Hardol Singh Samadhi

¤ Hardol Singh -- Most Able Ruler

s To this day, a much-revered name in Orchha’s history is that of Hardol Singh, and Orchha’s people offer prayers to him at his tomb. Born in 1608, Hardol was the third and most able of Raja Vir Singh’s sons. Although no law of primogeniture existed in Orchha, on his father’s death, the gallant Hardol made it clear that he would not object if his elder brother, Jujhar Singh, ascended the throne. Hardol remained content with the fief of Baragaon, but was still treated with suspicion by his two elder siblings. Not very surprising, as he was the most witty, talented and courageous of all of Vir Singh’s children.


¤ Hardol Act of Bravery

Jujhar’s inadequacies as a ruler were fully exposed when the Mughal army defeated his forces in 1627. The humiliation was further compounded by the fact that he had to personally appear before the Mughal Court to surrender and beg for forgiveness. While Jujhar was waving the white flag before Emperor Shah Jahan, Hardol took charge of Orchha and organised a huge army for a final showdown with the Mughals. Hardol was only 19, but he was keen to rid Orchha of all Mughal influence. His magnificent sacrifice at the time of Jujhar’s accession was turned into steely resolve to drive out the Mughals after Jujhar’s capitulation. Public opinion too swayed in his favour, and he was a well-loved monarch.
Everyone in Orchha was happy, but not so the Mughals and his two elder brothers, Jujhar and Pahar. Shah Jahan tossed a fit at the thought of Orchha gaining its independence, and he found two loyal allies in Jujhar and Pahar Singh, who were consumed with animosity for their younger brother. In order to cut Hardol down to size, the Mughals attacked Orchha, but were decisively defeated by Hardol’s army.


¤ Shah Jahan Attacked Hardol With A Conspiracy

But Shah Jahan was not a man to give up easily. What he could not achieve on the battlefield, he did by hatching a conspiracy in which Hardol’s elder brothers were eager participants. Accordingly, Pahar Singh’s wife Heera Devi, a woman noted for her cunning, was given the task of poisoning Hardol Singh. The foxy Heera Devi offered him some sweets that contained a fatal poison, which the unsuspecting Hardol ate up, and that was that. But the strangest part of this tale is yet to come.

s Hardol died during the time his sister, Kunjavati, was arranging her daughter’s marriage and he had promised to give his sister bhaat (a present in cash or kind) on the occasion. According to a legend, on the day of the nuptials, Kunjavati invoked his name and Hardol appeared before her to fulfill his promise. She even extracted a promise from him to help out any sister who ever came to him. Faith can cast strange spells, and the saga of Hardol Singh is accepted by the people of Orchha as the gospel truth. The former king has been virtually deified by the public and many women visit his samadhi to seek his blessings.


¤ Samadhi of Hardol

The samadhi itself is a simple white marble structure, rectangular in shape and surrounded by lush green foliage. A small bed is placed on the raised platform so that Hardol may sleep in it peacefully. Miniature statues of a horse and a cow stand atop the samadhi along with utensils for storing water, just in case the dead Hardol feels thirsty.