Gharsisar lake

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Gharsisar lake in Jaisalmer was constructed by Bhatti Chief Rawal Gharsi (1306 AD).

Rawal Gharsi re-established Jaisalmer

James Tod[1] On the death of Rawal Dudu, in S. 1362 (AD. 1306), the young princes, Gharsi and Kanur, by the death of their patron Maboob, were left to the protection of his sons, Zoolficar and Gazi Khan. Kanur went privately to Jaisalmer, and Gharsi obtained leave to proceed westward to the Mehwo tract, where he married Bimladevi, a widow, sister to the Rahtore, who had been betrothed to the Deora. While engaged in these nuptials, he was visited by his relation Soningdeo, a man of gigantic strength, who agreed to accompany him on his return to Dehli. The king made trial of his force, by giving him to string an iron bow sent by the king of Khorasan, which the nervous Bhatti not only bent but broke. The invasion of Dehli by Timoor Shah having occurred at this time, the services of Gharsi were so conspicuous that he obtained a grant of his hereditary dominion with permission to re-establish Jaisalmer. With his own kindred and the aid of the vassals of his friend Jagmal of Mahwa, he soon restored order, and had an efficient force at command. Hamir and his clansmen gave their allegiance to Gharsi, but the sons of Jesir were headstrong.

Kehar son of Deoraj proclaimed Rawal

Deoraj, who married the daughter of Rupra, Rana of Mandor, had a son named Kehur, who, when Jaisalmer was about to be invested by the troops of the Sultan, was conveyed to Mandor with his mother. When only twelve years of age, he used to accompany the cowherds of the old Rao's kine, and his favourite amusement was penning up the calves with twigs of the ak, to imitate the picketting of horses. One day, tired of this occupation, young Kehur fell asleep upon the hole of a serpent, and the reptile issuing there- from, arose and spread its hood over him as he slept. A Charan (bard, or genealogist), passing that way, reported the fact and its


[p.231]: import immediately to the Rana, who, proceeding to the spot, found it was his own grandson whom fate had thus pointed out for sovereignty. Gharsi, having no offspring by Bimladevi, proposed to her to adopt a son. All the Bhatti youth were assembled, but none equalled Kehur, who was chosen.

Rawal Gharsi assassinate by sons of Jesir

But the sons of Jesir were disused, and conspired to obtain the gadi. At this time, Rawal Gharsi was in the daily habit of visiting a tank, which he was excavating, and they seized an occasion to assassinate him ; whereupon, in order to defeat their design, Bimladevi immediately had Kehur proclaimed. The widowed queen of Gharsi, with the view of securing the completion of an object which her lord had mach at heart, namely, finishing the lake Gharsisar, as well as to ensure protection to her adopted son Kehur, determined to protract the period of self-immolation ; but when six months had elapsed, and both these objects were attained, she finished her days on the pyre. Bimladevi named the children of Hamir as the adopted sons and successors of Kehur. These sons were Jaita and Loonkurn.

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