Veer Dada Jashraj
Encyclopedia
Dada Jasraj / Dada Jashraj also called Veer
Dada
Jasraj is a folk deity revered and worshiped by Lohana
and Bhanushali
community of India.
As per their folk fare, the Jasraj, was a chief of one of the 24 branches of Lohana clan, who lived around between AD 970 and 1000 and by others from 1032 to 1048 As per Lohana folk-tale Dda Jashraj is said to have killed Sabuk-tigin - father of Mahmud of Ghazni
, in the year AD 997, in his own court in Kabul, in presence of his courtiers and still escaped with his party. History has recorded that to avenge the death of his father, Mahmud Gazni attacked their territories three times but failed to capture Loharpradesh but in one of those aggressions Jasraj lost his life.However, this seems another folk-tale as most of the other historians claim that Sabuktigin died of illness in 997 AD and was buried in Ghazni
It is said after death of Jasraj, Muslims increased their influence in Sindh
& Baluchistan and Lohanas migrated towards East and in to Kutch and Gujarat.
Another story claims that Dada Jasraj was just getting married, when he came to know that enemy was taking away cows, which are considered as holy animal by Hindu
s. As such he left his feras
and went after enemy to save cows. He was assisted in war even by women-folk led by his own sister Harkor. Although, enemy was eventually defeated but not before Dada Jasraj fell in the battlefield as martyr. He has ever since been worshiped by Lohanas and Bhanushalis as Dada
and his sister Harkor is worshiped as kuldevi by Lohana clan.
Further, most of Lohanas boast of that Dada Jasraj was responsible for killing Gengis Khan even claiming that a tomb that lies near the fort of Multan bears the epitaph in Chinese, "Here lays Genghiskhan whom Rana Jasraj of Lohar Gadha dealt a fatal blow." and also that he killed Timur Lang. But it is a false claim and fairy-tale, affirmed by Lohana communities own historian & researcher, R. T. Somaiya, who says that considering the fact that Chengiz Khan died in the year AD 1227 while fighting with Tanguts in Mongolia and lies buried in Burkan Qaldun-Mangolia and Tomb of Genghis Khan
is yet to be discovered. While Timur Lang died in AD 1405 at Otraer on Jaxartes river in war against China, this claim of Dada Jasraj killing Chengiz Khan is not authentic. Perheps, the legend started as form of bardic
tales to glorify their warrior, who is claimed to have been living around 970 to 1000 AD and died at age of 24. So he could have in no way killed Gengis Khan who died in 1227 and Timur Lang who died in 1408.
However, Lohanas today consider Dada Jasraj, as their folk-deity or kuladevata and there is custom to offer the idol of Dada Jasraj, who is shown riding a horse, some dates and jaggery
. Newly wed brides offer this to Dada Jasraj wearing colorful clothes. Previously it was prescribed to wear only white clothes, while offering puja which now Lohanas have almost forgotten.
Veer (disambiguation)
Veer may refer to:*Veer, an option running play often associated with option offenses in American football*Veer, one of Navarasa, in Indian aesthetics and literature*Veer-Zaara, a 2004 Bollywood film starring Shahrukh Khan and Preity Zinta...
Dada
Dada (disambiguation)
-Arts:* Dadaism* Neo-Dada* Dance and Drama Awards, commonly abbreviated as DaDA, government funding for professional performing arts education in the United Kingdom* Dádá, the original Chinese title for Zhang Yuan's film Dada's Dance...
Jasraj is a folk deity revered and worshiped by Lohana
Lohana
The Lohana also referred to as Luvana are an Indian caste,largely classified as merchants and are categorized as Vaishya or Bania caste although their ancient history proves that they are Kshatriya of Suryavanshi descant, claiming their lineage from Lava, son of Rama...
and Bhanushali
Bhanushali
Bhanushali / Bhānshali / Bhansali is a Hindu, Kshatriya community mainly belonging to State of Gujarat in India....
community of India.
As per their folk fare, the Jasraj, was a chief of one of the 24 branches of Lohana clan, who lived around between AD 970 and 1000 and by others from 1032 to 1048 As per Lohana folk-tale Dda Jashraj is said to have killed Sabuk-tigin - father of Mahmud of Ghazni
Mahmud of Ghazni
Mahmud of Ghazni , actually ', was the most prominent ruler of the Ghaznavid dynasty who ruled from 997 until his death in 1030 in the eastern Iranian lands. Mahmud turned the former provincial city of Ghazni into the wealthy capital of an extensive empire which covered most of today's Iran,...
