MeraPahad Community Of Uttarakhand Lovers

          Starting of Khantduva or Bhail-Bhailo festival by King Lakshmi Chandra

(History of Kumaon from 1000-1790 AD)

         (History of Chand Dynasty Rule in Kumaon)
History of Uttarakhand (Garhwal, Kumaon, Haridwar) - Part 177

                                              By: Bhishma Kukreti

           Mantra Accomplishment (Mantra Sadhana) by Lakshmi Chandra
            Lakshaman Chandra /Lakhmi Chand or Lakshmi Chandra got Kumaoni /Champawat crown in 1597. Most probably Lakhmi Chandra attacked on Garhwal in 1597 just after his taking over the rule. There were seven attacks on Garhwal kingdom by Lakhmi Chandra or Lakshmi Chandra. It means his seventh attack on Garhwal was in 1602 as according to folklore, Man Shah the Garhwal king reached Champawat in 1602 AD. Lakshmi Chandra was humiliated by Man Shah.

      Lakshmi Chandra or Lakshman Chandra started accomplishing Mantra Sadhana from 1602 to 1605.
             It is said that the ‘Pinus’ carrier farmer said that if King would have have been religious he would have not seen so embarrassing position.  The sarcastic remarks by Pinus carrier affected Lakshman Chandra.  He called his court Guru and told him that he was becoming Sanyasi and ready to hand over kingdom to other.   Guru told to the king Lakshmi Chandra to wait for one year. Guru brought black magic from a Guru of  Bengal. The Mantra was given to Lakshmi Chandra.
          In the mean time, Lakshman Chandra built three Shiva temples as Lakshmeshwar temples in Almora and Bageshwar.  King Lakshmi Chandra donated land to temples of Bageshwar, Jageshwar, and other places.
  Now, King Lakshmi Chandra was sure that he would win over Garhwal due to Mantra power. King Lakshmi Chandra made strategy to attack on Garhwal eighth time. He ordered to keep dry grass on hills of Kumaon from bordering region of Garhwal till Almora that as soon as he won Garhwal there should be fire on Grass on all hills. His idea was that as soon as he won the Garhwal kingdom the fire from one hill to other hill would inform his winning Garhwal.
       It is most certain that when on Ashwin Sankranti  , Lakshmi Chandra attacked on Garhwal and looted the bordering villages of Kumaon l the people burnt grass in each hill and this way information reached to Almora where grass were burnt too.  From that day, people celebrate ‘Khantduva’ festival on Ashwin Sankranti day in evening by burning grass piles.
People in night dance with following folk song –
Bhail Bhailo ji , Bhailo Khantduva
Gaida ki jeet , khntad ki har
Gaida pado shyol, khantad pado bhel
               Gaida Bisht was Kumaoni army commander who was migrated from Garhwal. Khantud Singh was a Garhwali Garhi army in charge. Gaida killed Khatad Singh. It was a very small win by Kumaoni king over Garhwal. However, the King magnified it as if he had won whole Garhwal.
        It is still a discussion point that it was a Viajyoutsav (festival of win) for Kumaoni king and people and the name of festival is on the name of Garhwali commander. It might be that initially the name would be Gaida-Khantuduva but in later stage the name Gaida name was forgotten.
Today, Bhail Bhailo is also celebrated in Garhwal on after eleventh day of Deepawali. With changed words –
Bhail Bhailo ji , Bhailo Khantduva
Gai  ki jeet , khntad ki har
Gai pado shyol, khantad pado bhel
The day was Ashwin Sankranti of 1605, when Lakshmi Chandra attacked Garhwal eighth time.

Copyright@ Bhishma Kukreti -bckukreti@gmail.com 31/10/2013
 
                                      References

Dr. Shiv Prasad Dabral, Uttarakhand ka Itihas Bhag 10, Kumaon ka Itihas 1000-1790
Badri Datt Pande, 1937, Kumaon ka Itihas, Shri Almora Book Depo Almora
Devidas Kaysth, Itihas Kumaon Pradesh
Katyur ka Itihas, Pundit Ram Datt Tiwari
Oakley and Gairola, Himalayan Folklore
Atkinson, History of District Gazette
Menhadi Husain, Tuglak Dynasty
Malfujat- E Timuri
Tarikh -e-Mubarakshahi vol 4
Kumar Suresh Singh2005, People of India
Justin Marozzi, 2006, Tamerlane: Sword of Islam
Bakshsingh Nijar, 1968, Punjab under Sultans 1000-1526 
The Imperial Gazetteer of India, Volume 13 page 52 
Bhakt Darshan, Gadhwal ki Divangit Vibhutiyan
Mahajan V.D.1991, History of Medieval India
Majumdar R.C. (edited) 2006, The Sultanate
Rizvi, Uttar Taimur Kalin Bharat
Tarikhe Daudi
Vishweshara nand , Bharat Bharti lekhmala
Aine-e Akbari
Akbari Darbar
Tareekh Badauni
Eraly Abraham, 2004 The Mogul Throne

