Bhuchar Mori
| Bhuchar Mori | |
|---|---|
| Native name Gujarati: ભુચર મોરી |
|
 Location of Bhuchar Mori in Gujarat
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| Type | memorial site |
| Location | Near Dhrol, Jamnagar district, Gujarat, India |
| Nearest city | Rajkot |
| Coordinates | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. |
| Built | 16th century |
| Built for | Battle of Bhuchar Mori |
| Restored | 2015 |
| Restored by | Government of Gujarat |
| Governing body | Bhuchar Mori Shahid Smarak Trust |
| Reference no. | S-GJ-84 |
| Designation | State Protected Monument |
| Designated by | Government of Gujarat |
Bhuchar Mori is a plateau and historic site about two kilometres northwest of Dhrol, a town about 50 kilometres north of Rajkot, Gujarat, India. The place is known for the Battle of Bhuchar Mori and a memorial site dedicated to it. The annual fair dedicated to event is organised in July-August.
Etymology
Bhuchar Mori, a cowheard of Mori branch of Maldhari community, used to sit on the platue while his animals feed on grass. The place was referred Bhuchar Mori No Timbo after him. It is said that the bad omens, such as voices of the birds, at the place had foretold about the future battle.[1][2][3][4]
Battle of Bhuchar Mori
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The battle of Bhuchar Mori was fought between the army of Kathiawar lead by Nawanagar State and the Mughal army in July 1591 (Vikram Samvat 1648). It was meant to protect Muzaffar Shah III, the last Sultan of Gujarat Sultanate who had taken asylum under Jam Sataji of Nawanagar after his escape from the Mughal emperor Akbar. The Kathiawar army included the armies of Junagadh and Kundla who betrayed Nawanagar and joined the Mughal army at last. The battle led to large number of casualty on both sides. The battle resulted in the decisive victory of Mughal army.[1][5]
It is considered the largest battle in the history of Saurashtra. It is often dubbed as the Panipat of Saurashtra.[1] Due to large number of casualty, in Halar region, the word Bhuchar Mori became almost synonymous with the massacre.[6] [7]
Memorial site
The paliya or memorial stone of Ajaji is a horse mounted idol. The paliya with the hand, dedicated to his wife Surajkunwarba, stand south of it. The inscription on the stone can not be read. There is an inscription in the shrine that the memorial site was renovated by Jam Vibhaji and the shrine was constructed by him on the palia of Ajaji. On the north side wall of the shrine, there is an 16th century art in traditional style depicting Ajaji on the horse attacking Mirza Aziz Koka on an elephant. There are shrine dedicated to Ram, Laxman and Bhutnath in the compound. To the north of the shrine, there are eight paliya on the floor; including dedicated to Jesha Vajir. There are four paliya in the row and more three of large size nearby. There are six paliyas to the south of the shrine of which three are partially damaged. There are three black poorly shaped stones in the north of the opposite side of shrine which are dedicated to Atit Sadhus. There are 23 memorials in the compound. More eight memorials are outside of the compound and one dedicated to Rakhehar Dholi is some distance away. There are 32 memorials in total. The site is visited by people of Jamnagar every year and the worship these memorials with Sindoor.[8][2]
There are eight tombs on the southwest of the shrine dedicated to the soldiers of the Mughal army. It is believed that soldiers were buried together and eight tombs dedicated to leads were built on it. The site is had a well and a mosque.[8]
Since 1998, the site is maintained by Bhuchar Mori Shahid Smarak Trust. The site is a protected monument of the archeological department of the state (S-GJ-84).[8] A new memorial was commissioned by Government of Gujarat headed by Narendra Modi in 2007. The groundbreaking ceremony was held in 2007 and the memorial was completed in September 2015. The new statue of Ajaji was placed at the site which was inaugurated by Anandiben Patel. The government declared that a dedicated forest at site will also developed.[9][10]
Since 1992, the memorial site is visited by people of Kshatriya community for prayers on Shitla Satam. The annual fair is organized on the last of the Shraavana month (Shravan Vad Amavasya) (July-August) which is attended by thousands.[8][4][11]
References
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- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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