Rao Shekha
Encyclopedia
MahaRao Shekha was a Rajput
chieftain belonging to the Kachwaha
clan of Amer/Jaipur. He ruled over Amarsar, The Shekhawati gets its name from him, comprising the districts of Sikar
and Jhunjhunu
in the present-day India
n state of Rajasthan
. The descendants of Rao Shekha form Kachwaha
clan of Rajputs.
1490, (A.D.
1433), son of Rao Mokal Ji (Amarsar) and Rani Nirwan Ji (Khetri). Rao Mokal was a chieftain who held the estate of Nan in fief from the ruler of Amber (Jaipur). The story of Shekha’s birth is rather interesting. Mokal and Nirwan were much troubled as they had no son for several years. They heard about the miraculous powers of the Sheikh Burhan, a Muslim mendicant. They decided to pay the man a visit. After they received the blessings of the Sheikh, a son was born to the couple. In honour of the mendicant, the couple named their son Shekha.
He was granted the title of MAHARAO by Raja Udaikaran Ji (ruler of Amber
).The first act of his valour was his sudden attack on Napa (Sankhala Rajput) at Nagarchal, Saiwar, Multhan etc. when he was only 16 years old. From V.S.1530 to 1534, (A.D. 1473 to 1477) with the help of Panni Pathans, Rao Shekha conquered Dadri from Nop Singh Jatu and Bhiwani
from Other Jatu Rajputs, Hansi
from Ikhtar Khan and Hissar
from Heda Khan Kaimkhanis. Thus he extended his territory and became powerful.
Shekha’s reputation and growing power were noticed by the Ruler of Amber, whom up to this time, they had acknowledged as head (Tikai) of Kachawa Dynasty, and used to send as a tribute all the colts reared on their land. Later, Shekhaji refused to send the colts and as a result of it Raja Chandersen(ChandraSena) of Amber sent his army to attacked him. They fought several battles and in the last one, in V.S. 1528, (A.D.1471), Rao Shekha repulsed the forces of Raja Chandersen at the bank of Kokus river, near Amber. Then a treaty was entered into by them, according to which the practice of sending colts to Amber was abandoned. After this, they lived peacefully and Shekhaji became independent and founded a union which was the birth of Shekhawati federation.
Rao Shekha was severely wounded and before his end, he nominated Raimal as his successor. Shekha expired peacefully at Ralawata on Baisakh Sudi 3 (Akha Teej), V.S.1545, (A.D.1488), His chattri(cenotaph
) was built there.
Maharao Shekha fought 52 battles in his life. He is the founder and ancestor of the Shekhawat
sub-clan of Jaipur’s Kachwaha
Dynasty.
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...
chieftain belonging to the Kachwaha
Kachwaha
Kachwaha are a Suryavanshi Kshatriya clan who ruled a number of kingdoms and princely states in India such as Alwar, Maihar, Talcher, while the largest kingdom was Jaipur which was founded by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II in 1727...
clan of Amer/Jaipur. He ruled over Amarsar, The Shekhawati gets its name from him, comprising the districts of Sikar
Sikar
Sikar is a city located in the Shekhawati region of Rajasthan state in India. It is the administrative headquarter of Sikar District. Sikar is a historical city and contains many old Havelis which are a huge tourist attraction. The best way to reach the city is to use road transport from Jaipur...
and Jhunjhunu
Jhunjhunu
Jhunjhunu is a town in the state of Rajasthan in India, and the administrative headquarters of Jhunjhunu District. It is located a 180 km from Jaipur and 245 km from Delhi. The town is famous for the frescos on its grand Havelis, a special artistic feature of this region.- Etymology...
in the present-day India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
n state of Rajasthan
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...
. The descendants of Rao Shekha form Kachwaha
Kachwaha
Kachwaha are a Suryavanshi Kshatriya clan who ruled a number of kingdoms and princely states in India such as Alwar, Maihar, Talcher, while the largest kingdom was Jaipur which was founded by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II in 1727...
clan of Rajputs.
Birth
Maharao Shekha Ji was born in B.S.Bikram Samwat
Vikram Samvat is the calendar established by Indian emperor Vikramaditya...
1490, (A.D.
Anno Domini
and Before Christ are designations used to label or number years used with the Julian and Gregorian calendars....
1433), son of Rao Mokal Ji (Amarsar) and Rani Nirwan Ji (Khetri). Rao Mokal was a chieftain who held the estate of Nan in fief from the ruler of Amber (Jaipur). The story of Shekha’s birth is rather interesting. Mokal and Nirwan were much troubled as they had no son for several years. They heard about the miraculous powers of the Sheikh Burhan, a Muslim mendicant. They decided to pay the man a visit. After they received the blessings of the Sheikh, a son was born to the couple. In honour of the mendicant, the couple named their son Shekha.
