The young girls of Rajasthan are cherished in their parental homes and they are associated with the Divine Feminine forms of Shakti and Lakshmi and not despised as the commonly misapprehended. A sense of pride and respect is inculcated in the women from childhood. Traditional dictates are respected but individual spirit is not sacrificed either. Mirabai is a classic example. Born in 1948 in Metra in Rajasthan and was married off to Raja Bhoj, the eldest son of Rana Sanga and crown prince to the throne of Chittor or Chittorgarh before she was 18. Her keen devotion to Lord Krishna earned the displeasure of her in-laws who worshipped their family deity, Goddess Durga. With the death of her husband, Mira refused to comply with the existing tradition of Sati (self-immolation of a widow at her husband’s pyre highly looked upon by the Rajputs of Rajasthan). She continued her life as a rebel saint and mingled freely with the common folk, singing and dancing in praise of her favorite deity to the utter annoyance of the royal family. Opposition and infamy meant little to this brave princess and she remains an immortal luminary in the eyes of Rajput women of Rajasthan.
Courage and valor are inborn virtues women of this state. Life and treasures both seem inconsequential in comparison to their honor and dignity. The Rajput women of Rajasthan were famed for their supreme act of sacrifice and bravery, the Jauhar or Jowhar. It is a practice of voluntarily embracing death by jumping into the raging flames of a pyre by the women of Rajput families. Upon receiving news that their men had lost a combat with the Muslim enemies, the women committed Jauhar to escape capture, conversion and disgrace at the hands of the Islamic foes. Rani Padmini’s jauhar to escape the lustful overtures of Ala-ud-din Khilji remains etched in the golden pages of Rajasthan’s history. The women of the state are taught the tales of such brave women who hold their honor in a greater esteem than their own lives.
The noble beauties of the land were, however far from fanatical. Diplomacy and discretion were part of their upbringing. The queens tactfully handled difficult situations with finesse. The Mughal Empress Rani Jodhabai is the perfect illustration for such statesmanship. When Akbar the greatest of the Mughal rulers of India embarked on the conquest of the Rajput states, the Kachawa Rajput king Bharmal of Amber opted to avoid a direct conflict with the massive Mughal forces. Instead in a master stroke of statecraft, the young and ravishing princess Jodha was married to Emperor Akbar. There as Empress and Chief Queen she ruled the roost. Her son Jahangir was named Crown Prince. Thus by consenting to this strategic alliance, the queen not only saved her native state from certain annihilation but also won the land immunity from Akbar’s invasions.
The modern woman of Rajasthan has grown up with such heroines as her idol. Ever enterprising and set to take on the world, the modern Rajasthan woman is a perfect blend of traditional values and modern outlook. Dignified not demure, humble not pusillanimous these women have made a name for themselves. The Rajmata of the Jaipur Royal Family, Maharani Gayatri Devi sets precedent in fields of beauty, grace and politics. Voted among the Ten Most Beautiful women by the popular Vogue magazine in her youth, Her Majesty went on to carve out a niche for herself in the politics of India and become a role model for the younger generation of women from Rajasthan.
