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Cenotaphs of Royal Family of Bikaner.
(7 K.M.)
It is situated on Jaipur or Delhi highway and
the place is also called ‘Devi Kund Sagar’ There are numerous arched
domes built in the memory of the rulers of Bikaner and their queens
and children.
The memorials of Devi Kund Sagar tell you once
those ancient ruler who possessed fortune and power but at the
juncture of death they had to leave the mortal pleasures and
facilities. Epitaphs under the arch domes tell you about Hindu
belief.” About where a soul migrates after death.”
“What happens with those royal mistresses and
queens who burnt themselves on the funeral pyre of their husbands?
(Who were rulers)
The memorials erected at Devi Kund Sagar are
fine examples of Indo-Mugal architecture. Although there are more then
a hundred memorials at Devi Kund Sagar but basically all memorials can
be classified in the four categories. Following is the reference of
all those four categories.
Type First
It symbolizes that the ruler 9 of Bikaner state
in whose the arched dome in constructed, has gone to the eternal abode
of heaven which is governed by the load of heaven, (Lord Vishnu). See
the inscription carefully Lord Vishnu, creator, the universe
(according Hindu mythology) is marked sitting on his throne and his
consort, the goddess of wealth namely Laxmi is sitting, it is the
vehicle of Lord Vishnu namely ‘Garuda”. According to the Indian
mythological belief, Sun and Moon both live in heaven therefore both
are depicted at the court of Lord Vishnu.
Further, study of the memorial of type first
unfolds that the ruler of the state(Bikaner) is in the shelter of the
Lord of Heaven and he remains in heaven for ever and her serves the
Lord of Heaven. That is why in the cenotaphs of “Type first’ Ruler of
the state is marked on the left hand side and on the right hand side
there is a feminine sculpture made for queen, who also died before
the ruler. It symbolized both (Ruler & Queen) went to heaven after
their death But in some of the inscriptions the queen is not depicted
and this symbolizes that thew queen was alive when such a memorial was
constructed.
In the first category of memorials you may also
mark the changing dress pattern different rulers, for example the last
three rulers of Bikaner state (His Highness Ganga Singh, Sadul Singh
and Dr. Karni Singh) began to wear English dress so they are marked
wearing English dress, but when you see the older cenotaphs you will
find the rulers are marked wearing more conventional dress.
Inscription
of type second
In that type of cenotaph, inscription points
out that the dead ruler has gone to heaven forever (As believed in the
Hindu Mythology) and there he is provided with all earthly pleasures
and facilities and his rights and mights. See the inscriptions of the
type second, the ruler are marked riding their horses; it symbolizes
their sovereignty in heaven. Further inscription also symbolizes the
queens, mistresses and maidservants who burnt them selves the funeral
pyre of rulers, they are withhim in the heaven. The inscription also
indicates the social status of those women, e.g. some women are marked
standing infront of the horses of the rulers, complimenting the
rulers. See the inscription carefully some of those women are marked
on an elevated platform like place, and those women are carved wearing
all costumes and jewellery. This all confirms that they are the
legitimate wives of the rulers.
The same type of inscriptions also describes
royal mistresses who burnt themselves on the funeral pyre of different
rulers. It is believed that they are also living with the particular
ruler in heaven, on whose funeral pyre they burnt themselves. Such
women (mistresses) are depicted on the inscription in one or two lines
under the feet of the ruler’s horse and they are marked under the feet
of horse because of their lower position. In the life of bygone are jewellery was symbol of status and dignity; those mistress are marked
wearing jewellery because there were royal mistresses.
Some maidservants are also depicted on the
inscriptions of the second type and they on the back side the horse,
either holding a fan of horse hair or holding an umbrella. (Both
things symbolize sovereignty to the ruler.)
