Rawal Jaisal
Encyclopedia
Rawal Jaisal was a Bhati
rajput
who lived during the 12th century and founded the city of Jaisalmer
. Sixth in descent from Rawal Deoraj Bhati, he was the eldest son of Rawal Dusaj of Deoraj (Deorawul), which had its capital at Laudrava
. When his father appointed Jaisal's younger half-brother Vijayraj Lanjha as his successor, Vijayraj, upon ascending the throne, drove Jaisal out of the kingdom. Forming an alliance with Shihabuddin, a Muslim invader from Ghor province in Afghanistan
, Jaisal created an army. Vijayraj Lanjha died on the battlefield in the resulting war. Jaisal and his ally captured Lodurva. As he had previously agreed with Shihabuddin to allow the city to be sacked for three days, he inherited a ruined capital. Its ruins can be seen near the village of Laudrva
, about 15 km to the south-east of Jaisalmer
. Following the capture of the capital the other Bhati rajputs accepted Jaisal as their new ruler.
While checking out Trikuta a massive triangular rock rising more than 75 metres out of the surrounding sands as a more secure location for a new capital, Rawal Jaisal met a sage called Eesul, who was staying on the rock. Upon learning that Jaisal was of Yaduvanshi descent, Eesul told him that according to ancient mythology Krishna
and Bhima
had come to this location for a ceremony, where Krishna
had prophesied that a descendant
of his Yadav clan would one day establish a kingdom
here. Eesul showed him a spring which Krishna had created and his prophecy carved into a rock. This rock still remains in a well in the Jaisalmer fort. Encouraged by this meeting Jaisal moved his capital to this location and established it in 1156 in the form of a mud fort and named it Jaisalmer after himself.
His son Shalivahan was also a great king known for commissioning sculptures in the city. Shalivahan had four princes and was followed by King Bijal. Shalivahan's second prince Mokal was an extraordinary general.
. The name "Bhatti" which means "fire" was given by the Goddess Jasrai. It is also said that these people were known as the Bhati
after an ancestor Rao Bhati
(who founded Bathinda).
Rawal Jaisal was the sixth in succession from Deoraj.
Bhati
Bhati is one of the largest tribes of the Gujjars& Rajput. They claim descent from Krishna as an avatar of Vishnu, and thus identify themselves as a Chandravanshi Kshatriya clan. The Bhati trace their history to the desert principality of Jaisalmer in Rajasthan, in the border villages of Bikaner...
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...
who lived during the 12th century and founded the city of Jaisalmer
Jaisalmer
Jaysalmer , nicknamed "The Golden City", is a town in the Indian state of Rajasthan. It is located west from the state capital Jaipur. It was once known as Jaisalmer state. The town stands on a ridge of yellowish sandstone, crowned by a fort, which contains the palace and several ornate Jain...
. Sixth in descent from Rawal Deoraj Bhati, he was the eldest son of Rawal Dusaj of Deoraj (Deorawul), which had its capital at Laudrava
Lodhruva
Lodrawa is a village of Jaisalmer Rajasthan, India. It is a famous tourist and historical place. Ludrawa is famous for the Jain temple, Hinglaj mata temple, Chamunda mata temple, Old temple of Shiv and the Mumal Mahendra love story....
. When his father appointed Jaisal's younger half-brother Vijayraj Lanjha as his successor, Vijayraj, upon ascending the throne, drove Jaisal out of the kingdom. Forming an alliance with Shihabuddin, a Muslim invader from Ghor province in Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
, Jaisal created an army. Vijayraj Lanjha died on the battlefield in the resulting war. Jaisal and his ally captured Lodurva. As he had previously agreed with Shihabuddin to allow the city to be sacked for three days, he inherited a ruined capital. Its ruins can be seen near the village of Laudrva
Lodhruva
Lodrawa is a village of Jaisalmer Rajasthan, India. It is a famous tourist and historical place. Ludrawa is famous for the Jain temple, Hinglaj mata temple, Chamunda mata temple, Old temple of Shiv and the Mumal Mahendra love story....
, about 15 km to the south-east of Jaisalmer
Jaisalmer
Jaysalmer , nicknamed "The Golden City", is a town in the Indian state of Rajasthan. It is located west from the state capital Jaipur. It was once known as Jaisalmer state. The town stands on a ridge of yellowish sandstone, crowned by a fort, which contains the palace and several ornate Jain...
