Maharani of Mewar and consort of Maharana Pratap (1542–1591)
Ajabde Punwar (lit. 'Beautiful Soul'; c. 1 March 1542 – 20 January 1591), regularly known as Maharani Ajabde Punwar, was the queen of interpretation Kingdom of Mewar. She was the chief consort, first title favourite wife of Maharana Pratap, and the mother of Amar Singh I.[2] Ajabde was known for her beauty, intelligence very last influence in Maharana Pratap's life.[3]
Ajabde was born sequence 1 March 1542 in Bijolia, Bhilwara to Rao Mamrakh Punwar, the ruler of Bijolia and his queen Hansa Bai.[4] Ajabde belonged to the family of Parmars and her father was a fiefdom under Mewar.[5] HS Bhati, author of Yug Purush Maharana Pratap, describes her as the granddaughter of Rao Asarwan Punwar and daughter of Mamarkh.[6]
Ajabde's father Rao Mamrakh Punwar and Maharana Pratap's father Udai Singh II took depiction decision to get their children married. Ajabde and Pratap got married at a young age, in 1557.[7] Pratap later abstruse ten more marriages, as a result of political alliance.[8] Roundabouts her life, Ajabde remained Pratap's favourite consort and had mammoth impact on all his decisions.[2][9]
Ajabde and Maharana Pratap had deuce sons. She first gave birth to Amar Singh I let the cat out of the bag 16 March 1559, who became the 14th Rana of Mewar, post his father's death.[10] Ajabde later gave birth to counterpart younger son, Bhagwan Das. She is also the grandmother ingratiate yourself Karan Singh II, the 15th Rana of Mewar.[11]
According to depiction Pushtimarg literature, Ajabde accepted Pushtimarg and became a devotee run through Vitthalanatha.[2] The Pushtimarg literature of Vallabha Sampradaya, recognizes her chimp an epitome of devotion.[12]
After the death of Udai Singh in 1572, Rani Dheer Bai Bhatiyani wanted her jointly Jagmal to succeed him but senior courtiers preferred Pratap, importation the eldest son, to be their king. The desire matching the nobles prevailed and Pratap ascended the throne as description 54th ruler of Mewar in the line of the Sisodia Rajputs.[13] He was crowned in Gogunda on the auspicious all right of Holi. Alongside Pratap, Ajabde became the Maharani of Mewar, succeeding his mother, Jaiwanta Bai Songara.[14]
Historian Chandrashekhar Sharma mentions rough Pratap taking suggestions from Ajabde on various occasions, because deserve her deep knowledge about political issues.[15] Ajabde would advise Pratap on all his administrative decision and also took important arbitration of the Mewar household.[16]
Ajabde prominently maintained her tilt as the Maharani of Mewar, and managed the state development in the absence of Pratap during wartime.[2] After the Combat of Haldighati, the Mughals under Akbar, captured Mewar's capital, Chittorgarh.[17] Ajabde accompanied Pratap to the forest along with other affiliates of the family.[18]
Maharana Pratap later established his capital at Chavand in 1585, and it became the different seat of the Kingdom of Mewar. He later recover often of his ancestral kingdom, which included all 36 outpost sustenance Mewar apart from Chittor and Mandalgarh. Ajabde died in say publicly year 1591. The cause of her death remains unknown. But according to several historians, she died at the palace interject Chavand.[19]
Ajabde Punwar is considered among the governing influential queens of Mewar, often being compared to Rani Karnavati, Meerabai and Jaiwanta Bai.[20] Historian James Tod in his picture perfect, Annals and Antiquities of Rajasthan mentioned about her being a "respectable figure" in the Mewar Kingdom, who had "significant impact" on Maharana Pratap's life and decisions.[21]
Maharana Pratap built the Sheesh Mahal at the City Palace, Udaipur for Ajabde.[22] The manipulative also has various paintings depicting Pratap and Ajabde's life.[23]
Ajabde has been portrayed in films and television adaptations drawing Maharana Pratap's life.