REWA, Madhya Pradesh

Main Attraction: HARGAURI KI PRATIMA

Hargauri ki Pratima, Rewa It is situated in the Padamdhar Park near Ghora Chauraha in Rewa city. Found in the 11th century from a place called Gurgi in Rewa district, this large idol is under the shade of a canopy in Padamdhar Park. This idol is significant from the archaeological point of view. It shows Shiva holding Parvati in embrace. In the upper section of the tablet garlanded love making couple in a flying posture can be seen from both the sides. On the forehead of Shiva is his third eye while the head is crowned with matted hair. In his ears he is wearing large earrings and a three stringed chain adorns his neck. His chest is decorated with seven stringed pearls. On his right shoulder he wears the sacred thread. There is a girdle round his navel. 

He is also embellished with armlets and anklets. On the left of Shiva, Parvati stands and her arms are full of bangles and bracelets. A long chain hangs from her neck while a broad necklace covers her breasts. In between her breasts she wears a pendant and a chain encircles her navel. Anklets adorn her feet. Below her navel she wears a transparent corset bedecked with flowers. The right hand of Parvati is placed on the shoulder of Shiva and she holds a lotus flower in her left hand.

Brief History

Rewa district came into existence on 2nd April 1948. Earlier it was known as north Rewa district. The present district derives its name from its erstwhile ruling clan of Rewa as well as Rewa town the district headquarters. It is another name for Narmada river, which is synonym for Rewa. It is also named after the clan name of the ruling house of Rewa. The river Narmada originates from Amarkantak (Shahdol district) plateau of Maikal ranges of former Rewa state. The ancient history of Rewa is known from “Bharhut Stupa” (erected during Ashoka dynasty). The region was held by Maurya dynasty during the second and third century B.C., later it fell to the Shungas. During the fourth and fifth century A.D. it was under the possession of Guptas of Magadharaj. Their rule is recorded in the inscriptions of feudatory kings of Uchhakalpas/Uchchakalpas and of the Parivrajaka Rajas found at Kho in Nagod state. During the fourth century it was recorded in the pillar inscription at Allahabad which mentions the conquest of the “18 forest kingdoms”which were known as“Dahala” region.

This region has been connected with the Haihayas, Kalchuris who were branches of the same tribe had no historical evidence of their rule but reported to have been ruled during the period 249 to 598 A.D. The “Vrihat Sanhita” written in the sixth century, mentions the Chaidyas as a people of the “Madhya-desh” or middle region. During the 7th century it was under the rule of Harshvardhana (606-648 A.D.) On his death the kingdom broke into pieces. Meanwhile Paramaras were establishing themselves in Malwa, the Rajputs (Rashtrakutas) in Kanauj and the Chalukyas in Gujarat and the Chedis seized the Kalinjar region or Baghelkhand and established Chedis kingdom. The tract known as Chedi desh named after them and their title was called Kalinjara- puravardhishvara or lords of Kalinjar. From the 9th century to the end of 12th century the Kalachuris ruled this tract. The most famous Kalachuri king of that time was Gangeya Dev Vikramaditya. Al Biruni, the geographer visited India during his reign. Some time in 1289 A.D. Chandellas attacked and captured this region.

After the rulers of Kalachuris, the various tribes such as Bhars, Chauhans, Sengars, Gonds and others set up their own states. Their descendants still inhabit in Mauganj, Huzur tahsil of the district and Raghurajnagar tahsil of Satna district.

Solankis (Baghelas), Parmars and Pariharas of Gujarat state were born from Chalukya dynasty. The Nagod state was under Parihar Rajputs. In the 9th century, the Chandellas of Bundelkhand drove out the Pariharas towards Baghelkhand who ruled upto the 14th century. But Nagod state records relates only to the 14th century when the Parihars seized Naro Fort from the Telirajas.

The rulers of Rewa state (Baghelkhand) gave the administrative division and power of state to the area. The Baghela Rajputs are one of the sections of the Chalukyas or Solanki clans of Gujarati Kshatriyas. As per historians, the ruler of that time awarded “Baghela Village (Vyaghrapalli) of Anhilwara ‘jagir’ (estate) to his close relative. One of the descendant son of Viradhavala called Vyaghradev obtained possession of the fort of Marpha, 18 miles north-east of Kalinjar during 1233-34 A.D. and instituted the foundation of “Baghel Raj”. He himself presumed as the founder of Baghela rule.

From the fort of Marpha the Baghel state started expanding. Karnadev, the son of Vyaghradev married Padma Kumari (Ratan Kumari) the daughter of Somadatta, the Haihaya chief of Ratanpur state. He got Bandhavgarh fort in dowry. He moved his residence to the fort that became the capital of Bandhavgarh till 1597.With the ruin of Anhilwara state, migration of many Baghelas took place to Bandhogarh and to different regions of Rewa state.

Generation to generation the dynasty of Baghela rule spread from Bara, Atraila and Kasauta (U.P.) in the north including from the boundaries of Banda and Allahabad district upto Narmada river (border of Mandla district) in the south. In the west boundaries of Nagod, Maihar and Jabalpur district were adjoining and in the east Mirzapur etc upto Bilaspur border altogether 13000 Sq.km was the area of Rewa state.