. Following the capture of the capital the other Bhati rajputs accepted Jaisal as their new ruler.
While checking out Trikuta a massive triangular rock rising more than 75 metres out of the surrounding sands as a more secure location for a new capital, Rawal Jaisal met a sage called Eesul, who was staying on the rock. Upon learning that Jaisal was of Yaduvanshi descent, Eesul told him that according to ancient mythology Krishna
Krishna
Krishna is a central figure of Hinduism and is traditionally attributed the authorship of the Bhagavad Gita. He is the supreme Being and considered in some monotheistic traditions as an Avatar of Vishnu...
and Bhima
Bhima
In the Mahābhārata, Bhima is one of the central characters of Mahabharata and the second of the Pandava brothers...
had come to this location for a ceremony, where Krishna
Krishna
Krishna is a central figure of Hinduism and is traditionally attributed the authorship of the Bhagavad Gita. He is the supreme Being and considered in some monotheistic traditions as an Avatar of Vishnu...
had prophesied that a descendant
Lineal descendant
A lineal descendant, in legal usage, refers to a blood relative in the direct line of descent. The children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, etc...
of his Yadav clan would one day establish a kingdom
Monarchy
A monarchy is a form of government in which the office of head of state is usually held until death or abdication and is often hereditary and includes a royal house. In some cases, the monarch is elected...
here. Eesul showed him a spring which Krishna had created and his prophecy carved into a rock. This rock still remains in a well in the Jaisalmer fort. Encouraged by this meeting Jaisal moved his capital to this location and established it in 1156 in the form of a mud fort and named it Jaisalmer after himself.
His son Shalivahan was also a great king known for commissioning sculptures in the city. Shalivahan had four princes and was followed by King Bijal. Shalivahan's second prince Mokal was an extraordinary general.
Ancestry
Rawal Jaisal was a descendant of the Yaduvanshi clan and was a Bhatti RajputRajput
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...
. The name "Bhatti" which means "fire" was given by the Goddess Jasrai. It is also said that these people were known as the Bhati
Bhati
Bhati is one of the largest tribes of the Gujjars& Rajput. They claim descent from Krishna as an avatar of Vishnu, and thus identify themselves as a Chandravanshi Kshatriya clan. The Bhati trace their history to the desert principality of Jaisalmer in Rajasthan, in the border villages of Bikaner...
after an ancestor Rao Bhati
Rao Bhatti
Rao Bhatti is credited with establishing the modern town of Bathinda, Indian Punjab in the Lakhi jungle area in the 3rd century.- References :...
(who founded Bathinda).
Rawal Jaisal was the sixth in succession from Deoraj.
See also
- Yaduvanshi
- JaisalmerJaisalmerJaysalmer , nicknamed "The Golden City", is a town in the Indian state of Rajasthan. It is located west from the state capital Jaipur. It was once known as Jaisalmer state. The town stands on a ridge of yellowish sandstone, crowned by a fort, which contains the palace and several ornate Jain...
- BhatiBhatiBhati is one of the largest tribes of the Gujjars& Rajput. They claim descent from Krishna as an avatar of Vishnu, and thus identify themselves as a Chandravanshi Kshatriya clan. The Bhati trace their history to the desert principality of Jaisalmer in Rajasthan, in the border villages of Bikaner...
- YaduYaduYadu is one of the five Indo-Aryan tribes mentioned in the Rig Veda . The Mahabharata, the Harivamsha and the Puranas mention Yadu as the eldest son of king Yayati and his queen Devayani. The prince of King Yayati, Yadu was a self-respecting and a very established ruler...
- KshatriyaKshatriya*For the Bollywood film of the same name see Kshatriya Kshatriya or Kashtriya, meaning warrior, is one of the four varnas in Hinduism...
s - Martial RaceMartial RaceMartial Race was a designation created by Army officials of British India, where they classified each ethnic group into one of two categories: 'Martial' and 'Non-Martial'. A 'martial race' was typically considered brave and well built for fighting. The 'non-martial races' were those whom the...
s - Chandravanshi
- Rajput ClansRajput clansThe Rajputs are a martial race and caste of the Indian subcontinent. They are a Hindu caste whose members generally consider themselves to belong to the Kshatriya varna ; however, Encyclopædia Britannica notes that their members have come from a variety of lineages, including from foreign...