Padmavat

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Padmavat is an epic poem written in 1540 by the Sufi poet Malik Muhammad Jayasi. It was originally written in the Awadhi language and in the Persian script. The poem is famous in Indian literature as a key Sufi work and tells a fictional, allegorical tale about the famous conquest of the fort of Chittor and the beauty of its queen, Padmavati.

The story centers on Padmavati, princess of the Singhal kingdom (believed to be Sri Lanka), who is very close to a talking parrot named Hiraman. Padmavati’s father disapproves of their bond and orders the parrot’s death. The parrot escapes, but later ends up in the care of Ratansen, the king of Chittor. Upon hearing the parrot describe Padmavati’s beauty, Ratansen and his large army travel across the seas to Singhal to win her hand. Padmavati also develops a longing for Ratansen after hearing about him.

In Singhal, Ratansen tries to win Padmavati by performing penances in a temple. The couple’s union is arranged by a ruler named Gandharvsen, who also brings many Padmavati-like companions to Ratansen. Back in Chittor, Ratansen’s first wife Nagmati longs for him, and the two kingdoms’ politics unfold as various plots and tests of love take place. A Brahmin courtier named Raghav Chetan betrays trust, and his description of Padmavati’s beauty reaches the Delhi ruler Alauddin Khalji. Khalji besieges Chittor, demanding Padmavati for himself.

Ratansen invites Khalji into the fort under a promise of peace, but Khalji betrays him and captures Ratansen. Padmavati asks trusted warriors Gora and Badal to help free him. They infiltrate the fort disguised as Padmavati and her entourage, freeing Ratansen but paying a heavy price. After further conflicts, the ruler of Kumbhalner, Devpal Singh, challenges Ratansen in single combat, and both men die. Khalji’s army then reaches Chittor, and facing defeat, Padmavati, Nagmati, and many women in the fortress perform jauhar, a mass self-immolation, while the men fight to their deaths. Khalji’s victory is described as pyrrhic, with a warning about the dangers of unrestrained desire.

The tale has many versions in manuscripts written in different scripts and languages. The core plot inspired numerous adaptations in Persian, Urdu, Bengali and other languages over the centuries. It has influenced plays, novels, and later films. The Padmavat story is often read as an allegory, with scholars noting that it blends myth, legend, and poetic imagination rather than presenting strict historical fact. Some historians acknowledge possible historical elements but emphasize inconsistencies and the poem’s symbolic meaning.