Tomar Kings And Their Contribution To Jainism
The Humble Beginning of Tomars :
In the midst of political turmoil generated by the Muhammuden holocast from the time of invasion of Mohammad Ghazni in India, two Rajput Princes that realised the importance of being submissive were Perumal Deva and Uddhar Deva.
They joined the service at Delhi Sultanate during the time of Allauddin Tughlak. Sikandar Khan, a nobleman of the Sultanate who was also the advisor of Allauddin had initially recruited these two young princes as service personnel in the palace.
One night when it was heavily raining, the Sultan happened to see two guards standing on duty while others were fast asleep. On enquiries, he learnt that they belong to the detachment under the Command of Sikandar Khan.
Pleased at their perseverence, of their duty the Sultan permitted them to make a request which would be granted. Pleading for their poor social status and in absolute need to have a house for their family, they wanted that Gwalior might be allotted to them. Their request was granted and they become official owners of Gwalior.
These two Rajput princes, Permal Deva and Uddhar Deva, even the when Sayyids took over the sultanate at Delhi, they continued to keep up their loyalty.
The Rajput valour in heart of hearts did not allow them to be submissive always. One day, they hosted a dinner to the Sayyid royalty at a place called Ranipura. I n a grand oriental style the Afghan royalty was served with delicious dishes intoxicating with drugs.
Later, the royal guests retired to the tent, specially pitched in their honour. In the dead of night while they were fast asleep, they were all put to death. Thus, ended the Sayyid dynasty of Sultans. In due course, they exerted their position as the kings of Gwalior under the name, Tanwar (Tomar) dynasty.
The Initial Tomar Kings of Gwalior: (1394-1440 A.D.)
The enterprising advantures that proclaimed the first kings of Gwalior were evidently <1) Perumal Deva and (2) Udhara Deva who reigned for 11 years. Later, we come across Mother king Bairon Deva who had a longer reign of 15 years.
The fifth king in succession was Narasimha Deva. He reigned for 25 years.
Dunger Singh
Next in the tine was Danger Singh Toma,, who became the king when the Gwallo, citeda” wa wet! estabtished as a Tomar stronghold. Beedes. h,s sta emanshtp. he was h X demoted to Jainism. The kastasangha of Mathura was Influential m making him a devotee of Jain reiigion. Acharyas. Yasahkirti Devasena. etc. were tn hts court.
Raidhu was his preceptor whose book on Pasandachariu deals with the iconographic details of different TIrthankaras for carving out images in the rock. He got the highest image of Tirthankara Rsabhanatha in Bavan Gaj Cave near the Urwahi gate. It was inaugurated by Dungar Sen when Raidhu served him as the high priest.
Besides. Dungar singh built the Ganesh pole, situated near the third gate of Badalghad. He also caused a well, dug to be called as ‘Nagarwav’, the waters of which had medicinal properties. It was well guarded and no one was allowed to use them without royal permission. However, even the public were allowed depending on their genuine cause. Dungar Singh had also high glorious days as diplomat.
Although he had not paid taxes to Mubarak Sayyid during 1427, 1429,1432 A.D. with his friendly gestures, the Sultan had to oblige him and send his forces against Hosang Shah of Malwa when he beseiged Gwalior.
Again, when he found that enemy was strong, he submitted to Buhlal Shah Lodi (1451 -69) A.D. After his submission, the Shah, however, died.
Kirti Singh (1459-1479 A.D.)
After the death of Dungar Singh around 1459 A.D., Kirti Singh became the Rajah of Gwalior. He was said to have subdubed many forts. He also appears to be as good a diplomat as his father by keeping good relations with Delhi and neighbouring states. He had entertained Jain scholars under his patronage, and several Jain images were auguarated.
Kalyan Singh or Kalyanamal (1479-1486 A.D.):
Kirti Singh was succeeded by his son Kalyan Singh. He did not rule for a long time, possibly, during hla tone, the first gate of Badafgarh might have been built. In his short reign, we do not hear about any inauguration of Jain images.
It appears Kalyana Singh liked women. He was also talented in writing, and composed the work Ananga Ranga- A text in Hindi about the pleasures and enjoyment.
Man Singh (1486-1516 A.D.):
Man Singh, the son of Kalyan Singh, became the Raja in 1486. He was an original thinker and a connoisseur of art. He was acclaimed as a first rate administrator and was respected by his contemporaries.
