Kumbha of Mewar

Kumbhakaran Singh (IAST: Kumbhakarṇa Siṃha) (1417–1468), popularly known as Maharana Kumbha, was the ruler of the Kingdom of Mewar in medieval India. He belonged to the Sisodia clan which is a cadet Branch of Guhila Rajputs. It was during his reign that Mewar became one of the most powerful political powers in northern India. He is considered to be one of the most powerful King of his time in South Asia.

Early life Rana Kumbha was born at Madariya, in a Hindu Rajput family of Sisodia clan.

Military career When Kumbha ascended the throne he had inherited whole of Mewar which consisted of Chittorgarh, Kumbhalmer, Rajsamand, Mandalgarh, Ajmer, Mandsaur, Idar, Badnore, Jalore, Hadoti, Dungarpur and Banswara.

War against Malwa Sultanate

As one of the assassins of Rana Mokal, Mahpa Panwar, was sheltered by the Sultan of Mandu, a demand for his person was made by the Maharana, but Mahmud Khilji refused to surrender the refugee. The Maharana prepared for hostilities and advanced to attack Mandu. The Sultan advanced with a powerful army to meet Kumbha. Both armies met at Sarangpur and the battle commenced is known as battle of Sarangpur. The tower is covered with sculptures of Hindu gods and goddesses and depicts episodes from the Ramayana and the Mahabharata. The Vijay Stambha's column is one hundred and twenty feet in height; the breadth of each face at the base is thirty-five feet, and at the summit, immediately under the cupola, seventeen feet and a half. It stands on an ample terrace, forty - two feet square. It has nine distinct storeys, with openings at every face of each storey, and all these doors have colonnaded porticos.

Death and aftermath

Kumbha was killed by his son Udaysimha (Udai Singh I), who thereafter became known as Hatyara (Murderer). He was murdered at the time when he was sitting and praying at the edge of Mahadeva near the temple of Kumbhaswami at Kumbhalgarh. Udai himself died in 1473, with the cause of death sometimes being stated as a result of being struck by lightning but more likely to have also been murder.