Bhoja Bhagat
| Bhoja Bhagat | |
|---|---|
| Born |
1785 Devkigalol, Gujarat, India |
| Died |
1850 Virpur, Gujarat, India |
| Occupation | farmer, saint, poet |
| Parents | Karshanbhai Savalia, Gangabai Savalia |
| Honors | Bhagat" |
Bhoja Bhagat also known as Bhojal[1] / Bhojalram (1785–1850),[2] was a Hindu saint, social reformer and famous poet from Gujarat.[2]
Bhoja / Bhojo was born in 1785 in Leva Kanbi[2][3] caste at village named Devkigalol near Jetpur. His father's name was Karshandas and mother was Ganga Bai and family surname was Savalia. He met his guru, a sanyasin from Girnar at age of 12. Later, when he was 24, the family shifted to Fatehpur near Amreli, Gujarat.[2][3][4]
He came to be known as Bhoja Bhagat (Bhagat means saint) and Bhojalram in his later life. He is famous for his literary works of the satirical pieces known as Chabkhas of Bhoja Bhagat ( whips of Bhoja Bhagat ) in Gujarati.[5] By occupation he was a farmer. Although, he was an illiterate, but with blessings of his Guru in Girnar, he wrote poems and songs condemning social inequities, which became well known as "Bhoja Bhagat Na Chabkha".[1][2][3][6] As a poet and philosopher also wrote Aartis, Bhajans, Dholas, Kafis, Kirtans, Mahinas and Prabhatias but is most famous for his Chabkhas.[7] He liked to call himself as Bhojal in his verses.[1]
Sant Shri Bhoja Bhagat died in 1850 at age of 65 at Virpur, where he had gone to visit his disciple Jalaram. His samadhi (ota) is located at Virpur.[8]
His followers visit Fatehpur toady to pay their respects, where he spent major part of his life. The ashram of Bhoja Bhagat houses his paghdi, rosary beads and padukas[2][5] The original brick-house of Bhoja Bhagat stands as it is and his personal belonging are kept here and there is an ashram headed by mahant, called gadi-pati (head of gadi)[9][10]
He had many disciples of whom the two most illustrious and known are saints Jalaram of Virpur and Valamram of Gariadhar.[4][8][11]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Milestones in Gujarati Literature By Krishnalal M. Jhaveri. 1997.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 Gujarat State Gazetteers: Amreli Front Cover. Directorate of Govt. Print., Stationery and Publications, Gujarat State. 1972.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 District census handbook. Director, Govt. Print. and Stationery, Gujarat State. 1964.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 The Modern review, Volume 17, Issues 2-6 by Ramananda Chatterjee. Prabasi Press Private, Ltd. 1915. p. 446.
- ↑ A Dictionary of Indian Literature: Beginnings-1850 By Sujit Mukherjee page: 54
- ↑ Akademi, p. 128 Medieval Indian Literature
- ↑ 8.0 8.1
- ↑ The Indian P.E.N., Volume 35. 1969. p. 154.
- ↑ Gujarat State Gazetteers: Amreli. 1972. p. 641.
- ↑ Sant Bhoja Bhagat - Guru of Sant Jalaram