Maroth is a village located in Nawa, Nagaur district, in the state of Rajasthan, India. The area surrounding the village is named Gaurati, which means "The Land of Gaurs".[1]
In the Hammira mahakavya of Nayachandrasuri (14th century A.D.), its name is mentioned as Maharashtra nagara. This name was used even up to the eighteenth century A.D. as is clear from the epigraphical records. In Apabhraṃśa, it is known as Maharotha.
As Maroth is surrounded by hills, the ruling chiefs, seeing its strategical position, selected it for constructing forts to have a hold over the prized country of salt producing Sambhar Lake. It is said to be ruled by various Rajput dynasties like Chandellas (of Rewasa and Kasumbi-Udaipurwati), Dahiyas (of Parbatsar and Maroth), Pratiharas (of Kuchaman), Chalukyas (i.e., Solankis) and Chauhans (of Ajmer and Sambhar).
This region is called Gaudati on account of its fierce Gaur Rajputs rulers. Two brothers - Vachchharaja and Vamana, came to Ajmer from Gauda Kingdom in the time of Emperor Prithviraja Chauhana III, married Enperor's sisters and subdued the rebellious Dahiya chiefs, thus receiving recognition as the Kings of Maroth.
No definite information of the early Gaur rulers is available. During the reign of Jahangir, Gopaladasa the ruling chief of this place, was made Kiledar of Asera. He and his son Vikrama were killed in a battle of Thadha, which they fought in favour of Khuram (Shahjahan) against Jahangir.
After him, his son Bithaladasa, who was the most powerful ruler of this dynasty, became a ruler.He was made Hakim of Ranthambore in1630 A.D. by Shahjahan. After the death of Vajirkhan, Shahjahan appointed him as a Subedar and Kiledar of Agra in 1640 A.D. His near relative Biharldasa, in 1639 A.D., gave directions to the revenue collectors of Maroth known as Chaudharis, to rehabilitate the deserted Paraganas and emphasized,” As you serve, so shall you get the reward.” After him, his son Arjuna extended his kingdom because Malpura, now in Jaipur District, was ruled by him. It is clear from a Jaina inscription of 1653 A.D. (V.S. 1710) that Lalachanda performed a big installation ceremony of images at Malpura during the reign of Arjuna Gaur through Bhatfdraka Chandrakirti. Malpura was probably taken by him from the Kachhavahas of Amber.
The Gaurs were fond of buildings, and as such, they constructed fort and palaces at this place, the remains of which are still traceable. The temple of Lakshmlnarayana on the hill, which seems to be of the fourteenth century A.D. from the architectural point of view, is said to have been built by some Gaur chief. This temple was repaired from time to time. Though its major part has fallen, its old pillars and sikhara are still surviving. The Saiva temple is also attributed to them. A big garden, known as Naulakha with the income of nine lakhs was erected by these Gaur rulers.[4]
The Gaur Rajputs ruled the region around Maroth for centuries. Over the course of history, they increased their influence and expanded their kingdom. The Gaur people fought alongside the Amber Kingdom early in their history. In the early 16th century, a man named Ridhmal became the ruler of Maroth and the leader of the Gaur rulers of the region. Riddmal was a military commander of the Gaurs and fought several battles against local rival Rao Shekha, consolidating all the Gaur people under his control and killing Shekha.[5] However, Ridhmal was forced to enter into a treaty with Raymal, the son of Rao Shekha.[citation needed]
Maharaja Raghunath Singh of Maroth
Raghunath Singh Mertia was born in 1610 CE as younger son of Rao Sanwaldas Govindasot, grandson of Rao Jaimal Rathore of Merta and his Solanki Queen. He was a favourite of Emperor Aurangzeb and served him in imperial expeditions at Deccan and Assam amongst others. Aurangzeb briefly shifted his capital to Ajmer, in furtherance of his mission to subdue rebels and to seize control over prized Rajputana kingdoms. During this turmoil, he declared Jodhpur a khalsa or imperial dominion and allotted Maroth along with seven parganas or districts to his trustworthy ally Raghunath Singh and bestowed upon him the prestigious hereditary title of Gaudati Naresh Maharajadhiraj Maharaja. Thereafter, Raghunath Singh annihilated the Gaud Rajputs from their stronghold Gaudawati (Gaudati), which comprised over a hundred villages yielding high revenue. Due to the genocide, Gauds almost went extinct, thus after truce they were allowed to retain 17 villages as a humanitaruan gesture such as Beri and Rajgarh and settlements in Ghatwa.
Raghunath Singh annihilated Ahom rebels with same intensity and Aurangzeb rewarded him by granting Kingdom of Sivasagar (Assam) as additional patrimony, where his eldest son Roop Singh and grandson Mukund Singh ruled as Maharajas apart from Rewasa pargana. However, as per available records, this lineage got extinct immediately thereafter. No research has ever been undertake to trace any descendants of Roop Singh who may have been residing in Assam having assimilated in its local culture.
