Discovering Banda Bahadur

In this book, the author has attempted to tread a different path from the books written by various historians on Banda Bahadur. The period of 20 years (1688–1708) of Bairag, that Banda Bahadur spent before settling down at Nanded has been taken as dark period with no available historical account. Banda Bahadur spent these years amongst the Nagas, Sannyasis, Yogis, Gosains, Dasnamis, Dadupanthis and many other sects with their own akharas under charge of their own mahants. Large scale degeneration had set in among these bairagis with the use of drugs, drinking, keeping women, fighting mercenary battles, trading and other commercial interests taking precedence over spiritual matters. Banda Bahadur did not take to the degenerated way of life of these warriors, but learned from them training of mind and body and battle strategy. This volume provides a much needed corrective to the history of one of medieval India’s greatest warriors.