Padmini

Padmini, also known as Rani Padmini, is a legendary figure in Indian history, particularly associated with the Rajputana region. She is renowned for her beauty and bravery, and her story is most famously told in the epic poem "Padmavat" by Malik Muhammad Jayasi. Padmini was the queen of Chittor, married to King Ratan Singh. Her legend often centers around her defiance against the Sultan of Delhi, Alauddin Khilji, who sought to capture her. To protect her honor, she and other Rajput women performed *jauhar*, a self-immolation ritual. Padmini symbolizes valor, sacrifice, and the complexities of honor in Indian culture.