Nurpur kingdom

From Bharatpedia, an open encyclopedia
(Redirected from Nurpur State)
Information red.svg
Scan the QR code to donate via UPI
Dear reader, We need your support to keep the flame of knowledge burning bright! Our hosting server bill is due on June 1st, and without your help, Bharatpedia faces the risk of shutdown. We've come a long way together in exploring and celebrating our rich heritage. Now, let's unite to ensure Bharatpedia continues to be a beacon of knowledge for generations to come. Every contribution, big or small, makes a difference. Together, let's preserve and share the essence of Bharat.

Thank you for being part of the Bharatpedia family!
Please scan the QR code on the right click here to donate.

0%

   

transparency: ₹0 raised out of ₹100,000 (0 supporter)



Mau-Paithan-Nurpur kingdom[1]

1064–1815
CapitalPathankot (1064s–1580)
Shahpurkandi (1650s–1781)
Nurpur (1580s–1815)
Common languagesTakri script
Dogri
Kangri
Chambeali
Urdu
Religion
Hinduism
GovernmentHereditary monarchy
Raja 
• 1064–1098
Jhetpal (first)
• 1805-1815
Bhir Singh (last)
History 
• Established
1064
• Disestablished
1815
Preceded by
Succeeded by
Ghaznavid Empire
Trigarta Kingdom
Sikh Empire
East India Company
Jammu and Kashmir (princely state)

Nurpur kingdom in the Himalayan foothills of India was founded in 1064 A.D at north-eastern Bari Doab[2] between the Ravi and the Beas rivers at the fusion of Kangri, Dogri, Majha, Darhab and Chambeali areas which ended in 1815. The remainants of Nurpur kingdom exists as ruined forts, restored temples, water bodies and canals in Nurpur tehsil, Fatehpur tehsil, Pathankot tehsil, Dhar Kalan tehsil, Jawali tehsil, Indora tehsil Bhattiat tehsil, and Sihunta tehsil.[3]

Relief work dedicated to Krishan Leela on foundation of ruined temple in Nurpur Fort

History[edit]

The Nurpur kingdom, originally known as Dhameri, was founded towards the middle of the 11th century by Tomaras of Delhi.[4] Jhetpal the founder of Nurpur Kingdom in 1064 A.D was the younger brother of Anangpal II of Tomara dynasty from King Arjuna of Mahabharata fame, 2250 years before him.[5][6] King Vikramaditya who began the Vikrama Samvat era in 57 BCE after defeating the Shakas belonged to the same lineage.[7] The principal era to which the luni-solar system is exclusively adapted is that of Vikramaditya, called Samvat. The prince from whom it was named was of the Tuár dynasty, and is supposed to have reigned at Ujjain (Ujjáyini).

Tomar Raja Mahipal a k.a Kunwar Pāla (1021-1051) of Delhi in 1043 defeated Mahmud of Ghazni's grandson Mawdud of Ghazni and liberated the Nagarkot fort. Mahmud of Ghazni's fifth son Abd al-Rashid (1049-1052) appointed Hastagin Hajib as the governor of Punjab and captured the Nagarkot fort in 1052.[8] Ibrahim of Ghazna (1059-1099) sent his son, Mahmud, with an army of ghazis consisting of 40,000 cavalry to raid Doab of Punjab region, between 1063 and 1070, Jhetpal Tomar led an expeditionary force to protect Trigarta king Jagdish Chand of Katoch dynasty and successfully recaptured the Kangra fort in 1060 AD.[9] Due to constant attacks Trigarta Kingdom shifted its capital from Doab Jalandhar to Kangra Fort in 1070 A.D. and to double secure Kangra Fort Jhetpal Tomar over powered the garrison of Ghaznavid Kiladar Kazakh Khan stationed at Paithan Fort, Pathankot which was the only inlet from plains to Kangra Valley, settled at Pathankot and took the territorial surname Pathania.[10][11]

Nurpur reached its peak between 1580 and 1613 during the reign of Raja Basu Dev who built an impressive fort that can still be seen today but his son Suraj Mal of Nurpur was driven away by Mughals in 1618.[12][13]

In 1620 the change of name from Dhameri to Nurpur was done by Raja Jagat Singh to honour Mughal emperor and empress as 'Nur' was a common prefix to their names Nur-ud-din Muhammad Jahangir and Nur Jahan.[14] Nurpur kingdom paid taxes after it came under Mughals. It rebelled when taxes were raised to 66% and the settlement took place after the War of Taragarh 1640–1642.

