Khedbrahma

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Khedbrahma
ખેડબ્રહ્મા
Town
Harnav River
Harnav river in monsoon
Khedbrahma is located in Gujarat
Khedbrahma
Khedbrahma
Location in Gujarat, India
Coordinates: Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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 (Audio file "Khedbrahma.ogg" not found) is a town and a taluka in Sabarkantha, Gujarat. The town known for its historical and mythological connections, Brahma’s temple and stepwell, Ambika temple, Jain Temple of Mahavir, and tribal population and their culture.[1]

Etymology

It is believed that 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 Yuga; Agnikhet in Treta; Hiranyapur in Dwapar and talukhet in Kali Yuga. Puratan Brahmakshetra says that many Digambar temples were also present in this locality.[citation needed]

History can be traced back to the 11th century when Lord Brahma Temple and Ambika Temple were built. Brahma stepwell was built in the 14th century.[3]

Geography

File:Bridge on Harnav River at Khedbrahma.jpg
Bridge on Harnav River

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

File:Aradhana cinema Khedbrahma.jpg
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.

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 interest

Brahma temple and stepwell

Khedbrahma has a temple dedicated to 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] It is built of white sandstone and cement-covered brick. It is fifty-seven feet long, thirty broad, and thirty-six high. The temple house an image of four faced Brahma which is worshiped.[4]

There is a step-well known as Brahma Vav is situated opposite the temple. It is built with grey granite stone. It had row of miniature shrines as an ornamentation on the back wall of the stepwell which suggests it was built in 14th century. This carvings resembles temple spires and idols. It is now in despair due to lack of maintenance.[2][8] It was known as Aditi Vav historically. An inscription of Vikram Samvat 1256 is present in the stepwell.[3][9]

In past, the fair was held in February which used to draw large number of pilgrims and traders from Gujarat and Rajasthan. The Kathiawar traders used to raise booths on the south bank of the Harnav river and deal in opium, cloth, copperware, jewelry, grocery, and horses. The fair used to last for fifteen days. Goods worth a lakh were sold. The fair lost its importance from the time of Rao Kalianmal (about 1630), when the Idar State fell a prey to rebellion and disorder.[4]

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.[10]

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 seat 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 Brahmin to officiate for him. Under Brahma's orders, Vishwakarma 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 Brahmins, he created 18,000 Vaishyas and gave them Kshirja as their family goddess. Before withdrawing from the world, he let the Brahmins dedicate a shrine to him, and place in it his four-faced image.[4]

Other temples

Kashi Vishvanath temple and Pankheshvar (or Pakshendranath) Mahadev temple are situated on the northern 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][11]

Healthcare

There is a 150 bed government hospital equipped with modern medical facilities which was opened in August 2015.[12]

Education

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

Higher education

  • AARDEkta College of Engineering
  • D D Thaker and K J Patel Arts and Commerce College
  • Krishi Polytechnic affiliated to Dantiwada Agriculture University

Schools

  • Ramjibapa KKP Kanya Vidyalaya
  • Jyoti High School
  • Sheth KT High School
  • Chanchalba Government Primary School
  • Asiana English School
  • Gravity School

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.

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  5. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  6. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  8. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  9. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  10. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  11. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  12. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.

External links

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