2409:4041:E16:301C:80E7:8BB1:DC13:14F9: /* Makadbanth Kapdi */

2021-08-27T07:07:41Z

Makadbanth Kapdi

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{{more citations needed|date=May 2017}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2020}}
{{Use Indian English|date=February 2020}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Mekan Dada(Mekan baba)
| image =
| image_size =
| caption = he born in ahir community.
| birth_date = 1667
| birth_place = Khombhadi village, [[Kutch]], Gujarat
| death_date = 1730
| death_place = [[Dhrang]], [[Kutch]]
| occupation =Sufi Saint, Religious [[Guru]]
| spouse =
| parents = hardholji, Pabba bai
| children =
}}
Sant '''Mekan Dada''' or '''Mekan baba''' (1667–1730 AD) was a [[Sufi]] saint from [[Kutch]], [[Gujarat]], India.

==Biography==
Mekan Dada it is said was born in 1667 ([[Vikram Samvant]] 1723). He spent his life traveling across the [[Rann of Kutch]], doing this humanitarian services. In his late life he established himself in [[Dhrang]], in V.S. 1786.

He spent his whole life in [[Rann of Kutch]], looking after survivors and people lost in desert and serving them food, water and shelter. His two partners were "Laliyo", the Donkey and "Motiyo", the dog. He would load "Laliyo"-donkey with water and food and the "Motiyo" was trained by him to direct the "Laliyo" to travelers lost in great desert of Kutch. Thus they would provide water, food and direction to the hungry, thirsty and lost travelers and [[nomad]]s passing through the Rann of Kutch.<ref>[http://www.outlookindia.com/article.aspx?210900 Born to Rann: Weaned on a harsh land, the Kutchi community firmly believes that self-help is the best help] by [[Sagarika Ghose]], [[Outlook (Indian magazine)|Outlook (magazine)]], 19 February 2001. "Mekan Dada, saviour of the nomads, is worshipped by all wanderers"</ref> He was also a good poet and composed several hymns based on the Hindu philosophy. Today he is worshipped as the re-incarnation of [[Lakshman]] by the [[Ahir]] community.<ref>[http://www.india9.com/i9show/Dharang-29155.htm Dharang] India9.com.</ref>

He also had five disciples with him, who religiously followed him and along with Sant Mekan Dada did the humanitarian services, as explained above. Rao Desalji was also a great follower of Mekan Dada. He used to preach villagers and his followers also. He preached against [[untouchability]] and superstitions.

The Sant Mekan Dada later took a [[Samadhi]] along with his eleven followers in [[Dhrang]] village. The [[Samadhi]]s are one of the most revered sites of [[Kutch]] and people of all communities go there to pay their respects and offer prayers. Name of one of his eleven disciples, who took [[samadhi]] with Mekan Dada are Mayagarji, Lirbai, Kandha Ahir, Vigha Ahir, Kanthad Suthar, Premji Ganpat, Surdasji, Thakor Mokaji, Jada Khiyaranji Loria, Kadia Kanji, Prema bai. His samadhi along with that of his faithful friend ''Motiya'', the dog and ''Lalia'', the donkey, at [[Dhrung]], a village about 40 km from [[Bhuj]]. Other two disciples Hira Harijan at [[Lodai]] and Waghoji Rampotro at [[Vijayasar, Gujarat|Vijayasar]] also took Samadhi when heard news.<ref>[http://sadhusamaj.wordpress.com/kapadi/ કાપડી]</ref>

==Samadhi memorial==
The memorial houses his Samadhi Temple, a Temple of [[Shiva]], Samadhis of his five disciples, samadhi of his animal friends "Laliyo"- the donkey and "Motiyo" - the dog, an old '[[Stepwell|Vaav]]'. Also on display are the robes he wore and things he used during his lifetime.{{citation needed|date=February 2020}}

==Makadbanth Kapdi==
Makadbanth Kapdi are a sect, who are followers of Mekan Dada, and are the most recent sect of [[Kapdi]] community.<ref>Gujarat, Part 1 By Kumar Suresh Singh, Rajendra Behari Lal, Anthropological Survey of India. pp:603-606</ref>

==Mekan Dada Fair==
A fair is held in Dhrang village, in memory of Mekan Dada on [[Mahashivratri]], named ''Mekan Dada Fair''. This is an annual event and [[Gujarat]] Tourism Department also organises "Kutch Festival" during this fair. This fair is also famous for its rural tradition of old times -"Malla-Akhado" (wrestling) and "Renkda-Daud" (Cart Racing). This 'Mekand Dada Fair' is a major event and centre of tourist attraction in [[Kutch]], [[Gujarat]] State of [[India]].<ref name=ti>[https://web.archive.org/web/20121025072034/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2006-02-25/ahmedabad/27807401_1_kutchi-foreign-tourists-mahashivratri All roads leads in remembrance of Mekan Dada] Tridiv Vaidya, TNN, [[The Times of India]], 25 February 2006.</ref><ref>[http://www.tourism-of-india.com/kutch.html Kutch Tourism]</ref><ref>[http://www.fokia.org/Fair%20and%20Festival.html Festival] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100411085043/http://www.fokia.org/Fair%20and%20Festival.html |date=2010-04-11 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://yangtze.cs.uiuc.edu/~jamali/sindh/sindh-l/archive/her/msg00416.html |title=Archived copy |accessdate=2009-11-02 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20060909203921/http://yangtze.cs.uiuc.edu/~jamali/sindh/sindh-l/archive/her/msg00416.html |archivedate=2006-09-09 }}</ref><ref>[http://international.zeenews.com/nri_dest_ind_events.asp State Events: Guajarat: Dharang Fair] [[Zee News]]</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://wikimapia.org/3843838/Mekan-Dada-ni-Samadhi-in-the-Drang-Village Mekan Dada, Samadhi shrine] at [[wikimapia]]

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Mekan Dada, Sant}}
[[Category:1730 deaths]]
[[Category:Scholars from Gujarat]]
[[Category:People from Kutch district]]
[[Category:1667 births]]
[[Category:Indian social reformers]]
[[Category:17th-century Indian scholars]]
[[Category:Indian Sufi saints]]

Mekan Dada - Revision history

2409:4041:E16:301C:80E7:8BB1:DC13:14F9: /* Makadbanth Kapdi */