(The History of Garhwal, Kumaon, Haridwar write up is aimed for general readers)
   
History of Garhwal – Kumaon-Haridwar (Uttarakhand, India) to be continued… Part -178   
History of Kumaon (1000-1790) to be continued….
 Middle Himalayan, Indian Medieval Age History of Chand Dynasty rule in Kumaon to be continued…
  (Middle Himalayan, Indian Medieval Age History (740-1790 AD to be continued…)

Taxation, revenue Administration in Lakshmi Chandra period a King of Kumaon contemporary to Jahangir

(History of Kumaon from 1000-1790 AD)

         (History of Chand Dynasty Rule in Kumaon)
History of Uttarakhand (Garhwal, Kumaon, Haridwar) - Part 179

                                              By: Bhishma Kukreti

                  The Kumaon or Manashbhumi King Lakshmi Chandra, Lakhmi Chand or Lakshman Chandra (1597-1621) was contemporary to Badshah Jahangir (1605-1627).

                        Reform by Shakti Chandra or Shakti Chandra
                   Shakti Chandra or Gusain was elder brother of Lakshmi Chandra. However, being blind by birth Shakti Chandra could not become King of Kumaon. Shakti Chandra did various Tapas, went for religious fast and visited various pilgrim places. Shakti Chandra got command over power of touch, hearing that he was able to fill the vacuum due to birth blindness. Shakti Chandra chalked out policies for general administration and land revenue in his father’s time. Lakshman Chandra followed the policies of Shakti Chandra. Shakti Chandra used to look after general administration in the rule period of Lakshmi Chandra.
                     Shakti Chandra divided administrative staff into three classes.
1-Sardar- These officers was as today’s civil secretaries. These top posted Sardar were responsible for important jobs as in charge of district administration and central administration in capital.
2-Faujdar- These were army officers used to look after battalions of permanent soldiers or contractual soldiers.
3-Negi- These officers were low cadre officers looking civil service and army service. Negi were responsible to collect Neg or taxes from villages.
        The salary to government servants was paid from fixed land. The tax from these villages was called ‘Vittkar’. 
           The new social groups emerged as soldiers due to continuous war, battle and conflicts. Their main profession was just to take part in war, battle or conflicts. These soldiers used to get salary in the form of land from where these professional army men used to get revenue. The law for these army men was called ’Beesi Banduk’. 
 There were two types of court-
1-Bishtavali – Bishtavali court used to hear the pleas of soldiers or army related matter
2-Nyauwali- Nyauwali court was for common men.
 There were rules for appointing permanent soldiers and there were exams for appointing soldiers.
The brave and retired soldiers were awarded Jagir or Thokdari (villages).
‘Katakvale sainik ’ soldiers or reserve soldiers were also provided villages (to collect revenue as for their salary) and the condition was that whenever the kingdom needed those soldiers used to attend court.
                           Reform on taxation   
           Rudra Chandra wanted tax reform. Shakti Chandra helped his father and he reformed taxation system.
 Beesi – Shakti Chandra decided a unit of measuring farm land. One unit land was Bees Nali or twenty Nali (Nali means the quantum of seeds sown in a particular field).  Farmers have to pay tax on according to Nali measurement. British also kept same way of farmland measurement. By this new measurement system, every farmer came under taxation.
 The following taxes planned by Shakti Chandra were there in Lakshmi Chandra time.
Parviyon kar- Tax upon festivals time
Teeka kar –
Ghee kar –tax on production of Ghee by individual family
Jyula tax-
Sirti Tax-
Baikar Tax-
Racchyaa Tax-
Koot tax-
Bhat tax-
Khirchi tax-
Galla tax-
Bhent tax-

