Khedbrahma

Khedbrahma
ખેડબ્રહ્મા
Towncity

Harnav River

Harnav river in monsoon
Khedbrahma

Location in Gujarat, India

Coordinates: 24°1′42″N 73°2′29″E / 24.02833°N 73.04139°ECoordinates: 24°1′42″N 73°2′29″E / 24.02833°N 73.04139°E
Country  India
State Gujarat
District Sabarkantha district
Elevation 202 m (663 ft)
Population (2011)
 • Total 25,001
Languages
 • Official Gujarati, Hindi
Time zone IST (UTC+5:30)
PIN 383255
Vehicle registration starting with GJ 9
Sex ratio 1000/916 ♂/♀
Website khedbrahma

Khedbrahma ( pronunciation ) is a town and a taluka in Sabarkantha, Gujarat. It is known for its historical and mythological connections, Brahma’s temple and Aditi stepwell, goddess Ambika temple, Jain Temple of Mahavir, and tribal population and their culture.[1]

Etymology

It is believed that Lord Brahma had ploughed the land here and a river had flown out of it[2] which is now known as Harnav.

History

Khedbrahma in map of Mahi Kantha Agency, British India, 1878

According to Padmapuran this is an ancient town being known as Brahmpur in Sat Yug; Agnikhet in Treta; Hiranyapur in Dwapar and talukhet in Kali Yug. Puratan Brahmakshetra says that many Digambar temples were also present in this locality. History can be traced back to the 11th century when Lord Brahma Temple and Ambika Temple were built. Aditi Vav was built in the 14th century.[3]

Geography

There is a sangam (meeting point) of three small rivers here, namely Hirnakshi, Bhimakshi and Kosambi. After the confluence of these three rivers, the river is named Harnav which merges with Sabarmati river. It divides the town in a northern and a southern part.[1] Harnav river was formerly known as Hiranyaksh or Harnai river.[4]

Demographics

Aradhana cinema

As of 2010 India census,[5] Khedbrahma had a population of 29,402. Males constitute 52% of the population and females 48%. Khedbrahma has an average literacy rate of 67%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 73%, and female literacy is 56%. In Khedbrahma, 13% of the population is under 6 years of age. Communities living in Khedbrahma include Ajana Patel, Kachchhi Patel, Charotar Patel and Brahmin. Khedbrahma taluka have a tribal population in majority.

Civic Administration

Khedbrahma is municipality and Taluka headquarter. It has 9 wards and 27 seats in Municipality. There are 15 seats for reserved categories and 12 seats for unreserved categories.[6]

Places of Importance

Lord Brahma Temple and Aditi Stepwell

There is a temple of Brahma which is rarely seen in India, only second to Pushkar. It was built in third quarter of the 11th century[7] or in the 12th century.[1][3] Of white sandstone and cement-covered brick, fifty-seven feet long, thirty broad, and thirty-six high, it has an image of Brahma which is worshipped. The fair held yearly in February and attended by merchants from all parts of Gujarat and Mewar in past. In former times Khedbrahma is said to have drawn millions of pilgrims and merchants from Mewar, Marwar, Malwa, Vagad, Sirohi, Gujarat, Kutch, and Kathiawar. The Kathiawar traders used to raise booths on the south bank of the Hiranyaksh and deal in opium, cloth, copperware, jewelry, grocery, and horses. The gathering lasted for fifteen days. Goods worth a lakh were sold. The fair is said to have fallen into comparative unimportance from the time of Rao Kalianmal (about 1630), when the Idar State fell a prey to rebellion and disorder.[4]

There is a step-well known as Brahma Vav which have carving that resembling temple spires and idols. It is now in despair due to lack of maintenance.[2][8] It is also known as Aditi Vav historically and was built in the 14th century. An inscription of Vikram Samvat 1256 is present in Vav.[3]

Ambika Temple

Ambika temple was built in the early 11th century.[7] Every year many pilgrims come to Ambika temple especially during September–October due to Bhadarvi Purnima festival. It is also known as Nana Ambaji Temple.[2] There is a fair during Kartik Purnima(on full moon day of November–December)here. Pushya Purnima(on full moon day of February–March) is important because it is considered as a foundation day of the temple.[9]

Bhrigurishi Ashram

There is also the Bhrigurishi ashram and a Shiva temple which is associated with folklores and Puranic stories.