Till 1739 kingdom remained a feudatory state of Mughal Empire and became independent during Campaigns of Nader Shah. During Indian campaign of Ahmad Shah Durrani from (1747-1767) Raja Fateh Singh survived the invader but Raja Prithvi Singh (1770-1805) expelled Muslim branch of Pathania (1650-1781) based at Shahpurkandi Fort near Shahpurkandi dam project colony, they migrated to Pakistan in 1947. Also, Prithvi Singh forced his brother Inder Singh (Rey branch) whom he considered as claimant of Nurpur kingdom to take exile in 1779 at Mahal Moriyan Fort Kangra State (presently at Mehal Khas, Bhoranj, Hamirpur), they later migrated to Rey in 1823 after the death of Sansar Chand, Sikh Empire appointed Inder Singh's son Ishri Singh as courtier in the Lahore durbar and awarded Rey jagir. Ishri Singh was also father-in-law of Dhian Singh, the longest reigning prime minister of Sikh Empire from 1818-1843.

Raja Bhir Singh had to face threats from all sides bordering Sikhs, Gorkhas, Katoch and British. Ultimately after just 10 years of his reign Ranjit Singh the final winner of the contest annexed Nurpur kingdom in 1815.[15] Raja Bhir Singh retook the Nurpur in 1846 but died fighting at the gates of Nurpur Fort.

His struggle was continued by his son Raja Jaswant Singh Pathania and his uncle's son 'Bansein Wazira' hi:राम सिंह पठानिया, who resorted to guerilla warfare but was captured by deceit from Lakhanpur, Jammu Fort by Jammu and Kashmir (princely state) which was under British control. The state was annexed by the British East India Company in 1849 and the last ruling monarch of Nurpur, was given Rs 5000/- financially compensated by the British for the loss of his state.[16]

Kings[edit]

The rulers of Nurpur bore the title 'Raja'.[17]

View from ruined palace of Nurpur Kingdom
  • c. 1095 Raja Jhet Pal
  • 12th century – 1313 Uncertain number of successors
  • 1313 – 1353 Jas Pal
  • 1353 – 1397 Kailas Pal
  • 1397 – 1438 Nag Pal
  • 1438 – 1473 Prithi Pal
  • 1473 – 1513 Bhil Pal
  • 1513 – 1558 Bakht Mal
  • 1558 – 1580 Pahari Mal
  • 1580 – 1613 Basu Dev
  • 1613 – 1618 Suraj Mal
  • 1618 – 1646 Raja Jagat Singh
  • 1646 – 1661 Rajrup Singh
  • 1661 – 1700 Mandhata Singh
  • 1700 – 1735 Dayadatha
  • 1735 – 1770 Fateh Singh
  • 1770 – 1805 Prithvi Singh
  • 1805 – 1815 Bhir Singh
  • 1846 – 1849 Jaswant Singh (state annexed by the British) (d. 1898)

Forts[edit]

Nurpur (Dhameri) Fort[edit]

Fortified by Raja Vasudev after Pathankot was overtaken by Akbar in the 16th century. It was sacked in 1618 and 1640 by Mughals and remained the main seat of the royal family till 1849.

Taragarh Fort[edit]

This fortress was captured by Raja Jagat Singh Pathania from Chamba state and was secretly fortified by him and his sons in preparation for his infamous rebellion against Mughals(1640–42). This fort was never seized or captured.[18] However, Raja Jagat Singh Pathania was persuaded to stop the war against the Mughals. Shahjahan knew that Jagat Singh could not be browbeaten and he could use his help in times of war. Therefore, he sent for a compromise on mutually agreed terms.

The folklore associated with the siege of fort goes that the Mughals forces cordoned the fort for such longtime that they planted mango plants which fruited before the end of siege (this place near taragarh fort today is called Amb ka Bagh literally meaning Mango orchard). Yet this long siege could not break the will of Raja jagat Singh and his men whose ration had diminished. According, to folklore the men of Raja Jagat Singh one day to fool cordoning forces used milk of female dog (who had given litter inside fort but fed in Mughal camp) to prepare a kheer (milk pudding) and threw it out side the fort. When the cordon commander of Mughal forces saw this he died of shock and the news reached the Mughal emperor who was forced to negotiate with Raja Jagat Singh Pathania.

Pathan Fort[edit]

The very first fort after which the Pathania became a surname is now in ruins. Today, Fort Road and Gulmohar Resthouse exists on a top of a small hill at that very location.

