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History of Sikarwar(By Ankur Bhadauria)
History
In AD 823 Keshav Dev Sikarwar the army commander of Rawal Matribhatji of Chittor along with troops
from the Gohils of Pirangarh, Jhalasof Halwad, Chawadas, Chandrawats, Shaktawats, Sikarwars form Sikar, Mangals from Lodwara, Bargujars from Rajurgarh, Bhatejas, Guhilots and the Sisodias from Mewar went on expansion spree. They extended the Mewar’s kingdom to Maharastra, Gujarat, Madhaya Pradesh, Orissa and Ajhar Garhi. This increased the fame of Rawal Matribhatji, as the Rana’s of Chitor were then known. While returning to their capital, Chitor, they became bold enough to occupy Delhi King Anangpal’s land at Agra, Vijaipur, Bayana and Kanhua. Thus it was Keshevdev Sikarwar, a Great Grandson of Kirti dev who established Vijaipur Sikri and hoisted his flag. Rajput clans of Tomars, Rathores and Parihars inhabited the area during those days.
Besides increasing the fame of Sikarwars amongst the Rajputs it also established Mewar’s hedgmony in the area. Flushed by this victory Rawal Maitry Bhatji organized a ‘Congregation of Chaurasee or eighty-four rulers of Suriyavans’ at Sikar. All kings, nobles and commoners got together to celebrate the victory and also enjoy a community feast. All the 84 states were ruled by progenies of Maharaja Kanak Sen, the original patriarch of Suriyavans who had migrated from Lahore in the first century A.D. The practice of inviting ''Chaurasee'' was thus started by Rawal Maitry Bhatji. The Rajputs of Sikar and Chitor followed it as a mark of solidarity. There after Sikarwars started calling themselves Chaurasee since they had made Kanak Sen a Chakravarti Emperor of the highest order in recorded history. The Sikarwars of Gahmar still celebrate Chaurasee on special occasion as a continuation of this tradition.
To commemorate the essence of Chaurasee one can still find eighty-four pillars in the second floor of the Punch Mahal of Sikri. It has beautifully carved pillars, of different designs- some are circular; some octagonal, some have different designs like floral, spirals or twisted pattern or the Hindu bell-and-chain motif. These pillars also have the insignia of Suriyavans on each of them including its beam. The Hindus consider a square, an octagon or a figure that is a divisible by four ''auspicious''. Complete Sikri is built on this ancient Hindu principle. In ancient times a full estate had a group of eighty-four villages or states or Forty-two (Bialessa) or sixteen states etc. The congregation of Chaurasee continues to be practiced by Sikarwar Rajputs of Gahmar on especial occasions though very few can afford its cost.
A lake was dug at the times of Rana Hamir while Suamber Devji was the ruler of Sikri. Again it was Anup Dev the son of Kartik Dev of Vijaipur Sikri who got this lake deepened while Rana Khumbha ruled over Chitor sometimes around A.D 1440. The lake improved the aesthetic beauty of the area so much, that it added to the fame of Vijaipur Sikri. The lake was then called ''Anup Jheel''. A small tank dug inside the palace complex still known as ''Anup Talao'' was named after Anup Rao Sikarwr.
Four generation later both Babur and the ''Hindu Forces'' used the waters of Anup Jheel during the battle of Kanhwa. It was large enough to sustain a force of more than 1.5 lac men, thousands of elephants, horses and other animals that saw action in the battle that lasted for more than two months. As per Dr Asharfi Lal Srivastav the lake remained intact till the monsoons of July 1582 when it''s dam broke and the water drained out. Akbar, the Moghul Ruler of the period had to abandon Sikri due to scarcity of portable water.
Published: October 22, 2007
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