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{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=July 2018}}
{{More citations needed|date=January 2008}}

{{Infobox royalty
| name = Bika
| title = [[Rao (title)|Rao]] of [[Bikaner State|Bikaner]]
| image =
| reign = 1472 – 17 June 1504
| successor = Naro
| dynasty = [[Rathore]]
| spouse = Rang Kanwar of [[Pugal]]
| issue = Gadshi<br/> Naro<br/>[[Lunkaran]]
| father = [[Jodha of Mandore]]
| mother = Navaranga Devi of Run
| birth_date = {{birth date|1438|8|5|df=y}}
| birth_place =
| death_date = {{death date and age|1504|6|17|1438|8|5|df=y}}
| death_place =
| place of burial=
}}

'''Rao Bika Rathore''' ({{lang-hi|राव बिका}}; 5 August 1438 – 17 June 1504), was the founder of the Kingdom of [[Bikaner]] in present-day [[Rajasthan]]. He was a scion of the [[Rathore]] clan of [[Rajput]]s. He was a son of [[Rao Jodha]], founder of the [[Jodhpur State|kingdom of Marwar]].

== Establishment of Bikaner ==
In 1465AD. Rao Bika (one of the sons of [[Jodha of Mandore|Rao Jodha]] and a potential heir to the throne of [[Marwar]]) on the occasion in question had come late and taken seat beside his uncle, [[Rawat Kandhal]], with whom he carried a conversation in whisper. The Rao jestingly remarked that they must be scheaming a plan of conquest of new territory, an idea constantly being suggested to him to provide for his large family. Rao Bika and [[Rawat Kandhal]] took the observation as a challenge and pledged to win new lands. The land approved by [[Jodha of Mandore|Rao Jodha]] to conquer through conquest was [[Jangladesh]] which had been largely weakened by war as suggested by a Napo, a Sankhala [[Rajput]]. On 30 September, 1465AD. the 27 year old [[Rao Bika]] along with [[Rawat Kandhal]] who had sworn to establish his nephew just like he did [[Jodha of Mandore|Rao Jodha]] in [[Marwar]]. With a considerable following of 100 horsemen and 500 foot-soldiers left Jodhpur along with his uncles Kandhal, Rupo, Mandan, Mandalo and Nathu, his brothers Bida, Jogayat and others.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Bhattacharya|first=Manoshi|title=Royal Rajputs|pages=263}}</ref>

They travelled to a place known as [[Deshnoke|Deshnok]] seeking blessings from the sage [[Karni Mata]]. Bika and [[Rawat Kandhal|Kandhal]] sought guidance. They trained their armies whithout attracting attention for 3 years at Chundasar. Rao Bika then came again and impressed by his will, Karni Mata guided him and he followed. During his travels Bika stopped at Deshnoke where he consulted the mystic [[Karni Mata]]. She gave him her blessings and prophesied that he would be successful. Encouraged by her support Bika took advantage of the internal rivalries of the [[Jat people|Jat]] clans to carve out his own territory in the "[[Jangladesh]]" region of Rajasthan and by 1485 build a small fort called Rati Ghati at the site of the city which today bears his name.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Kothiyal|first=Tanuja|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=be-7CwAAQBAJ&pg=PA78&dq=rao+bika+jats#q=rao%20bika%20jats|title=Nomadic Narratives: A History of Mobility and Identity in the Great Indian|publisher=Cambridge University Press|year=2016|isbn=9781107080317|pages=78|access-date=2020-09-17}}</ref><ref name="Jibraeil 2006, p. 223">Jibraeil: "Position of Jats in Churu Region", The Jats - Vol. II, Ed Dr Vir Singh, Delhi, 2006, p. 223</ref><ref>G.S.L. Devra, op. cit., 7-8, Cf. Dayaldas ri Khyat, part 2, p. 4-5</ref> In 1488 he began the building of the city itself. In the beginning the neighbouring Bhati chiefs were suspicious of the new growing power in their vicinity. [[Karni Mata]], who had become the ''kuldevi'' of Rao Bika, brought the rivalry between the [[Rathore|Rathores]] and [[Bhati|Bhatis]] to an end by inspiring [[Rao Shekha]], the powerful [[Bhati]] chief of Pugal, to marry his daughter with Rao Bika.

