्ध का बिगुल बजा दिया। एक टुकड़ी की कमान खुद महाराणा संभाल रहे थे , तो दूसरी टुकड़ी का नेतृत्व उनके पुत्र महाराज कुमार अमर सिंह कर रहे थे। तय रणनीति के तहत महाराणा प्रताप की सेना ने महाराज कुमार अमर सिंह के नेतृत्व में दिवेर के शाही थाने पर हमला किया। यह युद्ध इतना भीषण तरीके से लड़ा गया था कि महाराणा प्रताप के पुत्र महाराज कुमार अमर सिंह अमर सिंह ने मुगल सेनापति पर भाले का ऐसा वार किया कि भाला उसके शरीर और घोड़े को चीरता हुआ जमीन में जा धंसा और मुगल सेनापति मूर्ति की तरह एक जगह गड़ गया।

राज प्रशस्ति में दिवेर का युद्ध:

" गज पर बैठा सुल्तान खान, राणा ने गज पर प्रहार किया ।

चूर हुआ खुरसाणी अभिमान, जब गज कुम्भ का विध्वंस किया ।।

राणा प्रताप ने दिवेर के घाटे में हाथी पर बैठे बादशाह के काका सुल्तान  सेरिम का सामना किया। राणा के सोलंकी वीर ने हाथी के दोनों पाँव काट दिए और राणा ने पक्षी की भाँति झपट कर हाथी का मस्तक फोड़ दिया।

तब सेरिम घोड़े पर सवार हुआ, अमर सिंह ने भाले से ऐसा वार किया कि  भाला सेरिम के कवच और अश्व को भेद धरती में जा गड़ा।

अमरसिंह ने हाथ से भाले को खींचा, पर वह निकला नहीं। तब राणा प्रताप ने कहा लात देकर खींचो, तब अमरसिंह ने सेरिम पर लात रख क्रोध से भाला खींचा, तब जाकर भाला निकला।

दिवेर के बाद कोशीथल समेत 84 मुग़ल चौकियों से मुग़ल खदेड़ दिए गये।

राजस्थान के इतिहास १५८२ में दिवेर का युद्ध एक महत्वपूर्ण युद्ध माना जाता है, क्योंकि इस युद्ध में राणा प्रताप के खोये हुए राज्यों की पुनः प्राप्ती हुई, इसके पश्चात राणा प्रताप व मुगलो के बीच एक लम्बा संघर्ष युद्ध के रुप में घटित हुआ, जिसके कारण कर्नल जेम्स टाॅड ने इस युद्ध को "मेवाड़ का मैराथन" कहा है।

दिवेर के युद्ध ने मुगलों के मनोबल को बुरी तरह तोड़ दिया। दिवेर के युद्ध के बाद प्रताप ने गोगुंदा, कुम्भलगढ़, बस्सी, चावंड, जावर, मदारिया, मोही, माण्डलगढ़ जैसे महत्वपूर्ण ठिकानों पर कब्ज़ा कर लिया।

 Unsung Battle of Dewair MahaRana Pratap

Maharana Pratap was Hindu king of Mewar. He was titled as "Mewari Rana" and was notable for his military resistance against the expansionism of the Mughal Empire and was known for his participation in many Battles including the famous Battle of Haldighati and Battle of Dewair.

Maharana Pratap’s army of 22,000 soldiers met 2,00,000 soldiers of Akbar at Haldighat. Maharana Pratap and his soldiers exhibited great valour in this battle although he had to retreat but Akbar’s army was also not successful in defeating MahaRana Pratap and Haldi Ghati was not The End!

Akbar wanted to capture Pratap Alive. He kept pouring in Men and Money to Invade the Hilly parts of mewar and Capture pratap Alive, but to No avail. 

Maharana kept Fighting using Guerilla tactics and Inflicted Heavy losses on Mughal Forces.

After this historic battle of Haldighati that ended in a stalemate, Akbar changed his strategy and started sending his soldiers through Mewar's North-Western borders namely, Mandal, Madaria, Mohi and most importantly Dewair. Several garrisons were established in this region for exercising a better control.

Towards the South East of the small town of Pali in Rajasthan, lies Dewair, a village enclosed in the hills of Aravali and between the pages of history, the latter often of an untold nature. This however was not so till about four and a half centuries ago. Dewair was the gateway (read strategic) to the kingdom of Mewar and hence provided access to the supercluster of fortresses spread across the hills, valleys and ravines of the region and why just Mewar, Dewair due to its geographical location was an important access point to Marwar, Gujarat, and Malwa as well. The region's control was incomplete, and ineffective without the control over Dewair. About 2 kilometers south west of the village of Dewair, lies the topic of this buildup - the Battlefield called "Dewair ki Naal", loosely translated as the Horseshoe of Dewair, a local name of the Dewair Valley.

