Heritage Gwalior - 13th Century - The first Jauhar performed in India(anywhere)

As the peaceful times of Parihara(Pratihara) dynasty, which built beautiful temples in and around Gwalior, entered the period of repeated attacks from Turkish invaders, it set the stage for the very first incidence of “Jauhar” in India. “Jauhar” refers to  an extremely startling Rajput practice where Queens and/or female Royals will willingly give themselves up to funeral fire, alive, to burn themselves to death, to save their honor and avoid falling into the hands of enemy. The men would then leave for the battlefield, enraged by the deaths of their women, and fight until win or death.

Here is the woeful  story of why this very first Jauhar was performed.

In early 13th Century, 1231 to be precise, the slave Sultan Iltutmish came to Gwalior with his large army and attacked the Fort. At that time Gwalior was ruled by Parihar kind Malayvarman. Since it was not possible to enter the Fort easily, Iltutmish surrounded the Fort for 11 months. He then with the help of some defecting insider, cut the route to send the supplies inside the Fort. Malayverman and his men became increasingly worried and decided to confront Iltutmish’s army in a battle. Meanwhile Iltutmish send a “Peace Treaty” where he asked Malayverman to concede and give his daughter Karnika to Iltutmish. Malayverman felt extremely insulted and enraged and decided to go out and fight Iltutmish. The Queen and the princess Karnika decided to set themselves in a Jauhar before the King and his men go for the battle. They were joined by other Royal Women and their maids. A huge pyre was made in a large tank, now known as Jauhar Kund. All the women dressed themselves for their final act of love and honor, and immolated themselves till death. After the Jauhar, which was a first, Malayverman and his men went to attack Iltutmish’s army outside the Fort. The army from Gwalior was very small against the huge army from Delhi Sultanate, but the men fought with great valor and bravery. They had nothing more to lose. Finally, with the killing of Malayverman and all the royals, Gwalior army was defeated and the Fort came under the control of Iltutmish. That date was December 12th, 1232 AD. There was one survivor from the Parihar dynasty, Malayverman’s unsatisfied and power hungry cousin Narvarman. Iltutmish made him the Chief of a nearby area called Shivapuri, in return for his “services”.

    Jauhar Kund - the brooding site of the first Jauhar