“Fateh Sahi’s Religious Beliefs” by Vaidurya Pratap Sahi

Shakti pind near Tamkuhi.

The founder of Tamkuhi and the last Raja of Husseypur as his capital, Raja Fateh Bahadur Sahi was a man of honor and principles. I grew up hearing tales of his valor and honor. What all information, I have gathered about him from sources in literature or oral tradition, I picturise him as a tall man with an athletic build and good martial skills.

He was a disciplinarian and was married to one woman during times when polygamy was a common custom in maharajas. Surprisingly he didn’t follow the rule of male primogeniture strictly and even divided his kingdom into four - one for each son rather than passing on the whole Raj to the eldest. In his old age after handing over his Raj to his sons, he became a Fakir and left for Nasik
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A follower of Sanatana Dharma [1], Raja Fateh Sahi belonged to the Shakta sect. He was an ardent shakti upasak [2] and never left for battle without paying homage to Goddess Shakti. When at Husseypur, he would often visit the idol of the Goddess at the base of the banyan tree near the Jharahi river [3] just outside his fort.  
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The nineteenth century marble statue of Goddess Singhvahini at Panchmandir temple.

​He was so devoted that he would carry an idol of Singhvahini [4] on his back to battle too. As is common in Shakta traditions, he would offer sacrifices of male buffaloes and goats on various occasions. Especially during the Navratri [5] period.  

Though he followed religious customs, his actions and nature of lifestyle suggest he was unorthodox. His unbiased love towards his subjects earned him support especially during his fight against the English. His outstanding support wasn’t from a certain section of the society but rather from all the social strata prevalent in those days. 

When he fought against the English, he was supported by many Muslims and most notably the Nawab of Oudh. This, in my opinion, could be the reason for the different Mazars [6] built near Husseypur or around Tamkuhi.

Personally, I think he was religiously liberal and undoubtedly adored his faith while strictly respecting others. 

Notes

1. Sanatana Dharma: The original name of the philosophy that we today know as Hinduism. Sanatana means eternal. Under its umbrella come Shaktism, Shaivism, Vaishnavism and other sects found in modern Hinduism.
   
   
2. Shakti Upasak: Shaktas are the sect of Sanatana Dharma who believe in the superiority of the Devi over other Gods.
   
   
3. Jharahi River: A tributary of the Ghaghra river which flows through eastern Uttar Pradesh and parts of Bihar.
   
   
4. Singhvahini is a form of Goddess Shakti. As the name suggests Singhvahini is the form of Devi whose vehicle is a lion.
   
   
5. Navratri: The nine-days period of worshiping the goddess Devi in her different forms.  
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6. Mazars: Mazar is a shrine in memory of some Muslim saint or religious leader

Team

1. Contributor:
   Vaidurya Pratap Sahi
   
   
2. Editors:
   ​Ahna Sahi &
   Sree Raj
   ​
3. Photographer:
   Vaidurya Pratap Sahi

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