In 1488 itself, Bikaner was named and inaugerated by Karni Mata. As described by Colonel Powett, a British Officer, in his Gazetteer of the Bikaner state (1864)- "To the North and West the [[Bhati|Bhatis]] ruled, and to the East, North East and South East were the settlements of independent [[Jat people|Jats]]; beyond the Jats around [[Bhatner]] were Bhatis, Chayals and Johyas, chiefly, if not entirely Muhammadans. Hisar was occupied by the [[Delhi Sultanate|Delhi]] emperor's subedar. The [[Kaimkhani|Kaim Khanis]] held what is now [[Shekhawati]]. The Bidawat country was in the posetion of [[Mohil|Mohil Rajputs]], and the tract which is in the East where [[Rani, Rajasthan|Reni]] is situated was occupied by Chayal and Khinchi Rajputs. It was due to Rawat Kandhal, along with his nephews Rao Bika and Rao Bida that all the above mentioned territories were conquored and incorporated in the Kingdom of Bikaner."<ref>{{Cite book|last=Powwet|title=Gazeteer of the Bikaner state|pages=1-2}}</ref>

== Attak on Mehrangarh and family heirlooms ==
[[Jodha of Mandore|Rao Jodha]] supported Bika in his endeavours in return for which he made a promise to [[Jodha of Mandore|Rao Jodha]] never try to take the throne of Marwar.<ref name="Beny & Matheson. Page 46">Beny & Matheson. Page 46.</ref>
Some valuable family heirlooms which would legitimize his right to found a kingdom were promised to Bika. But Upon [[Jodha of Mandore|Rao Jodha's]] death in 1488 Rao Bika attempted to claim the heirlooms promised him, only for his brother, Rao Suja to refuse his request. An army of estimated 80,000 men stormed the [[Mehrangarh Fort]]. For 6 hours Bika plundered [[Mehrangarh|Mehrangarh fort]] but left his brothers unharmed and departed with only the promised heirlooms (among which were a sandalwood ’Pugal’ throne brought from [[Kannauj]] (still on display in the [[Junagarh Fort|Junagarh fort]], [[Bikaner]]), a royal umbrella, a sword and a horse of "divine origin").<ref>{{Cite book|last=Powett|title=Gazeteer of the Bikaner state|pages=8}}</ref>

== Legacy ==
Rao Bika had established a separate Kingdom of his along with his followers through conquest. Rao Bika died in 1504. His descendants ruled [[Bikaner State|Bikaner]] till the [[Indian independence movement|Independence of India]]. During the time of the [[British Raj|British raj]], [[Bikaner State|Bikaner]] had become the 6th largest [[princely state]] of [[India]].

==See also==
*[[List of Rajputs]]
Rao Gadshi singh rathore
Maharaja Karan singh rathore
Maharaja Ganga singh Rathore
Brigadier Jagmal singh rathore Vrc , VsM
Col Rajyavardhan singh rathore Olumpic silver medal Winner

==Notes==
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
*{{cite book|author1=Beny, Roland |author2=Matheson, Sylvia A. | title=Rajasthan - Land of Kings| year = 1984| publisher=Frederick Muller| location=London| isbn = 0-584-95061-6| page = 200 pages}}
*{{cite book|author1=Crump, Vivien |author2=Toh, Irene | title= Rajasthan| location=London| publisher=Everyman Guides|year=1996| type = hardback| isbn = 1-85715-887-3| page = 400 pages}}
*{{cite book|author1=Martinelli, Antonio |author2=Michell, George | title=The Palaces of Rajasthan| year = 2005| publisher=Frances Lincoln| location=London| isbn = 978-0-7112-2505-3| page = 271 pages}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bika, Rao}}
[[Category:People from Bikaner]]
[[Category:Maharajas of Bikaner]]
[[Category:15th-century Indian people]]
[[Category:1504 deaths]]
[[Category:Year of birth unknown]]
[[Category:Indian city founders]]
[[Category:1438 births]]

Rao Bika - Revision history

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