Sarandha was a Rajput princess of Bundelkhand (central India) where her brother Anirudh Singh was the ruler of a small estate. Like other Bundela Rajputs, Anirudh Singh was also constantly engaged with the enemy. His wife Sheetala Devi would be sick and worried every time he went out with his army for some battles. Maharani Sheetala would often plead with him to leave everything and retire. Once at night when Anirudh Singh returned home looking beaten. His wife who had been anxiously waiting for him heaved a sigh of relief seeing him alive. Princess Sarandha questioned her brother Anirudh about the outcome of War and about his troops. Anirudh Singh hung his face in shame admitting that he had to abandon his troops while running for safety. Sarandha admonished him for showing his back in the war and coming home alive in disgrace. Anirudh Singh realized his mistake of compromising the honour and left the fort that very instant. His wife, who was relieved to see her husband alive and safe a moment ago, unsuccessfully tried hard to stop him. Then Sheetala Devi questioned her sister-in-law Sarandha if she did love her honour so much that she would rather have her brother dead, fighting the enemy than to be safe in the fort? Sarandha calmly replied that had it been her husband, she would have pierced his chest with a dagger. After some time, Anirudh Singh returned home victorious. Later, he married his sister to Champat Rai, King of Orchha.
After some time, the power struggle flared in Delhi while the Mughal Emperor Shahjahan’s sons were fighting among themselves for the throne. Aurangzeb and Murad both sought help from Champat Rai. Eventually, Aurangzeb became the Mughal emperor and Champat Rai was rewarded with large estates and given a position at the Royal Court. It is said that during the war, Maharani Sarandha noticed a horse without its rider and had it brought to her fort. One day, Sarandha’s eldest son Chhatrasaal went out of their palace riding the same horse, but he returned on foot. The horse actually belonged to a nobleman in the court of Aurangzeb. Noticing Chhatrasal was riding it, he took back his horse. Brave Maharani Sarandha was shocked that her son had meekly returned the horse without any fight. She immediately took a few soldiers with her and marched towards the nobleman’s house and demanded the horse be returned. The nobleman refused to return the horse however offered huge money in lieu of the horse. Maharani Sarandha declined to accept money as she felt that the horse now rightfully belonged to her. Hearing the noise outside, Aurangzeb himself came out. After knowing the details, he could not understand that why Maharani Sarandha was ready to give up anything for the horse. He asked her if she was ready to lose anything for the horse?” The proud Queen answered affirmatively.
Aurangzeb asked her if she was ready to risk even her estates and her position in the Royal Court? She again replied, “Yes.” He was further puzzled and again asked her, “Are you ready to lose everything for a mere horse?” To which Sarandha replied, “No, I am ready to lose everything for my honour.” The horse was handed over to her but with everything else now lost. She and her husband Champat Rai shifted to Orchha. But Aurangzeb had not forgotten or forgiven them. He sent an army to crush Orchha just to crush Maharani Sarandha’s pride. The Mughal Army laid a siege to the Fort of Orchha. Soldiers of Orchha fought bravely, but Maharani Sarandha knew that her army would not hold for long against the mighty army of the Mughals. She had to ensure the safety of innocent women, children and other subjects. She sent a proposal to the enemy offering to leave the fort if the people of Orchha would be spared.
The very next day, a reassurance letter was sent to her. Thus, she, along with her husband, left the fort in the early hours. She had not gone very far when she saw a few horsemen from the Mughal army coming towards them. She had to make a hard decision now. She would either be captured and taken away to the Aurangzeb’s Court and suffer humiliation, or she could die with honour. Her husband quickly realized her dilemma. He told her that he would rather prefer to die with honour than to be humiliated.
Champat Rai drew out his dagger and gave it to her for action. She knew what her husband wanted her to do. She took the dagger and pierced it through her husband’s chest. Before the horsemen could react, Sarandha stabbed herself also with the same dagger and fell down lifeless. Orchha became part of the Mughal Empire. Many years later her brave son Chhatrasal fought the Mughals and took Orchha back. He ruled the entire Bundelkhand successfully for many years and remained undefeated all his life.
