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A Warrior who fought to protect cows even after being beheaded!
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Not so long ago, this land observed mighty warriors protecting Gau mata. One such hero is still worshiped by several lower castes in Gujarat ( they are actually deemed lower caste by British planned Indian constitution but in reality, they are warriors fought against invasions and saved this land and culture. Some of them when captured by foreign forces, were forced to do slave jobs.)
You must know Bhathiji Maharaj !
Bhathiji or Bhathi Khatri also called Bhathiji Maharaj (as a honorific) is a folk deity of Gujarat. He is an eminent warrior-hero of the region.
As per the folklore, Bhathi was the second son of Kathi Darbar Takhatsinghji of Phagvel born in Rathor branch of Kshatriya clan. While he was marrying Kankuben and was completing the fourth of the seventh fera, he came to know that Muslim king of Kapadvanj, receiving a complaint against him had impounded the cattle of the village. Bhathiji immediately left riding a horse with his sword, leaving the marriage incomplete. He released the cow and defeated the army, but his head was severed from his body. He died as martyr but was able to free the cattle.[1] There are folk songs of how Bhatihiji’s headless body continued to fight the Muslim raiders till all of them were wiped out.[2]
Bhathiji is ever since worshipped as a folk deity as a protector of cow and followers believe, those who worship Bhathiji are protected also from bites of snakes, cobras and scorpions.[1] The Baria Kshatiryas and Rathor of Saurashtra worship his as kuladevata[3]
Further, most of the Bhuas – irrespective of castes that they belong to, worship Bhathiji Maharaj. Bhuas, whose main job is to save people from the effects of mailee vidhya and woo away the spirits, believe, they are bestowed upon mystical powers by good spirits like Bhathiji Maharaj and so worship him.[4]Bhathiji is worshiped by Hindus to cure ill livestock and family members. Bhuva, the priest of is approached for diagnosis and curing of disease among men and animals. When a family member, a cow, a buffalo etc. falls ill or dies, it is believed that the spirit of an ancestor had been annoyed because of neglect of timely worship, lack of offering ritual food and respect. When someone is harassed by an evil spirit, the Bhuva of is consulted. If the evil spirit tries to evade the commands of Vachhada Dada, the bhuva threatens to punish the spirit by inciting against it the wrath of this powerful deity.[4]
The iconography of Bhatihiji is of a male warrior that rides a horse wielding a sword in his right hand.[4]
In Devada village of Kheda district of Gujarat, hundreds of worshippers of Bhathiji, Hindus as well as Muslims, line up there every Friday to seek the blessings of the deity and the priest, and take a vow to renounce liquor.[5]
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bhathiji
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As a CM, In 2002, Narendra Modi, then the Gujarat chief Minister, flagged off his Gaurav Yatra from Bhathiji Temeple at Phagvel.[1][7]
I still cannot digest his recent stand against Gau-rakshaks.
