History Review of Garhwal King Balbhadra Shah

History of Garhwal including Haridwar (1223- 1804 AD) –part -97      

                                            

 History of Uttarakhand (Garhwal, Kumaon and Haridwar) -343 

                       By: Bhishma Kukreti (A History Research Student)

              History Review of Name for Garhwal King Balbhadra Shah

             Garhwal King Balbhadra Shah is named as Balram Shah, Vijay Shah, Bahadur Shah. In Akbarnama, this king is supposed to be named as Ramshah. This king was contemporary to Kumaon Chand King Rudra Chand.

        Culture of Adding ‘Shah’ in the name end of Garhwal King

                Prior to Balbhadra Shah, all Garhwal king of Ajeypal dynasty had names ending with ‘Pal’. Balbhadra is the first Garhwal king whose name ends with ‘Shah’.

 There are folk stories about adding ‘Shah’ with Garhwal King name-

1-In 1483, Bahalol Lodi visited Garhwal for health improvement. Bhalol Lodi was pleased to get welcome of Balbhadra Shah and offered him ‘Shah’ title.

2-Aurangzeb offered Shah title to Garhwal King after Garhwal king handing over son of Dara Sikoh  Suleman Sikoh.

3- Garhwal King sent a Bartwal his representative (from Sateda gaon of Talla Nagpur) to Delhi. Bartwal told the exact illness of a wife of Delhi court minister by a tag tied on the hand of that women. Bartwal demanded Shah title for his king.

4-Akbar had come to Bhabhar near Nazibabad. Garhwal King was also accompanying Akbar. Garhwal king saved Akbar from the lion attack. Garhwal king also pacified the disturbances by many regional Thoakdar against Akbar in Nazibabad region. Akbar offered ‘Shah’ title to Garhwal King.

5- According to Bahuguna Vanshavali, Buddhi Vilas Bahuguna got title Shah for Garhwal King Vijay Pal from Delhi court in 1589. Vijay Pal was then called as Vijay Shah (Balbhadra Shah). Vijaypal offered Badrinath Dharmadhyaksha position for Bahuguna. The last Bahuguna Dharmadhyaksha was late Devi Prasad Bahguna of Pokhari.

6-Another folk story of Bahguna caste states that Bharat Kavi got ‘Shah title for Garhwal King Manpal from Badshah Pashah.

However, there is no historical logic and proofs behind folk stories of Bahuguna caste history.

   It seems that Hindu Kings of India started ad Shah at the end of their names in or before Akbar period.

Copyright@ Bhishma Kukreti Mumbai, India, bckukreti@gmail.com20/5/2014

History of Garhwal – Kumaon-Haridwar (Uttarakhand, India) to be continued… Part -345

                                                              

                                      References

1-Dr. Shiv Prasad Dabral, 1971, Uttarakhand ka Itihas Bhag-4, Veer Gatha Press, Dogadda, Pauri Garhwal, India 

2-Harikrishna Raturi, Garhwal ka Itihas

3-Dr. Patiram, Garhwal Ancient and Modern

4-Rahul Sankrityayan, Garhwal

5- Oakley and Gairola, Himalayan Folklore

6- Bhakt Darshan, Garhwal ki Divangit Vibhutiyan

7-Foster, Early Travels in India William Finch

8-Upadhyaya, Shri Shankaracharya

9-Shering, Western Tibet and British

10-H.G. Walton, Gazetteer of British Garhwal

11-B.P.Kamboj, Early Wall Paintings of Garhwal

12-H.g Walton, Gazetteer of Dehradun

13- Vimal Chandra, Prachin Bharat ka Itihas

14-Meera Seth, Wall Paintings of Western Himalayas 

15-Furar, Monumental Antiquities

16-Haudiwala, Studies in Indo-Muslim History

17- Rahul Khari 2007, Jats and Gujjar Origin, History and Culture

18- Upendra Singh, 2006, Delhi: Ancient History, Barghahan Books

19- B.S. Dahiya, 1980, Jats the Ancient Rulers (A Clan Study) , Sterling Publications

20- Maithani, Bharat –Gotrapravardeepika

21 Prem Hari Har Lal, 1993, The Doon Valley Down the Ages

22-Dashrath Sharma, Early Chauhan Dynasties

23- Shailndra Nath Sen, Ancient History and Civilization

24-H.M Elliot, 1867, The History of India as told by its Own Historians

25- Jaswant Lal Mehta, 1979, Advance Study in Medieval India

26- Nau Nihal Singh, 2003, The Royal Gurjars: their contribution to India, Anmol Publications 

27- H. Blochmann, 1873,  Aine e- Akbari Translation

(The History of Garhwal, Kumaon, Haridwar write up is aimed for general readers)

History of Garhwal from 1223-1804 to be continued in next chapter          

Notes on South Asian Medieval History of Garhwal;  SouthAsian Medieval History of Pauri Garhwal;  Medieval History of Chamoli Garhwal;  South Asian Medieval History of Rudraprayag Garhwal;  South Asian Medieval History of Tehri Garhwal;  Medieval History of Uttarkashi Garhwal;  South Asian Medieval History of Dehradun, Garhwal;  Medieval History of Haridwar ;  South Asian Medieval History of Manglaur, Haridwar;  South Asian Medieval History of Rurkee Haridwar ;  South Asian Medieval History of Bahadarpur Haridwar ; South Asian History of Haridwar district to be continued

History Review of Garhwal King Balbhadra Shah; History Review of Garhwal King Balbhadra Shah in History of Haridwar Garhwal context; History Review of Garhwal King Balbhadra Shah in History of Dehradun Garhwal context; History Review of Garhwal King Balbhadra Shah in History of Tehri Garhwal context;  History Review of Garhwal King Balbhadra Shah in History of Pauri Garhwal context; History Review of Garhwal King Balbhadra Shah in History of Uttarkashi Garhwal context; History Review of Garhwal King Balbhadra Shah in History of Garhwal context; History Review of Garhwal King Balbhadra Shah in History of Chamoli Garhwal context; History Review of Garhwal King Balbhadra Shah in History of Rudraprayag Garhwal context; History Review of Garhwal King Balbhadra Shah in History of Bhabhar Garhwal context;