Temples[edit]

Brijraj Mandir Nurpur Fort[edit]

It is the biggest shrine representing the Nurpur kingdom. The temple inside the fort called Brij Raj Swami was built in the 16th century and is known to be one of the only places where both the idols of Lord Krishna and Meera Bai are worshiped. Ancient rulers of Nurpur patronised the Pahari painting style which has survived as frescoes in Diwan-i-Aam dates back to 1610 and Raja Mandhata's name is inscribed as restorer on the wall. It also houses statue of Krishan-Mira which is believed to be brought from Fort Chittorgarh when Raja Vasudev laid a siege to capture Rana of Mewar Amar Singh I in 1613. In 1886 ASI discovered the ruins and in 1904 excavated the original temple where initially statues of Krishan-Mira were installed, built in the style of famous temples of Vrindavan and Mathura as the architecture was not found in Punjab hills.[19] The shrine was safely buried in the pond in 1618 when the Fort was besieged and there were no chances of survival by Raja Suraj Mal of Nurpur. The shrine came into the dreams of Raja Mandhata (1700-1735) who drained the pond and restored shrine's former glory.

Kali Mata Mandir Nurpur Fort[edit]

Patronised by Raja Jagat Singh who practiced his battlefield strategies by playing chauper (chess) with Devi. The temple seems to be rebuilt at the old location.

Raja ka Bagh[edit]

On the foots of Fort Mau, established at a 'bauli' (natural spring) to honour a snake born along with Raja Nag Pal in 14th century. Descendants who believe their lineages from Nurpur kingdom offer the first hairs of their newly born sons.


Ratte Ghar Wali Mata[edit]

This temple is visible from some majorly parts of Nurpur, because it is located at high location. It is believe that this temple has the divine power, if someone pray for something then their wish is definitely fulfilled. For visiting this temple one should need go from a village named Baduhi, otherwise a backward road from Jassur town also keep you to this temple.

Ratte Ghar Wali Mata

Gallery[edit]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. Charak, Sukhdev Singh (1978). History and Culture of Himalayan States Vol 1. Light and Life. ISBN 9780391011762. Retrieved 26 July 2021.
  2. S.R Bakshi, Rashmi Pathak (2007). Punjab Through the Ages. Sarup & Sons. ISBN 978-81-7625-738-1.
  3. Imperial Gazetteer of India, v. 19, p. 232.
  4. Brentnall, Mark (2004). The Princely and Noble Families of the Former Indian Empire: Himachal Pradesh. Vol. 1. Indus Publishing. pp. 350–358. ISBN 978-8-17387-163-4.
  5. Bakshi, Shiri Ram. Advanced History of Ancient India. p. 29.
  6. Annals of Rajasthan Annals of Mewar: The Annals of Mewar By James Tod, Tod Payne C. H, C H Payne,Asian Educational Services,p39
  7. Henry Thoby Prinsep, James Prinsep, Edward Thomas (1858). Essays on Indian Antiquities, Historic, Numismatic, and Palæographic, of the Late James Prinsep. J.Murray. p. 157.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  8. "History of Kangra Himachal Pradesh". Aim Success. Retrieved 20 August 2021.
  9. Wink, André (1997). Al-Hind the Making of the Indo-Islamic World: The Slave Kings and the Islamic Conquests 11th-13th centuries. Vol. II. Brill. p. 134.
  10. Singh, Mian Goverdhan (1999). Wooden Temples of Himachal Pradesh (1999 ed.). Indus Publishing. p. 34. ISBN 9788173870941.
  11. Walia, A.N (2004). Chronology of Royal House of Pathania, Nurpur. Languages and Culture Department, Shimla H.P.
  12. "Ashmolean − Eastern Art Online, Yousef Jameel Centre for Islamic and Asian Art". Jameelcentre.ashmolean.org. 22 April 2012. Retrieved 24 August 2013.
  13. Jerath, Ashok (2000). "2 - Forts on the left side of Ravi". Forts and Palaces of the Western Himalaya. New Delhi: M L Gidwani, Indus Publishing Company. p. 27. ISBN 9788173871047. Retrieved 28 March 2013.
  14. "नूरजहां ने जलन के कारण इस किले में कटवा दी थी एक खूबसूरत नर्तकी की जीभ!". Navbharat Times. Retrieved 19 February 2022.
  15. Macintyre, Ben (2002). The Man Who Would Be King: The First American in Afghanistan. Farrar, Straus and Giroux. p. 160. ISBN 978-0-374-20178-4.
  16. "Wazir Ram Singh Pathania". Nag Mandir Jathare. Retrieved 19 February 2022.
  17. "Indian Princely States K-Z". www.worldstatesmen.org. Retrieved 31 August 2019.
  18. Dogra Legends of Art & Culture By Aśoka Jeratha, Ashok Jerath,Indus Publishing,p172,173
  19. "ASI Report 1904". pp. 28–29.


Coordinates: 32°18′N 75°54′E / 32.3°N 75.9°E / 32.3; 75.9