Raja Raghunath Singh of Maroth had at least nine queens, including (a) Mahasati Maharani Kesar Kanwar Ladkhaniji Baisa, daughter of Uday Singh (Kanh Singh) of Bharija, granddaughter of Thakur Madho Singh Shekhawat of Rewasa (predecessor of Khachariyawas), (b) Rani Udai Kanwar Tanwarji, daughter of Thakur Jet/Kirat Singh of Kelawa Kalan, son of Rao Gopinath Singh of Lakhasar, a descendant of Raja Ramshah Tomar of Gwalior, (c) Mahasati Rani (name unknown) Rajawatji, princess of Ranoli (Jhalai), and six other queens. He had eight sons of whom three died in their Kunwarpadi (in the lifetime of father) and the remaining five took considerable share in the empire carved out by him and are still called as "Panch Mahal" - the five royal houses of Maroth.
Raja Raghunath Singh's army largely consisted of Muslims, and his Commander-in-Chief was a Muslim friend named Baba Bhakar Shah, and, as per Raja's last wish, he was cremated next to his soldier friend's burial, and now a devra-temple and a dargah-mosque have been built near their cenotaphs showing Hindu-Muslim unity. He died in 1683 CE.
After his demise, his bravest son Bijay Singh granted fiefs to younger brothers. When his turn to take jagir came, his elder brother Sabal Singh offered a small estate like remaining brothers. He challenged the elder brother to confront him in battlefield if he refused to divide the empire into two equal halves, and thus, both uterine-brothers born to Ladkhani Rani became kings of independent empires in all respects.
While family of Raja Sabal Singh shifted to Mindha Fort, the family of Maharajadhiraja Bijay Singh resided at the magnificent Maroth Fort until 1960s, and still possesses the grand dilapidated fortresses, where his grandson Maharajadhiraja Durjansal Singh once coronated Vijay Singh, son of Jodhpur Maharaja Abhai Singh. During reign of Abhai Singh Jodhpur, Maroth prince Durjansal received additional patta of Abhaypura in Jodhpur district as well as honour of Nishan (flag), salute, Double Tazim, Sona Naresh and Kurab-hath conferred to a first class Umrao. The erstwhile royal family of Maroth now resides at their Palace in Jiliya, and the Fort of Maroth was vacated by the royal family due to superstitious belief that the extreme level of genocide of former Gaur rulers has turned Maroth fort into an inauspicious site. To support this belief, local historians say, "there have been back to back three adoptions in the royal family within a few decades, so even a brick of the cursed Maroth fort should not be brought home."
Five Houses of Maroth
The five sons of Maharajadhiraja Maharaja Raghunath Singh established 5 thikanas in Nagaur, better known as 'Panch Mahal Maroth'and the two seniormost 'Patvi' chiefs of Mindha & Jiliya are addressed as 'Raja of Gaudati' in folklore.
Maharajadhiraja of Minda - 40 village riyasat, in the East of Maroth, near Mendhawa river. First class prince of Jodhpur Court. Head of Indersinghot clan.
Maharajadhiraja of Maroth - 40 village riyasat. First class prince of Jodhpur Court. Received Abhaypura as additional patta from Abhay Singh Jodhpur. Now Jiliya Fort is seat of the family. Being most powerful, he took equal share with Minda in all respects, with sub fiefs - Padampura Sargoth, Jawdi Nagar, Devla or Devta, Kukanwali, Lichana, Dolpura, Anandpura, Jiliya Jnr, Deoli (Snr) (Half), Deoli, Gohandi and Noowa. Head of Bijaysinghot clan.
Thakur of Loonwa - 20 village jagir, which now has four subdivisions namely - Lunwa Pana (1-3) and Bauri. Head of Shersinghot clan.
Thakur of Panchota - 17 village jagir, with sub fiefs - Kuchaman, Mithadi or Meethdi, Jijoth, Shyamgarh, Bhagwanpura, Ladariya, Chuniya, Phogdi, Bhadliya, Palada or Palara and Sudrasan. Head of Hatthisinghot clan.
Thakur of Panchwa - 14 villages, with sub fiefs - Prempura, Dhokariya, Runija, Nimod, Khares or Khariya and Kotda or Kotra. Head of Anandsinghot clan. (Kunwar Kishore Singh, the son of youngest Rani of Raja Raghunath Singh, was not given any appanage. His son Thakur Zalim Singh became ancestor of the Thakurs of Kuchaman and Bhagwanpura. Kuchaman's second last ruler Thakur Hari Singh (1919-1956), born 1912, educated at Mayo College, Ajmer, was given the title of "Raja" in 1931 by Maharaja Sir Umaid Singh of Jodhpur.)
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