1 MAHARAJA RANJIT SINGH, 493
2 the tilak, or mark of royalty, on his forehead. Raja Dhidn Singh was, in
3 the meantime, acknowledged as prime minister to the new Mahardjd.
4 Ranjit Singh placed his hand in that of Dhidn Singh, thus making over
5 to him the charge of his son and heir. He enjoined Dhian Singh to act
6 as his guardian and tutor, and to look upon him as he would on himself.
7 A dress of honour having then been bestowed on the Minister, he received the
8 title of Naib ul Sultanat-i-Uzma, Khdir Khahi Samtimt Daulat-i-Sarkdr,
9 Wazir-i-Muazeim, Dastur-i-Makkarram, Mukhiér wa Mudarul Mahan
10 Kul.
11 The fact was officially communicated to the governors of Multan, Pesha-
12 war, Kashmir and other places, and promulgated throughout the length
13 and breadth of the kingdom.
14 When the last moments of the Mahardjé arrived, thousands of rupees
15 were distributed * as alms among the poor. Rdja Dhidn Singh prepared a
16 raised platform of ten lakhs of rupees, and spread on it a number of shawls, of
17 the aggregate value of ten thousand rupees, On this “ platform,” or “terrace,”
18 the Mahardjé expired. According to the will of the Mahardj& it was
19 intended to bequeath the celebrated diamond, the Koh-t-nuir to the temple
20 of Jagannath, or to the institution of Guri Ram Das, and Ranjit Singh
21 was ready to throw water on it as a sign of having made the bequest.
22 Jamadar Khushhal Singh and Rajé Dhidn Singh sent for the diamond, but
23 Misar Beli Ram, who was in charge of the toshaichdna objected to its delivery,
24 on the ground that it was the property of the Crown and should not be
25 thrown away in alms.
26 The Mahardjd’s body, having been bathed with fragrant waters and
27 embalmed, was dressed in rich clothes and decorated with ornaments, as
28 in life. Four of the Mahardja’s Ranis and seven of his slave-girls, of their
29 own free will and accord, prepared to burn themselves along with the
30 body of their lord and husband, animated with the hope, given them by
31 their religion, of entering paradise with their earthly master. One of the
32 Ranis who burnt themselves alive on the Mahardja’s funeral pile, was
33 Raj Devit daughter of the celebrated Sansdr Chand, Raj& of Kangra,
34 whom the Maharaja had reduced to subjection. According to the tenets of
35 the Hindu religion only childless wives burn themselves alive on the funeral
36 pile of their husbands, and they undergo the horrid ceremony apparently
37 in the hope of getting in the next world what has been denied them in this.
38 All the Ranis who had prepared themselves for the horrible sacrifice,
39 standing at the head of the Mahardja’s body, called the Minister, Réj4 Dhidn
40 Singh, into their presence. The sacred book, “Siri Gitaji,” was placed on the
41 Maharaja's chest, and Dhidn Singh, having touched the body of his royal
42 master and the sacred book, swore fealty to the new Maharaja, Kharak
43 Singh, and solemnly promised to use his best endeavours to keep both Kharak
44 Singh and Nau Nehal Singh on friendly terms.
45 The Maharaja’s body was placed on a decorated bier (bawdén), in shape
46 like a ship. It was wrought with gold, and the sails and flags were made
47 of the richest silk, embroidered with gold. The vessel was placed on a board
48 on which the body of the Mahardja lay, and was carried by a number of men.
49 Thousands of people accompanied the funeral, and the procession moved
50 * Rae Kanhia Lal, in his history of the Panjab, says that 22 lakhs of Punece in cash, and 25
51 lakhs of rupees worth property, was distributed among the poor Muhammadans and Hindus in
52 Moques, Dharmsalas and other religions institutions, and that 250 maunds of ght was sent
53 to Devi Mandar of Jwdl4 Mukhi on this occasion.
54 +Rajd Kanhia Lal in his book mentions that both the daughters of Sansir Chand, who were
55 Ranfs of the Mahardja burned themselves on the funeral pile. This is a mistake, as, according
56 to Dr. Honighberger, who was an eye-witness to the scene, only one became the saté?, the other
57 had some time before died of consumption.
58 Raj& Dhian Singh
59 is declared the prime
60 minister.
61 The last moments of
62 the Maharéja.
63 Death of Maharajé
64 Ranjit Singh, 27th
65 June 1839,
66 _The funeral ceremo-
67 nies,
68 Self-immolation of
69 the Maharasja’s wives
70 and slave-girls on his
71 funeral pyre.
72 Dhién Singh sweirs
73 fealty to the new
74 Mahardja.
75 The heir.
76 The mourning pro-
77 cession,
78 Sri Satguru J agjit Singh J i eLibrary NamdhariElibrary@ gmail.com