Veer Tejaji (29 January 1074 - 28 August 1103)[1] also known as Tejaji Maharaj, or simply Tejaji, was a great warrior, social reformer, cow protector and folk-deity in Rajasthan. In rural parts of northern Rajasthan, he is revered as a deity and is considered to be one of Lord Shiva's eleven primary incarnations.[2][3] He is mainly worshipped in the states of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and Gujarat.[4] He is commonly known as the God of Snakes in Rajasthan, because it protect against snake bites or also worshipped as Dhauliya Veer.[5][6]
As per the historians, it is believed that Ram Kunwari, Tejaji mother, got a boon from Nagaraja and gave birth to a baby named, Teja Ji. His parents were worshippers of Lord Shiva.[8]
Story
Halsotia: The Sacred Duty
In the rural heartland of Rajasthan, tradition dictated that the chieftain Tejaji, must initiate the plowing of fields after the first monsoon rains in the month of Jyestha. This ritual, known as “halsotia,” held immense significance. Tejaji embraced this duty with unwavering determination, ready to turn the soil and honor age-old customs.[1]
Bhabhi’s Taunts and the Quest for Pemal
Tejaji’s mother urged him to perform the ploughing, known as Halsotia, because his father and brother were out of village due to some work. So,Tejaji started ploughing his fields and his sister-in-law was responsible for bringing him food in fields during ploughing (locally known as “Chhak”), one day she arrived late. Frustrated, Tejaji’s anger flared when she taunted him about his wife’s absence- Pemal (Tejaji wife) was still at her father’s home. Determined to rectify this perceived shame, Tejaji resolved to retrieve his wife from her in-laws’ abode. Before bringing Pemal back, Tejaji faced another task: reuniting with his sister, Rajal. Pemal had requested that Rajal be there to welcome her.[1]
War with Meenas
When Tejaji was on his way to bring his sister, Rajal back he encountered some meena dacoits. In fight Tejaji emerged victorious and proceeded to Tabiji, Ajmer, securing permission from his sister’s husband, to bring Rajal back to Kharnal.
When Tejaji arrived at his in-laws house, he found his mother-in-law was busy in milking cows. His entry on his leelan mare startled the animals, disrupting their peaceful routine. Unfortunately, his mother-in-law failed to recognize him because Tejaji was married to Pemal when he was only nine months old. Tejaji's mother-in-law gave Tejaji a curse that he would be bitten by a black snake for disturbing her cows.[1]
Tejaji’s anger flared, and he decided to return to Kharnal without Pemal. However, Pemal was upset by her mother's reaction and requested that her father and brother stop Tejaji. Lachha Gujari, Pemal’s friend, stepped forward and shared the story of Pemal’s suffering to Tejaji. Then Tejaji stayed at Lachha’s Gujari house, where he met Pemal for the first time.[9]
Lachha Cows Incident
When Tejaji and Pemal are talking to each other at Lachha House, a knock is echoed by Lachha Gujari. Lachha urgently informed Tejaji that the Meenas from Chang had stolen all her cows and requested help from Tejaji. Without hesitation, Tejaji mounted his Leelan and rode off alone to confront the dacoits who had taken Lachha's cows.[10]
When Tejaji was on his way to confront the dacaits, Basak Naag, a snake, was burning in the fire, and Tejaji saved him from burning. That snake cursed and wanted to bite him. Tejaji assured that he would come back after taking Lachha cows back.After that, Tejaji fought with the Meenas in the valley of Chang, about 15 km from Sursura. He killed all 350 Meenas in the fight and got back the cows of Lachha Gujari.[11]
Death of Teja Ji
Tejaji, after returning cows to Lachha, produced himself before Basak Naga, the snake, and asked the snake to bite his body. Basak Naga did not find any unwounded places on Tejaji's body, and then Tejaji asked him to bite on his tongue. Basak Naga gave a boon to Tejaji that he will be a deity of Kalyug and will be worshipped. That’s why Tejaji is also called a man of words. Tejaji died on Bhadrapada Shukla Dashmi Saturday, V.S. 1160, or 28 August 1103 at the age of 29. The date of the martyrdom of Tejaji is celebrated as Teja Dashmi.[11][9][12]
Tejaji is also known as God of Snakes, because of this when anyone gets bitten by snake, then there are rituals to visit Tejaji temple and seek blessings from Tejaji.[3] Apart from being called as God of Snakes, Tejaji was also a great protector of cows.[13]
Commemoration
India Post, Government of India releases commemorative postage stamp of Tejaji Maharaj
Teja Dashami is a festival celebrated in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh on the Dashami Tithi (tenth day) of the Shukla Paksha (bright fortnight of the Moon) in the month of Bhadrapada. The occasion commemorates the life and sacrifice of Tejaji, who is revered as a folk-deity and hailed for his commitment to truth and promise.[14]
In September 2011, India Post issued a commemorative postage stamp depicting Tejaji.[15] The Government of Rajasthan later constituted the Rajasthan State Veer Tejaji Welfare Board for Farmers, comprising seven members including a chairman and vice-chairman. The board is tasked with reviewing the socio-economic conditions of farmers and recommending measures to address their backwardness.[7]
Tejaji’s life has also been depicted in cultural media. A Rajasthani-language film titled Veer Tejaji was produced in the 1980s. In November 2023, Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the Tejaji Temple at Kharnal village, Nagaur, Rajasthan, to pay homage to the folk deity.[16]
Personal life
Tejaji married Pemal, daughter of Raimal, chieftain of Paner village in the Ajmer district of Rajasthan. He was just nine months old at the time of marriage, while Pemal was six months old, and they got married at Pushkar Ghat on Pushkar Purnima in 1074. His wife, Pemal, and his sister, Rajal, practiced sati pratha when Tejaji sacrificed his life for cows.[17]
Gallery
This section includes pictures of some temples dedicated to Veer Tejaji.
