| Raja Man Singh Tomar | |
|---|---|
| The Ruler of Gwalior | |
| Reign | 1486 A.D. - 1516 A.D. |
| Birthplace | Gwalior |
| Died | 1516 A.D. |
| Place of death | Gwalior |
| Predecessor | Kalyanmal Tomar |
| Successor | Vikramaditya Tomar |
| Consort | Gurjar queen Mrignayani |
| Offspring | Many |
| Royal House | Tomara Dynasty |
| Father | Kalyanmal Tomar |
| Religious beliefs | Hinduism |
Raja Man Singh Tomar[1] was the most illustrious of the Tomar rulers of Gwalior who ascended the throne in 1486 AD.[2][3]
Contents |
Raja Man Singh Tomar was born to Raja Kalyanmall Tomar of Gwalior.[4] He was a great ruler and ruled for over 30 years. In his years the Tomar were sometime at feud with and sometimes allies with the sultans of Delhi. Amongs others, he married famous Gujari rani 'Mrignayani'. He was a great warrior and great patron of Music. One of the nine gems of his court was Tansen.[5]
Man Singh was the greatest of the Tomar rulers of Gwalior, who ascended the throne in 1486. He also repelled an attack on the fort by Sikandar Lodi Delhi. He sued for peace in lieu of 80 Lakh rupees and a number of Elephants and valuable jewels. Sikandar Lodhi wanted another attack but every time he was either sued for peace and never confronted. Things changed at his death and in 1516, Ibrahim Lodhi laid siege on the fort. Man Singh died while the siege was on but his son held on to the fort for one year before surrendering.[6]...
Raja Man Singh was one of the greatest patrons of Arts and Music.
Raja Man Singh was parton of Dhrupad gharana.[7] The word Dhrupad is the Hindi form of the original Sanskrit, Dhruvapada, a combination of Dhruva = structured or rigid and Pada = word. He was pivotal in replacing sanskrit with hindi in music.
The 15th century Gujari Mahal is a monument of love by Raja Man Singh Tomar for his Gujari queen, Mrignayani. After he had wooed and won her, Mrignayani demanded for a separate palace with a constant water supply from the River Rai. The outer structure of the Gujari Mahal has survived in an almost total state of preservation, the interior has been now converted into an archaeological Museum.
Within Gwalior Fort, also built by Raja Mansingh Tomar, is the Man Mandir Palace,[8] built between 1486 and 1517. The tiles that once adorned its exterior have not survived, but at the entrance, traces of these still remain. Vast chambers with fine stone screens were once the music halls, and behind these screens, the royal ladies would learn music from the great masters of those times.