Mat Prakash

Mat Prakash
Mat Prakash
Raja of Nahan
Raja of Sirmaur State
Reign	1684 – 1704
Predecessor	Budh Chand Prakash (father)
Successor	Hari Prakash (brother)
Born	Jog Raj
Died	1704

Mat Prakash, also known as Medini Prakash^[1], was a king of Sirmur State in present-day Himachal Pradesh, India. He ruled from 1684 until his death in 1704.^[2]

Early life

He was born as Jog Raj and was the son of Budh Chand Prakash.^[3] He had a brother named Hari Prakash.^[3]

Relationship with Sikhs

In 1685 he invited Guru Gobind Singh to live in his realm.^[4]^[1] The reason for him doing so has been attributing either to him being highly reverent of the Guru, whose life was endangered in Anandpur due to hostile rajas seeking to eliminate him or as a realpolitik move to ally himself to the Guru to prevent any possible attacks on his state by rival kingdoms.^[1] Mat Prakash did not join Bhim Chand (Kahlur) and the other local rajas in their wars against the Sikhs.^[1]

Construction works

Two mandirs were built in Shepri (Shivpuri) during his reign dedicated to Bankhadi Mahadev and Maharani Kartika Kalratri.^[5]

Death

He died without issue in 1704.^[3] Since he had no issue, he was succeeded to the throne by Hari Prakash, his brother.^[3]

References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Dahiya, Amardeep S. (2014). Founder of the Khalsa: The Life and Times of Guru Gobind Singh (Revised ed.). Hay House. ISBN 9789381398616. One hill raja who had always been favourably inclined towards the guru was Raja Medini Prakash of Sirmaur (Nahan). Ever since the martyrdom of Guru Tegh Bahadur he had felt himself being drawn to the Sikh faith and to the Sikh guru. Now, hearing of the plotting and scheming amongst the hill rajas, which seemed to be directed solely against the guru, he was concerned about the guru's welfare. It was true that the guru had won a quick victory against Bhim Chand in a lightning battle. But it was also true that the guru had neither the experience nor the military strength to conduct an extended war against the combined armies of the rajas. He took the only step he could take to ensure the guru's safety; he invited the guru on an extended stay in his kingdom. The climate of Sirmaur was cool and salubrious, he said, and his forests were teeming with wildlife of every kind, which would give the guru ample opportunity to indulge in one of his favourite pastimes - hunting. Besides the scenic beauty of the area along the Jamuna was just the kind of inspiration that would provide an impulse to the guru's creative genius. There are some historians who assign a less generous motive to Medini Prakash' invitation: Sirmaur and Garhwal were neighbouring states who had been engaged in hostilities for many generations. This hostility continued between the present rulers: Medini Prakash of Sirmaur and Fateh Shah of Garhwal. After his victory against Bhim Chand the guru was now looked upon as a powerful military force. By inviting him to stay with him in Nahan, Medini Prakash hoped to send a message to Fateh Shah that the guru and his army were now his allies and so persuade Fateh Shah to suspend any designs that he might have against Sirmaur.
^ Singh, Mian Goverdhan (1999). Wooden Temples of Himachal Pradesh. Indus Publishing. p. 49. ISBN 9788173870941.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Archer, William George (1973). Indian Paintings from the Punjab Hills. Indian Paintings from the Punjab Hills: A Survey and History of Pahari Miniature Painting. Vol. 1. Sotheby Parke Bernet. p. 414. ISBN 9780856670022.
^ Johar, Surinder Singh (1999). "As a Democrat". Guru Gobind Singh: A Multi-faceted Personality. M.D. Publications Pvt. Ltd. p. 83. ISBN 9788175330931.
^ Śarmā, Baṃśī Rāma (2007). Gods of Himachal Pradesh. Institute of Integrated Himalayan Studies (Simla, India). Indus Publishing Company. p. 239.

Sources

The Sikh Encyclopedia article on Prakash

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[:0-1] Dahiya, Amardeep S. (2014). Founder of the Khalsa: The Life and Times of Guru Gobind Singh (Revised ed.). Hay House. ISBN 9789381398616. One hill raja who had always been favourably inclined towards the guru was Raja Medini Prakash of Sirmaur (Nahan). Ever since the martyrdom of Guru Tegh Bahadur he had felt himself being drawn to the Sikh faith and to the Sikh guru. Now, hearing of the plotting and scheming amongst the hill rajas, which seemed to be directed solely against the guru, he was concerned about the guru's welfare. It was true that the guru had won a quick victory against Bhim Chand in a lightning battle. But it was also true that the guru had neither the experience nor the military strength to conduct an extended war against the combined armies of the rajas. He took the only step he could take to ensure the guru's safety; he invited the guru on an extended stay in his kingdom. The climate of Sirmaur was cool and salubrious, he said, and his forests were teeming with wildlife of every kind, which would give the guru ample opportunity to indulge in one of his favourite pastimes - hunting. Besides the scenic beauty of the area along the Jamuna was just the kind of inspiration that would provide an impulse to the guru's creative genius. There are some historians who assign a less generous motive to Medini Prakash' invitation: Sirmaur and Garhwal were neighbouring states who had been engaged in hostilities for many generations. This hostility continued between the present rulers: Medini Prakash of Sirmaur and Fateh Shah of Garhwal. After his victory against Bhim Chand the guru was now looked upon as a powerful military force. By inviting him to stay with him in Nahan, Medini Prakash hoped to send a message to Fateh Shah that the guru and his army were now his allies and so persuade Fateh Shah to suspend any designs that he might have against Sirmaur.

[2] Singh, Mian Goverdhan (1999). Wooden Temples of Himachal Pradesh. Indus Publishing. p. 49. ISBN 9788173870941.

[:1-3] Archer, William George (1973). Indian Paintings from the Punjab Hills. Indian Paintings from the Punjab Hills: A Survey and History of Pahari Miniature Painting. Vol. 1. Sotheby Parke Bernet. p. 414. ISBN 9780856670022.

[4] Johar, Surinder Singh (1999). "As a Democrat". Guru Gobind Singh: A Multi-faceted Personality. M.D. Publications Pvt. Ltd. p. 83. ISBN 9788175330931.

[5] Śarmā, Baṃśī Rāma (2007). Gods of Himachal Pradesh. Institute of Integrated Himalayan Studies (Simla, India). Indus Publishing Company. p. 239.

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