As the Ruler
At the age of 12 year he succeeded his father in V.S.1502, A.D 1445.He was granted the title of MAHARAO by Raja Udaikaran Ji (ruler of Amber
Amber
Amber is fossilized tree resin , which has been appreciated for its color and natural beauty since Neolithic times. Amber is used as an ingredient in perfumes, as a healing agent in folk medicine, and as jewelry. There are five classes of amber, defined on the basis of their chemical constituents...
).The first act of his valour was his sudden attack on Napa (Sankhala Rajput) at Nagarchal, Saiwar, Multhan etc. when he was only 16 years old. From V.S.1530 to 1534, (A.D. 1473 to 1477) with the help of Panni Pathans, Rao Shekha conquered Dadri from Nop Singh Jatu and Bhiwani
Bhiwani
Bhiwani is a city and a municipal council in Bhiwani district in the state of Haryana, India. It is known as the city of temples. Besides being a seat of spiritual learning, the city has been the centerstage of regional politics. The city is hometown to three of Haryana's chief ministers: Bansi...
from Other Jatu Rajputs, Hansi
Hansi
Hansi is a city and a municipal council in Hisar district in the Indian state of Haryana. Its 2011 population is estimated to be 1,34,568. It is located at a distance of east of Hisar on National Highway 10. Geographically, it is semi-arid with around 46 cm of annual rainfall. It appears...
from Ikhtar Khan and Hissar
Hisar, India
Hisar city, previously spelled Hissar, is the administrative headquarters of Hisar district, in the state of Haryana, in northwestern India. Hisar was founded in 1354 CE, as Hissar-e-Firoza by Firoz Shah Tughlaq, who reigned over the Sultanate of Delhi from 1351 to 1388. on the demolished ruins...
from Heda Khan Kaimkhanis. Thus he extended his territory and became powerful.
Shekha’s reputation and growing power were noticed by the Ruler of Amber, whom up to this time, they had acknowledged as head (Tikai) of Kachawa Dynasty, and used to send as a tribute all the colts reared on their land. Later, Shekhaji refused to send the colts and as a result of it Raja Chandersen(ChandraSena) of Amber sent his army to attacked him. They fought several battles and in the last one, in V.S. 1528, (A.D.1471), Rao Shekha repulsed the forces of Raja Chandersen at the bank of Kokus river, near Amber. Then a treaty was entered into by them, according to which the practice of sending colts to Amber was abandoned. After this, they lived peacefully and Shekhaji became independent and founded a union which was the birth of Shekhawati federation.
Establishment of Amarsar as capital
In V.S.1506, (A.D.1449) Shekha Ji founded Amarsar other sources mention that it was founded in V.S.1517, (A.D.1460). In Amarsar Shekha built the temple of Bhagwan Jagdish and in V.S.1534, (A.D.1477), he built here the SHIKHARGARH FORT.Conflict with Gaurs
Kolraj Gaur was ruling at Ghatwa under his commands tank was being excavated at Jhotari village and he had made a rule that any one passing that way should remove a quantity of earth from the tank. A Rajput person of Kachawa clan was returning home with his bride, the Rajput obeyed the rule and removed the earth but the Gaurs insisted that his wife should do the same.His widow went to Amarsar and placed a handful of dust before Shekha and told him the fame of the Kachawas would be tarnished if they did not take revenge upon the Gaurs. There upon, in V.S.1535, (A.D.1478) and Shekha invaded Ghatwa the battle took place at the same talab (tank), which ended with his demise because of injuries in the final battle.Battle of Ghatwa
The Gaur Rajputs fought about 12 battles with Shekha Ji. In the last battle, they met near Ghatwa on the “Khontiya” tank and fought fiercely. Rao Ridmal of Maroth wounded Shekha with his arrows . Nawalraj, a son of Kolraj, killed Kunwar Durga and Kunwar Puranmal, sons of Shekha Ji.Rao Shekha was severely wounded and before his end, he nominated Raimal as his successor. Shekha expired peacefully at Ralawata on Baisakh Sudi 3 (Akha Teej), V.S.1545, (A.D.1488), His chattri(cenotaph
Cenotaph
A cenotaph is an "empty tomb" or a monument erected in honour of a person or group of people whose remains are elsewhere. It can also be the initial tomb for a person who has since been interred elsewhere. The word derives from the Greek κενοτάφιον = kenotaphion...
) was built there.
