Dada Khachar (1800-1852) was a well known devotee of Swaminarayan and the Darbar Shri of Gadhada. [1] His father was Ebhel Khachar and mother Somadevi and was named Uttamsinh on birth. He came to be known as Dada Khachar and had four sisters, Jaya, Lalita, Panchali and Nanu. The entire family were followers of Lord Swaminarayan.
It was because insistence of Dada Khachar and his sisters, that Swaminarayan made Dada Khachar's Darbar in Gadhada his home for over 27 years.
Dada Khachar and his sisters requested Swaminarayan, to build a temple in Gadhada. They offered their own place of residence for the purpose. Swaminarayan was so touched by their gesture, that a massive temple was constructed in the courtyard of Dada's darbar (The temple, Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, Gadhada is today revered as a place of pilgrimage by followers of Swaminarayan). Swaminarayan himself had brought stones on his head from River Ghela for the foundation of the temple. The idol of Gopinathji was installed in the temple, which exactly resembled the Swaminarayan's mortal form.
When Swaminarayan left for Akshardham, Dada Khachar could not bear being separated from him, and rushed to jump on the funeral pyre, but was held back by Gopalanand Swami who told Dada Khachar to go to the mango tree in Laxmiwadi where the Swaminarayan frequently held assemblies. It is said that the Swaminarayan here gave Divine Darshan to Dada Khachar under the tree and told him that he had not left, and that he would always be present.
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