Durgavati was born on 5 October 1524 at the fort of Kalinjar, a princess of the Chandela dynasty — born, tradition says, on Durgashtami, hence her name. In 1542 she married Dalpat Shah, son of Sangram Shah of the Gond kingdom of Garha-Katanga, centred on present-day Jabalpur. The marriage of a Rajput princess into a Gond royal house was unusual and joined two great families.
It is better to die with honour than to live in disgrace.Her choice at Narrai, as told in tradition
Dalpat Shah died around 1550, leaving a young son, Bir Narayan. Durgavati became regent and ruled the kingdom.
A wise ruler
For about fifteen years she governed Garha-Katanga well, moving her capital to Chauragarh in the Satpura hills. She encouraged trade and farming, and built tanks and reservoirs that still bear the names of her household — Ranital, Cherital (after a maid) and Adhartal (after her minister Adhar Kayastha). She is said to have kept a large army with many elephants and to have defeated the forces of Baz Bahadur of Malwa.
Narrai, 1564
In 1564 the Mughal governor Asaf Khan invaded with a much larger army and artillery. Durgavati led her troops herself, mounted on an elephant. In the narrow valley of Narrai she won the first day's fighting, but the next day the Mughals brought up their guns. Wounded by arrows, and with defeat certain, she took her own life with her dagger rather than be captured, on 24 June 1564. Her son Bir Narayan fell defending Chauragarh soon after.
How they are remembered
Her death anniversary, 24 June, is observed as Balidan Diwas in Madhya Pradesh. Rani Durgavati University in Jabalpur and the Rani Durgavati Museum bear her name, and her samadhi stands at Barela, near the battlefield.
Ekatmata Stotra · Stanza 10
Named in Stanza 10 of the Ekatmata Stotra — ten women of itihāsa and purāṇa.
अरुन्धती अनसूया च सावित्री जानकी सती।
द्रौपदी कण्णगी गार्गी मीरा दुर्गाश्च वन्दिताः॥
Sources: Wikipedia: Rani Durgavati · Wikipedia: Garha Kingdom. Written afresh for The Hindu Book; corrections welcome at [email protected].