, in the year AD 997, in his own court in Kabul, in presence of his courtiers and still escaped with his party. History has recorded that to avenge the death of his father, Mahmud Gazni attacked their territories three times but failed to capture Loharpradesh but in one of those aggressions Jasraj lost his life.However, this seems another folk-tale as most of the other historians claim that Sabuktigin died of illness in 997 AD and was buried in Ghazni
Ghazni
For the Province of Ghazni see Ghazni ProvinceGhazni is a city in central-east Afghanistan with a population of about 141,000 people...
It is said after death of Jasraj, Muslims increased their influence in Sindh
Sindh
Sindh historically referred to as Ba'ab-ul-Islam , is one of the four provinces of Pakistan and historically is home to the Sindhi people. It is also locally known as the "Mehran". Though Muslims form the largest religious group in Sindh, a good number of Christians, Zoroastrians and Hindus can...
& Baluchistan and Lohanas migrated towards East and in to Kutch and Gujarat.
Another story claims that Dada Jasraj was just getting married, when he came to know that enemy was taking away cows, which are considered as holy animal by Hindu
Hindu
Hindu refers to an identity associated with the philosophical, religious and cultural systems that are indigenous to the Indian subcontinent. As used in the Constitution of India, the word "Hindu" is also attributed to all persons professing any Indian religion...
s. As such he left his feras
Saptapadi
Saptapadi is the most important rite of a Hindu marriage ceremony. The word, Saptapadi means "Seven steps"...
and went after enemy to save cows. He was assisted in war even by women-folk led by his own sister Harkor. Although, enemy was eventually defeated but not before Dada Jasraj fell in the battlefield as martyr. He has ever since been worshiped by Lohanas and Bhanushalis as Dada
Dada
Dada or Dadaism is a cultural movement that began in Zurich, Switzerland, during World War I and peaked from 1916 to 1922. The movement primarily involved visual arts, literature—poetry, art manifestoes, art theory—theatre, and graphic design, and concentrated its anti-war politics through a...
and his sister Harkor is worshiped as kuldevi by Lohana clan.
Further, most of Lohanas boast of that Dada Jasraj was responsible for killing Gengis Khan even claiming that a tomb that lies near the fort of Multan bears the epitaph in Chinese, "Here lays Genghiskhan whom Rana Jasraj of Lohar Gadha dealt a fatal blow." and also that he killed Timur Lang. But it is a false claim and fairy-tale, affirmed by Lohana communities own historian & researcher, R. T. Somaiya, who says that considering the fact that Chengiz Khan died in the year AD 1227 while fighting with Tanguts in Mongolia and lies buried in Burkan Qaldun-Mangolia and Tomb of Genghis Khan
Tomb of Genghis Khan
The location of the tomb of Genghis Khan has been the object of much speculation and research. As of 2011, the site remains undiscovered.- Historical accounts :Genghis Khan asked to be buried without markings...
is yet to be discovered. While Timur Lang died in AD 1405 at Otraer on Jaxartes river in war against China, this claim of Dada Jasraj killing Chengiz Khan is not authentic. Perheps, the legend started as form of bardic
Bard
In medieval Gaelic and British culture a bard was a professional poet, employed by a patron, such as a monarch or nobleman, to commemorate the patron's ancestors and to praise the patron's own activities.Originally a specific class of poet, contrasting with another class known as fili in Ireland...
tales to glorify their warrior, who is claimed to have been living around 970 to 1000 AD and died at age of 24. So he could have in no way killed Gengis Khan who died in 1227 and Timur Lang who died in 1408.
However, Lohanas today consider Dada Jasraj, as their folk-deity or kuladevata and there is custom to offer the idol of Dada Jasraj, who is shown riding a horse, some dates and jaggery
Jaggery
Jaggery is a traditional unrefined non-centrifugal whole cane sugar consumed in Asia, Africa, Latin America, and the Caribbean. It is a concentrated product of cane juice without separation of the molasses and crystals, and can vary from golden brown to dark brown in color...
. Newly wed brides offer this to Dada Jasraj wearing colorful clothes. Previously it was prescribed to wear only white clothes, while offering puja which now Lohanas have almost forgotten.