Rao Bika
Encyclopedia
Rao Bika was the founder of the city and principality of Bikaner in present-day Rajasthan
. He was a scion of the Rathore
clan of Rajput
s. He was a son of Rao Jodha
, founder of the city and principality of Jodhpur
.
About 1465, provoked by a stray comment by his father, Rao Bika left Marwar (Jodhpur) to create his own kingdom. Rao Jodha supported Bika in his endeavours in return for which he made Bika promise never to try to take the throne of Mewar.
Some valuable family heirlooms which would legitimize his right to found a kingdom were promised to Bika. He left Marwar accompanied by his uncle, Rawat Kandhal, who provided politico-strategic advice and a small contingent of Rathore warriors (500 soldiers and 100 cavalrymen).
During his travels Bika stopped at Deshnoke where he consulted the mystic Karni Mata
. She gave him her blessings and prophesied that he would be successful. Encouraged by her support Bika took advantage of the internal rivalries of the Jat clans to carve out his own territory in the "Jangladesh
" region of Rajasthan and by 1485 build a small fort called Rati Ghati at the site of the city which today bears his name. James Tod
writes in Annals of Bikaner that:
In 1488 he began the building of the city itself. In the beginning the neighbouring Bhati chiefs were suspicious of the new growing power in their vicinity. Karni Mata, who had become the kuladevi of Rao Bika, brought the rivalry between the Rathore and Bhatis to an end by inspiring Rao Shekha, the powerful Bhati chief of Pugal, to give the hand of his daughter in marriage to Rao Bika.
Upon Rao Jodha's death in 1488 Rao Bika attempted to claim the heirlooms promised him, only for his brothers to refuse his request. In a surprise attack he stormed Mehrangarh Fort
but left his brothers unharmed and departed with only the promised heirlooms (among which were a sandalwood ’Pugal’ throne, a royal umbrella, a sword and a horse of "divine origin").
Bika’s grandfather Raimnal through palace intrigues had been drugged with opium and tied to his bed with his own turban and murdered. Remembering this Rao Bika had a special short lightweight bed made so his feet hung over the edge. The idea was that if the same thing happened to him he would still be able to stand up and fight with it on his back. This bed is today on display in the Phul Mahal in Junagarh Fort
in Bikaner.
Rao Bika died in 1504.
Rajasthan
Rājasthān the land of Rajasthanis, , is the largest state of the Republic of India by area. It is located in the northwest of India. It encompasses most of the area of the large, inhospitable Great Indian Desert , which has an edge paralleling the Sutlej-Indus river valley along its border with...
. He was a scion of the Rathore
Rathore
The Rathore is a Suryavanshi Rajput clan same caste as Lohana. Their Kuldevi is Nagnechiya Mata and "Karani Mata". Rathores are originally from Kannauj in Uttar Pradesh. Rathores are historically considered the samurais of India...
clan of Rajput
Rajput
A Rajput is a member of one of the patrilineal clans of western, central, northern India and in some parts of Pakistan. Rajputs are descendants of one of the major ruling warrior classes in the Indian subcontinent, particularly North India...
s. He was a son of Rao Jodha
Rao Jodha
Rao Jodha was a Rajput ruler of Mandore . He was the son of Rao Ranmal of the Rathore clan. He is known for founding the city of Jodhpur in 1459.-Ancestry:...
, founder of the city and principality of Jodhpur
Jodhpur
Jodhpur , is the second largest city in the Indian state of Rajasthan. It is located west from the state capital, Jaipur and from the city of Ajmer. It was formerly the seat of a princely state of the same name, the capital of the kingdom known as Marwar...
.
About 1465, provoked by a stray comment by his father, Rao Bika left Marwar (Jodhpur) to create his own kingdom. Rao Jodha supported Bika in his endeavours in return for which he made Bika promise never to try to take the throne of Mewar.
Some valuable family heirlooms which would legitimize his right to found a kingdom were promised to Bika. He left Marwar accompanied by his uncle, Rawat Kandhal, who provided politico-strategic advice and a small contingent of Rathore warriors (500 soldiers and 100 cavalrymen).
During his travels Bika stopped at Deshnoke where he consulted the mystic Karni Mata
Karni Mata
Karni Mata was a female Hindu sage born in the Charan caste and is worshiped as the incarnation of the goddess Durga by her followers. She is an official deity of the royal family of Jodhpur and Bikaner. During her lifetime, she laid the foundation stone of two of the important forts in Rajputana...
. She gave him her blessings and prophesied that he would be successful. Encouraged by her support Bika took advantage of the internal rivalries of the Jat clans to carve out his own territory in the "Jangladesh
Jangladesh
Jangladesh also known as Jangal Pradesh was a historical region in north, north-western and north-eastern Rajasthan state in northern India. It included the present-day districts of Bikaner, Churu, Ganganagar, and Hanumangarh....
" region of Rajasthan and by 1485 build a small fort called Rati Ghati at the site of the city which today bears his name. James Tod
James Tod
Lieutenant-Colonel James Tod was an English officer of the British East India Company and an Oriental scholar.Tod was born in London and educated in Scotland, later joining the East India Company as a military officer. He travelled to India in 1799 as a cadet in the Bengal Army where he rose...
writes in Annals of Bikaner that:
- "Moreover, the spot which he (Bika)selected for his capital, was the birthright of a Jat, who would only concede it for this purpose on the condition that his name should be linked in perpetuity with its surrender. NehraNehraNehra is an Indian Jat surname. It is based on gotra Nehra. Nehra gotra Jats are found in Rajasthan, Haryana, Delhi and Uttar Pradesh in India. The origin of Nehra is derived from Nehra mount in Sindh where they were the rulers. Nehras are descendant of Narishyanta , son of Vaivasvata Manu and...
, was the name of the proprietor, which Beeka added to his own, thus composing that of the future capital, Bikaner."
In 1488 he began the building of the city itself. In the beginning the neighbouring Bhati chiefs were suspicious of the new growing power in their vicinity. Karni Mata, who had become the kuladevi of Rao Bika, brought the rivalry between the Rathore and Bhatis to an end by inspiring Rao Shekha, the powerful Bhati chief of Pugal, to give the hand of his daughter in marriage to Rao Bika.
Upon Rao Jodha's death in 1488 Rao Bika attempted to claim the heirlooms promised him, only for his brothers to refuse his request. In a surprise attack he stormed Mehrangarh Fort
Mehrangarh Fort
Mehrangarh Fort, located in Jodhpur city in Rajasthan state, is one of the largest forts in India.The fort is situated 400 feet above the city and is enclosed by imposing thick walls. Inside its boundaries there are several palaces known for their intricate carvings and expansive courtyards. A...
but left his brothers unharmed and departed with only the promised heirlooms (among which were a sandalwood ’Pugal’ throne, a royal umbrella, a sword and a horse of "divine origin").
Bika’s grandfather Raimnal through palace intrigues had been drugged with opium and tied to his bed with his own turban and murdered. Remembering this Rao Bika had a special short lightweight bed made so his feet hung over the edge. The idea was that if the same thing happened to him he would still be able to stand up and fight with it on his back. This bed is today on display in the Phul Mahal in Junagarh Fort
Junagarh Fort
Junagarh Fort is a fort in the city of Bikaner, Rajasthan, India. The fort was originally called Chintamani and was renamed Junagarh or "Old Fort" in the early 20th century when the ruling family moved to Lalgarh Palace outside the fort limits. It is one of the few major forts in Rajasthan which...
in Bikaner.
Rao Bika died in 1504.