Khedbrahma

Khedbrahma
ખેડબ્રહ્મા
Town

Harnav River

Harnav river flowing in monsoon
Khedbrahma
Khedbrahma

Location in Gujarat, India

Coordinates: 24°1′42″N 73°2′29″E / 24.02833°N 73.04139°E / 24.02833; 73.04139Coordinates: 24°1′42″N 73°2′29″E / 24.02833°N 73.04139°E / 24.02833; 73.04139
Country  India
State Gujarat
District Sabarkantha district
Government
 • Body Nagar Palika
Elevation 202 m (663 ft)
Population (2011)
 • Total 25,001
Languages
 • Official Gujarati, Hindi
Time zone IST (UTC+5:30)
PIN 383255
Area code(s) +91 2775
Vehicle registration starting with GJ 9
Sex ratio 1000/916 ♂/♀

Khedbrahma ( pronunciation ) is a town and a taluka in Sabarkantha, Gujarat. It is known for its historical and mythological connections, Brahma’s temple and stepwell, Ambika Mataji temple and Jain temple of Mahavir.[1][2]

Etymology

It is believed that Brahma had ploughed the land here and a river had flown out of it[3] which is now known as Harnav.

History

Khedbrahma in map of Mahi Kantha Agency, British India, 1878

According to Padmapurana; this is an ancient city was known as Brahmpur in Sat Yuga, Agnikhet in Treta, Hiranyapur in Dwapar and talukhet in Kali Yuga. Puratan Brahmakshetra says that many Digambar temples were also present in this locality.

The history can be traced back to the 11th century when Brahma Temple and Ambika Temple were probably built. Brahma stepwell was built in the 14th century.[4]

Geography

Bridge on Harnav River

The confluence of three small rivers (Triveni Sangam); namely Hirnakshi, Bhimakshi and Kosambi; is located here. After the confluence, the river is known as Harnav which merges with Sabarmati river down stream. It divides the town in north and south parts.[1][2] Harnav river was formerly known as Hiranyaksh or Harnai river.[5][1]

Demographics

Aradhana cinema

As of 2010 India census,[6] Khedbrahma had a population of 29,402. Males constitute 52% of the population and females 48%. Khedbrahma has an average literacy rate of 67%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 73%, and female literacy is 56%. In Khedbrahma, 13% of the population is under 6 years of age.

Civic administration

Khedbrahma is Nagar Palika (municipality) and Taluka headquarter. It has 9 wards and 27 seats in municipality. There are 15 seats for reserved categories and 12 seats for unreserved categories.[7] Khedbrahma constituency is represented in Gujarat Legislative Assembly by one elected member.

Places of interest

Brahma temple and stepwell

Khedbrahma has a temple dedicated to Brahma which is rarely seen in India, only second to Pushkar. It was built in third quarter of the 11th century[8] or in the 12th century.[2][4] It is built of white sandstone and cement-covered brick. It is fifty-seven feet long, thirty broad, and thirty-six high. The temple house an image of four faced Brahma which is worshiped.[5]

There is a step-well known as Brahma Vav is situated opposite the temple. It is built with grey granite stone. It had row of miniature shrines as an ornamentation on the back wall of the stepwell which suggests it was built in 14th century. This carvings resembles temple spires and idols. It is now in despair due to lack of maintenance.[3][9] It was known as Aditi Vav historically. An inscription of Vikram Samvat 1256 is present in the stepwell.[4][10] It has 27 niches without any idols. Every year Digambar Jains and Khedaval Brahmins worships their patron deity here.[11]

In past, the fair was held in February which used to draw large number of pilgrims and traders from Gujarat and Rajasthan. The Kathiawar traders used to raise booths on the south bank of the Harnav river and deal in opium, cloth, copperware, jewelry, grocery, and horses. The fair used to last for fifteen days. Goods worth a lakh were sold. The fair lost its importance from the time of Rao Kalianmal (about 1630), when the Idar State fell a prey to rebellion and disorder.[5]

Ambika temple

Ambika temple was built in the early 11th century.[8] Every year many pilgrims come to Ambika temple especially during September–October due to Bhadarvi Purnima festival. It is also known as Nana Ambaji Temple.[3] There is a fair during Kartik Purnima (on full moon day of November–December)here. Pushya Purnima (on full moon day of February–March) is important because it is considered as a foundation day (Pragatya Divas) of the temple.[12][13]

Bhrigurishi Ashram

There is also the Bhrigurishi ashram and a Bhrigunath Mahadev temple which is associated with folklores and Puranic stories.

