The Maratha Invasion of Bishnupur: A Legend of Divine Intervention
Historical Background of the Bargi Attack on Bishnupur
The Maratha Advance into Mallabhum
Bhaskar Pandit, leading the Maratha forces (known as Bargis), crossed the dense forests of Jharkhand and entered Mallabhum with the objective of plundering Bishnupur. He established a massive military encampment south of the Bishnupur fort. Meanwhile, a large contingent of Bargi soldiers, positioned 32 miles east of Bishnupur, had already looted Garh Mandaran and was advancing along the present-day Howrah Road, devastating villages including Kotulpur, Kumbhasthal, and Jaypur.
The Fall of Border Defenses
When the commanders of Kumbhasthal and Jaypur attempted to resist the Maratha forces, they were brutally killed. The Bargi forces then joined their leader Bhaskar Pandit, significantly increasing their military strength. The commanders of Kumbhasthal and Jaypur suffered the greatest losses during this assault.
The King’s Religious Devotion and the Princes’ Response
News of the invasion reached the royal court of Bishnupur. However, King Gopal Singh Deb, deeply absorbed in religious devotion, took no defensive measures when informed. Crown Prince Krishna Singh Deb and Prince Govinda Singh Deb, acting without their father’s knowledge, took matters into their own hands. They strengthened the military forces as much as possible and, following their mother’s instructions, stationed some troops to defend the fort while leading the remaining forces to Mundamala Ghat.
Bhaskar Pandit’s Strategic Advance
The cunning Bhaskar Pandit employed clever tactics, digging trenches as his forces advanced without alerting anyone. This strategy caused the cannonballs and gunfire from Bishnupur’s defenses to pass harmlessly over their heads. Despite everyone reporting the situation to Gopal Singh Deb, the king remained steadfast in his devotional practices, instructing all that if Madan Mohan (Lord Krishna) wished to protect his kingdom, He would do so himself.
The Citizens’ Prayer Campaign
The dual pressure of the royal command and the terror of the Bargis awakened all the residents of Bishnupur. The people took to the streets in prayer to Lord Madan Mohan, and the sky and air of Bishnupur resonated with devotional chanting (sankirtan). A stream of devotional fervor descended upon the city. The solemn sound even reached the ears of the Marathas, instilling fear in them as they began to believe the fort was protected by divine forces and therefore invincible.
The Miraculous Night
The chanting of the Lord’s name continued day and night. According to legend, late at night, the sky and air of Bishnupur trembled with the terrifying roar of the cannon Dalmadal. The tremendous sound shook everything in all directions. Many houses were destroyed, and countless Bargi soldiers were killed or wounded. Overwhelmed by the fear of certain death, the Bargis crossed the Dwarakeswar River and fled. The remaining forces, including Bhaskar Pandit, escaped through the jungle paths of the Hendre hills located northeast of Bishnupur.
The King’s Investigation
The chanting king and his followers were suddenly startled by the terrible sound. Gopal Singh summoned his gunners and demanded to know who had fired the Dalmadal cannon. One gunner, with folded hands, explained: “Your Majesty, I was positioned on the hill by the trench at Mundamala Ghat in the northern fort. Following your instructions, I called upon Madan Mohan all night while monitoring the movements of the Bargis. At the end of the night, when the Bargis had nearly reached the fort, I saw a boy of about twelve years, dressed in blue clothes, riding a white horse at full speed toward that direction. The air filled with beautiful fragrance, and everything was illuminated by his radiant body. Suddenly, I lost consciousness and fell. When I regained consciousness, I saw the Bargis fleeing desperately for their lives. Despite searching extensively, I could not find him again.”
The Divine Revelation
The king, overwhelmed with emotion, said, “How could you find Him? Responding to His devotee’s call, He completed His work and left. Come, let us all go to the temple.” However, on the way to the temple, a milkman stopped them. With folded hands, he said: “My Lord, following your orders, I was bringing yogurt for Madan Mohan when suddenly a twelve-year-old boy in blue clothes appeared and said he was very tired from fighting the Bargis and his throat was parched with thirst. He asked for some yogurt to quench his thirst. I saw gunpowder all over his body. After drinking the yogurt in one breath, instead of paying, he gave me a gold bangle and said that if I showed this to my father, he would forgive all my faults.”
The Temple Discovery
Hearing this, everyone proceeded to the temple while chanting His name. Upon arrival, they found Goddess Lakshmi (Shrimati) reclining on a milk-foam white bed on the jeweled altar, with Lord Madan Mohan standing below. One golden bangle was missing from His hand.
Historical Significance
This legendary account represents the faith and devotion of 18th-century Bishnupur during the Maratha raids that terrorized Bengal. The story illustrates how religious faith sustained communities during times of invasion and emphasizes the cultural importance of the Madan Mohan temple in Bishnupur’s identity.
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