Inscription
of “type three”
The cenotaphs in this category mark footprints
of the dead queens and royal mistresses on the stone sleepers. A
priest worships those footprints and it symbolized the utmost regard
for the late mistresses and queens. In the above mentioned category
there are some inscriptions marked with conch shell and moon which are
signs of Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu, It symbolizes that the departed
queens & royal mistresses were the devotees of those gods whose sign
is made on the inscription
Type four
Those cenotaphs which come under category
“Four” were constructed in memory of Royal Kids and those memorials
look like a small platform and there is a cavity and milk mixed water
is poured into it and on the particular day of the anniversary of the
royal kids pure milk and some sweetmeats are poured into that cavity
in conformity with the ancient belief that the child will receive all
that in the other world through the birds animals which feed on it.
No.One
It is quite modern type of cenotaph erected in
the sacred memory of his highness karni Singh, the 23 ruler of Bikaner
state who abandoned this materialistic world on Sept.6/1988 A.D. Dr.
Karni Singh was a great man and great shooting champion of
international level. He was liked and adored by the people of Bikaner
state as he was a man of merit and he had a very appealing
personality.
(Inscription of the memorial was not laid down
when this book was being printed)
Cenotaph of
Maharaja Ganga Singh
This marble made cenotaph is erected in the memory of his
highness Ganga Singh, the 21st ruler of Bikaner who expired
in 1943 A.D.
He was the founder of modern Bikaner and most
of the buildings were made during his reign. His cenotaph is very
beautiful, lattice work and the ceiling of the cenotaph is specially
nice.
Cenotaph of
Queen Deep kanwar
This red sand stone made cenotaph is famous for
its floral carving work on the stone. It is erected in the memory of
queen Deep kanwar who burnt herself on the funeral pyre of her
husband namely prince Laxmi Singh, in 1825 A.D. (The prince was the
son of this highness Surat Singh, 17th ruler of Bikaner)
See the insceiption; it marks that queen deep kanwar is standing in
the front of the horse of her husband and it is scene of heaven carved
on the inscription stone. This carved image on the stone confirms the
Hindu belief that she met her husband in heaven after burning her body
on the funeral pyre of her husband.
Since the foundation of this memorial it has
served the purpose of a temple for the local people and it is believed
that after burning herself on the funeral pyre the queen has become a
goddess. That is why still people come to this place and they worship
the goddess and some while worshiping ask the goddess to grant them a
boon, for example unmarried female devotees of goddess may ask her for
giving them a decent husband and unmarried make devotee may ask her
for giving decent wife and while putting such demands to the goddess
some of them also tie ribbons or cotton thread on the inscription or
some where with in the temple and it is a reminder of the demand to
the goddess and such a tie is unfolded only when the goddess has
granted a boon of particular person.
Cenotaph of
Maharaja Raj Singh
It was erected in the memory of his highness
Raj. Singh, the 15th ruler of Bikaner state who expired in
1787 A.D. One of the peculiarities of this cenotaph is that one of the
knights of Bikaner state, namely Sangram Singh burnt himself on the
funeral pyre of the king. See the inscription carefully, the knight is
marked behind the horse of Lord (Raj. Singh)
Oldest
cenotaph of Devikund sagar
It is erected in the memory of kalyan mal the
fifth ruler of this state, who expired in 1573A.D. and fifteen women
burnt themselves on the funeral pyre of the ruler. See the inscription
carefully all the 15 women are shown with the ruler is heaven and they
are dancing in front of the ruler to please him. The particular
inscription of the 5th ruler is made of yellow sandstone of
Jaisalmer area. It is beautiful and you are advised not to miss it.
Cenotaph of
Maharaja Anup singh
He was the 10th ruler of Bikaner
state who of died in 1696 A.D. 18 women burnt themselves on the
funeral pyre of the lord and all of them are marked on the
inscription. This particular cenotaph is one of the most attractive
and elaborately carved, you recommended to see it.
How to go to
see the Cenotaphs of Devikund Sagar
You are recommended to join the conducted sight
seeing tour organized by Desert Tours, but if your prefer to go
independently, then take an Auto riksaw: it may cost you about RS.
35/- (to most fro trip of couple.)
The most economical way to get to Devikund
sager is by Bus of Rajasthan Roadways, it is avilable of the old bus
station which is near the Junagarh fort, (The great fort of Bikaner.)
There is inquiry window and you can ask for the ticket to Devikund
sagar from that inquiry window
Departure
timing of the bus from Bikaner to Devikund sagar.
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