Bhujia Hill

Bhujia Hill
Bhujia Hill
	Bhujiyo Dungar
	Bhujang Naga temple and the fort wall on the hill
Highest point
Elevation	160 m (520 ft)
Coordinates	23°14′47.58″N69°41′26.67″E / 23.2465500°N 69.6907417°E Coordinates: 23°14′47.58″N69°41′26.67″E / 23.2465500°N 69.6907417°E
Geography
	Bhujia Hill Location in Gujarat
Location	Bhuj, Kutch district, Gujarat, India

Last updated November 20, 2019

Bhujia Hill or Bhujiyo Dungar is a hill located in the outskirts of the town of Bhuj in the district of Kutch, Gujarat, India. The Bhujia Fort built on the hill overlooks the town.^[1]^[2]^[3]

Bhuj is a Municipality and District Headquarter of Kutch District in the state of Gujarat, India.

Gujarat is a state on the western coast of India with a coastline of 1,600 km (990 mi) – most of which lies on the Kathiawar peninsula – and a population in excess of 60 million. It is the fifth largest Indian state by area and the ninth largest state by population. Gujarat is bordered by Rajasthan to the northeast, Daman and Diu to the south, Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Maharashtra to the southeast, Madhya Pradesh to the east, and the Arabian Sea and the Pakistani province of Sindh to the west. Its capital city is Gandhinagar, while its largest city is Ahmedabad. The Gujarati-speaking people of India are indigenous to the state. The economy of Gujarat is the fifth-largest state economy in India with ₹13.14 lakh crore (US$190 billion) in GDP and a per capita GDP of ₹174,000 (US$2,500). Gujarat ranks fifteenth among Indian states in human development index.

Bhujia Fort, also spelled as Bhujiya Fort, is a fort located in the outskirts of the town of Bhuj in the district of Kutch, Gujarat, India. The fort is built atop Bhujia Hill overlooking the town.

Etymology

Legend of Bhujanga

According to the legend, Kutch was ruled by the Nāga chieftains in past. Sagai, a queen of Sheshapattana, allied with Bheria Kumar and rose up against Bhujanga, the last chieftain of Naga. After the battle, Bheria was defeated and Sagai committed sati. The hill where he lived later came to known as Bhujia Hilln in kutch alert and the town at the foothill as Bhuj. Bhujang was later worshiped by the people as snake god, Bhujanga , and a temple was constructed in his reverence.^[1]^[2]^[4]

In Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism, the nāga or Nagi are divine, semi-divine deities, or a semi-divine race of half-human half-serpent beings that reside in the netherworld (Patala) and can occasionally take human form. They are principally depicted in three forms: wholly human with snakes on the heads and necks; common serpents, or as half-human half-snake beings. A female naga is a "nagi", "nagin", or "nagini". Nagaraja is seen as the king of nāgas and nāginis. They are common and hold cultural significance in the mythological traditions of many South Asian and Southeast Asian cultures.

Sati or suttee is a largely historical practice found chiefly among Hindus in the northern and pre-modern regions of South Asia, in which a widow sacrifices herself by sitting atop her deceased husband's funeral pyre.

Geography

The hill is 160 metre high at one end.^[4]

Fort

Bhujia Fort was constructed for the defense of the city by Jadeja Chiefs. Rao Godji I started the construction in 1715 which ended during the rule of Deshalji I in 1741. The fort has seen six major battles.

The Jadeja is a Rajput clan who claim to be descended from the Hindu god Krishna and thus to belong to the Yaduvanshi Rajputs, who in turn form a part of the Chandravanshi.

Rao Godji I was the Rao of Cutch belonging to the Jadeja Rajput dynasty, who ruled Princely State of Cutch from 1715 to 1718.

Rao Deshalji I was the Rao of Cutch belonging to Jadeja Rajput dynasty, who ruled Princely State of Cutch as a regent from 1718 1752. His son Lakhpatji confined him in 1741 and ruled as a regent until death of Deshalji in 1752.

Temples

Bhujang Temple

At one corner of the fort is a small square tower dedicated to 'Bhujang Nag' (snake god), who in folklore is said to have been the brother of 'Sheshnag' - Lord of the nether world ('Patal'). It is said He came from Than of Kathiawar and freed Kachchh from the oppression of demons known as 'daityas' and 'rakshasas'.

Shesha, also known as Sheshanaga or Adishesha, is the nagaraja or King of all Nāgas and one of the primal beings of creation. In the Puranas, Shesha is said to hold all the planets of the universe on his hoods and to constantly sing the glories of the God Vishnu from all his mouths. He is sometimes referred to as Ananta Shesha, which translates as endless-Shesha or Adishesha "first Shesha". It is said that when Adishesa uncoils, time moves forward and creation takes place; when he coils back, the universe ceases to exist.

In Indian religions, Patala or Pathalam, denotes the subterranean realms of the universe – which are located under the earth. Patala is often translated as underworld or netherworld.

Thangadh is an industrial town and a municipality located southwest of Surendranagar in Surendranagar district in the Indian state of Gujarat.