Legend

According to the Brahma Puran, the temple was built by Bhrigu, Brahma's son who was once sent by the seers, rishi, to find out who was the noblest of the Hindu trinity. Insulting Brahma and Rudra, they got angry and threatened to punish him. Seeking out Vishnu, Bhrigu was bold enough to place his foot on the god's chest. Instead of resenting, the kindly god asked the seer's pardon for the hardness of his breast. Bhrigu returned and praised Vishnu as the noblest of the gods. To wipe out the sin of insulting the gods, Bhrigu came to Brahma Kshetra, bathed in the Hiranyaksh, made his hermitage the scat of a Shiva, and performed such rigid austerities, that Shiva was pleased and freed him from his sin.[4]

Kshirjamba Mahalaxmi temple

According to the Brahma Puran, this place owes its sanctity to a desire of Brahma to free himself from impurity. Vishnu, whom he consulted as to the means, advised him to perform a sacrifice at some holy spot in Bharatkhand in the Jambudvipa, and get learned Brahman to officiate for him. Under Brahma's orders, Vishvakarma built a city on the right bank of the Sabarmati south of mount Abu, six miles (4 kos) round. It had golden ramparts and twenty-four gates and through it flowed the river Hiranyaksh, the modern Harnav. He then created 9000 Brahmans to officiate at the sacrifice. And, when the sacrifice was over, and the impurity removed, to maintain his Brahmans, he created 18,000 Vaishyas and gave them Kshirja as their family goddess. Before withdrawing from the world, he let the Brahmans dedicate a shrine to him, and place in it his four-faced image.[4]

Others

Kashi Vishvanath temple and Pankheshvar (or Pakshendranath) Mahadev temple are situated on the bank of the Harnav river which are popular locally. Mahavir Swami Jain temple, situated in northern part of town, is almost 500 years old.[1][3]

Education

Khedbrahma has educational institutions teaching from primary education to higher education.

Higher education

Schools

Transportation

There is a bus-station of state transport (GSRTC) connecting all major cities of Gujarat, and a railway station which has two trains a day.

Distance from Places

From Ahmedabad it is 122 km away.
From Himmatnagar it is 52 km away.
From Ambaji it is 50 km away.

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 "Khedbrahma Taluka Official Govt. Website". Retrieved 1 October 2012.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 India Guide Gujarat. India Guide Publications, 2007. p. 191. ISBN 9780978951702. Retrieved 1 October 2012.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Gujarat State Gazetteers: Sabarkantha. Directorate of Government Print., Stationery and Publications, Gujarat State, 1974. pp. 88,91,172. Retrieved 1 October 2012.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 Gazetteer of the Bombay Presidency: Cutch, Pálanpur, and Mahi Kántha (Public Domain text). Government Central Press. 1880. pp. 437–438.
  5. ↑ "Census of India 2001: Data from the 2001 Census, including cities, villages and towns (Provisional)". Census Commission of India. Archived from the original on 2004-06-16. Retrieved 2008-11-01.
  6. ↑ "State Election Commission, Gujarat Official Website". Retrieved 1 October 2012.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Studies in Indian temple architecture: papers presented at a seminar held in Varanasi, 1967. p. 128. Retrieved 1 October 2012.
  8. ↑ The Stepwells of Gujarat: In Art-Historical Perspective. Abhinav Publications, 1981. p. 53. ISBN 9780391022843. Retrieved 1 October 2012.
  9. ↑ Fairs and Festivals of India: Chhattisgarh, Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Daman and Diu, Goa, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra. Gyan Pub. House 2003. pp. 106, 117, 118. Retrieved 1 October 2012.

External links