                                    State Stores 
 Shakti Chandra initiated having state stores for different materials as
Ganj- ganj store was for materials received from Ghee, Parviyaon, Khirch tax, Galla tax
Bhandar store- The store for material reccieved for Sirti, Maseek, Rachhaya, Teeka, Mal taxes
Sejwal store- The store for dresses of King as personal and formal dresses, Khadaun, shoes, Dushale, and personal arms
Kotyal store- Stores for dresses, meva or dry fruits and other gifts received from people
Selwan Store - The store for ammunition and arms as Dhanyu, Duna, Kan, sword, guns, Ramchangi, janbara etc
Darughar – store for raw materials for making gun powder and gun powder etc

                                         Animal sheds
 There were different sheds for state owned animals
Seekar shed - State wpned sheds for Goats of Lakha , Boka, Hilwan classes
Thath sheds – The milk providing caw and buffalos sheds
Bada sheds - The animals for sacrifice to deities were kept in Bada
Sate servants were kept for looking after state owned stores.

                    State Expenditure management

 
             Shakti Chandra divided the state expenditure into three classes
1-Expenditure on king families
2-Expenditure on salaries of servants for king and king families
3-Expenditure on salaries of servants for other state department

                          Kitchen and Culinary Management
             Shakti Chandra arranged kitchen and culinary with management skills. Shakti Chandra established many farms and gardens in villages for catering kitchen needs of the King and King Family. The Laksmishwar and Kapina gardens at Almora are witness that Gardening was promoted in Lakshmi Chandra period for state purpose.  The vegetables for king and his family were grown at Narisighbadi and Pandekholabadi.  Das or today’s Shilpkar were designated to do agriculture works on state owned gardens and farms.
                There a couple of villagers of villages responsible who were supposed to supply Snow from Snow Mountains to Almora. These villages were called ‘Hyunpal’.
 Lakshmi Chandra used to obey the advices of Shakti Chandra.

              Dissatisfaction among people against Lakshmi Chandra rule
            No doubt, Shakti Chandra reformed tax collection system at micro level. However, the tax system was just for kingdom benefits and not people’s benefits. There were no people oriented planning or help from the state.
           The tax collectors were very strict in tax collection. The tax collection reform was such that nobody could be relieved from tax payment.
           There are a few folklores from Lakshmi Chandra period for tax payment and tax collection in Kumaon. 
        It is said that many Brahmins of Satravali village of Katyur region stopped growing vegetables on farm but started growing vegetables on the roof of houses as there was no tax on house or land of house. The King Lakshman Chandra saw this system and asked the Brahmins. Brahmins told the King about tax system. King freed taxes on vegetables in Satravali village.
 Lakshmi Chandra expired in 1621. He was called ‘Syal and Biralu (Fox and Cat) king by people due to his coward nature and defeats.


Copyright@ Bhishma Kukreti -bckukreti@gmail.com 2/11/2013
 
                                      References

Dr. Shiv Prasad Dabral, Uttarakhand ka Itihas Bhag 10, Kumaon ka Itihas 1000-1790
Badri Datt Pande, 1937, Kumaon ka Itihas, Shri Almora Book Depo Almora
Devidas Kaysth, Itihas Kumaon Pradesh
Katyur ka Itihas, Pundit Ram Datt Tiwari
Oakley and Gairola, Himalayan Folklore
Atkinson, History of District Gazette
Menhadi Husain, Tuglak Dynasty
Malfujat- E Timuri
Tarikh -e-Mubarakshahi vol 4
Kumar Suresh Singh2005, People of India
Justin Marozzi, 2006, Tamerlane: Sword of Islam
Bakshsingh Nijar, 1968, Punjab under Sultans 1000-1526 
The Imperial Gazetteer of India, Volume 13 page 52 
Bhakt Darshan, Gadhwal ki Divangit Vibhutiyan
Mahajan V.D.1991, History of Medieval India
Majumdar R.C. (edited) 2006, The Sultanate
Rizvi, Uttar Taimur Kalin Bharat
Tarikhe Daudi
Vishweshara nand , Bharat Bharti lekhmala
Aine-e Akbari
Akbari Darbar
Tareekh Badauni
Eraly Abraham, 2004 The Mogul Throne
The Tazuk-i-Jahangiri
(The History of Garhwal, Kumaon, Haridwar write up is aimed for general readers)
   