The Snake Temple was also built at the time of the fortification of the hill during Deshalji I's reign (1718–1740).^[2]^[5]^[6] In a battle that was won with help of Naga Sadhus, who worship the Snake god, by Deshalji, the ruler of Kutch, also built a Chhatri over the temple in 1723. To commemorate this event, ever since, an annual fair is held on the fort-hill on the Nag Panchami day in Shraavana month in the Hindu calendar.^[3]^[5]

Chhatri are elevated, dome-shaped pavilions used as an element in Indian architecture. The word Chhatri means "canopy" or "umbrella." In the context of architecture, the word is used to refer to two different things. The usual and more widely understood meaning is of a memorial, usually very ornate, built over the site where the funeral (cremation) of an important personage was performed. Such memorials usually consist of a platform girded by a set of ornate pillars which hold up a stone canopy. The word chhatri is also used to refer to the small pavilions that mark the corners and roof of the entrance of a major building. These pavilions are purely decorative and have no utility, but are a classic folly displaying the status and wealth of the owner.

Śrāvaṇa is the fifth month of the Hindu calendar. In India's national civil calendar, Śrāvaṇa is the fifth month of the Hindu year, beginning in late July from the first day of the full moon and ending in the third week of August, the day of the next full moon. In the Tamil calendar, it is known as Āvani and is the fifth month of the solar year. In lunar religious calendars, Śrāvaṇa begins on the new moon and is the fourth month of the year. Srabon is the fourth month of the Bengali calendar. This is also the 2nd month of Varsha (rainy) season.

Hindu calendar is a collective term for the various lunisolar calendars traditionally used in the Indian subcontinent. They adopt a similar underlying concept for timekeeping, but differ in their relative emphasis to moon cycle or the sun cycle and the names of months and when they consider the New Year to start. Of the various regional calendars, the most studied and known Hindu calendars are the Shalivahana Shaka found in South India, Vikram Samvat (Bikrami) found in North and Central regions of India, Tamil calendar used in Tamil Nadu, and the Bengali calendar used in the Bengal – all of which emphasize the lunar cycle. Their new year starts in spring. In contrast, in regions such as Kerala, the solar cycle is emphasized and this is called the Malayalam calendar, their new year starts in autumn, and these have origins in the second half of the 1st millennium CE. A Hindu calendar is sometimes referred to as Panchanga (पञ्चाङ्ग).

Park

Smritivan, a memorial park and museum dedicated to victims of the 2001 Gujarat earthquake was built atop the hill. Total 13,805 trees dedicated to each victim were planted in the garden and 108 small water reservoirs were created on the hill.^[7]

The 2001 Gujarat earthquake, also known as the Bhuj earthquake, occurred on 26 January, India's 52nd Republic Day, at 08:46 am IST and lasted for over 2 minutes. The epicentre was about 9 km south-southwest of the village of Chobari in Bhachau Taluka of Kutch District of Gujarat, India.

Related Research Articles

Naga Panchami is a day of traditional worship of Nagas or snakes observed by Hindus throughout India, Nepal, and other countries where Hindu adherents live. The worship is offered on the fifth day of bright half of lunar month of Shravana (July/August), according to the Hindu calendar. Some Indian states, such as Gujarat, celebrate Naga Panchami on the dark half of the same month. As part of the festivities, a Naga or serpent deity made of silver, stone, wood, or a painting of snakes is given a reverential bath with milk and their blessings are sought for the welfare of the family. Live snakes, especially cobras, are also worshipped on this day especially with offerings of milk and generally with the assistance of a snake charmer.

Kukma or Kookma is a village near the Bhuj town, taluka in Kachchh District of Indian State of Gujarat. It is located at a distance of 16 kilometers from Bhuj, the headquarters of Kachchh District.

Devaria or Devaliya or Deoria is a village in Anjar Taluka of Kutch at a distance of about 3 km from Anjar town of Kachchh District of Gujarat in India.

Nagor or Nagher is a village in Bhuj Taluka of Kutch at a distance of about 8 km from Bhuj town, the capital of Kachchh District of Gujarat in India.

Hajapar is a village in Bhuj Taluka of Kachchh District of Gujarat State of India. It is located at a distance of about 18 km from Bhuj. One nearby village is Reha. As per some old records & books of Mistris community Hajapar was also known as Rajapar in olden days.

Koteshwar is a small village and the location of an ancient Shiva temple. It located near the mouth of Kori Creek, in the west of Kutch district of Gujarat, India.

Narayan Sarovar or Narayansar is a village and place of pilgrimage for Hindus on the Kori Creek. It is located in Lakhpat taluka of Kutch district, Gujarat, India. The ancient Koteshwar temple lies only 4 km away.

Naliya is a town, which is also the taluka headquarters of Abdasa Taluka of Kutch District, Gujarat, India. It is located on the western end of Kutch 19 km by road from ancient port of Jakhau.

Tera is a historic village in the Kutch District of the Indian state of Gujarat. It is in Abdasa Taluka, located 13 kilometres (8.1 mi) from the taluka headquarters, Naliya, and 84 kilometres (52 mi) from the district headquarters, Bhuj.

