Veer Teja
| Veer Teja Ji | |
|---|---|
 Veer Tejaji riding a horse | |
| Affiliation | Deva, Avatar of Shiva |
| Weapon | spear |
| Gender | Male |
| Personal information | |
| Born | 1074 |
| Died | 1103 |
| Parents |
|
| Siblings | Rajal |
| Spouse | Pemal |
Veer Teja Ji,Tejaji Or Teja Jat is a Rajasthani folk deity. He is considered one of the major eleven incarnations of Shiva and worshipped as a deity in entire Rajasthan.[1][2] Veer Teja was born around 29 January 1074 in Kharnal, Rajasthan, India. His parents, Ramkunwari and Tahar, were Jats.[3]
Early Life[edit]
Tejaji is considered to be folk-deity and worshiped in entire Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh by all communities. Tejaji as a historical person was born on 29 January 1074, in the family of Dhaulya gotra Nagavanshi Jat at Kharnal, Nagaur.[4]
His father was Tahar Dev (Thirraj), a chieftain of a republic of 24 villages in Kharnal, district Nagaur in Rajasthan.
Famous Temples[edit]
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Painting depicting Tejaji's marriage at Pushkar -
Commemoration[edit]
In Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh, Teja Dashami is celebrated on the Dashami Tithi (tenth day), Shukla Paksha (bright phase of the Moon) in the month of Bhadrapada. The festival commemorates the greatness of Teja Ji Maharaj, and the sacrifice he made to honour his words. Today, on Teja Dashami, know more about Teja Ji Maharaj, who is worshipped by his devotees and hailed as a nobleman. He is believed to be eleventh incarnation of Lord Shiva.[5]
In September 2011, India Post released a commemorative stamp depicting Tejaji.[6]
Rajasthan Govt has constituted Rajasthan State Veer Tejaji Welfare Board for farmers. The board will have seven members including the chairman and vice-chairman. According to the officials, the board will aim to take stock of the condition of the farmers’ society and suggest measures to remove the backwardness of the farmers.[7]
A Rajasthani language movie titled Veer Tejaji, based on the life of Tejaji was made in the 1980s.
In November 2023, Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Tejaji Temple in Kharnal village, Nagaur, Rajasthan.[8]
See also[edit]
- Tejaji Temple at Kharnal - place where Tejaji was born
- Tejaji temple at Paner - place where Tejaji was married
- Shree Veer Tejaji samadhi sthala Temple, Sursura - place where Tejaji attained Nirvana
References[edit]
- ^ "In India, getting bitten by a snake seen as good luck". Reuters Original. Retrieved 16 October 2018.
- ^ ANI (16 September 2016). "Rajasthan celebrates unique snake festival to bring good fortune". India.com. Retrieved 16 October 2018.
- ^ Murphy, Anne (2003). "TĒJAJI". In Mills, Margaret A.; Diamond, Sarah; Claus, Peter J. (eds.). South Asian Folklore: An Encyclopedia. Routledge. p. 596. ISBN 978-0-415-93919-5.
Tējaji was a Jāt of Karnala near Nagaur, in Marwar
- ^ "Early Life of Tejaji Maharaj". ABP NEWS. Retrieved 4 September 2022.
- ^ "Teja Dashami: All you need to know about Tejaji Maharaj". Times Now. Retrieved 28 August 2020.
- ^ Rajasthan Voice: Thursday, September 8, 2011, Special postage stamp released on Folk deity Veer Teja
- ^ "Rajasthan government forms Veer Tejaji Welfare Board for farmers". Times of India. Retrieved 3 August 2023.
- ^ PM Modi performs Darshan and Pooja at Veer Tejaji Temple, Kharnal, Rajasthan
Further reading[edit]
- Madan Meena: Tejaji Gatha (Hadoti & Hindi), Kota Heritage Society, Kota, 2012 ISBN 978-81-8465-686-2 (Published under the World Oral Literature Project, University of Cambridge, UK)