Kripa Ram Barath

Barhath Kripa Ram Ji Khidiya (1743–1833) was a famous Rajasthani poet of the 18th century. He is known for his soratha (and duha) on ethics (नीति) called 'Rajiya Ra Soratha' and 'Rajiya Ra Doha '. In addition to his ethical writings, the poet's other works are concerned with devotion to God and heroism.

Biography Kriparam was born to Jagramdas Khidiya in 1743 in the village of Jasuri (Nagaur). His father Jagramdas was a Dingala poet-scholar originally from Kharadi (Pali). Zalim Singh Mertiya of Kuchaman honored Jagramdas and granted Jasuri in sasan where Kriparam was born. Kriparam had two brothers; namely Jaduram and Manohardas. Kriparam received his education at Jaipur. He was a scholar of Dingala, Sanskrit, and Pingala.

At the beginning, Kriparam stayed at Kuchaman from where he moved to Sikar and served in the court of Devi Singh and his successor Laxman Singh. Devi Singh of Sikar honored him and granted sasan land in Maharajpura in 1790 CE (VS 1847 Margashirsha Vadi 13). Laxman Singh of Sikar presented him the sasan of Laxmanpura and Badkasni in 1801 CE (VS 1858 Ashadha Vadi 3). He was greatly respected at Sikar court and bestowed with the title of Rājya Śrī.

Kriparam married twice. From his first wife, a Patavat-Rohadia of Bithwaliya, he had 3 sons - Nagraj, Narayandas, and Krishnadas. From his second wife, he had 3 sons - Ramnath, Avaddan, and Shivdan. Once, Maharaja Man Singh of Marwar respectfully summoned Barhath Kriparam to Jodhpur to solve a specific problem in poetics. However, the poet sent his gifted son Nagaraj who he believed to be capable of resolving this matter. In a gesture of respect and of resolving the issue, Man Singh bestowed upon him a village called Medas in Nagaur district. Nagraj adopted his younger brother Shivdan to be his successor in Medas.