Legend

According to the Brahma Puran, the temple was built by Bhrigu, Brahma's son who was once sent by the seers, rishi, to find out who was the noblest of the Hindu trinity. Insulting Brahma and Rudra, they got angry and threatened to punish him. Seeking out Vishnu, Bhrigu was bold enough to place his foot on the god's chest. Instead of resenting, the kindly god asked the seer's pardon for the hardness of his breast. Bhrigu returned and praised Vishnu as the noblest of the gods. To wipe out the sin of insulting the gods, Bhrigu came to Brahma Kshetra, bathed in the Hiranyaksh, made his hermitage the seat of a Shiva, and performed such rigid austerities, that Shiva was pleased and freed him from his sin.[5]

Kshirjamba Mahalaxmi temple

According to the Brahma Puran, this place owes its sanctity to a desire of Brahma to free himself from impurity. Vishnu, whom he consulted as to the means, advised him to perform a sacrifice at some holy spot in Bharatkhand in the Jambudvipa, and get learned Brahmin to officiate for him. Under Brahma's orders, Vishwakarma built a city on the right bank of the Sabarmati south of mount Abu, six miles (4 kos) round. It had golden ramparts and twenty-four gates and through it flowed the river Hiranyaksh, the modern Harnav. He then created 9000 Brahmans to officiate at the sacrifice. And, when the sacrifice was over, and the impurity removed, to maintain his Brahmins, he created 18,000 Vaishyas and gave them Kshirja as their family goddess. Before withdrawing from the world, he let the Brahmins dedicate a shrine to him, and place in it his four-faced image.[5]

Other temples

Kashi Vishwanath Mahadev Temple

Kashi Vishvanath Mahadev temple, Koteshwar temple and Pankheshvar (Pakshendranath) Mahadev temple are situated on the northern bank of the Harnav river which are popular locally. Mahavira Jain temple, situated in northern part of town, is almost 500 years old. The central idol of Mahavira is 90cm in height and in Padmasana position.[1][2][14][10]

Amenities

Government Taluka Library

Library

This city has a Government Taluka Library.

Healthcare

There is a 150 beds government hospital equipped with modern medical facilities which was opened in August 2015.[15]

Education

Khedbrahma has educational institutions teaching from primary level to graduation.

Higher education

Schools

Transportation

There is a bus-station of Gujarat State Road Transport Corporation connecting all major cities of Gujarat, and a railway station which has two trains a day. It is connected to all major towns of Sabarkantha district by State Highway.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Manohar Sajnani (2001). Encyclopaedia of Tourism Resources in India. Gyan Publishing House. pp. 110–111. ISBN 978-81-7835-018-9.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Khedbrahma Taluka Official Govt. Website". Retrieved 1 October 2012.
  3. 1 2 3 India Guide Gujarat. India Guide Publications, 2007. p. 191. ISBN 9780978951702. Retrieved 1 October 2012.
  4. 1 2 3 Gujarat State Gazetteers: Sabarkantha. Directorate of Government Print., Stationery and Publications, Gujarat State, 1974. pp. 88,91,172. Retrieved 1 October 2012.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 Gazetteer of the Bombay Presidency: Cutch, Pálanpur, and Mahi Kántha (Public Domain text). Government Central Press. 1880. pp. 437–438.
  6. ↑ "Census of India 2001: Data from the 2001 Census, including cities, villages and towns (Provisional)". Census Commission of India. Archived from the original on 2004-06-16. Retrieved 2008-11-01.
  7. ↑ "State Election Commission, Gujarat Official Website". Retrieved 1 October 2012.
  8. 1 2 Studies in Indian temple architecture: papers presented at a seminar held in Varanasi, 1967. p. 128. Retrieved 1 October 2012.
  9. ↑ The Stepwells of Gujarat: In Art-Historical Perspective. Abhinav Publications, 1981. p. 53. ISBN 9780391022843. Retrieved 1 October 2012.
  10. 1 2 Teerth Darshan. Shree Jain Prarthana Mandir Trust (Regd.). 2002. p. 520.
  11. ↑ Shukla, Rakesh (24 June 2014). "ક્યારેક લોકોની તરસ છિપાવતા હતા ગુજરાતના આ જળ મંદિરો-ખેડબ્રહ્માની વાવ". gujarati.oneindia.com (in Gujarati). Retrieved 20 November 2016.
  12. ↑ Fairs and Festivals of India: Chhattisgarh, Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Daman and Diu, Goa, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra. Gyan Pub. House 2003. pp. 106, 117, 118. Retrieved 1 October 2012.
  13. ↑ "Khedbrahma grew venue for watching Amba mata". Divya Bhaskar (in Gujarati). 5 April 2015. Retrieved 1 December 2016.
  14. ↑ Gujarat State Gazetteers: Sabarkantha. Directorate of Government Print., Stationery and Publications, Gujarat State, 1974. p. 172. Retrieved 1 October 2012.
  15. ↑ DeshGujarat (2015-08-16). "Gujarat CM dedicates 150-bed govt hospital in tribal Khedbrahma". DeshGujarat. Retrieved 2015-08-17.
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