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{{Infobox person
| honorific_prefix = Rashtra Kavi
| name = Dursa Arha
| image = Hinduwadi Pratham Rashtra Kavi Dursa Arha.jpg
| birth_date = 1535
| birth_place = Pali
| death_date = 1655
| death_place = Panchetiya
| occupation = Poet Warrior Advisor
| notable_works = Virud Chihattari, Kirta Bhavani
| children = 4
| father = Mehaji Arha
}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=September 2018}}
Dursa Arha(1535-1655 AD) was a 16th-century warrior and [[Rajasthani language|Rajasthani]]([[Dingal]]) poet from India.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Sehgal|first=K. k|url=http://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.120404|title=Rajasthan Distict Gazetteers Pali|date=1960}}</ref> He is known for his nationalist stance in his [[Dingal]] poems in favor of [[Maharana Pratap]] of [[Mewar]] in his struggle against the [[Mughal Empire|Mughals]].<ref name=":2">{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=MWlDAAAAYAAJ&newbks=0&printsec=frontcover&dq=%22%E0%A4%A6%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%B8%E0%A4%BE+%E0%A4%86%E0%A5%9D%E0%A4%BE%22&q=%22%E0%A4%A6%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%B8%E0%A4%BE+%E0%A4%86%E0%A5%9D%E0%A4%BE%22&hl=en|title=Saṃskṛti|date=1978|publisher=Śikshā Mantrālaya|language=hi}}</ref> He is one of the most highly regarded poets of the time, who was also a valuable and respectable part of the [[Mughal Empire|Mughal]] court. He was a good litterateur, historian, war general, consultant, administrator, [[Feudalism|feudal lord]], and magistrate. He had close relations with the rulers of many erstwhile kingdoms. On the basis of wealth, fame, and honor Dursa Arha acquired in his lifetime and his contribution to Rajasthan history and literature, the historians and litterateurs of Rajasthan consider him as one of the greatest poets.<ref>{{Cite web|title=A History of Rajasthan - Google Search|url=https://www.google.com/search?kgmid=/g/12bm7rbqx&hl=en-IN&q=A+History+of+Rajasthan&kgs=d420f7e0d66e2246&shndl=0&source=sh/x/kp&entrypoint=sh/x/kp|access-date=2021-05-10|website=www.google.com}}</ref>

He wrote poems in praise of [[Maharana Pratap]], and when news of Pratap's passing reached the [[Mughal Empire|Mughal]] court, fearlessly recited a verse eulogizing Pratap in [[Akbar]]'s presence.<ref>{{Cite book|last=N.A.|url=http://archive.org/details/dli.bengal.10689.21542|title=MEDIEVAL INDIAN LITERATURE AN ANTHOLOGY VOL. 4|date=1959|publisher=SAHITYA AKADEMI, NEW DELHI}}</ref>
==Early life==
Dursa Arha was born in 1535 AD (V.S. 1592 Magha Sudi Chavdas) to [[Charan|Charans]] of Arha clan in Dhundla village near [[Sojat]] Pargana([[Pali district|Pali]]) of [[Marwar]] state. His father Mehaji Arha was a great devotee of [[Hinglaj Mata mandir|Hinglaj Mata]] and made pilgrimages to [[Hinglaj]] Shaktipeeth in [[Balochistan, Pakistan|Balochistan]] thrice.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book|last=Rawat|first=saswat|url=http://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.444009|title=Dursa Aarha|date=1983}}</ref> His ancestors came from the village of Asadha, located in the [[Jalore district]] near [[Sanchore]], and from this connection came Dursa's last name.<ref name="Sahitya">{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ObFCT5_taSgC&q=duraso&pg=PA73|title=The Encyclopaedia of Indian literature Volume One (A To Devo)|publisher=Sahitya Akademi|year=1987|isbn=9788126018031|editor-last=Datta|editor-first=Amaresh|pages=73–74}}</ref>Dursa Arha, paternally, was born in the lineage of Gautam, while his mother Dhani Bai(of Bogsa lineage of [[Charan|Charans]]) was the sister of the Govind Bogsa. When Dursa was six years old, his devout father Mehaji Arha went on [[pilgrimage]] to Hinglaj again and this time he took ''[[Sannyasa|sanyasa]]''. Therefore, in order to run a house in the absence of the father, he had to work as a child laborer on a farmer's [[farm]]. <ref name=":0" />
== Hardships ==
In the village of Dhundla of Marwar state, a boy working on a farm was irrigating in a pediatric crop, but due to the breaking of the raw drain of sand being used for [[irrigation]] from that boy, the water on both sides started draining. The angry [[farmer]], crossing all the limits of cruelty, forced the young boy into the broken drain and put soil on him, to stop the spread of water to irrigate his [[crop]].<ref name=":0" />