History of Garhwal – Kumaon-Haridwar (Uttarakhand, India) to be continued… Part -180   
History of Kumaon (1000-1790) to be continued….
 Middle Himalayan, Indian Medieval Age History of Chand Dynasty rule in Kumaon to be continued…
  (Middle Himalayan, Indian Medieval Age History (740-1790 AD to be continued…)
Xx
Notes on History aspects of taxation, revenue Administration in Lakshmi Chandra period a King of Kumaon contemporary to Badshah Jahangir; History aspects of taxation, revenue Administration in Lakshmi Chandra period a King of Pithoragarh Kumaon contemporary to Badshah Jahangir; History aspects of taxation, revenue Administration in Lakshmi Chandra period a King of Bageshwar Kumaon contemporary to Badshah Jahangir; History aspects of taxation, revenue Administration in Lakshmi Chandra period a King of Dwarhat Kumaon contemporary to Badshah Jahangir; History aspects of taxation, revenue Administration in Lakshmi Chandra period a King of Champawat  Kumaon contemporary to Badshah Jahangir; History aspects of taxation, revenue Administration in Lakshmi Chandra period a King of Almora Kumaon contemporary to Badshah Jahangir; History aspects of taxation, revenue Administration in Lakshmi Chandra period a King of Udham Singh Nagar Kumaon contemporary to Badshah Jahangir; History aspects of taxation, revenue Administration in Lakshmi Chandra period a King of Ranikhet Kumaon contemporary to Badshah Jahangir; History aspects of taxation, revenue Administration in Lakshmi Chandra period a King of Kumaon, central Himalaya  contemporary to Badshah Jahangir; History aspects of taxation, revenue Administration in Lakshmi Chandra period a King of Kumaon North India contemporary to Badshah Jahangir; History aspects of taxation, revenue Administration in Lakshmi Chandra period a King of Kumaon South Asia contemporary to Badshah Jahangir;

                Vijay Chandra a Chand King who was Victim of Conspiracy

(History of Kumaon from 1000-1790 AD)

         (History of Chand Dynasty Rule in Kumaon)
History of Uttarakhand (Garhwal, Kumaon, Haridwar) - Part 181

                                              By: Bhishma Kukreti
               Ruling Period of Vijay Chandra- 1624-1625
              After Rudra Chandra’s death, Kumaon witnessed various internal conflicts among administrative and regional groups.  Dilip Chandra had twenty one sons. Dilip Chandra died in 1624. The three Sor group leaders Karki, Gusain and Bhatt became powerful in Dilip Singh court and they were more powerful than other separate groups led by separately by Pande, Upreti, Tiwari, Joshi and Pant. There were other groups too in Dilip Singh court. Karki, Gusain and Bhatt group crowned sixteen years old Vijay Chandra one of sons of Dilip Chandra on Kumaon Kingdom. It is said that group of Karki, Gusain and Bhatt was conning group, cruel and very selfish too.
               The Sor group led by Karki, Bhatt and Gusain saw that teen aged King Vijay Chandra became addicted to women, wine and hemp etc. The queen of Vijay Chandra was princesses of Badgujar of Bulandshahar. Sor group provided various medium of entertainment especially women for Vijaya Chandra.  Vijay Chandra became habitual of living in harem. Vijay Chandra did not have any interest in rule or court.
        Neel Gusain one of the Sons of late King Lakshmi Chandra or brother of Dilip Chandra opposed the lust of Vijay Chandra and conspiracy of Karki group. Sor group asked to make Neel Gusain blind with the permission of Vijay Chandra. Sor group led by Sukhram Karki, Piru Gusain and Vinayak Bhatt killed one by one the aspirants of crown or their supporters. Trimal Chandra son of Lakshmi Chandra ran away to Shrinagar Garhwal and took shelter under Garhwal kingdom. Another son of Lakshmi Chandra Narayan Chandra too shelter in Doti kingdom.
           Karki, Gusain and Bhatt group did not leave children in killing them brutally. The child of Neel Gusain was saved by a maid. A widow of a Tiwari pundit of Chaunsar village looked after the son of Neel Gusain without knowledge of the trio group.  Later on, this child became the Kumaon King as Baj Bhahdur Chandra.
   Vijay Chandra used to live in Harem and very rarely used to attend the court. Once he offered land to Damu Pande in 1625 without knowledge of Sor group (inscription). Vijay Chandra also built the door for Almora fort without knowledge of Sor group.  Karki, Gusain and Bhatt became angry by seeing the independent decisions of Vijay Chandra. The Sor group planned a conspiracy to kill Vijay Chandra. They wanted to ascend throne to a Rautlea clan.