Dewair (दिवेर की नाळ) was important strategic hold which connects Mewar and Marwar, it was also used to check the northern route to Kumbhalgarh and Gogunda. It was then under Mughal control. The forces of Maharana and Mughals contended against each other, through both symmetric and asymmetrical warfare. Several Generals and Commanders of the Mughal forces were deployed in trying to control Maharana's rise but these efforts turned out to be futile. Maharana was utilizing this period to organize his forces, collecting rations, and getting the support of the rulers of Sirohi, Idar, Jalore among others.

It was Vijaya Dashmi of the year 1582, when it all came to its climactic conclusion. Under the ruse of a planted rumor that he had left Mewar, the Maharana with his army marched unnoticed through secret paths to Dewair and attacked the Mughal Garrisons unexpectedly with his son Amar Singh commanding a separate flank fighting beside him bravely.

Mughal army was led by sultan khan. He was sitting on an elephant. Pratap throw his spear towards the elephant. About the same time another warrior brithya solanki cut the legs of sultan Khan's elephant Sultan khan however was saved. He then quickly sat on the horse and resume his fight.

But kuwar amar singh thrust his spear with such a force that the  weapon stuck in the ground after piercing the coat. This battle was as we would say today a surgical strike led by Kunwar Amar Singh. Thus the battle ended with the victory of mewar's army. 

After the battle maharana asked his son amar singh to take out the spear from the sultan khan's body. He also offered him water. 

Maharana Pratap and his son Kunwar Amar Singh faced the Mughals with great valor at Dewair, Kunwar Amar Singh commanding a separate flank fighting beside him bravely. Mughal Commander sultan Sultan Khan was killed by a single stroke of spear by Kunwar Amar Singh in Devair Yuddh.

This the battle ended with the victory of maharana pratap. It resulted in the closing of 32 other mughal check points and a surrender of about 36000 soldiers of the mughal army. Such was the feat that when Colonel James Tod realised the bravery of the soldiers of Mewar, he  compared it to the Greece's Marathon and named it as "Marathon of Mewar". Such was the importance of this battle. After a number of failed attempts at conquest after their defeat at Dewair, including one that Akbar himself commanded, the Mughals never returned to Mewar in Maharana Pratap's lifetime.

MahaRana Ji after Dewair, allied with Rao Chandrasen Rathore of Jodhpur/Marwar to annex Dongarpur and Banswara states in December of 1578AD and regularly harassed Mughals in their own stronghold in Ajmer. He sent his subordiante Rai Singh Rathore to help the Chauhan ruler of Sirohi state, Surtan Singh in thrashing mughals in the Battle of Dattani in 1583 AD. He would have influence well outside of Mewar allying with Chauhans of Sirohi & Ranthambore, princes of Dongarpur, Rathores of Idar in Gujarat and Hadas of Bundi starting fresh revolts and attacks on Mughals.

Jalaluddin Akbar kept Pouring Men and Money till 1587.

But, all of that Was Useless Now. 

After 1587, Akbar decided to Give up his dream of Capturing Mewar, and Moved to Lahore in Order to concentrate on North West India.

Salute to Maharana Pratap, India's most fearless Rajput warrior, a master strategist and the one, who never compromised with his determination to defend his motherland & his self-respect.

A war memorial at Meva Ka Mathara, was erected later to commemorate the Historic victory of the Hindu Rajput king of Mewar.

The old memorial commemorating this victory of Mewar over the Mughals was built just above the road in Dewair ki Naal.

The new Victory Memorial with statue of Maharana Pratap is built near Chapli, north of Dewair ki Naal road. It is approachable from different road from Dewair village on NH-58 (old NH-8).

THOUGH THIS VALLEY BE FILLED

Teis coloured by the common air,

Its atmosphere with death is rife;

A moral pestilence is there,

Fevered-Exacting-False and vain;

Like a Disease, it lingers on,

To all that blest its first sweet reign,

And desperate with the long decay,

It's morning dew & light, are gone;

To be within itself entombed,

One treasured and unbroken dream;

A yet more desperate despair,

Seems ever what it once could seem,

And its Better far alone to dwell,

Dreaming above the Dearest Past,

And keeping in the silent cell,

Life's best illusions to the last.

