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Veer Teja

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Veer Teja
Ji
Veer Tejaji riding his Leelan
AffiliationDeva, Avatar of Shiva
Weaponspear
AnimalsLeelan (horse)
GenderMale
FestivalsTeja Dashmi
Genealogy
Born29 January 1074
Died28 August 1103
ParentsTahar Dev (father)
Ram Kunwari (mother)
SiblingsRajal
SpousePemal

Veer Tejaji (29 January 1074 - 28 August 1103)[1] also known as Veer Tejaji Maharaj, or simply Tejaji, was a great warrior, social reformer and folk-deity of Rajasthan.[2] 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.[3][4] He is mainly worshipped in the states of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and Gujarat.[5]

Early life

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Veer Tejaji was born on 29 January 1074, in the Nagavanshi Kshatriya Jat family of Tahar Dev, chieftain in Kharnal, Nagaur and Ram Kunwari in Kharnal village of Nagaur district in Rajasthan.[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.[7]

Famous Temples

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Tejaji Temple at Palot Village
Tejaji Temple at Palot Village

Commemoration

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India Post, Government of India releases commemorative postage stamp of Tejaji Maharaj

In Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh, Teja Dashami is celebrated on the Dashami Tithi (tenth day), Shukla Paksha (bright phase of the Moon) in the month of Bhadrapada. The festival commemorates the greatness of Teja Ji Maharaj, and the sacrifice he made to honour his words. Today, on Teja Dashami, know more about Teja Ji Maharaj, who is worshipped by his devotees and hailed as a nobleman. He is believed to be eleventh incarnation of Lord Shiva.[8]

In September 2011, India Post released a commemorative stamp depicting Tejaji.[9]

Rajasthan Govt has constituted Rajasthan State Veer Tejaji Welfare Board for farmers. The board will have seven members including the chairman and vice-chairman. According to the officials, the board will aim to take stock of the condition of the farmers’ society and suggest measures to remove the backwardness of the farmers.[10]

A Rajasthani language movie titled Veer Tejaji, based on the life of Tejaji was made in the 1980s.

In November 2023, Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Tejaji Temple in Kharnal village, Nagaur, Rajasthan.[11]

Personal life

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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. Pemal practiced sati pratha when Tejaji sacrificed his life for cows.[12]

See also

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  • Tejaji Temple at Kharnal - place where Tejaji was born
  • Tejaji temple at Paner - place where Tejaji was married
  • Shree Veer Tejaji samadhi sthala Temple, Sursura - place where Tejaji attained Nirvana

References

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  1. ^ 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).
  2. ^ "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.”
  3. ^ Murphy, Anne (2003). "TĒJAJI". In Mills, Margaret A.; Diamond, Sarah; Claus, Peter J. (eds.). South Asian Folklore: An Encyclopedia. Routledge. p. 596. ISBN 978-0-415-93919-5. Tējaji was a Jāt of Karnala near Nagaur, in Marwar
  4. ^ 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.”
  5. ^ अजमेर, सुमित सारस्वत (4 September 2022). "सांप को दिया वचन निभाया, अब लोक देवता के रूप में होती है इस गौ रक्षक की पूजा". ABP News (in Hindi). Retrieved 5 August 2024.वीर तेजाजी को भगवान शिव का ग्यारहवां अवतार माना जाता है. राजस्थान, मध्यप्रदेश, गुजरात, उत्तर प्रदेश, हरियाणा और अन्य राज्यों में इन्हें लोक देवता के रूप में पूजा जाता है.
  6. ^ 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.”
  7. ^ "Tejaji Maharaj Story: सांप को दिया वचन निभाया, अब लोक देवता के रूप में होती है इस गौ रक्षक की पूजा". ABP NEWS. 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.”
  8. ^ "Teja Dashami: All you need to know about Tejaji Maharaj". Times Now. Retrieved 28 August 2020.
  9. ^ Rajasthan Voice: Thursday, September 8, 2011, Special postage stamp released on Folk deity Veer Teja
  10. ^ "Rajasthan government forms Veer Tejaji Welfare Board for farmers". Times of India. Retrieved 3 August 2023.
  11. ^ PM Modi performs Darshan and Pooja at Veer Tejaji Temple, Kharnal, Rajasthan
  12. ^ Jain, Pratibha; Śarmā, Saṅgītā (2004). Honour, Status & Polity. Rawat Publications. ISBN 978-81-7033-859-8.

Further reading

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  • Madan Meena: Tejaji Gatha (Hadoti & Hindi), Kota Heritage Society, Kota, 2012 ISBN 978-81-8465-686-2 (Published under the World Oral Literature Project, University of Cambridge, UK)