Man Singh fortified the fort by closing the Urwahi and Dhonda gates. He constructed another gate, Badalgarh below the fort towards northeast. He kept Gwalior safe from Sikandar. He cut off all the supplies of Sultan’s army. In 1505 A.D., he was ambushed once but he finally managed escape with life. Thus, he was also a valiant fighter, that subdued his enemies and took several forts.
Man Mandir with its gigantic gate owes its origin to his artistic genius. (Plate 42) Each stone was carefully laid for days, so as to make it 1 it for years to come. He personally looked into the scientific aspect of planning and beautification of proper position in the walls and their prominence.
The main building contains two portions. One was used as a residence for the king and harem. It has two stories overlooking the high cliffs. It measured 100×53 m. At the rare end that is another annexe 53×33 m. meant for attendants. Besides, it has two more underground stories. It has taken 20 years for completion.
Man Mandir has painted tiles in a variety of scintillating colours Prominent among them are blue, yellow, red and green. The walls have painted images of crocodiles swans, lions, elephants etc. The white stucco work covering the entire palace as seen has given way at certain places. We even see the gilt copper plates, used in the peeled off regions of the domes.
Babar when he visited the monument 20 years later in 1528 A. D he remarked that it was the mosTspeetaeular monument in Gwalior tod. The same v,ew holds good ,n spite of its damage here and there even today.
Coming back to the personality of Man Singh, the accounts show that he had never denied the pleasures of life. In one of his sporting rambles, in a village situated northeast of the fort, he happened to meet a young damsel of extrordinary vigour and beauty.
Single handed, she controlled a wild buffalo with her bodily strength. He was amazed and decided to marry her although she happened to be a Gurjar by caste. After the marriage in her honour, he had built the Gujari Mahal which houses the central Musuem of Gwalior today. She finally became the famous queen in the harem under the name of ‘Mrganayani‘, the gazzle-eyed.
Although there are not many inscriptions of the installation of Jain images, he appears to have kept up the tradition of sympathies towards Jainism, as done by his predecessors and as inferred from the inscription of Gwalior, preserved in the Bhandar at Ajmer.
Vikramaditya (1516-1523 A.D.) :
Prince Vikramaditya inherited the impregnable fort along with a large territory between Chambal and Sind rivers. He further fortified the fort by closing the internal door from Man Mandir to Gujari Mahal. However, he did not have the military genious nor the diplomacy of his father Mansingh.
During his time, Vikram Mandir was built. It is an open hall of length of 70 m. with 12 doors and a central domed roof. It is connected to Man and Karan Mandirs through secret galleries. Babar was said to expressed wonder on seeing it.
In 1523 A.D. Vikramaditya was forced to surrender his vast estate to Ibrahim Lodi.
Moreover, during his life, we do not hear about his association with Jains noracredited with the installation of Jain images.
Relations of Muslims and Tomars-
Dungar Singh Tomar reigned for 30 years. Later on Kirti Singh ascended the throne of Gwalior. To retain his hold, he had to keep friendly relations with the Muslim Sultans of Delhi, during his 25 years of his rule. Several Jain caves were excavated and several images were installed.
The next king was Kalyanamal. He reigned only for seven years without any event, but during the reign of his son, Mansingh Tomar’s rule, Gwalior, had hit the headlins.
Estimating the weakness of Kalyanamal, the Lodi king Balal invaded Gwalior. In the mean time, Mansingh was consecrated as the king. Through diplomacy and paying tribute he managed to retain his hold over in fort of Gwalior, Fortune dawned on him when Balal died at Delhi in 1481 A.D.
But the next king Sikandar Lodi was hesitent to toe the line of his father. He carefully, extirpated the strength of Mansingh and his friends and avoided the invasion of Gwalior.
To make his position strong, Mansingh sent his emissary, Nihar to Delhi. This had given Sikandar Lodi an upper hand. He sent back the emissory and invaded Gwalior. But by paying some booty, Mansingh got rid of the Muslim army from Gwalior.
In the meanwhile sensing the danger of Muslim attacks, he alerted and strengthend his military. As expected* in 1505 A.D. once again Sikandar invaded Gwalior. This time the Muslim army was completly defeated and was forced to surrender, But in 1516 A.D. when Sikandar was preparing for a third attack, he fell sick and died. Thus, the Tomar kings of Gwalior were able to keep themselves free from the domination of Delhi sultanate.
Earlier to the advent of the Muslims, the most important of the Hindu dyanasties that came to power was Tomars. Inspite of the spread of Muslim rule to various parts of the sub continent, the Hindu kingdom of Gwalior could remain uneffected at least for more than a century.
