Kachhawahas of Amber (The City of Mother Goddess)

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About the Book The present volume is from the pen of Late Shri Gopal Narain Bahura who had an intimate knowledge of the history of the Kachhwaha ruling family of Amber- Jaipur. The Kachhawahs established their power in Amber in the 11th Century and since then they continued to rule in Amber - Jaipur down to our own times with great distinction. The names of Raja Man Singh, Mirza Raja Jai Singh and Sawai Ma Jai Singh were known throughout India from Afghanistan to Bengal and from Kashmir to the down south. The Kachhwaha rulers were as much known for their qualities as generals, administrators and diplomats as for their devotion to their religion and patronage to Sanskrit learning and literature, sciences and fine arts. They played an important part in the preservation of Hindu Religion and culture and there is strong reason to believe that they greatly influenced Akbar's liberal policies and outlook.

The volume has rare photographs of temples, palaces and other buildings built by the Kachhwaha rulers at Amber; their capital for about seven hundred years. The account and the inside stories related to their superb structures are little known and coming as do from the pen of one of the great scholars should prove very illuminative and informative for the scholars, tourists and laymen making it one of the most authentic accounts of Amber from historical and cultural points of view.

About the Author Late Shri Gopal Narain Bahura enjoyed highest reputation as a scholar and as authority on the history of Jaipur State.

His contribution in the latter field during the past seventy years has been remarkably rich and fruitful. Bahrain was born on the 14th May 1911. He did the post graduation in Sanskrit in 1935.

At the age of 29, he joined service in the City Palace, Jaipur and undertook the task of cataloguing the rich collection of manuscripts preserved in the Pothi Khana of the Maharajas of Amber, Jaipur. After the formation of Rajasthan, he joined the newly established Rajasthan Oriental Research Institute, Government of Rajasthan, where for 17 years he was associated with the collection, editing and publication of manuscripts. In 1967, after his retirement, he was invited to join Sawai Man Singh II Museum where he began to prepare a detailed catalogue of thousands of manuscripts preserved in the Pothi Khana which comes out in the form of "The Literary Heritage of the Rulers of Amber and Jaipur.” His other monumental works are Historical documents in Kapad Dwara, Maps and Plans of Jaipur; Man Charitavali, Jai Singh Charit, Ramvilas Kavyam etc. His close association while in service of the Jaipur Royal family gave him a unique opportunity to acquire accurate knowledge about the history and culture of the Jaipur State.

Foreword It gives me great pleasure to note that a brief account of the Kachhawaha dynasty of Amber-Sawai Jaipur from the earliest times till 1949 A.D., along with an interesting and authentic description of Amber and Jaipur towns, written by late Shri Gopal Narain Bahura and Dr. Chandramani Singh is being brought out for the general readers and the visitors to these places.

Late Shri Bahura was associated with the Sawai Man Singh II Museum since its very beginning. I am happy to say that eight generations of this devoted scholar had served the Jaipur Royal family and Shri Gopal: Narain Bahura was also looking after the Pothi-Khana. Besides editing some of the precious manuscripts preserved in this collection, he published catalogues of Khas Mohar Collection, the' historical records in Kapad Dwara, the Maps and Plans of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries prepared for the Amber-Jaipur rulers, and Literary Heritage of the Rulers of Amber and Jaipur. Even after his retirement from Sawai Man Singh II Museum, Shri Bahura thought of writing an account of Amber and Jaipur and of the palaces, buildings, temples and other features of these historic towns for the knowledge of the tourists and visitors, and without doubt he was best suited for this task, possessing as he did an intimate knowledge about the ruling family of the former Jaipur State and its rich heritage. I am happy to note that Dr. Chandramani has completed the work left by Shri Bahura in the manuscript form by adding useful information wherever required.

I understand that for the convenience of the readers and visitors, the work is being brought out in two handy volumes covering Amber and Jaipur. I hope these would be found both interesting and useful and receive the welcome they deserve, especially as its publisher Shri Siya Sharan Natani has made considerable effort in retrieving it from Late Bahrain papers and publishing it in a nice form.

Book's Contents and Sample Pages