                   Trimall Chandra in Shrinagar Garhwal
  Trimall Chandra stayed in Shrinagar Garhwal for some time. Trimall Chandra contacted Piru Gusain one of leaders of Sor group. Piru Gusain was relative of Chandra king family. It was decided that when Trimall Chandra would be made Kumaon King he would look after the interest of Piru Gusain and his group.  It seems that Karki and Bhatt were ready to help Trimall Chandra.
        Trimall Chandra was happy in Shrinagar and he showed his gratitude to Garhwali after he got kingdom.  Garhwali king helped Trimall Chandra monetarily too.
  There is a folklore Garhwali King involving attack on Kumaon. In Ramayana Pradip, Bahuguna wrote about Pradip Shah attacking Kumaon. However, the history does not permit both folklore and Ramayana Pradip.
                          Cruel Murder of Vijay Chandra
      Sukhram Karki killed Vijaya Chandra and there are a couple of stories related to Karki murdering Vijay Chandra.
 It seems that Sor group led by Karki, Gusain and Bhatt designed killing of Vijay Chandra. Karki got support from the Kitchen officer and a maid ‘Saruli’.  When the king was without arms, without body guards, and half naked for washing his hand after taking lunched, Karki murdered Vijaya Chandra by strangling.
  After murdering Vijaya Chandra, Sukhram Karki declared that king is dead due to mysterious reason. He declared that till, the king is elected he would look after the Kingdom.
 Since Sor group killed all the aspirants for Kumaoni Kingdom, only Trimall Chandra and Narayan Chandra were contenders for the Chand Kingdom.
 Mara group wanted Trimall Chandra as King. Fadtyal group wanted Narayan Chandra as king. Mara group brought Trimall Chandra to Almora immediately. It seems that Trimall Chandra was hiding near Almora.  Mara group crowned Trimall Chandra as king. Though a few Joshi, Pande, Pant groups opposed crowing time as inauspicious.
   Narayan Chandra was in Doti far from Almora. With the help of Fadtyal group, when he reached Chinakhan at Suval Rive Ghatr, Trimall Chandra was already crowned. Knowing the news of crowning of Trimall Chandra, Narayan Chandra and Fadtyal people ran away to Doti.
 Vijay Chandra was killed in 1625.


Copyright@ Bhishma Kukreti -bckukreti@gmail.com 4/11/2013
 
                                      References

Dr. Shiv Prasad Dabral, Uttarakhand ka Itihas Bhag 10, Kumaon ka Itihas 1000-1790
Badri Datt Pande, 1937, Kumaon ka Itihas, Shri Almora Book Depo Almora
Devidas Kaysth, Itihas Kumaon Pradesh
Katyur ka Itihas, Pundit Ram Datt Tiwari
Oakley and Gairola, Himalayan Folklore
Atkinson, History of District Gazette
Menhadi Husain, Tuglak Dynasty
Malfujat- E Timuri
Tarikh -e-Mubarakshahi vol 4
Kumar Suresh Singh2005, People of India
Justin Marozzi, 2006, Tamerlane: Sword of Islam
Bakshsingh Nijar, 1968, Punjab under Sultans 1000-1526 
The Imperial Gazetteer of India, Volume 13 page 52 
Bhakt Darshan, Gadhwal ki Divangit Vibhutiyan
Mahajan V.D.1991, History of Medieval India
Majumdar R.C. (edited) 2006, The Sultanate
Rizvi, Uttar Taimur Kalin Bharat
Tarikhe Daudi
Vishweshara nand , Bharat Bharti lekhmala
Aine-e Akbari
Akbari Darbar
Tareekh Badauni
Eraly Abraham, 2004 The Mogul Throne
The Tazuk-i-Jahangiri
Maularam- Gadh Rajvansh Kavya
Ramayan Pradeep
(The History of Garhwal, Kumaon, Haridwar write up is aimed for general readers)
   
History of Garhwal – Kumaon-Haridwar (Uttarakhand, India) to be continued… Part -182   
History of Kumaon (1000-1790) to be continued….
 Middle Himalayan, Indian Medieval Age History of Chand Dynasty rule in Kumaon to be continued…
  (Middle Himalayan, Indian Medieval Age History (740-1790 AD to be continued…)
Xx
Notes on Medieval History of Kumaon contemporary to Jahangir period; Medieval History of Askot Kumaon contemporary to Jahangir period; Medieval History of Johar Kumaon contemporary to Jahangir period; Medieval History of Sor Kumaon contemporary to Jahangir; Medieval History of Dwarhat Kumaon contemporary to Jahangir period; Medieval History of Pithoragarh Kumaon contemporary to Jahangir period; Medieval History of Bageshwar Kumaon contemporary to Jahangir period; Medieval History of Champawat Kumaon contemporary to Jahangir period; Medieval History of Almora Kumaon contemporary to Jahangir period; Medieval History of Nainital Kumaon contemporary to Jahangir period; Medieval History of Ranikhet Kumaon contemporary to Jahangir period; Medieval History of Udham Singh Nagar Kumaon contemporary to Jahangir period;   

