Bilkha

Bilkha is a village in Junagadh Taluka of Junagadh district in Gujarat, India. Bilkha lies at the foot of the Girnar clump in the south-east corner.[1]

History

According to a legend, Bilkha was the ancient Balisthan or residence of the legendary king Bali. It is situated about eighteen miles east of Vamansthali (the present Vanthali), the abode of Vamana.[1]

During British period, it is owned by Kathis of the Vala tribe, a branch of the Jetpur house. In 1880s, Vala Kala Devdan was a its talukdar who had fourth class jurisdiction in his sole villages, and Valas Ala and Desa both sons of Bhima Sata, they each exercised sixth class jurisdiction in their sole villages. Bilkha itself was joint between the above-mentioned shareholders so it was managed by a thanadar subordinate to the Jetpur taluka court.[1]

Places of interest

Dwelling of Chelaiya

A spot called the dwelling of Sagalsha Sheth is in the village.[1]

legend

He was Vania of great purity of life. Shiva one day visited him in the garb of an ascetic, aghori to test his virtue and asked him to cut off the head of his only son Chelaiyo and together with his wife pound it in a mortar and then give it to him to eat. Sagalsha did not refuse to perform this terrible sacrifice, and his son also willingly gave up his life. Shiva, seeing their sincerity, restored Chelaiyo to life, and granted them whatever they asked.[1][2]

Many persons say that Sagalsha lived in the Shiyal Island and that he was the Raja of that place.[1]

Anand Ashram

There is an ashram established by Nathuram Sharma, a saint.

Demographics

The population according to the census of 1872 was 3327 and according to that of 1881–82, 3791 souls.[1] The population according to the census of 2011 was 11,134.

Economy

Bilkha is known for medium variety traditional wood work.[3] The population according to the census of 2011 was 11,134.

In popular culture

The legend of Sagalsha produced several folk-songs. It was a subject of 1978 Gujarati film Sheth Sagalsha.[2]

References

1. Gazetteer of the Bombay Presidency: Kathiawar (Public Domain text). VIII. Printed at the Government Central Press, Bombay. 1884. pp. 401–402.
2. "શ્રીપ્રાણલાલ વ્યાસને શ્રધ્ધાંજલી (શેઠ સગાળશા – ચેલૈયો) | ટહુકો.કોમ". Tahuko (in Gujarati). Archived from the original on 26 February 2017. Retrieved 26 February 2017.
3. Crafts Map of Gujarat by Dastakari Haat Samiti

This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Gazetteer of the Bombay Presidency: Kathiawar. VIII. Printed at the Government Central Press, Bombay. 1884. pp. 401–402.