Bappa Rawal was one of the most powerful and famous rulers of the Mewar Dynasty. Although a surviving member of the Guhilot clan, Prince Kalbhoj ,his actual name who came from Atri clan did not continue the family name of seven generations when he came to the throne; instead, he established the Mewar Dynasty. It is said that Bappa was blessed by Harit Rishi, a sage of the Mewar region, with kingship. His father, Rawal Mahendra II had married a woman of the Paramara Rajput clan, from Mt. Abu or Chandravati, both Paramara centres at that time. She was also the sister of Maan Mori, the Paramara king who ruled much of the State of Mewar. This included Guhilot clan land, which Paramara invaders from Malwa had annexed a century or so earlier, and set up their capital in the ancient fortress of Chittorgarh.
Bappa Rawal is said to have spent his childhood near a place called Nagda. As with most high-spirited princes, there are several legends from Bappa's early years as a youth in the wild Aravalli Hills. The pranks of this royal shepherd (he tended the sacred cattle of the Brahmans) . One afternoon, in a game of his own devising, he 'married' several of the young girls, which ended with his having to flee Nagda to a hide-out in the hills to escape the maidens' irate parents. An interesting footnote to this legend of potential virility is that Bappa Rawal is said to have married many women, Hindu and Muslim, and sired well over one hundred children.
Bappa Rawal played an important role in a series of wars fought in the 8th century AD between the regional rulers of North-Western India and the Arabs of Sindh.
When in 39th century of Kaliyuga (i.e 8th century A.D.). Muslims started attacking India within a few decades of the birth of Islam. In order to face off Muslim invasions across the western and northern borders of Rajputana, Bappa Rawal united the smaller states of Ajmer and Jaisalmer to stop the attacks. Bappa Rawal fought and defeated the Arabs in the country and turned the tide for a time being.
Besides being a brave warrior who lead his army to great victories, Bappa Rawal was also known to be a just ruler. After having ruled his kingdom for a long time he abdicated the throne in favour of his son ,he himself turned into Siva upasaka or worshiper of Shiva and became a Yati which means an ascetic who has full control over his passions .