Maharao Shekha fought 52 battles in his life. He is the founder and ancestor of the Shekhawat
Shekhawat
Shekhawat is a sub-clan of Kachwaha Rajputs found mainly in Rajasthan, India. The Shekhawat clan claims descent from the great rajput warrior Maharao Shekha Ji. The Shekhawats were the most prominent among all sub clans of Kachwahas of Jaipur. Shekhawats were the rulers of Shekhawati.-History:The...
sub-clan of Jaipur’s Kachwaha
Kachwaha
Kachwaha are a Suryavanshi Kshatriya clan who ruled a number of kingdoms and princely states in India such as Alwar, Maihar, Talcher, while the largest kingdom was Jaipur which was founded by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II in 1727...
Dynasty.
Marriages
Rao SHEKHA Ji, born September 24, 1433, had five Ranis (Queens), who are referred to by their maiden names (surnames), and had issue, 12 sons (8 survived) and 3 daughters.- (a) He married firstly, Taankan-ji Ganga Kumari, daughter of Nagvanshi ‘Keelhan ji Taank’ of Nagar-gadh, she established the Kalyanji temple facing entry of Amarsar Fort around 1516-17 V.S.;
- (b) married secondly, Tanwar ji- I, daughter of Rao Gahirmal ji Tanwar of Dokna;
- (c) married thirdly, Tanwar ji – II, daughter of Pichiyan ji Tanwar of Bayal (Ganwri);
- (d) married fourthly, Gaur ji, daughter of Jadam ji Gaur of Jhunthar;
- (e) married fifthly, Chauhan ji, daughter of Rao Raja Syobrahma Chauhan of Chaubara or Chobara (Mewat, now Alwar);
Progeny
Rao Shekha had 12 sons and 3 daughters.- Kunwar Durga, ancestor of the Taknet clan. He died 1488 in Ghatwa battle.
- Roop Kanwar Ji Sahiba
- Kunwar Puran Mal, died 1488 in Ghatwa battle.
- Kunwar Ratna, ancestor of the Ratnawat clan.
- Rani Lachalde, married Rao Bhaldev of Jodhpur
- Kunwar Abha
- Kunwar Achala
- Kunwar Tilok, he was given Mallikpur jointly with his two older brothers and their descendants are known as Mallikpuria.
- Kunwar Kumbha
- Kunwar Ridmal
- Kunwar Bharmal, he was given Khejroli jointly with his two older brothers, and their descendants are known as Khejroliya.
- Rao Raimal, (by Rani Chauhan ji), he succeeded his father as the ruler of Amarsar.
- Rani Raghav Kanwar Ji Sahiba (Rani Sahiba of Merta), married, Rao Duda of Merta son of Rao JodhaRao JodhaRao 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:...
of Jodhpur - Parvat Kanwar Ji Sahiba
- Maya Kanwar Ji sahiba
See also
- Indo-Aryan migrationIndo-Aryan migrationModels of the Indo-Aryan migration discuss scenarios of prehistoric migrations of the proto-Indo-Aryans to their historically attested areas of settlement in the northwest of the Indian subcontinent...
- Shekhem
- Shekhna
- ShekhawatShekhawatShekhawat is a sub-clan of Kachwaha Rajputs found mainly in Rajasthan, India. The Shekhawat clan claims descent from the great rajput warrior Maharao Shekha Ji. The Shekhawats were the most prominent among all sub clans of Kachwahas of Jaipur. Shekhawats were the rulers of Shekhawati.-History:The...
- ShekhawatiShekhawatiShekhawati is a semi-arid historical region located in the northeast part of Rajasthan, India got its name from Shekhawat Rajputs....
- Raisal of KhandelaRaisal of KhandelaRaja Raisal, reigned 1584 to 1614, He was Raja of Khandela. Son of Rao Suja of Amarsar, granted the jagir of Lamiya, he was granted the title of “Raja” also a title of "Darbari" and a Mansab of 1250 sawars later raised to 3000 by Emperor Akbar. He died 1614. He was great-grandson of Rao Shekha of...
- Rao Bhojraj
- KachwahaKachwahaKachwaha are a Suryavanshi Kshatriya clan who ruled a number of kingdoms and princely states in India such as Alwar, Maihar, Talcher, while the largest kingdom was Jaipur which was founded by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II in 1727...
Dynasty - List of Rajputs
Reference
History of RajasthanHistory of Rajasthan
The history of human settlement in north Indian state of Rajasthan dates back to about 5000 years ago with parts of North Rajasthan at the heart of the Indus Valley Civilization.This region was long known as Gurjaratra that is country protected or ruled by the Gurjars before it came to be called...