The terms of Baghelas with Mughal rulers were normally good. Bir Singh whom Babar called Nar Singh ruled Baghela from 1500 to 1540. His son Vir Bhan Singh ruled from 1540 to 1555. It was said that Akbar, the son of Humayun was born in the protection of Virbhan Singh in 1542 in Rewa state, while historically Akbar was born on 15 October 1542 at Amarkot. Raja Ram Chandra was given a copper plate as an honour by Akbar in 1557 that purchased the fort of Kalanjar from former Governor Ali Khan. Later on he handed it over to Akbar from the fear of other Muslim rulers (1569). Impressed with the great singer Tansen of Rewa state at Ram Chand’s court, Akbar took him to his court in 1562. Due to intrigues and disturbances during the rule, king Vikramaditya (1593 - 1624) minor son of Virbhandra shifted the capital from Bandhogarh to Rewa. The representative of Sher Shah Suri laid foundation of fort of Rewa in 1542 at the eastern bank of river Bichhya and Bihar confluence. On this foundation Vikramaditya started construction of the fort, which was completed in 1617. With the help of Delhi rulers, the fort of Bandhogarh again came into the possession of Baghelas in 1602.

After moving the capital from Bandhogarh to Rewa the political importance flourished at Rewa headquarters. After the rule of King Anup Singh (1640-1666), Anirudh Singh became the chief during the period of Shahjahan (1690-1700). Anirudh Singh was killed by Sengar Thakurs of Maugary in a fight. He left an infant son Audhut Singh. Disturbances started in the state. Taking advantage of the disturbed condition of affairs, Hirde Shah of Panna invaded the country but Bahadur Shah at once sent troops to the rescue of the Baghel chief and Hirde Shah evacuated Rewa and peace was restored. In 1758 Shah Alam made an attack on Panna but Lord Clive advanced against him, so he left for Mukundpur in Rewa where the chief gave him asylum and his son Akbar II was born.

In 1796 Bahadur Shah and an army of Marathas attacked Rewa but were defeated with the help of British Government. Britishers approached Baghelas for a treaty but chief Ajit Singh turned it down. In 1812, a group of Pindaris raided Mirzapur from Rewa when Jai Singh was its ruler. The chief was believed to have abetted the raid and was accordingly called upon to accede to a treaty with British Government in which he acknowledged the protection of the British Government to whose arbitration he agreed to refer all disputes with neighbouring chiefs and to allow British troops to march through his territory.

Several reforms were introduced during the period of chief Jai Singh’s rule. Post office and courts were established. Then Visvanath Singh became the chief who established religious places like Laxmanbag and Raja Adhiraj temple. King Raghuraj Singh (1854-80) developed art and literary pursuits. In 1857 during the mutiny, Raghuraj Singh was the first chief who offered his services to Colonel Hinde who could suppress the mutineers in 1857. In return, Raghuraj Singh was granted Sohagpur and Amarkantak region which had been seized by the Marathas. In 1863 he ceded land for East Indian railway line from Satna to Allahabad. 

In 1870 the separate Agency which had been abolished in 1862 was again re-established with the political agent residing at Satna. In 1860 Raghuraj Singh was awarded a G.C.S.I. (Grand Commander of the Star of India knight) and he received this order at the hands of Lord Canning at Kolkatta. He visited King Edward VIIth in 1876 at Delhi. During his reign Govindgarh town was formed and Govindgarh lake was constructed in the name of Vishvanath Sagar in 1855. During this period Rewa state developed manifold and many infrastructures of that time can be seen are Telegraph Office (1883), Government Hospital, Victoria Hospital (present G.S.H.1867), Darbar Press now called Central Press (1899), Archaeology Museum (Venkat Bhavan 1908) and Court and Hospital Building (1918). In 1890 a settlement survey named Roshanlal was done and tahsil Sirmaur was formed in 1910.

On Venkat Raman Singh’s death his son Gulab Singh succeeded on 31st October 1922. He was a good ruler and known for good public governance. That is the reason why he was imprisoned from 1942 and released in 1949. After release from prison in 1949, he started living in Mumbai where he died on 17th August 1954. During his reign Vikray, Chakghat and Bichhya bridges were constructed in addition to Agriculture firm Kuthlia (1935), Lilji dam (1939) and the foundation of Darwar College was laid down.

In between 1942 to 1946 the real governance of the Rewa state was under the control of a political agent “Uldij”. Later Maharaja Martand Singh the last Baghel chief was seated on the royal seat on 20 October 1947 and on the eve of independence of country, the royal power was abolished.

After the independence, Yashwant Singh became acting Chief Minister; later on Sir Deshmukh came to Rewa on 20th October 1947 as Chief Minister on behalf of Govt. of India. Another gentleman Sir Gadgil came to Rewa again on behalf of Govt. of India, and on 4th April, 1948 he declared reorganization of Vindhya Pradesh adding 35 states including Rewa state.Captain Awdhesh Pratap Singh was nominated as Chief Minister from 30th May, 1948 to Ist January, 1950. Maharaja Martand Singh was seated as King Chief at Vindhya Pradesh. In 1949 when Awdhesh Pratap Singh stepped down from the post of Chief Minister, the Commissioner/Deputy Governor was appointed as the administrator of Vindhya Pradesh till the first general election.On 26th January 1950, Vindhya Pradesh was converted to Part-C state after Constitution of India was enforced. After the first general election, Pt. Shambhunath Shukla became first elected Chief Minister of Vindhya Pradesh State Assembly in 1952 having 60 members and Mr. K. Sandhanam became Deputy Governor.

On the recommendations of state reorganization Commission, Mahakoshal and Madhyabharat states became part of Madhya Pradesh along with Vindhya Pradesh. Thus Rewa the capital of Baghel rulers and Vindhya Pradesh since 16th century became a district and divisional head quarters.