Friendly Army drill between Kumaon and Garhwal Armed forces in Trimall Chandra period

(History of Kumaon from 1000-1790 AD)

         (History of Chand Dynasty Rule in Kumaon)
History of Uttarakhand (Garhwal, Kumaon, Haridwar) - Part 183

                                              By: Bhishma Kukreti

    Trimall Chandra did take shelter under Garhwal kingdom in his bad days. Garhwal king helped monetarily to Trimall Chandra for getting crown.  In the time of Trimall Chandra, there were cordial relations between Garhwal and Kumaon kingdoms.
              However, ‘Garhrajvansh Kavya’ and ‘Garhwal ka Aitihasik Vritant’ state that there was friendly battle between Kumaon and Garhwal armies.
                  Garhwal king Shyam Shah was busy in Tibet border in 1624-1625. Mahipat Shah (uncle of Shyam Shah in relation) was looking after the Garhwal kingdom rule from Shrinagar. There is inscription in Keshoray Math that Mahipat Shah took Garhwal rule in 1625. Shyam Shah was alive till 1631. That means Mahipat Shah was chief executive officer of King Shyam Shah.
  Mahipat Shah was Vammargi (stern believer on Tantra). At the time of Kumbh at Haridwar, in confusion, Mahipat Shah killed Naga saints and put out the eyes from idol of Bharat temple. He killed other innocent people. He wanted to die in battle for repenting his sinful deeds.   
 Mahipat Shah sent a request to Kumaon King Trimall Chandra to come forward for battle. Without getting positive answer from Trimall Chandra, Mahipat Shah marched towards Kumaon with his army.
            It is described in Garhrajvansh Kavya by Maularam that three pair of ‘Auji ‘(drum player professionals) of Salan (south Garhwal ) were leading army by playing Dhol-Damau. The soldiers from Lohaba and Badhan were marching with food materials into Kandi on their backs. They had Tada, Tobda, Batfar, Kath Patela etc for body protection. With Khas –Rajput soldiers, there were armed forces combined by Diswali Muslim, Dilwali Hindu from Delhi; and Chief Banwadidas Tumvar as commander. There were ministers, commanders and Brahmin priests with the king.
   When Trimall Chandra got message of Mahipat Shah, he consulted his minister and sent his lawyer to Mahipat Shah. In his plea, Trimall Chandra reminded Mahipat Shah that he (Trimall) took shelter and Garhwal king helped him in bad days. Therefore, Trimall requested Mahipat Shah to return back from border.  Trimall clearly sent message that he is Kumaon because of help from Garhwal king. Trimall requested that instead of attack or battle he was ready to send tribute.
             Mahipat Shah insisted on battle as dying in battle was main character of a Rajput.  The lawyer of Kumaon Kingdom suggested that if battle was inevitable, Mahipat Shah should come with least army. Mahipat Shah accepted the suggestion of Kumaon kingdom lawyer. Mahipat Shah sent back his major army. Mahipat Shah ordered to coronate his son Prithwipati Shah as Garhwal kingdom King. The army was led by under Banwadidas Tomar (originally from Delhi) and now, there were only 1200 soldiers. Mahipat Shah marched with his army towards Almora. No Kumaoni army resisted at all.  Mahipat Shah camped near Koshi River bank in Almora.
     The Kumaon king Trimall Chandra did not send his army for battle.  Mahipat Shah sent ‘bangles ‘ to Trimall Chandra and started throwing arrows towards palace. Now, Trimall Chandra sent his army to fight with Mahipat Shah.  Kumaoni army killed Mahipat Shah and Banwadidas Tomar in the battle. Perhaps this battle happened in summer of 1635. This battle was just to fulfill madness of a mad Garhwal king Mahipat Shah. The battle was unnecessary and hundreds of soldiers were killed. 



