In 1752, the Mughal emperor Ahmad Shah assigned the pargana of Hisar to Gaj, as Mughal forces were unable to keep it under control. On Gaj Singh's behalf, Mehta Bakhtawar Singh occupied it. Mehta aided the emperor against the vizier Mansur Ali Khan, and for this assistance, Gaj Singh was granted a mansab of 7000 zat and 5000 horse in 1753. Later, Gaj was also granted the right to mint currency by the Mughal emperor Alamgir II.[5][6]
Rebellion of Raj Singh and death
Subsequently, the heir apparent Raj Singh along with other Thakurs of the state rose in rebellion. The prince lived at Deshnoke between 1775 and 1780, after which he took shelter at Jodhpur, where he was received by the Maharaja Bijay Singh. Bijay advised the prince to return to Bikaner along with a small contingent. Upon their arrival however, Raj Singh was arrested by his brothers. However, when Gaj fell ill, he summoned Raj Singh and handed over the reins of the state to him, enjoining him not to seek vengeance against his brothers. Gaj Singh died in 1787, and was cremated.[7][8]
Issue
Gaj Singh had sixty-one children, not all of them were legitimate. Tenty sons and nine daughters were legitimate (multiple sources say six children were legitimate) and they were:
Maharaja Raj Singh, who succeeded Gaj as Maharaja, r. 25 March 1787 – 25 April 1787, succeeded by his six year old son, Maharaja Pratap Singh who died the same year and was succeeded by one of Raj Singh's younger brother's Maharaja Surat Singh.
Maharajkumar Sultan Singh, (son via Maharani Devarji Akhey Kanwar) who fled Bikaner in 1787. Returned to Bikaner in 1801 in an attempt to take over the throne but did not succeed. Ancestor of the Gajsingot Haveliwale Rajvi families of Banisar & Alsar. (1759–1815)
Maharakjumar Mukham Singh, (son via Maharani Bhatianji Chand Kanwar) who fled Bikaner before the death of his father and died of smallpox in Phalodi before 1787. Ancestor of the Gajsingot Haveliwale Rajvi families of Sainsar & Jhamba. (1758–1787)
Maharaj Ajab Singh, (son via Maharani Bhatianji Chand Kanwar) who fled Bikaner in 1787 to Sindh and later to Jodhpur. Engaged in constant raids on Bikaner with his brother Maharajkumar Sultan Singh and the Thakurs of Churu, Bhadra & Bhukarka. Ancestor of families of the Thikanas Lohat under Jodhpur and Bhapura and Jasunta under Jaipur. (1762–1801)