Bettiah Raj - Origins

 

MAHARAJA SIR HARENDRA KISHORE SINGH - The Last Ruler of Bettiah Raj

Maharaja Sir Harendra Kishore Singh was the last ruler of Bettiah Raj. Maharaja Sir Harendra Kishore Singh was born in 1854 and succeeded his father, the late Maharaja Rajendra Kishore Singh Bahadur in 1883 and in 1884 received the title of Maharaja Bahadur as a personal distinction and a Khilat and a sanad from the hands of the Lieutenant Governor of Bengal, Sir Augustus Rivers Thompson.^[1] He was created a Knight Commander of the Most Eminent Order of the Indian Empire on 1 March 1889.^[2] He was appointed a member of the Legislative Council of Bengal in January, 1891.^[3] He was also a member of The Asiatic Society [1] He was the last ruler of Bettiah Raj.

Maharaja Sir Harendra Kishore Singh Bahadur died issueless on March 26, 1893 leaving behind him two widows, Maharani Sheo Ratna Kuer and Maharani Janki Kuer.

So great was the esteem in which Maharaja Sir Harendra Kishore Singh was held by the Government that the Lt. Governor of Bengal Antony MacDonnell, 1st Baron MacDonnell came to Bettiah personally to offer his condolence on his death.

There are numerous educational institutions in the name of the last Maharaja of Bettiah. Some prominent ones are :

1. Maharaja Harendra Kishor Inter College at Motihari and
2. Maharaja Harendra Kishore Public Library, Bettiah (renamed in the name of the last Maharaja on his birthday in 1955 from Victoria Memorial Library)

SAGAR POKHRA Lord SHIVA Temple of BETTIAH RAJ

यह शिव मंदिर बेतीआ राज क़ी महारानी जानकी कुंवर द्वारा बनवाया गया था । हर हर महादेव।

और जिसने शिवत्व स्थापित कर दिया वो मोक्ष का भागी होता है। जय भोले नाथ। 

बोलने वाला और हांखने वाला आज के दुनिया में बहुत मिलेंगे मगर सच  कर्म और धर्म पालन करने वाले बहुत कम  हैं।  आज भी इस महान वंश का  नाम उसके परोपकारी कर्म और दान कर्म के वजह से जाग्रित है । तुलना का आधार धर्म और कर्म है और कुछ नहीं।  हर हर महादेव।  

महारानी जानकी कुंवर कॉलेज भी इसी महारानी के नाम पर है। 
  नारायण नारायण।  नारायण नारायण।  

 

Sheohar Raj - An offshoot of the Legendary Bettiah Raj

While writing about the great Zamindar estate of Sheohar Raj - which dominated over the entire Muzaffarpur Area of Bihar and erstwhile Bengal for for more than two centuries, it becomes our duty to pay obeisance to MAHADEV, in whose name the place - SHIV-HAR or SHEOHAR came into being.

Below is one of the beautiful scenery of the local Shiv Temple at Sheohar. The Shiv Temple in the photo


below belongs to the family of one of the earlier babus who had their origins from Bettiah Raj and came and settled around Sheohar even before Sheohar Raj came into existence. And as it is said, those who beleive in Lord Shiva, troubles just flyaway.

The pond beside the Shiva Temple is owned by the Zamindar family of Sheohar Raj and it serves as a Fishery. Once again, it is the family's thought, planning and investment over the decades that has beautified the environment.

And now that we did speak about Lord Shiva and Shiv-har, we have to pay our respects to Mata Parvati and the lord's favourite gana - Nandi. It is a sanskara that when we pray to the Lord, we pray to the Mother Goddess (Shakti) and his favourite - Nandi. Below are the silver idols (over 100+ years old) of the trio mentioned above. Courtesy - Sheohar Raj folks.

Also, there is a very nice "Hanuman" temple made in the premises of the descendants of Sheohar Raj - It was made by Rani Kishori Kunwar (Daughter of RAJA BAHADUR HARIHAR PRASAD NARAYAN SINGH of AMAWAN RAJ ) who was married to RAJA MAHESH NANDAN SINGH of SHEOHAR RAJ. She was popularly referred to as "Kishori Aaji Jee" by the people of Sheohar.

Watch out this space from more. While starting the write up on Sheohar Raj, the first thing that came into my mind was MAHADEV / LORD SHIVA - so started with his blessings first by showing his forms - courtesy the legendary SHEOHAR RAJ. More will follow on the high-profile family which not only survived the transformation from BRITISH INDIA to INDENPENDENT INDIA , but marched ahead with the same vigour leaving behind several Zamindar families of Bihar.

Also including the photo of crystal of Lord Shiva used for prayer -