Bhoja Bhagat

Bhoja Bhagat (1785–1850),[1] also known as Bhojal[2] or Bhojalram was a Hindu saint poet from Gujarat, India.[1]

Bhoja Bhagat
Personal
Born1785
Devkigalol or Fattehpur, Gujarat, India
Died1850
Virpur, Gujarat
ReligionHinduism
ParentsKarshan Savaliya, Gangabai Savaliya
Occupationfarmer, saint, poet

Life

Bhoja or Bhojo was born in 1785[3] in Leuva Kanbi[1][4] caste at village named Devkigalol near Jetpur in Saurashtra. His father's name was Karshandas and mother was Gangabai and family surname was Savaliya. He met his guru, a sanyasi from Girnar at age of 12. Later, when he was 24, the family shifted to Fatehpur near Amreli, Gujarat. He came to be known as Bhoja Bhagat (Bhagat derived from Bhakt, devotee) and Bhojalram in his later life.[1][4][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][4][6]

Bhoja Bhagat died in 1850 at age of 65 at Virpur, where he had gone to visit his disciple Jalaram. His memorial temple (called Ota locally) is located at Virpur.[7]

Works

He liked to call himself as Bhojal in his verses.[2] As a poet and philosopher also wrote Aartis, Bhajans, Dholas, Kafis, Kirtans, Mahinas and Prabhatias but is most famous for his Chabkhas. These satirical pieces are known as Bhoja Bhagat na Chabkha ( literally Lashes of Bhoja Bhagat ) in Gujarati. His rough language is seen in these Chabkha which tells about social equanimity. His tender and compassionate language is visible in his verses, pada describing separation of Gopis from Krishna in Bhaktamala, Chalaiyakhyan and his bhajan of Kachabo ane Kachabi (couple of turtles). His Saravadan is about union with cosmic consciousness.[8][9][10]

Legacy

His followers visit Fatehpur today to pay their respects, where he spent major part of his life. The ashram of Bhoja Bhagat houses his paghdi, rosary beads and padukas.[1][10] 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 seat).[11][12]

He had many disciples of whom the two most illustrious and known are saints Jalaram of Virpur and Valamram of Gariadhar.[5][7][13][14]

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See also

References
  1. Gujarat State Gazetteers: Amreli Front Cover. Directorate of Govt. Print., Stationery and Publications, Gujarat State. 1972.
  2. Krishnalal M. Jhaveri (1997). Milestones in Gujarati Literature. Asian Educational Services. ISBN 9788120606517. Retrieved 29 January 2015.
  3. Amaresh Datta (1987). Encyclopaedia of Indian Literature: A-Devo. Sahitya Akademi. p. 506. ISBN 978-81-260-1803-1.
  4. District census handbook. Director, Govt. Print. and Stationery, Gujarat State. 1964. Retrieved 29 January 2015.
  5. "સંત ભોજા ભગત – સંત જલારામ બાપાના ગુરુ « Shri Somnath Mahadev". somnathmahadev.com. Retrieved 29 January 2015.
  6. A Dictionary of Indian Literature: Beginnings-1850 By Sujit Mukherjee page: 54
  7. Gujarat (India) (1972). Gujarat State Gazetteers: Amreli. Directorate of Government Print., Stationery and Publications, Gujarat State. Retrieved 29 January 2015.
  8. Ayyappappanikkar (1 January 1997). Medieval Indian Literature: Surveys and selections. Sahitya Akademi. p. 128. ISBN 978-81-260-0365-5.
  9. Akademi, p. 128 Medieval Indian Literature
  10. Ramananda Chatterjee (1915). The Modern review, Volume 17, Issues 2-6. Prabasi Press Private, Ltd. p. 446. ISSN 0026-8380. Retrieved 29 January 2015.
  11. The Indian P.E.N., Volume 35. P.E.N. All-India Centre. 1969. p. 154. ISSN 0019-6053. Retrieved 29 January 2015.
  12. Gujarat State Gazetteers: Amreli. Directorate of Government Print., Stationery and Publications, Gujarat State. 1972. p. 641. Retrieved 29 January 2015.
  13. Religious Transformation in Modern Asia: A Transnational Movement. BRILL. 27 March 2015. p. 123. ISBN 978-90-04-28971-0.
  14. "Sant Bhoja Bhagat – Guru of Sant Jalaram Bapa « Shri Somnath Mahadev". somnathmahadev.com. Retrieved 29 January 2015.
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