Tera Fort is one of the many forts of Kutch, Gujarat, India. It is situated in southwestern Kutch near the village of Tera in Abdasa Taluka.

Cutch State Indian princely state, 1147-1948

Cutch, also spelled Kutch or Kachchh, was a relatively large Indian princely state during the British Raj. Its territories covered the present day Kutch region of Gujarat north of the Gulf of Kutch. Bordered by Sindh in the north, Cutch State was one of the few princely states with a coastline.

Jakh Botera, Jakhdada, Jakkha Bautera, 72 Yaksha or Bohter Yaksha, literally seventy-two Yaksha warriors, are group of folk deities worshiped widely in Kutch district of Gujarat, India.

Captain James MacMurdo was the first political resident of British East India Company to Cutch State. He played important role in bringing Cutch under British suzerainty.

The history of Kutch, a region in the extreme west of the western Indian state of Gujarat, can be traced back to prehistorical times. There are several sites related to Indus valley civilization in region and is mentioned in Hindu mythology. In historical times, Kutch is mentioned in Greek writings during Alexander. It was ruled by Menander I of Greco-Bactrian Kingdom which was overthrown by Indo-Scythians followed by Maurya Empire and Sakas. in the first century, it was under Western Satraps followed by Gupta Empire. By fifth century, Maitraka of Valabhi took over from which its close association with ruling clans of Gujarat started. Chavdas ruled the eastern and central parts by seventh century but were came under Chaulukyas by tenth century. After fall of Chaulukya, Vaghelas ruled the state. Following conquest of Sindh by Muslim rulers, Rajput Samma started moving southwards to Kutch and ruled western regions initially. By tenth century, they controlled significant area of Kutch and by thirteenth century they controlled whole of Kutch and adopted a new dynastic identity, Jadeja.

The Shiva temple, Kera, also known as Lakheshwara temple of Kerakot, is located in Kera village near Bhuj of Kutch district in Gujarat. The temple was built during the reign of the Chaulukya dynasty (Solankis) in the later part of the 10th Century and is dedicated to Shiva. The temple has been subjected to severe earthquake damages during the earthquake of 1819 and the Bhuj earthquake of 2001. But the temple's spire, inner sanctum and the sculptures are still in an attractive condition.

References

1 2 "Bhujia Fort". india9.com. 7 December 2005. Retrieved 31 October 2018.
1 2 3 Bombay (India : State) (1880). Gazetteer of the Bombay Presidency: Cutch, Palanpur, and Mahi Kantha. Printed at the Government Central Press. Retrieved 14 April 2016.
1 2 "Panoramio - Photo of View of Bhujia Fort on Bhujia Hill, Bhuj, Kachchh". panoramio.com. Retrieved 14 April 2016.
1 2 Ward (1 January 1998). Gujarat–Daman–Diu: A Travel Guide. Orient Longman Limited. pp. 316–317. ISBN 978-81-250-1383-9.
1 2 Webmaster of onlytravelguide.com (India) Ace Web Technologies. "Bhujia Hill Fort, Hill Fort of Bhujia, How to reach Bhujia Hill Fort, Bhujia Hill, Bhujia Forts, Bhujia Hill Fort travel, Historical Bhujia Forts in Gujarat". onlytravelguide.com. Retrieved 14 April 2016.
↑ India (Republic). Superintendent of Census Operations, Gujarat (1964). Kutch. Director, Government Print. and Stationery, Gujarat State. Retrieved 14 April 2016.
↑ Ray, Joydeep (16 April 2004). "Gujarat to set up quake memorial in Bhuj". Business Standard .

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[x-1] 1 2 "Bhujia Fort". india9.com. 7 December 2005. Retrieved 31 October 2018.

[y-2] 1 2 3 Bombay (India : State) (1880). Gazetteer of the Bombay Presidency: Cutch, Palanpur, and Mahi Kantha. Printed at the Government Central Press. Retrieved 14 April 2016.

[panoramio-3] 1 2 "Panoramio - Photo of View of Bhujia Fort on Bhujia Hill, Bhuj, Kachchh". panoramio.com. Retrieved 14 April 2016.

[Ward1998-4] 1 2 Ward (1 January 1998). Gujarat–Daman–Diu: A Travel Guide. Orient Longman Limited. pp. 316–317. ISBN 978-81-250-1383-9.

[z-5] 1 2 Webmaster of onlytravelguide.com (India) Ace Web Technologies. "Bhujia Hill Fort, Hill Fort of Bhujia, How to reach Bhujia Hill Fort, Bhujia Hill, Bhujia Forts, Bhujia Hill Fort travel, Historical Bhujia Forts in Gujarat". onlytravelguide.com. Retrieved 14 April 2016.

[w-6] India (Republic). Superintendent of Census Operations, Gujarat (1964). Kutch. Director, Government Print. and Stationery, Gujarat State. Retrieved 14 April 2016.

[Ray-7] Ray, Joydeep (16 April 2004). "Gujarat to set up quake memorial in Bhuj". Business Standard .