MANI MANDIR PALACE - THE SYMBOL OF LOVE / IMMORTALIZED RAJPUTS

That happy souls, premitted, evercame

To soothe the mourner---her's was there with me

"Taj Mahal kya hoga! Wo to Rani ke naam, ek kabr hai. Ek premi ke liye, wo bhi das … uske liye to sirf Mandir chalega! "

[What is the Taj Mahal before this? That is a mausoleum of love, for a queen. For a beloved, and that too a maid … only the most sacred will do.]

Morbi [also called Morvi ] This beautiful city is located on the Bank Of Machchhu.It is 67 Kms away from the Rajkot and 245 Kms away from the Ahmedabad. Morbi was founded in the year of 1698. Morbi was the Capital of Rajput Jadeja‘s State. Untill 1947 Morbi was a princely state. .The prosperous city Morbi has much of the built heritage and town planning is attributed to the efficient administration of Sir Waghji, who came to the throne in 1879 and ruled till 1948. It's said once in Morbi there were rivers of Milk and Ghee (Butter) indicating the prosperous state of Morbi in its heydays and was among the strongest states of India. 

Sir Wagh Ji caught the pulse of time, rode on its wave, modernized his state. "Ben, pacchaas saal… Fifty years he was the father of this land. He made trams, roads, schools, reservoirs, bridges, ports. Worked endlessly for thier's. Our rulers today, these politicians … they are all beggars, begging for votes. Our Bapu, he was a maharaja!" acted as the Ruler, Manager, Patron and Policemen of the state with great authority, always keeping the citizens’ interests in mind. 

Mani Mandir Built by Thakur Saheb Sir Waghji to immortalize his love for a girl named Mani, [ Mani Ba Saheb] 

Bapu had four queens -- daughters of the Thakore Sahibs of Palitana, Sayla, Tharad, Chuda. Each queen brought with herself an agreement with her father's kingdom -- economic, political ties and a robust dowry. Palitana queen's dowry, however, included a special little jewel, a young maid named Mani.

No one knows how it happened. But, it happened. The maharaja, the king of kings, the Bapu of Morbi, fell in love with a dasi, a common woman. No clout. No agreements. No lineage. In the railway station, the cricket field, noisy roads, paan shops -- the story of his love is recounted with a factual ease: "Mani Bapu ke lover the. Ben, have you seen her temple? You must …"

Mani died young. She could never have a palace. He made her a temple. The world's only temple to a dasi, a lover.

Mani Mandir is one of the great examples of the Temple Architecture in India. Mani Mandir was also one of the hidden places for the King. To this date no one has been able to count the total number of cellars in this building! The Mani Mandir of Morbi is an excellent example of Art. Though Mani Mandir is not a temple but Palace Complex named after Her Highness Mani Ba Saheb. It's a large palace complex and within the palace complex are temples for the royal family. It's still a private property owned by present Her Highness Rajmata Vijay Kuverba and her 3 daughters.

Mani mandir is a stunning piece of temple architecture, situated in the courtyard of Wellingdon Secretariat, in Morbi, Gujarat. Built in 1935, this magnificent structure took shape in Jaipur stone, adorned with exquisitely carved elements-arches, brackets, jalis, chhatris and shikhara. The Radha-Krishna temple enshrines the images of Lakshmi Narayan, Goddess Kali, Lord Ram and Lord Shiva.

The Manimandir of Morbi reflects the wonderful mental capacity of Shah Jahan as he built his Taj Mahal. This manimandir was also built with such sharp and unusual emotions at work. The history says. It is a symbol of Love in the history of Saurashtra.The King of Morbi, Vaghji Thakur had built this manimandir in the memory of his beloved first wife Manibai, and is no less than a royal palace in its beauty of design and sculptures.

Mani Mandir stands as a testimony to the excellent dexterity of its master craftsmen and architects, who had conceived and materialized the structure at the turn of 20th century. it is an excellent piece of temple architecture and a palace belonging to the erstwhile princely state of Morbi is going to be renovated and converted into a first of its kind museum showcasing the socio-cultural heritage of the Saurashtra region.

Manimanidr : Picture by: Harish Gohil

Mani Mandir is a structure adorned with exquisitely carved arches, brackets, jalis, chhatris and shikhara.it is famous for its beautiful architecture, which is a harmonious blend of Rajput Architecture with Gothic, Saracenic, and Mughal styles.

At the centre of the temple complex, overlooking the river Machhu is the temple of Radha Krishna. A rectangular double-storied complex with over 130 rooms surrounds the temple. Waghji had completed the structure at a cost of Rs 30 lakh in 1922 and died the same year.

After the 2001 earthquake, unfortunately most of the mandir fell down but is back to its noble stature again. The building is a symbol of love that stands testimony to excellent workmanship:-

"Where echoes of a nameless love from a mythic past come as waves across time to make real the highest possibility of human union, again and again"