Modh
Encyclopedia
Modh are the followers of Modheshwari Maa (also known as Matangi Maa), a form of Amba Maa with eighteen hands. They originally lived in a town called Modhera in Patan District
in the northern part of Gujarat. The name of the town Modhera was adopted by the community living around the temple of Modheshwari Mata.
10th century onwards, the predominant community of Modhera consisted of the Brahmin
s and the Banias
. The residents of Modhera migrated to other parts of Gujarat, Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh states to towns such as Surat, Bulsar, Navsari, Mandvi, Bharuch, Ankaleshwar, Bardoli, Billimora, Chikhli, Gandevi, Dharampur, Bombay, Varanasi etc. Hence, the descendants who originated from the township of Modhera whether they are Brahmins, Vanias, Kshatriyas or Harijans are all referred to as Modhs.
It is believed that the Modhs are further divided into Dasha and Visha like any other Gujarati nyat (community). The residents of satellite townships of Modhera like Mandal,adalaj,Gobha also prefixes their town name like Mandaliya Modh, Adalja Modh, Gobhva Modh. The residents who lived on right (dakshin bhag) of townships are called Dasha and those living on left flank (vaam bhag)are called visha. While Dasa Modhs are essentially in business. a subsect of Visha Modhs are called as "GOWBHUJA". Reference is made in Ramayan that during fight between Viswamitra and Vashisht muni - On Order of Vashisth muni Sabala cow created an army from her arms to defend herself & ashram of Vashist muni and the descendents of these soldiers are also referred to as 'Gowbhuja'. Visha Modhs are in Land & Jewellary Business.
In the past century, many folks from the Modh community have migrated to countries such as East Africa, South Africa, United Kingdom, United States of America, Canada, Fiji and the gulf countries.
While most Modhs remained shiv / Mata upasak few of them became Vaishnava Hindus or occasionally Jains
.
There was a Modh Vasahika (Jain monastery) at Dhandhuka where the guru of Acharya Hemachandra stayed. There exist some historical Jain temples that were built by Modh merchants. About 500 Jain temples were built by a Modh Seth Paja in Samvat 1139 at Wadhwan
.
Since the number of Modh Jains has declined in the past few centuries, they have joined the nav-nat
Jain community.
(Nathdwara
) Rajasthan.yagnik mehta and bihag mehta vadodara
Patan district
Patan district is one of the 26 districts of Gujarat state in western India. This district is located in northern Gujarat and bounded by Banaskantha district in the north and northeast, Mehsana district in the east and southeast, Surendranagar district in the south and Kutch District and the Kutch...
in the northern part of Gujarat. The name of the town Modhera was adopted by the community living around the temple of Modheshwari Mata.
10th century onwards, the predominant community of Modhera consisted of the Brahmin
Brahmin
Brahmin Brahman, Brahma and Brahmin.Brahman, Brahmin and Brahma have different meanings. Brahman refers to the Supreme Self...
s and the Banias
Vaishya
Vaishya is one of the four varnas of the Hindu social order. According to Vedic tradition, this caste primarily comprises merchants, farmers, cattle-herders and artisans.-Duties of Vaishyas:...
. The residents of Modhera migrated to other parts of Gujarat, Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh states to towns such as Surat, Bulsar, Navsari, Mandvi, Bharuch, Ankaleshwar, Bardoli, Billimora, Chikhli, Gandevi, Dharampur, Bombay, Varanasi etc. Hence, the descendants who originated from the township of Modhera whether they are Brahmins, Vanias, Kshatriyas or Harijans are all referred to as Modhs.
It is believed that the Modhs are further divided into Dasha and Visha like any other Gujarati nyat (community). The residents of satellite townships of Modhera like Mandal,adalaj,Gobha also prefixes their town name like Mandaliya Modh, Adalja Modh, Gobhva Modh. The residents who lived on right (dakshin bhag) of townships are called Dasha and those living on left flank (vaam bhag)are called visha. While Dasa Modhs are essentially in business. a subsect of Visha Modhs are called as "GOWBHUJA". Reference is made in Ramayan that during fight between Viswamitra and Vashisht muni - On Order of Vashisth muni Sabala cow created an army from her arms to defend herself & ashram of Vashist muni and the descendents of these soldiers are also referred to as 'Gowbhuja'. Visha Modhs are in Land & Jewellary Business.
In the past century, many folks from the Modh community have migrated to countries such as East Africa, South Africa, United Kingdom, United States of America, Canada, Fiji and the gulf countries.
Famous Modhs
- The famous AcharyaAcharyaIn Indian religions and society, an acharya is a guide or instructor in religious matters; founder, or leader of a sect; or a highly learned man or a title affixed to the names of learned men...
Hemachandra (1089–1172), advisor to ChalukyaSolankiThe Solanki was a royal Hindu Indian dynasty that ruled parts of western and central India between the 10th to 13th centuries. A number of scholars including V. A. Smith assign them Gurjar origin....
KumarpalKumarpalKumarpal was a famous ruler of the Solanki dynasty of Gujarat at Anahilavada, India. During his reign, Jainism became prominent in Gujarat. He was a devoted disciple of the great Jain polymath Acharya Hemachandra. Kumarpal was responsible for restoring ruined Somnath. He also built several... - BhattarakaBhattarakaA Bhaṭṭāraka is the head of traditional Jain institutions. They are responsible for training of scholars, maintenance of libraries, managing the endowments, presiding over the installation ceremonies and running of Jain institutions....
