Rana Pratap’s father Maharana Uday Singh was a great warrior king. A legend is connected to his birth concerning the sacrifice of his nanny Panna dai.
Panna dai Legend
After the death of the father of Uday Singh, Rana Ratan Singh, his brother Vikramaditya descended on the throne. Then, Uday Singh was merely an infant who was in the care of his nanny Panna dai who also had her own son of the same age.
A power hungry courtier named Banveer hatched a plot and slayed Vikramaditya with his sword to forcibly grab the throne. Banveer was not satisfied with the throne alone. He wanted to make the throne his property to be inherited by his children. To clear the way it was essential for him to eliminate Uday Singh who was the legal heir to the throne of Chittaur, the capital of Mewar.
He set out for the palace where prince Uday Singh was in the care of Panna dai. He had his sword drawn out in his hand making his intention clear to all.
There was panic in the palace and a great commotion. The inmates had seen Banveer coming with blood smeared sword. The news of the killing of Vikramaditya had already reached the palace. Everyone had guessed why Banveer was coming to the palace.
Panna dai had to act fast. What could she do? She dashed into the chamber where the prince Uday Singh was sleeping on the bed. She was carrying along her own child. Panna put her child on the bed and carried away the prince with her to put him in her son’s place.
She had made the switch before Banveer could arrive on the scene.
The blood thirsty Banveer asked where the prince was. Panna dai pointed to the princely bed on which her son was asleep. In a flash Banveer brought down his sword and cut the sleeping child in two. Panna dai bravely controlled her emotions and watched the murder of her son. She had sacrificed her son to save the life of her charge, the prince.
As soon as Banveer retreated she put a sheet on her dead son. Then she put the prince, Uday Singh in a fruit basket and set out of the palace to reach the nearest safe place which happened to be Kumbhalgarh.
She handed over the prince to Asha Shah Depura who was a close relative of the royal family.
Later, the prince grew up into a warrior youngman. He decided to lay his legitimate claim to the throne. Many Rajas, Ranas and chieftains came out in his support and helped him wage a war for his cause.
Chittaur was won back again and Banveer was put to death. Uday Singh was coronated.
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