Mundru

For the Tamil Movie, see Moondru Mugam.
Mundru
village
Mundru
Mundru

Location in Rajasthan, India

Coordinates: 27°24′05″N 75°41′21″E / 27.401356°N 75.689192°E / 27.401356; 75.689192Coordinates: 27°24′05″N 75°41′21″E / 27.401356°N 75.689192°E / 27.401356; 75.689192
Country  India
State Rajasthan
District Sikar
Government
 • Raja Bahadur Thakur of Mundru
Area
 • Total 137 km2 (53 sq mi)
Elevation 486 m (1,594 ft)
Population (1990)
 • Total 8,402
 • Density 61/km2 (160/sq mi)
Languages
 • Official Hindi
Time zone IST (UTC+5:30)
PIN 332712

Mundru is an old historical village in Sri Madhopur tehsil of Sikar district of Rajasthan, India.

History

In pre-independence era, Mundru was a principality and head seat[1] of the Thakurs of Hariramot sub-clan of Raisalot Shekhawats Rajputs, often referred to as 'Hariramji ka Shekhawats' and one of the Princely Thikanas of Shekhawati region of Rajputana.

It was the capital of an estate of the same name founded in 1621 by Raja Hridayram of Ranoli. He was the eldest son of Raja Hariram, the elder son of Darbari Raja Raisal, the ruler of Udaipurvati (Kausambhi), Kasli, Rewasa (Khachariawas) and Khandela (also called Khandila, Khandelapura, Khandelgiri) (1549–1621), Premiere Courtier of Mughal Empire, and his wife, Rajkumari Kisnavati Nirban, the only daughter of Chauhan Raja Peetha Nirwan of Khandela.[2][3][4]

While Raja Raisal was in the Deccan (Burhanpur), Madho Singh Ladkhani and other grandsons of his, out of boldness and evil intentions, collected a number of vagabonds and forcibly took possession of their grandfather's property, which was called Khandela and was near Amber. Mathura Das Bengali, who was upright and learned, and held charge of the Raja's establishment, and was acting as the Raja's deputy at the Court behaved with prudence, and rescued part of the property from the hands of the usurpers. His sons Raja Hariram, Raja Bhojraj and Rao Tirmal had got titles and Mansab during the lifetime of their father, while younger son Raja Girdhar who behaved loyally to the Emperor received the title of Raja after the Raisal's death. Other sons and grandsons of whom there was a large number, lived in their native country on the pretence of being landholders, but were for the most part robbers and sedition-mongers.[5]

Raja Hariram was granted the estate of Khandela. He died in a battle and his infant son Hridayram was installed on the throne and responsibility to manage the pargana as its Dewan (Prime Minister) was given to Girdhardas, the seventh son of Raja Raisal. He usurped the properties and the Majis (widow queens) and their children established principality of Ranoli and later that of Mundru. Mundru was initially an independent petty state and the princes worked as Military Commanders of Jaipur and Khandela. It accepted allegiance of Jaipur for nominal purposes after end of Mughal rule in early 19th Century around 1818 AD.

Some of the descendants established themselves at smaller fiefs or jagirs in nearby villages including Lisaria or Lasada, Abhawas, Kolwa, Bhomias, Bagariawas and Dhalyawas or Dhaliawas.[6][7] Some jagirs were captured by collateral branches of Rajawats of Jaipur, Girdharji Ka Shekhawats of Khandela and Raoji Ka Shekhawats. Dadia and Jethi tracts slipped out of their control on being usurped by Girdharji Ka Shekhawats. Rao Daulat Singh of Sikar along with Rao Fateh Singh of Dujod and Rao Deep Singh of Kasli (great grandsons of Rao Tirmal), ousted a branch of the family of Hari Ramji Ka Shekhawats and took possession of Jagmalpura estate along with Chainpura and Dadi in late 17th Century. Rajkumari Sone Kanwar, Princess of Mundru, granddaughter of Hariramji was married to the heroic Thakur Sahibkhanji Champawat.[8]

Etymology

Fort Mundru Garh, Rajasthan

The word Mundru (मुंडरू) is derived from Mudrika (मुद्रिका) or Mundri (मुंदरी) meaning 'a ring' as it was surrounded by a lake and has a gem like mountain made of a single stone.

Fort Mundru Garh

Mundru village was initially a jungle surrounded by two rivers and a large pond and a gem-like fortress on a single rock hillock, over which they constructed a grand fort and a temple of 'Balaji' their family deity Lord Hanuman. The estate had over 52,000 acre land, and they had occupied territory up to Mehrauli. It is site of a dilapidated fort[9] and various historical temples.

After Khandela, grandsons of Princess Kisnavati of Khandela established themselves at Ranoli Fort, which was also usurped soon, and finally at village Mundru, in 1621 AD, at the heart of which is the fortress of Mundru Garh, the Balaji Dungari, built on a gem-like mountain made of a single rock surrounded by a round lake formed by two rivers - that lord Rama Chandra of Ayodhya, ancestor of the family, is said to have visited and marked his footsteps, it houses the ancient temple of lord Hanuman - the family deity: Monkey god, with the ancient custom of establishing a Hanuman temple before setting up any establishment in the territory. As the legend goes, a saint was making soup when he got angry and threw the Chatu (spoon) at village Khatu, Handi (bowl) at Mundru and the Dhakani (cover) nearby, hence this structure came into being in between two rivers, hence the name Mundari or Mudrika meaning ring shaped in Sanskrit.