At the time, the feudal [[Thakur (title)|Thakur]] Pratap Singh of an estate named Bagdi, had come to the well located in the farmer's farm to feed his [[Horse|horses]], when his eyes fell on the boy buried in the soil of the field, he was shocked. After finding out that the boy was a [[Charan]], he took the boy along with him to [[Sojat]] and arranged for his proper education and initiation. Over the years, the child became an able administrator, [[warrior]] ,and a brilliant [[poet]] and [[scholar]]. The same child became renowned as Maha Kavi Dursaji Arha. <ref name=":0" />
== Career ==
After Dursa Ji finished his education and training, he had not only become a great poet, his sword was also as brave as his pen. In view of his intelligence, [[Thakur (title)|Thakur Pratap Singh]] of Bagdi, appointed him his Principal Advisor and Military General. Dursa Ji was awarded the [[Fief|fiefdom]] of two villages named Dhundla and Nathalkudi as an award.<ref name=":1">{{Cite book|last=Lala Sita Ram|url=http://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.272117|title=History Of Sirohi Raj|date=1920}}</ref>
== Dursa Arha and the Sirohi Kingdom ==
In 1583 AD, [[Akbar|Mughal Emporer Akbar]] sent an army in favor of Jagmal Sisodia ([[Mewar]]) against Rao Surtan Singh of [[Sirohi State|Sirohi]], the [[Marwar|Marwar state]] army also marched against Surtan Singh in favor of Jagmal. In that army from [[Marwar]], Bagdi Thakur Pratap Singh and Dursa Arha also went to take part in the war. The two armies fought at a place called Datani near [[Mount Abu|Abu]], in which Pratap Singh died and Dursa Arha was severely wounded . In the evening, Mahaao Surtan Singh was taking care of his wounded soldiers, including his feudal lords, when he found Dursa Arha and was about to give him the milk of poppy(to end his life in a painless way). The injured Dursa, managed to introduce himself, said that he is a [[Charan]], and as proof, he immediately composed a couplet in praise of the warrior Samra Deora, who died heroically fighting in that war.<ref name=":1" />

The [[Maharao]] was extremely pleased to hear the verse and upon discovering the [[Charan]] identity; brought him along in his own ''doli(''palanquin) and got him treated for his wounds. Rao Surtan Singh, pleased with the talent of Dursa, asked him stay with him and offered the position of Prolpat(Keeper of the Fort) of his fort. Dursa Ji accepted and he was awarded the ''[[jagir]]'' of 4 villages named Peshua, Jhankar, Ound, and Sal. After that Dursa Ji stayed in [[Sirohi State|Sirohi]].<ref name=":1" />

Mahakavi Dursa understood the political motives of the then Mughal rulers and never failed to convey his thoughts through his poems. In [[Rajasthan]], when he reached [[Udaipur State|Mewar]], [[Amar Singh I|Maharana Amar Singh]] himself gave a grand welcome to Dursa and received him at the Badi Pol.<ref name=":2" />

Dursa Arha participated as one of the leaders in the [[Auwa|''Dharna'' ''of Auwa'']] protest by [[Charan|Charans]] in 1586 AD, against ''Mota Raja'' [[Udai Singh of Marwar|Udai Singh]] of Marwar.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Rāṭhauṛa|first=Vikramasiṃha|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DA0MAAAAIAAJ&newbks=0&printsec=frontcover&dq=%22%E0%A4%A6%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%B8%E0%A4%BE+%E0%A4%86%E0%A5%9D%E0%A4%BE%22&q=%22%E0%A4%A6%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%B8%E0%A4%BE+%E0%A4%86%E0%A5%9D%E0%A4%BE%22&hl=en|title=Māravāṛa kā sāṃskr̥tika itihāsa|date=1996|publisher=Rājasthānī Granthāgāra|language=hi}}</ref>
== Fiefdoms under the rule of Dursa Arha ==
Dhundla, Natal Kudi, Panchetiya, Jaswantpura, Godavas, Hingola Khurd, Lungia, Peshua, Jhankhar, Sal, Ound, Dagla, Varal, Sheruwa, Peruwa, Raipuria, Dutharia, Kangdi, Tasol, Sisoda. Apart from these, Raja Rai Singh of Bikaner awarded four villages as fief, which is confirmed by the history of Bikaner.<ref name=":0" />
== Buildings and Monuments ==
Constructions commissioned in respective feudal holdings:-<ref name=":0" />
=== Peshua ===
<blockquote>1. Dursalav Peshua(Pond)
2. Baleshwari Mata Mandir(Temple)

3. Kanako De Sati Smarak(Memorial)

4. Peshua Ka Shashan Thada</blockquote>
=== Jhankhar ===
<blockquote>1. Futela Talav(Pond)
2. Jhankar Ka Thada</blockquote>
=== [[Panchetiya]] ===
<blockquote>1. Kisnalav Pachetiya(Pond)
2. Shiva Mandir(Temple)

