https://en.bharatpedia.org/w/index.php?action=history&feed=atom&title=Vachara_DadaVachara Dada - Revision history2026-11-15T21:33:13ZRevision history for this page on the wikiMediaWiki 1.43.6https://en.bharatpedia.org/w/index.php?title=Vachara_Dada&diff=147710&oldid=prev106.205.227.94: /* Legends */2021-08-13T11:17:28Z<p><span class="autocomment">Legends</span></p>
<p><b>New page</b></p><div>{{not to be confused with|Rana Vachhraj}}<br />
{{rewrite|date=November 2017}}<br />
[[File:Vachra Dada.jpg|thumb|right|Idol of Vachra Dada at a shrine in [[Kutch]].]]<br />
'''Vachara Dada''', also spelled as '''Vachhra Dada''' or '''Vasra Dada''', also known as '''Vachchhraj Dada''' or '''Vatsaraj''' is a [[folklore|folk]] [[deity]] of [[Gujarat]] state in [[India]]. He is an eminent warrior-hero of the region. [[Hindus]] and [[Muslims]] alike honor him.<ref name="Meghani2003">{{cite book|author=Zaverchand Kalidas Meghani|title=A Noble Heritage: A Collection of Short Stories Based on the Folklore of Saurashtra|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=scNjAAAAMAAJ|access-date=25 April 2016|year=2003|publisher=Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan|page=xix}}</ref><br />
<br />
==Legends==<br />
According to folk tales, Vatsarajsinh Solanki or Vachhara was a son of Thakhatsinh Solanki and Akalba. He belonged to rajput caste of [[Solanki]] ruler named Chachak in [[Kathiawar]], who ruled from [[Kalri, Gujarat|Kalri]], presently located in [[Mehsana district]].{{cn|date=April 2017}} One day he was getting married, when he was taking the [[Saptapadi|''feras'']], he heard the news that some [[dacoit]]s were looting and taking the cows of village. He left the marriage ceremony in the middle to fight the plunderers, in which he attained martyrdom. According to the legend, it is believed that Vachhara's head was severed in the fight by sword of an enemy, but even after that his body fought against the people and killed them all. In veneration of his heroic sacrifice, a temple was later built in his memory.{{cn|date=April 2017}}<br />
<br />
It is said that Vachara's wife Umade wanted to become a [[Sati (practice)|sati]] but was stopped by saint, who asked her to go to her in-laws house. Vachara was blessed by the God and was asked to consummate the marriage in [[vayu]] form. Thus, twenty two sons were born to him, Solanki descendants of whom all worship him as their [[kuldevta]].{{cn|date=April 2017}} [[Mers]] also worship Vachra Dada and is one of main deity of their caste.{{cn|date=April 2017}}<br />
<br />
Folklore also says that he was reborn seven times, and every time he would do [[saptapadi|Pheras]], he would be interrupted by acts of dacoits taking away the cows. In his seventh life he successfully killed the dacoits. Thus he became a ''Shurveer'' in [[saptajanma|seven cycle of birth]] as per [[Hindu]] myths and became a demi-god after that.{{cn|date=April 2017}}<br />
<br />
==Iconography==<br />
Vachhada Dada is shown sitting on a white [[Kathiawari horse]] with a snake at his feet and a flaming sword in his hands. He is worshiped by ''Khedut' ([[Gujarati language|Gujarati]] word for a farmer) to protect their cattle and keep their crops thriving and also from protection of snake bites. Many temples and shrines can be found throughout Gujarat devoted to him.{{cn|date=April 2017}}<br />
<br />
==Temples==<br />
The location where he became martyr is also named [[Vachhara Dada, Kutch|Vachhara Dada]]. It is located at edge of [[Little Rann of Kutch]], 35&nbsp;km from Kuda (near [[Dhangadhra]]); 15&nbsp;km from [[Vatsrajpur]], and 8&nbsp;km from [[Zinzuwadia]]. The place today is a pilgrimage centre and houses the main temple and [[samadhi]] of Vachra Dada. 407&nbsp;km from Zinjuvada, the temple of vachradada is situated at bitta. Ta. Abdasa-kutch which is known as Jangirdada. The drive to this place along the little Runn itself is very adventurous and a unique experience.<br />
<br />
Other major temples are located in Dundas, [[Mahuva, Bhavnagar|Mahuva]], Narigam, [[Nari, India|Nari]], Devada, [[Porbandar]],<ref>[http://holyindia.org/mandir/9759/vachara-dada-temple Vachra Dada Temple Porbandar]</ref> [[Patan, Gujarat|Patan]], [[Godhana]], [[Bhanvad]], [[Khambhalia]], [[Dwarka]], [[Mandvi]], [[Anjar, India|Anjar]], [[Rangpur, Gujarat|Rangpur]] and [[Mahisa]], [[Thanagalol, Gujarat|Rajkot]] to name a few.<br />
<br />
other vachraj dada temple at datha gujrat on talaja mahua highway n take a left turn from borda village . on this place vachraj dada;left hand over there just a khabhi over there n now construction is going with the blessing of shree vachraj dada [[datha,Bhavnagar]]<br />
<br />
==Culture==<br />
There are many folk songs, [[Bhajan]]s in praise of Vachhara Dada, which are very popular in [[Kutch]] and [[Saurashtra (region)|Saurashtra]] regions of Gujarat, amongst which most noted are ''Dham dham dhame Nagara'', ''Rajputo ma ek ladvayo'', ''Rane chadyo veer'', ''Jai Veer Vachhara Dada'' all in [[Gujarati language]], sung by folk singers like [[Kirtidan Gadhvi]] and others.{{citation needed|date=June 2018}}<br />
<br />
==See also==<br />
*[[Bhathiji]]<br />
<br />
==References==<br />
{{Reflist}}<br />
<br />
==External links==<br />
* [https://jitumisra.com/2014/02/03/vachara-dada-the-folk-god-of-rural-gujarat/]<br />
* [http://kathiyawadikhamir.com/vatsraj-solanki-vachra-dada/ Vatsaraj Solanki/Vachhada Dada]<br />
[[Category:Hindu folk deities]]</div>106.205.227.94