Copyright@ Bhishma Kukreti -bckukreti@gmail.com 7/11/2013
 
                                      References

Dr. Shiv Prasad Dabral, Uttarakhand ka Itihas Bhag 10, Kumaon ka Itihas 1000-1790
Badri Datt Pande, 1937, Kumaon ka Itihas, Shri Almora Book Depo Almora
Devidas Kaysth, Itihas Kumaon Pradesh
Katyur ka Itihas, Pundit Ram Datt Tiwari
Oakley and Gairola, Himalayan Folklore
Atkinson, History of District Gazette
Menhadi Husain, Tuglak Dynasty
Malfujat- E Timuri
Tarikh -e-Mubarakshahi vol 4
Kumar Suresh Singh2005, People of India
Justin Marozzi, 2006, Tamerlane: Sword of Islam
Bakshsingh Nijar, 1968, Punjab under Sultans 1000-1526 
The Imperial Gazetteer of India, Volume 13 page 52 
Bhakt Darshan, Gadhwal ki Divangit Vibhutiyan
Mahajan V.D.1991, History of Medieval India
Majumdar R.C. (edited) 2006, The Sultanate
Rizvi, Uttar Taimur Kalin Bharat
Tarikhe Daudi
Vishweshara nand , Bharat Bharti lekhmala
Aine-e Akbari
Akbari Darbar
Tareekh Badauni
Eraly Abraham, 2004 The Mogul Throne
The Tazuk-i-Jahangiri
Maularam- Gadh Rajvansh Kavya
Ramayan Pradeep
(The History of Garhwal, Kumaon, Haridwar write up is aimed for general readers)
   
History of Garhwal – Kumaon-Haridwar (Uttarakhand, India) to be continued… Part -184   
History of Kumaon (1000-1790) to be continued….
 Middle Himalayan, Indian Medieval Age History of Chand Dynasty rule in Kumaon to be continued…
  (Middle Himalayan, Indian Medieval Age History (740-1790 AD to be continued…)
Xx
Notes on Asian Medieval history of Kumaon; Asian Medieval history of Pithoragarh Kumaon; Asian Medieval history of Dwarhat Kumaon; Asian Medieval history of Champawat Kumaon; Medieval history of Bageshwar Kumaon; Asian Medieval history of Nainital Kumaon; Asian Medieval history of Udham Singh Nagar Kumaon; Asian Medieval history of Almora Kumaon; Asian Medieval history of Kumaon Central Himalaya; Asian Medieval history of Kumaon North India; Asian Medieval history of Kumaon, South Asia;

Medieval History of Kumaon King Baj Bahadur Chandra contemporary to Shahjahan and Aurangzeb


(History of Kumaon from 1000-1790 AD)

         (History of Chand Dynasty Rule in Kumaon)
History of Uttarakhand (Garhwal, Kumaon, Haridwar) - Part 185

                                              By: Bhishma Kukreti
Rule Period of Kumaon King Baj Bahadur Chandra- 1638-1578
Inscriptions available of Kumaon King Baj Bahadur Chandra-1640, 43,48,54,59,62,64,65,66,68,70,71,73,1675
Contemporary Kings
Garhwal- Nakkati Rani (1635-1640), Prithwipati Shah (1640-1664, expired in 1667), Fateshah (1664-1716)
Delhi Badshah- Shahjahan (1628-1659); Aurangzeb (1659-1707)
                   There are two names mentioned in the dateless Trimall inscription of Baleshwar temple –Trimall Chandra and Ballalchandra. Ballalchandra is said to be Bajbahadur Chandra.  There is his name Vijay Bahadur Chandra in the 1664, copper inscription of Baleshwar temple. The Shahjahanama a Shahjahan autography by Inayat Khan mentions Kumaon king as Bajbahadur Chandra.  The Kumaon court councilor Anantdev mentioned him as Bajbahadur Chandra and his father name as Neel Chandra in his book ‘Stutikaustubh’. Anantdev mentions that Neel Chandra visited various pilgrim places.
                Bajbahadur Chandra was not real son of King Trimall Chandra. Trimall Chandra was childless king. It was said that a Tiwari widow was nurturing the son of Neel Gusain (who was son of King Lakshmi Chandra) in a remote village.  Bajbahadur Chandra adapted that boy who was called ‘Baj’ in the village. The court poet of Bajbhadur Chandra Anantdev described forefathers of Bajbahadur Chandra as Gyanchandra, Kalyan Chandra, Rudra Chandra, Lakshman Chandra, Trimall Chandra and Neel Chandra.
  Chandra king Vijay Chandra ousted eyes of Neel Gusain.
                   Atkinson stated that baj Bhadur Chandra died at the age of eighty years as per a folk saying. A folk saying mentions that “Baras bhaya asse . budh gayee nasee’ and folk story that son of Bajbahadur Chandra  Udyot Chandra sent white hair to his father for reminding his father that now the prince (Udyot Chandra) was becoming quite old and his father (Baj Bahadur Chandra ) should leave the crown for his prince.  However, the historical logic does not permit that Baj Bahadur Chandra was eighty years old when he died. The age of Baj Bahadur would be 55-56 at the time of his death.
  Baj Bahadur Chandra was a religious person and was strong believer on deities, temples and Brahmins. His court Brahmin poet Anantdev was a Karmkandi Brahmin who wrote about adopted son and Pryaschit theories. However, in ‘Smriti-Kaustubh’, there no mention is that Baj Bahadur Chandra did any Shradh or Prayschit for Neel Gusain.