3. Dursashyam Mandir(Temple)

4. Kalia Mahal(Palace)

5. Dholiya Mahal(Palace)</blockquote>
=== Hingola Khurd ===
<blockquote>
# Higonla Mahal(Palace)
# Higola Ka Talav(Pond)
</blockquote>
=== Raipuria ===
<blockquote>1. The construction of Bawdi(Stepwell), in his fiefdom village in the princely state of Mewar, from where the water reached Panchetia (Marwar), because, after the [[Auwa]] Dharna by Charans, Dursa Ji had abandoned the water of Marwar.<ref name=":0" /></blockquote>
== Awards by Kings in honor of Dursa Ji Arha ==
Lakh Pasav or Crore Pasav were state honors conferred upon the eminent [[Charan|Charans]] in the medieval period. When great [[Charan|Charans]] visited the court of a Rajput ruler, they were honored by the kings in a state honor which included elephants or palanquins and horses.<ref name=":0" />

Crore Pasav Awards:<blockquote>
* 1 crore pasav by Rai Singh Ji [[Bikaner State|Bikaner]]
* 1 crore pasav by Rao Suratan Singh [[Sirohi State|Sirohi]]
* 1 crore pasav by [[Man Singh I|Man Singh]] Amer
* 1 crore pasav by [[Amar Singh I|Maharana Amar Singh]] [[Udaipur State|Mewar]]
* 1 crore pasav by [[Gaj Singh of Marwar|Maharaja Gaj Singh]] [[Marwar]]
* 1 crore pasav by Jam Satti
* 3 crore pasav by the Mughal Emperor [[Akbar]]( not used for personal things but spent in the welfare of the people i.e. spent in the construction of Talaab(Ponds), Bawdi([[Stepwell|Stepwells]]), Kuwa(Wells), etc.)<ref name=":0" />
</blockquote>
==Death & Legacy==
Dursa was subjected to a childhood of acute poverty but demonstrated a talent for poetry that brought him great wealth. He was a part in many [[Rajput]] royal courts, including those of [[Bikaner (princely state)|Bikaner]] [[Jodhpur State|Jodhpur]] and [[Sirohi State|Sirohi.]] He also enjoyed a good relationship with [[Akbar]], the [[Mughal Empire|Mughal emperor]].<ref name="Sahitya" />

Dursa Arha had 2 wives and had 4 sons from them, namely, Bharmal, Jagmal, Sadul, Kamji and Kisnaji. He also additionally had an issue from a ''paswan''([[Concubinage|concubine]]) he kept.<ref name=":0" />

He spent his last days in his son Kisnaji's house at [[Panchetiya]] village, where he died in 1655.<ref name="Sahitya" /> On his death, his two wives, one paswan, and two cocubines became ''[[Sati (practice)|sati]].''<ref name=":0" />
==Works==
The poems written by Dursa Arha mostly relate the heroism and manliness of the rulers of that time but also chronicle many mundane matters. He treated the achievements of his subjects as individuals even when they were constantly at odds with each other, as in the case of his writings about Akbar and [[Maharana Pratap]]. He expressed his deep faith in the [[Hindu]] religion, appreciated the bravery of Hindu heroes and wrote of the injustice of the Mughals. However, literary analysis of the ''Virud Chihattari'' poem associated with him, including the extremely harsh words used to describe Akbar, suggests that work and also the smaller ''Gajagata'' were at least not all of his own writing.<ref name="Sahitya" />

His major works are:<ref name="Sahitya" />
* ''Virud Chihattari'' (in honour of Maharana Pratap)
* ''Doha Solanki Viramdevji ra''
* ''Jhulana Rav Surtan ra''
* ''Marsiya Rav Surtan ra''
* ''Jhulana Raja Mansingh Macchvaha ra''
* ''Jhulana Ravat Megha ra''
* ''Git Raji sri Rohitasji ra''
* ''Jhulana Rav Amarsingh Gajsinghota'' (heroic poetry of Rao Amarsingh of [[Nagaur]])
* ''Kirta Bhavani''
* ''Mataji ra Chhand''
* ''Sri Kumar Ajjaji na Bhuchar Mori ni Gajagat''
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Durasa, Adha}}
[[Category:Indian male poets]]
[[Category:Rajasthani-language writers]]
[[Category:1538 births]]
[[Category:1651 deaths]]
[[Category:People from Pali district]]
[[Category:16th-century Indian poets]]
[[Category:17th-century Indian poets]]
[[Category:Poets from Rajasthan]]
[[Category:17th-century male writers]]
[[Category:Charan]]

Dursa Arha - Revision history

Seaworld at 19:21, 7 March 2022