1 2 3 4 Gupta, Dr Seema. "Veer Tejaji - The Symbol of Folk Faith". Central Asian Journal of Literature, Philosophy and Culture. 01: 42. “ As per historians, he was born on Friday, Magha Shukla 14 samvat 1130 (29 January 1074).
↑ Murphy, Anne (2003). "TĒJAJI". In Mills, Margaret A.; Diamond, Sarah; Claus, Peter J. (eds.). South Asian Folklore: An Encyclopedia. Routledge. p.596. ISBN978-0-415-93919-5. Tējaji was a Jāt of Karnala near Nagaur, in Marwar
1 2 ANI (16 September 2016). "Rajasthan celebrates unique snake festival to bring good fortune". India.com. Retrieved 16 October 2018. “ Teja is considered to be one of the eleven incarnations of Lord Shiva and worshipped as a deity in rural Rajasthan. Devotees sang and danced to the sounds of drums and instruments, holding snakes in their hands and receiving their bites. It is believed that the snake bites cures ailments and bring good fortune.”
↑ "In India, getting bitten by a snake seen as good luck". Reuters Original. Retrieved 16 October 2018. “ Veer Teja or Tejaji was a legendary Rajasthani folk hero, also considered to be one of the major eleven incarnations of Lord Shiva and worshipped as a deity in rural Rajasthan.”
1 2 Service, Statesman News (2 March 2023). "Ahead of Global Jat Mahakumbh, Gehlot sets up 'Veer Tejaji Welfare Board' in Rajasthan". The Statesman. Retrieved 5 August 2024. “ Veer Teja or Satyavadi Veer Tejaji is a Rajasthani folk deity. Its history says that Kanwar Tejaji ji is considered to be the eleventh incarnation of Lord Shiva and he was born in Dholiya gotra of Nagvanshiya Jat.”
↑ "Tejaji Maharaj Story: सांप को दिया वचन निभाया, अब लोक देवता के रूप में होती है इस गौ रक्षक की पूजा". ABP NEWS. 4 September 2022. Retrieved 4 September 2022. “राजस्थान में नागौर जिले के खरनालियां गांव में तेजाजी का जन्म हुआ था. नागवंशी क्षत्रिय जाट घराने के एक जाट परिवार में जन्मे वीर तेजाजी सामान्य किसान के बेटे थे. तेजाजी के पिता ताहड़ देव और माता रामकंवरी भगवान शिव के उपासक थे. मान्यता है कि माता रामकंवरी को नाग-देवता के आशीर्वाद से पुत्र की प्राप्ति हुई थी.”
↑ Bharat, E. T. V. (6 October 2022). "Lok Devta Tejaji: वचन पालन के लिए तेजाजी महाराज ने दिया था बलिदान, जानिए जाटों के आराध्य देव की अमर गाथा". ETV Bharat News (in Hindi). Retrieved 21 August 2024. “ गायों की रक्षा को दी प्राणों की आहुति: इतिहासकार घनश्याम मुंडेल बताते हैं कि सर्पदंश के कारण लोक देवता तेजाजी महाराज की मृत्यु हुई थी. तेजाजी महाराज बचपन से ही बहादुर थे. एक बार की बात है जब तेजाजी महाराज अपनी बहन को लेने उनके ससुराल पहुंचे तो पता चला कि दस्यु गिरोह उनकी बहन की सारी गायों को लूटकर ले गए. जिसके बाद तेजाजी महाराज अपने एक साथी के साथ जंगलों में बहन की गायों को छुड़ाने के लिए निकल गए. इस दौरान बीच रास्ते में एक सांप तेजाजी के घोड़े के सामने आ गया और उन्हें डसने की कोशिश करने लगा. यह देख तेजाजी ने उस सांप को वचन दिया कि जब वो अपनी बहन की गायों को छुड़ाकर आएंगे तब वो उन्हें डस ले. तेजाजी का वचन सुनकर सांप उनके रास्ते से हट गया”
Madan Meena: Tejaji Gatha (Hadoti & Hindi), Kota Heritage Society, Kota, 2012 ISBN978-81-8465-686-2 (Published under the World Oral Literature Project, University of Cambridge, UK)
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