Sant Mekan Dada
Encyclopedia
Sant Mekan Dada was the famous Kapdi Saint of Kutch. He spent his whole life in Rann of Kutch
, looking after survivors and people lost in desert and serving them food, water and shelter. His two partners were "Laliyo", the Donkey and "Motiyo", the dog. He would load "Laliyo"-donkey with water and food and the "Motiyo" was trained by him to direct the "Laliyo" to travelers lost in great desert of Kutch. Thus they would provide water, food and direction to the hungry, thirsty and lost travelers and nomad
s passing through the Rann of Kutch
. He was also a good poet and composed several hymns based on the Hindu philosophy. Today he is worshipped as the re-incarnation of Lakshman by the Ahir community..
His samadhi
along with that of his faithful friend Motiya, the dog and Lalia, the donkey, at Dhrung (Dharang) village about 40 km from Bhuj
, Gujarat, is the venue of the annual Mekan Dada Fair, dedicated to him, which takes place on the eve of Mahashivratri (February - March) every year, attracting people from Gujarat and Rajasthan to participate in the religious rituals.
, in V.S. 1786.
He also had five disciples with him, who religiously followed him and along with Sant Mekan Dada did the humaniterian services, as explained above. Rao Desalji was also a great follower of Sant Mekan Dada. He used to preach villagers and his followers also. He preached against untouchability and superstitions.
The Sant Mekan Dada later took a live Samadhi along with his five followers in Dhrang
village. The Samadhi
s are one of the most revered sites of Kutch and people of all communities go there to pay their respects and offer prayers. Name of one of his five disciples, who took samadhi
with 'Mekan Dada' was Mistri Kanji belonging to Mistri
community of Kutch.
The Samadhi
is at Dhrang
Village of Bhuj
Taluka. The village is located at a distance of about 40 km from Bhuj
town. The premises were Sant Mekan Dada took Samadhi
houses his Samadhi Temple, a Temple of Lord Shiva
, Samadhis of his five disciples, samadhi of his animal friends "Laliyo"- the donkey and "Motiyo" - th dog, an old 'Vaav
', etc. Also on display are the robes he wore and things he used during his lifetime.
, at the pious day of "Mahashivratri", named Mekan Dada Fair. This is an annual event and Gujarat Tourism Department also organises "Kutch Festival" during this fair. This fair is also famous for its rural tradition of old times -"Mall-Akhado" (wrestling) and "Renkda-Daud" (Cart Racing). This 'Mekand Dada Fair' is a major event and centre of tourist attraction in Kutch, Gujarat State of India
.
Rann of Kutch
The Great Rann of Kutch, also called Greater Rann of Kutch or just Rann of Kutch , is a seasonal salt marsh located in the Thar Desert in the Kutch District of Gujarat, India and the Sindh province of Pakistan....
, looking after survivors and people lost in desert and serving them food, water and shelter. His two partners were "Laliyo", the Donkey and "Motiyo", the dog. He would load "Laliyo"-donkey with water and food and the "Motiyo" was trained by him to direct the "Laliyo" to travelers lost in great desert of Kutch. Thus they would provide water, food and direction to the hungry, thirsty and lost travelers and nomad
Nomad
Nomadic people , commonly known as itinerants in modern-day contexts, are communities of people who move from one place to another, rather than settling permanently in one location. There are an estimated 30-40 million nomads in the world. Many cultures have traditionally been nomadic, but...
s passing through the Rann of Kutch
Rann of Kutch
The Great Rann of Kutch, also called Greater Rann of Kutch or just Rann of Kutch , is a seasonal salt marsh located in the Thar Desert in the Kutch District of Gujarat, India and the Sindh province of Pakistan....
. He was also a good poet and composed several hymns based on the Hindu philosophy. Today he is worshipped as the re-incarnation of Lakshman by the Ahir community..
His samadhi
Samadhi
Samadhi in Hinduism, Buddhism,Jainism, Sikhism and yogic schools is a higher level of concentrated meditation, or dhyāna. In the yoga tradition, it is the eighth and final limb identified in the Yoga Sūtras of Patañjali....
along with that of his faithful friend Motiya, the dog and Lalia, the donkey, at Dhrung (Dharang) village about 40 km from Bhuj
Bhuj
Bhuj is a city and a municipality in Kachchh district in the state of Gujarat, India.-History:It was established by Rao Hamirji in 1510 and was made the state capital by Rao Khengarji I in 1549. Its foundation stone as state capital laid formally on Vikram Samvat 1604 Maagha 5th...
, Gujarat, is the venue of the annual Mekan Dada Fair, dedicated to him, which takes place on the eve of Mahashivratri (February - March) every year, attracting people from Gujarat and Rajasthan to participate in the religious rituals.
Biography
Sant Mekan Dada it is said was born in Vikram Samvant - 1720. He spent almost whole his life criss-crossing the Rann of Kutch, doing this humanitarian services. In his late life he established himself in DhrangDhrang
Dhrang or Dhrung is a small village located in Kutch District of Gujarat State of India. The village is located at about distance of 40 km from Bhuj Taluka & District Headquarter. The village is on border to Pakistan...