               Religious Donation by King Baj Bahadur Chandra
              Baj Bahadur spent his childhood in a high class Brahmin family. He felt that it was deities blessing that he became the King.  He donated land to Lakhanpur temple in 1640, twice to Badrinath temple in 1643, Someshwar temple in 1648 and Pinnnath temple of Baurari in 1654.

Read more about Bajbhadur Chandra in next chapter
Copyright@ Bhishma Kukreti -bckukreti@gmail.com 11/11/2013
 
                                      References

Dr. Shiv Prasad Dabral, Uttarakhand ka Itihas Bhag 10, Kumaon ka Itihas 1000-1790
Badri Datt Pande, 1937, Kumaon ka Itihas, Shri Almora Book Depo Almora
Devidas Kaysth, Itihas Kumaon Pradesh
Katyur ka Itihas, Pundit Ram Datt Tiwari
Oakley and Gairola, Himalayan Folklore
Atkinson, History of District Gazette
Menhadi Husain, Tuglak Dynasty
Malfujat- E Timuri
Tarikh -e-Mubarakshahi vol 4
Kumar Suresh Singh2005, People of India
Justin Marozzi, 2006, Tamerlane: Sword of Islam
Bakshsingh Nijar, 1968, Punjab under Sultans 1000-1526 
The Imperial Gazetteer of India, Volume 13 page 52 
Bhakt Darshan, Gadhwal ki Divangit Vibhutiyan
Mahajan V.D.1991, History of Medieval India
Majumdar R.C. (edited) 2006, The Sultanate
Rizvi, Uttar Taimur Kalin Bharat
Tarikhe Daudi
Vishweshara nand , Bharat Bharti lekhmala
Aine-e Akbari
Akbari Darbar
Tareekh Badauni
Eraly Abraham, 2004 The Mogul Throne
The Tazuk-i-Jahangiri
Maularam- Gadh Rajvansh Kavya
Ramayan Pradeep
(The History of Garhwal, Kumaon, Haridwar write up is aimed for general readers)
   
History of Garhwal – Kumaon-Haridwar (Uttarakhand, India) to be continued… Part -186   
History of Kumaon (1000-1790) to be continued….
 Middle Himalayan, Indian Medieval Age History of Chand Dynasty rule in Kumaon to be continued…
  (Middle Himalayan, Indian Medieval Age History (740-1790 AD to be continued…)
Xx
Notes on History of Medieval Kumaon King Baj Bahadur Chandra contemporary to Shahjahan and Aurangzeb; History of Medieval Bageshwar, Kumaon King Baj Bahadur Chandra contemporary to Shahjahan and Aurangzeb; History of Medieval Pithoragarh, Kumaon King Baj Bahadur Chandra contemporary to Shahjahan and Aurangzeb; History of Medieval Dwarhat, Kumaon King Baj Bahadur Chandra contemporary to Shahjahan and Aurangzeb; History of Medieval Nainital, Kumaon King Baj Bahadur Chandra contemporary to Shahjahan and Aurangzeb; History of Medieval Almora, Kumaon King Baj Bahadur Chandra contemporary to Shahjahan and Aurangzeb; History of Medieval Champawat, Kumaon King Baj Bahadur Chandra contemporary to Shahjahan and Aurangzeb; History of Medieval Udham Singh Nagar, Kumaon King Baj Bahadur Chandra contemporary to Shahjahan and Aurangzeb;