Title

The Chief of Mundru, which was a mamlaguzar jagir (allodial vassal) of Jaipur since the time of Raja Jai Singh, is referred to as "Raja (name) Singhji Sahib Bahadur, Thakur of Mundru" of which the latter denotes territorial title while the former was granted by the Mughal Emperor of Delhi along with jagirs of Mansab and was used by ruler to the throne of the Raisalot dynasty which was usurped at least twice as the watan jagir of Khandela and later Fort Ranoli estate. All rajput men are called Thakursa (Thakur Sahib) and their rajput wives are called Thakuranisa (Thakurani Sahiba). There are six main lines of descendants in Mundru, the Chiefs or Thakurs of all of whom are the head of a Line or Pana and are referred to as Rajshree Thakur Sahib or Rao Saheb being the joint Thakurs of the Thikana, and the seniormost being Jalam Singh Ji Ka Pana, whose Chief Thakur uses the title of Raja. Their sons use the title of Kunwar Sahib (Kunwarsa), and grandsons are referred to as Bhanwar Shri. The unmarried Rajput girls are addressed as Baiji Lal Sahiba (Baisa) while the widows are addressed as Ba-Sa-Maji-Sahib or simply Maji.

Economy

The majority of the population is involved in agricultural and trade activities. The region is very rich in phosphorus and other minerals with abundant ground water although the seasonal river Mendha has dried up. There are various orchards of Mangoes.

Schools, Institutes, Banks, NGOs are actively spreading in this region. The close proximity to the State Capital Jaipur, which is less than two hours road drive, the well connected roads linking via Highway from Jaipur to Delhi, the availability of potable water, and fertile soil have added advantages. The river now flows only during rainy season and the water level is going down rapidly.[10]

Temples and festivals

Mundru has around 16 temples, of which some have historical importance. In the month of Vaishak (spring) there is Narsingh Leela festival in the town, in which everyone participates. In the Jhanki (tableau), all the 24 incarnations (avtars) of Lord are presented, depicting the different stages of Lord's life.[11] Jhankis are the miniature representation of a village made of clay where the humans are represented by dolls dressed up as kids, men and women with traditional dresses like lehangas, chunnis, dhotis and kurtas. The most common jhankis on the festivals are the following: Palki (cradle), Lord Hanuman, Lord Brahma, Narad Muni, Lord Indra's rath and Lord Narsingh. Some of the temples are of Mundru are:

Location

Mundru is an old village in Sri Madhopur Mandal, Sikar district of Rajasthan State. It is located approximately 10 km from Sri Madhopur Town, and approximately 57 km from Sikar. It is 55 km from Jaipur. Nearby villages are Khurampura (3 KM) Phootala (7 km), Lisariya (3.7 km), Mau (5.7 km), Anatpura (5.9 km), Nathoosar (6.1 km). Nearest towns are Sri Madhopur (10 km), Reengus (13 km), Khatu shyamji (25 km), Khandela (27 km), Neem Ka Thana (38.3 km), Piprali (48 km), Abhawas, Ajeetgarh, Anatpura, Bagariyawas.

Nearby educational institutes

Demographics

The male population of Mundru was recorded to be 4,296 while the female population was recorded to be 4,106 according to 1990 census. The total population being 8,402. Most of the people have migrated to Jaipur and other cities, thereby resulting in a considerable downfall in the population density.[12]

General information

See also

References

  1. ↑ Rajput (Kshatriya) Sakhaom ka itihasa, Devisingha Mandawa, Ranbankura Prakasana, 1990
  2. ↑ Rajput (Kshatriya) Sakhaom ka itihasa, Devisingha Mandawa, Ranbankura Prakasana, 1990
  3. ↑ Hooja, Rima (2006). A History of Rajasthan. Rupa & Co. p. 501.
  4. ↑ Sinh, Ranbir (2001). History Of Shekhawats. Publication Scheme. p. 42. ISBN 8186782745.
  5. ↑ The Digital Library of India
  6. ↑ Rulers of Thikana Mundru
  7. ↑ Meharda, B. L. (2006). Territory, polity, and status : a study of Shekhawats. Jaipur: Rawat Publications. p. 68. ISBN 8170338875.
  8. ↑ Shekhawat Dynasty Genealogy, Melbourne, Australia.
  9. ↑ Fort Mundru Garh, Rajasthan, India.
  10. ↑ http://panchayatdirectory.gov.in/adminreps/viewpansumSQL.asp?selstate=780&parenttype=B&ptype=V
  11. ↑ Rajiv Gandhi Grameen Vidyutikaran Yojana-Progress Of Village Electrification
  12. ↑ http://www.googlesatellitemaps.co.in/rajasthan/sikar/sri-madhopur/m/mundru/
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