Raghav Chetan

Raghav Chetan (also spelled Raghav Chetak) is a legendary court musician and alleged sorcerer described in the 16th‑century Awadhi epic poem Padmavat (1540 CE) by Sufi poet Malik Muhammad Jayasi. He is portrayed as the catalyst in the tale of Rani Padmini of Chittor and the siege led by Alauddin Khalji. The character is widely accepted as symbolic or fictional in modern scholarship.

Legend

According to Jayasi’s Padmavat, Raghav Chetan served as a Brahmin musician and royal priest in the court of King Ratan Sen of Chittor. He secretly practiced black magic and was eventually exposed and punished by the king, publicly shamed and expelled from the court.^[1][2]

Burning with vengeance, Raghav Chetan traveled to Delhi and entered the court of Sultan Alauddin Khalji. He spoke of the beauty of Rani Padmini, igniting the Sultan’s desire to obtain her, thus setting into motion the events that led to the siege of Chittor in 1303 CE.^[3][4]

Role in the Siege and Jauhar

Raghav Chetan’s betrayal triggered the Sultan’s journey to Chittor, where he demanded to see Padmavati. When refused, Alauddin laid siege to the fort. After deceitfully capturing Ratan Sen, and a failed rescue, the siege escalated. Ultimately, Rani Padmini and other Rajput women committed jauhar (ritual self-immolation) to protect their honor from the invading army.^[5][6]

Historicity

Historians widely regard Padmavat as a poetic allegory rather than a factual historical account.^[7][8]

No contemporary Persian or Rajput sources, such as those by Amir Khusrau, mention Raghav Chetan or Padmini, suggesting that both characters were literary inventions. Scholars interpret Padmavat as a Sufi allegory, where Chittor symbolizes the body, Padmavati as wisdom, and Alauddin as lust.^[9][10]

In Popular Culture

Raghav Chetan appears in folk ballads and dramatized versions of the Padmavati story. In Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s 2018 film Padmaavat, the role of a traitorous Brahmin musician—based on Raghav—is portrayed by actor Aayam Mehta.^[11][12]