, in V.S. 1786.
He also had five disciples with him, who religiously followed him and along with Sant Mekan Dada did the humaniterian services, as explained above. Rao Desalji was also a great follower of Sant Mekan Dada. He used to preach villagers and his followers also. He preached against untouchability and superstitions.
The Sant Mekan Dada later took a live Samadhi along with his five followers in Dhrang
Dhrang
Dhrang or Dhrung is a small village located in Kutch District of Gujarat State of India. The village is located at about distance of 40 km from Bhuj Taluka & District Headquarter. The village is on border to Pakistan...
village. The Samadhi
Samadhi
Samadhi in Hinduism, Buddhism,Jainism, Sikhism and yogic schools is a higher level of concentrated meditation, or dhyāna. In the yoga tradition, it is the eighth and final limb identified in the Yoga Sūtras of Patañjali....
s are one of the most revered sites of Kutch and people of all communities go there to pay their respects and offer prayers. Name of one of his five disciples, who took samadhi
Samadhi
Samadhi in Hinduism, Buddhism,Jainism, Sikhism and yogic schools is a higher level of concentrated meditation, or dhyāna. In the yoga tradition, it is the eighth and final limb identified in the Yoga Sūtras of Patañjali....
with 'Mekan Dada' was Mistri Kanji belonging to Mistri
Mistri
Mistri, or Mistry, is a term for a master-craftsman, foreman or supervisor of manual workers in India. Mistri is being replaced with "supervisor" and other terms, as for example by the Indian Railway who replaced it with supervisor in 2005....
community of Kutch.
The Samadhi
Samadhi
Samadhi in Hinduism, Buddhism,Jainism, Sikhism and yogic schools is a higher level of concentrated meditation, or dhyāna. In the yoga tradition, it is the eighth and final limb identified in the Yoga Sūtras of Patañjali....
is at Dhrang
Dhrang
Dhrang or Dhrung is a small village located in Kutch District of Gujarat State of India. The village is located at about distance of 40 km from Bhuj Taluka & District Headquarter. The village is on border to Pakistan...
Village of Bhuj
Bhuj
Bhuj is a city and a municipality in Kachchh district in the state of Gujarat, India.-History:It was established by Rao Hamirji in 1510 and was made the state capital by Rao Khengarji I in 1549. Its foundation stone as state capital laid formally on Vikram Samvat 1604 Maagha 5th...
Taluka. The village is located at a distance of about 40 km from Bhuj
Bhuj
Bhuj is a city and a municipality in Kachchh district in the state of Gujarat, India.-History:It was established by Rao Hamirji in 1510 and was made the state capital by Rao Khengarji I in 1549. Its foundation stone as state capital laid formally on Vikram Samvat 1604 Maagha 5th...
town. The premises were Sant Mekan Dada took Samadhi
Samadhi
Samadhi in Hinduism, Buddhism,Jainism, Sikhism and yogic schools is a higher level of concentrated meditation, or dhyāna. In the yoga tradition, it is the eighth and final limb identified in the Yoga Sūtras of Patañjali....
houses his Samadhi Temple, a Temple of Lord Shiva
Shiva
Shiva is a major Hindu deity, and is the destroyer god or transformer among the Trimurti, the Hindu Trinity of the primary aspects of the divine. God Shiva is a yogi who has notice of everything that happens in the world and is the main aspect of life. Yet one with great power lives a life of a...
, Samadhis of his five disciples, samadhi of his animal friends "Laliyo"- the donkey and "Motiyo" - th dog, an old 'Vaav
Stepwell
Stepwells, also called bawdi or baoli , or vaav are wells or ponds in which the water can be reached by descending a set of steps. They may be covered and protected, and are often of architectural significance...
', etc. Also on display are the robes he wore and things he used during his lifetime.
Mekan Dada Fair
A fair is held in Dhrang village, in memory of Sant Mekan Dada on very holy festival of Lord ShivaShiva
Shiva is a major Hindu deity, and is the destroyer god or transformer among the Trimurti, the Hindu Trinity of the primary aspects of the divine. God Shiva is a yogi who has notice of everything that happens in the world and is the main aspect of life. Yet one with great power lives a life of a...
, at the pious day of "Mahashivratri", named Mekan Dada Fair. This is an annual event and Gujarat Tourism Department also organises "Kutch Festival" during this fair. This fair is also famous for its rural tradition of old times -"Mall-Akhado" (wrestling) and "Renkda-Daud" (Cart Racing). This 'Mekand Dada Fair' is a major event and centre of tourist attraction in Kutch, Gujarat State of India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
.
External links
- Mekan Dada, Samadhi shrine at wikimapiaWikimapiaWikiMapia is a privately owned, online map and satellite imaging resource that combines Google Maps with a wiki system, allowing users to add information, in the form of a note, to any location on Earth. Users may currently use this information for free...