Queen Karnavati had sent a rakhi to Mughal emporer Humayun seeking his help
Humayun also showered all his respect to pious thread and came running to help his sister in need
Do you know Raksha Bandhan, the festival celebrating the sacred bond of sister & brother’s love, finds a strong connect with Rajasthan?
The story goes back to the glorious pages of history where the sacred thread of love was respected by kings and queens from across the borders who transcended the religious barriers too while being connected with the pious thread which defined the symbolic brother-sister relationship.
The queen of Chittor Karnavati and Mughal emperor Humayun is remembered on each Raksha Bandhan in this context.
While the queen sent the sacred thread (rakhi) to Humanyun when her kingdom was surrounded by enemies, Humayun also respected the sentiments and rushed to help her.
Rani Karnavati was a queen of Chittorgarh who was from Bundi.
She was married to Rana Sangram Singh (Rana Sanga) from the Sisodia dynasty of Chittorgarh, which was the capital of Mewar. The mother of two Ranas, Vikramjit and Uday Singh, Karnavati was the grandmother of Rajput warrior Maharana Pratap.
When the first Mughal emperor Babur won Delhi in 1526, Rana Sanga of Mewar marched against him with Rajput nobles, but was defeated in the Battle of Khanua in 1527.
Rana Sanga died, leaving Rani Karnavati a widow. Her elder son Vikramjit meanwhile also suffered a defeat by Bahadur Shah of Gujarat.
At this time, Queen Karnavati requested Rajput rulers to help in defending the honour of Chittorgarh. The rulers accepted her request, but on the only condition that her two sons should be sent to Bundi during the war which was meant for their personal safety.
Karnavati accepted their advice, Meanwhile, she sent a Rakhi to the Mughal Emperor Humayun, offering him the brother’s status while appealing for help. Humayun at that time was in the process of reducing Bengal; he left the campaign in between and came rushing to her rescue, giving a meaning to the Rakhi she sent.
