Maha Singh (; 1760 – 15 April 1790 or 1756 – April 1792), also spelt as Mahan or Mahn Singh, was the second chief of the Sukerchakia Misl. He was the eldest son of Sardar Charat Singh and Sardarni Desan Kaur Warraich. He was the father of Sher-e-Punjab Maharaja Ranjit Singh.
Upon the death of his father, Charat Singh, he succeeded to the leadership of the Sukerchakia Misl. His son Ranjit Singh succeeded him and established the Sikh Empire. He is known for his alliance with Jassa Singh Ramgarhia and for reducing the power of the Kanhaiya Misl. Maha Singh married firstly Mai Man Kaur, daughter of Sardar Jai Singh Mann of Mughalchak-Mananwala, and secondly Sardarni Raj Kaur, daughter of Raja Gajpat Singh of Jind.
Early life
Maha Singh was born in a Jat Sikh family to Charat Singh and his wife, Desan Kaur in 1756. Some sources say he was born in the year 1760. He had three younger siblings, Saher Kaur, Raj Kaur and Sahej Singh, who died in infancy. Maha Singh was brought him up in his family's martial tradition by his parents and accompanied his father to a variety of military expeditions from an early age. Charat Singh married Maha Singh to Mai Man Kaur, daughter of Sardar Jai Singh Mann, chief of Mogalchak-Mananwala, before his death in 1770 to strengthen the Sukerchakia Misl. His own matchlock accidentally exploded and killed him.
Leadership of the Sukerchakia Misl
He succeeded his father as the chief of the Sukerchakia Misl. Maha Singh was assisted by his mother in the affairs of the state. Desan Kaur was a worldly-wise, experienced, courageous and an intelligent lady, her people were content with her admiration skills. To strengthen her position she married her daughter, Raj Kaur to Sahib Singh, son of Gujjar Singh of the Bhangi Misl and the other daughter was married to Sohel Singh. She later arranged for her son Maha Singh to be married to Raj Kaur, daughter of Gajpat Singh Sidhu of Jind in 1774. By setting up these alliances she ensured the sympathies of the Phulkians and the Bhangis(who were jealous of the growing fame of her late husband); these matrimonial alliances helped her consolidate power. Desan Kaur and Maha Singh were assisted by her brothers Dal Singh and Gurbaksh Singh as well as Sardar Jai Singh Kanhaiya with whom Charat Singh once exchanged turbans with- a practice done to express solidarity with each other.
Soon Maha Singh captured the Rohtas Fort from Nur-ud-din Bamezai, a general of Ahmad Shah Durrani and occupied Kotli Ahangaran, near Sialkot. After this victory, he laid a four-month siege to Rasool Nagar assisted by Jai Singh Kanhaiya. He triumphed over Pir Muhammad, the ruler of the Chathas, on the eastern bank of river Chenab who surrendered to Maha Singh. This victory added luster to the Sukarchakia Misal, and many other chiefs who were the dependents of the Bhangis offered to transfer their allegiance to the Sukarchakias. While he was at battle, Raj Kaur affectionately known as Mai Malwain gave birth to Maha Singh's only son who she named Budh Singh after their ancestor who received amrit sanskar from Guru Gobind Singh himself. On his return from Rasulnagar, Maha Singh was presented with his son and to commemorate his victory renamed him Ranjit Singh.
Mahn Singh distributed grains to every body who approached him, it was said that his good will was the reason behind the recovery of his son from smallpox.
Military campaign
Conflict with the Bhangi Misl
Capture of Bhangi territories Chait Singh, youngest brother of Gujar Singh, had come to help. the Chathas. Mahan Singh arrested him and imprisoned him in the fort of Gujranwala. Raj Kaur, sister of Mahan Singh and wife of Sahib Singh, came from Gujrat to Gujranwala to secure liberation of Chait Singh. Mahan Singh did not listen to her, and did not set the Bhangi sardar free. The Mahan Singh then turned towards Bhangi territories. He captured Sahiwal and imprisoned its qiladar. He seized Pindi Bhattian, Isa Khel and Musa Khel. He killed Desa Singh of Chiniot in 1782. Karam Singh Dulu held his own successfully at Jhang.