Bhadreshwar

Bhadreshwar
Bhadresar
Towncity
Bhadreshwar

Location in Gujarat, India

Coordinates: 22°54′43″N 69°54′14″E / 22.91194°N 69.90389°ECoordinates: 22°54′43″N 69°54′14″E / 22.91194°N 69.90389°E
Country  India
State Gujarat
District Kutch district
Population (2011)
 • Total 4,552
Languages
 • Official Gujarati, Hindi
Time zone IST (UTC+5:30)
Vehicle registration starting with GJ 12
Sex ratio 1000/916 ♂/♀
Bhadreshwar Jain Temple

Bhadresar or Bhadreshwar /bəˈdrɛswər/ is a village in Mundra Taluka, Kutch district of Gujarat, India.[1] It is about 27 km from Taluka headquarters Mundra[2] and barely a kilometer away from sea-shore.[3]

History

Bhadreshwar was known as Bhadrawati Nagari historically. The ruins of ancient city of Bhadrawati can be found here.[2] The city of Bhadravati has its mentioned in Mahabharata.[4]

Bhadrawati was ruled by King Sidhsen in 449 B.C, who renovated the place. Later it was ruled by The Solanki rulers who were Jains, and they changed the name to Bhadreshwar. Then in 1315, a great famine struck Kutch, after which the town was renovated by Jagdusha, the Jain merchant and philanthropist.[2][5]

A battle that was never fought

On 15 December 1815, the army of Kingdom of Kutch was defeated near Bhadreswar, Kutch. As per history the armies of British led by Colonel East and Army of Kutch led by a Muslim commander, Hussain Miya met near Bahdreshwar. The British army was behind the Bhadreswar Jain Temple and temple was coming in between them. Husain Miya respected the sanctity of temple and he didn’t fire on British, fearing temples might be damaged and as such doors were laid open for British Army. The nearest major fortified town of Anjar, Port of Tuna & District of Anjar thus came under British occupation on 25 December 1815. This led to negotiations between rulers of Kutch and British. The Jadeja rulers of Kutch accepted the suzerainty of British in 1818 and Captain James Meckmardo was posted as British Political Resident stationed at Bhuj. The Anjar District, however, remained under direct occupation of British forces for seven years till 25 December 1822, when it was reverted to Rajya Hukumat ( to Princely State of Kutch ) by way on agreement.[6][7]

Places of interest

Bhadreshwar is popular for its centuries old Jain temple complex known as Vasai Jain Temple. These temple is believed to be one of the oldest Jain temples in India, although they have been renovated and rehabilitated from time to time.[3] It is said a Jain layman named Devchandra laid the foundation stone of this temple centuries ago.[4] The temple was renovated by Shrimalis in the year 1134 and two centuries later in year 1315, they have been renovated by Jagdusha.[2][4][5] The temple complex has fifty three shrines, a major central temple and fifty two minor shrines around it, added over many centuries. The temples have been destroyed many times due to natural calamities like earthquakes and the chronicles of Mistris of Kutch, mention that they were the architects and artisans, who renovated temples during the earthquakes of 1819, 1844–45 and 1875.[8][9][6] Recently, the temple complex was again completely devastated in earthquake of 26 January 2001, however, it has now been completely rebuilt to as many of the old shrines were destroyed to the extent that it could not be rehabilitated.[3][10][11][12][13]

Chokhanda Mahadev Temple. OPG power plant is visible in background.

There is also an ancient Shiva temple known as Chokhanda Mahadev situated at the sea-shore and the big square step well known as the Pandavs Kund said to build by the Pandavas 5000 years ago.[2] This old temple was made with red stones which was also destroyed in 2001 earthquake and has now been completely rebuilt.[11] Besides there are also centuries old Rokadiya Hanuman temple.

There is a mosque called Duda Masjid and a stepwell, Duda vaav, in Bhadreshwar,[2] which is very old and which are reliably dated to the late 12th century, meaning they predate the well known Islamic architecture of Ahmedabad by 250 years or so, making them in all likelihood the first mosques built in India.[3]

The epigraph constructed in 1160 at Lal Shahbaz Dargah here marked the first use of Kufic script in India.[14]

Economy

Majority of population relies on fishery.

The thermal power plant by OPG Power is underconstruction at Bhadreshwar.[1][15] The Bhadreshwar has been included in special economic zone of Mundra. However, the local fisherman and other communities have protested the development and there is resentment that the traditional livelihoods of residents in the area have also been affected by the new industrial projects, leading to organized protests.[16][17] The power plant project is still awaiting clearance from environment ministry of India.[18]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 CSE analyses: EIA report of thermal power project, Bhadreshwar, Kutch, Gujarat
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 Bhadreshwar Temple
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 "Bhadreshwar". Gujarat Tourism, Government of Gujatat. Retrieved 30 January 2014.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Gujarat Guide : Kutch
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Shree Kutch Gurjar Kshatriya Samaj : A brief History & Glory of our fore-fathers : by Raja Pawan Jethwa. (2007) Calcutta.
  7. ↑ Glimpse of Anjar, Kutch
  8. ↑ Kadia Kashtriya Itihas. Published in 1896.
  9. ↑ Nanji Bapa ni Nondh-pothi published in Gujarati in year 1999 from Vadodara. It is a diary of Railway Contracts done by KGK community noted by Nanji Govindji Tank. This book was given Aank Sidhhi award by Kutch Shakti at Mumbai in year 2000.(They book has year wise details of Railway lines built by Mistris of Kutch. The book also has a section with photos on Historical Monuments & Architects built by Mistris of Kutch.
  10. ↑ Newly Built Bhadreshwar Jain Tirth , Kutch
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 Vasai Jain Tirth, Bhadreswar
  12. ↑ Photo of old Bhadreshwar Jain Temple Old Jain Temple, with rubble of structure destroyed in earthquake, which can be seen.
  13. ↑ 53 Jinalaya Temple of Bhadreshwar Tirth (Construction)
  14. ↑ Shastri, Parth (24 February 2012). "Epigraphs from Sultanate period in Guj show integration of faiths". The Times of India. Retrieved 14 December 2014.
  15. ↑ Adani Power Announces Project Financing of $2,719m For Bhadreswar Coal Fired Power Plant In Gujarat, India - Banking on India Power Needs
  16. ↑ A visit to the coastal areas adjoining the Mundra port in the Kutch reveals discontent among fisherfolk, traders and pastoralists over the creation of a special economic zone in the area. Apart from environmental concerns, the traditional livelihoods of residents in the area have also been affected by the new industrial projects, leading to organised protests, as witnessed in Bhadreswar village a few months ago. Development and Displacement: Resentment in the Kutch (20 February 2010)
  17. ↑ Fisher Woman Speaks in the campaign Meeting of Leaders of fishing villages at Bhadreswar, Kutch. he story of the land acquisition is itself a pointer to the apathy of the government for conservation and their leaning to big business. The coastal stretch of Mundra had creeks and thick mangrove vegetation even five years back. The business houses first started putting up bunds through their henchmen blocking inflow of sea water. This was a blatant violation of CRZ regulation. The blockage of water inflow killed large parts of the mangroves. Then the business houses moved in to secure formal lease from the government claiming it as waste land.
  18. ↑ Adani Power awaits environ min nod for Bhadreshwar plant 24 December 2010