Kumudachandra of BardoliBardoliBardoli is a city and a municipality in Surat Metropolitan Region in the state of Gujarat, India. Bardoli is the east most end of the Metropolis of Surat. Bardoli is one of the primary Satellite Towns of Surat Metropolitan Region.-Geography:...
of Mula SanghMula SanghMula Sangh is an ancient Jain monastic order . Mula literally means the "root" or the original order.Mula-Sangh has been the main Digambar Jain order. Today the Digambar Jain tradition is synonymous with Mula Sangha. The great Acharya Kundakunda is associated with Mula Sangh...
, reigned during 1599-1630. He wrote 28 texts and was the composer of 30 padas. His main disciples were Abhayachandra (who succeeded him), Bramhasagar, Dharmasagar, Sanyamsagar etc. He wrote in Rajasthani with a touch of Gujarati. He also wrote in Marathi. - Seth Laxmidas & Laxmandas 1812 - 1857) Hyderabad - Deccan. Top financier to Nizam
- Mahatma GandhiMahatma GandhiMohandas Karamchand Gandhi , pronounced . 2 October 1869 – 30 January 1948) was the pre-eminent political and ideological leader of India during the Indian independence movement...
, philosopher, humanitarian and the leader of India's swarajya movement. Father of Nation. - Sir Purshottam Das, a member in Nehru's Cabinet.
- Devkaran Nanji founder of Dena BankDena BankDena Bank is one of the earliest banks in India headquartered in Mumbai.-History:* Dena Bank was founded by the family of Devkaran Nanjee under the name Devkaran Nanjee Banking Company Ltd....
. - Dhirubhai AmbaniDhirubhai AmbaniDhirajlal Hirachand Ambani also known as Dhirubhai, was an Indian-Gujarati business magnate and entrepreneur who founded Reliance Industries, a petrochemicals, communications, power, and textiles conglomerate and the only privately owned Indian company in the Fortune 500. Ambani took his company...
, founder of Reliance Industries. - Rachit Dalal, founder of Ray Vision.
- Deepak ParekhDeepak ParekhDeepak Parekh is the Chairman of Housing Development Finance Corporation, India's leading housing finance company. A pioneer in mortgage finance, he has enabled scores of Indian middle class people to own their houses or apartments through affordable loans...
, Highly respected chairman of HDFC - Mukesh AmbaniMukesh AmbaniMukesh Dhirubhai Ambani is an Indian business magnate. He is the chairman and managing director of Indian conglomerate Reliance Industries, the largest private sector enterprise in India listed in Fortune 500 magazine. His personal stake in Reliance Industries is 48%...
, Chairman of Reliance industries ltd. - Anil AmbaniAnil AmbaniAnil Dhirubhai Ambani is an Indian-Gujarati business baron and chairman of Reliance Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group, one of the largest private conglomerates. Anil's elder brother, Mukesh Ambani, is worth more than 29 billion dollars, and owns another company called Reliance Industries...
, Chairman and CEO of ADAG.
While most Modhs remained shiv / Mata upasak few of them became Vaishnava Hindus or occasionally Jains
Jainism
Jainism is an Indian religion that prescribes a path of non-violence towards all living beings. Its philosophy and practice emphasize the necessity of self-effort to move the soul towards divine consciousness and liberation. Any soul that has conquered its own inner enemies and achieved the state...
.
Modh Jains
The spiritual advisor to Mahatama Gandhi's mother was Modh Jain monk Becharji Swami. At his suggestion, Gandhi's mother asked him to promise that he would not eat meat in England, before she gave her consent to him going to England to study law.There was a Modh Vasahika (Jain monastery) at Dhandhuka where the guru of Acharya Hemachandra stayed. There exist some historical Jain temples that were built by Modh merchants. About 500 Jain temples were built by a Modh Seth Paja in Samvat 1139 at Wadhwan
Wadhwan
Wadhwan is a city and a municipality in Surendranagar district in the Indian state of Gujarat.-Demographics: India census, Wadhwan had a population of 61,739. Males constitute 52% of the population and females 48%. Wadhwan has an average literacy rate of 71%, higher than the national average of...
.
Since the number of Modh Jains has declined in the past few centuries, they have joined the nav-nat
Nav-nat
The Navnat Jain community emerged as a result of blending of several smaller Jain communities in Gujarat in East Africa as well as in Gujarat itself in the early 20th century....
Jain community.
Modh Vaishnavas
Modh vaishnavas worship Amba Maa or Modheshwari Mata. While they have become citizens of their adopted countries, they still maintain close contact with the relatives and friends in India. Many Modhs living in and outside Gujarat have become followers of Pushti Marg Vaishnav sampraday started by Srimad Vallabhacharya. Smt Kokilaben Ambani is de-facto Chairman of Nathdwara Temple Trust Board which manages the Temple Town of ShrinathjiShrinathji
Shrinathji is an anthropomorphic form of Hindu god Krishna, manifest as a seven year old child . The principal shrine of Shrinathji is situated at the temple town of Nathdwara, located 48 Kilometers North-east of Udaipur city in Rajasthan...
(Nathdwara
Nathdwara
Nathdwara is a town in Rajasthan state of western India. It is located in the Aravalli hills, on the banks of the Banas River in Rajsamand District, 48 kilometers north-east of Udaipur. This town is famous for its temple of Krishna which houses the idol of Shrinathji, a 14th century, 7-year old...
) Rajasthan.yagnik mehta and bihag mehta vadodara
Modh Brahmins
Modh Brahmins are divided into main two castes Halari Modh (Gujarti Halari Samvay Chaturvediy Modh) and Machchhukathiya Modh.External links
- Shri Modhera Tirth
- Gandhi, Modh community & Jainism
- The Story of My Experiments with Truth/Part I/Preparation for England
- Gandhi Samaj of South Gujarat
- http://www.modhbrahmin.org/
- http://modh-samaj.com/
- Otrada Vayara Utho Utho and Sonavarni; books exploring history of Modh Brahmins.