Devi Ahilyabai Holkar’s Mother in law Rani Gautamabai Holkar
Maternal Home
Gautamabai was the daughter of a wealthy Bhojraj Baba Bargal, the landlord of Talodya, born on 16th June 1694. She was named after the sage Gautameshwar. Her mother was Mohini bai and her brother was Narayan Rao Bargal.
Subedar Malharrao was the nephew of Bhojraj Bargal (sister's son) who spend his initial years at his maternal house. Both Gautamabai and Malhanao spend their childhood together and eventually got married.
The marriage proved a happy one, as future events would show that Gautamabai was a sagacious counselor and often influenced Malharji's private dealings and public acts. She was a disciple of Shore Bhramendra Swami. the Guru, of Bajirao 1.
Life after marriage
Gautamabai was a pious, cultured and devoted woman to the family and the state (MALWA). A lot of credit for the fame of daughter-in-law Ahilyabai also goes to Gautamabai. 𝐀𝐟𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐃𝐞𝐯𝐢 𝐀𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐲𝐚𝐛𝐚𝐢 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐊𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐨 𝐇𝐨𝐥𝐤𝐚𝐫, 𝐆𝐚𝐮𝐭𝐚𝐦𝐚𝐛𝐚𝐢 𝐒𝐚𝐡𝐞𝐛 𝐮𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡 𝐃𝐞𝐯𝐢 𝐀𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐲𝐚𝐛𝐚𝐢 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐚𝐟𝐟𝐚𝐢𝐫𝐬. 𝐒𝐮𝐛𝐞𝐝𝐚𝐫 𝐌𝐚𝐥𝐡𝐚𝐫 𝐫𝐚𝐨 𝐇𝐨𝐥𝐤𝐚𝐫 𝐮𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐞 𝐚𝐰𝐚𝐲 𝐨𝐧 𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐒𝐮𝐛𝐞𝐝𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐧 𝐆𝐚𝐮𝐭𝐚𝐦𝐚𝐛𝐚𝐢 𝐒𝐚𝐡𝐞𝐛 𝐮𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐥𝐞 𝐚𝐝𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐝𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬. 𝐒𝐡𝐞 𝐚𝐥𝐬𝐨 𝐮𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐩𝐢𝐫𝐞 𝐌𝐚𝐥𝐡𝐚𝐫 𝐫𝐚𝐨 𝐇𝐨𝐥𝐤𝐚𝐫 𝐢𝐧 𝐛𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐥𝐞𝐟𝐢𝐞𝐥𝐝𝐬.
Birth of Khanderao Holkar & Role as Subhedarin baisaheb
Subhedar Malhanao Holkar's childhood and youth were spent in his uncle's village and hence Gautamabai had a complete idea of her husband's nature. They both got married in the year 1717.
Seven years after their marriage in 1725, by the infinite grace of God, Khanderao Holkar the son of Rani Gautamabai and Subedar Malharrao Holkar was born on the day of Vijayadashmi.
Being a very religious lady, Rani Gautamabai has performed many noble deeds under her tenure as Subhedarin and these values were eventually adopted by her daughter-in-law Devi Ahilyabai.
In 1729 AD Ghrishneshwar Temple was renovated by Rani Gautamabai Holkar.
The Omkareshwar Temple construction was also started by Rani Gautamabai and then eventually got completed by her Daughter-In- law Devi Ahilybai. At the request of Rani Gautamabai the temple of shree keshavrao was also built.
On the whole, Rani Gautamabai carried on the legacy of the dynasty by standing firmly behind Subhedar Malharrao Holkar and by disciplining the people under her control, she used to take a tough stance on the required occasion. She is one of the unknown Indian Queen who had her contribution of building and nurturing India’s rich culture and legacy just like her daughter in law Devi Ahilyabai
Khasgi Jagir
The antiquity of Khasgi goes back to 1734 when an Inam lands. it was conferred by Peshwa Baji Rao to Gautamabai, wife of Malhar Rao Holkar. In perpetuity. Malhar Rao had applied to Chirnnaji Balal, the brother of Peshwa who supported this request.
In other Maratha or other Indian states, no such thing as 'Holkar Khasgi' exists. The Khasgi is the estate of the ruling sovereign's consort to be managed entirely by the latter and separate from the Daulat. The talukas given for Khasgi will continue forever and not be seized by the Peshwas.
Khasgi is a unique institution that exists even today to explore the liberal latitude energy of administration capacity and charitable inclinations of the consorts or senior Maharanis of the sovereign rulers of Indore. During the reign of Peshwa Madhava Rao, he issued a separate Sanad for daughter in law of Maharaja Malharrao Holkar and Maharani Gautamabai the pious Maharani Ahilyabai Holkar
Khasgi had nine palaces and Rani Gautamabai took care of them very skillfully.
The states which came under the Khasgi Jagir and were managed by Rani Gauatambai are-
- Maheshwar (Maheswar which was formerly under the Mughals came under the jurisdiction of the Holkars in 1733. In 1767 Devi Ahilybai made Maheshwar her capital )
- Choli
- Indore
- Harsola
- Depalpur (Rani Gautambai’s grandson and Devi Ahilybai’s son was born here)
- Mahidpur
- Barloi
- Jagoti
- Makdone
- Chandwad
- Ambad
Various uses of Khasgi Jagir
Gautamabai used the hundreds of acres of her private land for the cultivation of the orchards and Opium flowers which were used as a spice at that time. In fact, both the husband and wife were very fond of agriculture.
Subhedar Malharrao Holkar used the land at Junnar as a pasture for sheep to the gram on various festivals, and everyone in the palace was honored to have a special meal.
Subhedar Malharrao Maharaj has given Multi-a place in his royal seal and he had taken this ambitious decision with a vision to strengthen the backbone of agriculture in Malwa.
Opium was cultivated with the permission of the administrator and ruler of that time.
On the other hand juicy hulls from Amrai at Titlode, Bhanpura, Kambi, and Mungi used to come to the kitchen of the Holkar dynasty.
Land records from Amrai and Chichambage are found in the correspondence of the princely states.
In Kasha Poona, Subedar Malharrao purchased corn land and planted it with mango trees. His wife-Gautamahai followed him faithfully in his footsteps. In their new home, she purchased land nearby a river, planted it with new Fruit-trees, and handed it over in charity to a Brahmin for further plantation. With the rise of the Subhedar, his sheep and goats kept a proportional pace. The number grew to one lac and the Peshwas granted passes for their free grazing to these proteges of their stay and support in Northern India. "
The late severed Saubhagyawati Rani GautamaBai Saheb installed the Devi of Mankeshwar and Gargya's Sawa' in the gardens of Wafgaon. The pilgrimage signifies the "First cutting of the hair" of the children and the Holkar family performed the ritual at the very place.
The Khasgi Jagir was inherited by Devi Ahilyabai Holkar, the daughter-in-law of Rani Gautamabai in the year 1759 i.e 2 years before Rani Gautamabai died.
Death
Panipat War not only hampered the image of Holkars but also took a toll on their family.
Rani Gautamabai Holkar was suffering from asthma for a while and after the Panipat war, in Jan 1761 her health got further deteriorated. And on 29th September 1761, she left for her heavenly abode.
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