>Nizil Shah at 06:00, 13 August 2020

2020-08-13T06:00:54Z

New page

{{Infobox historic site
| name = Bhuchar Mori
| other_name =
| image =
| image_size =
| alt =
| caption =
| locmapin = India Gujarat#India
| map_relief =
| map_width =
| map_caption =
| coordinates = {{coord|22|34|57.97|N|70|23|51.6|E|region:IN|display=inline,title}}
| coord_ref =
| gbgridref =
| type = memorial site
| etymology =
| location = Near [[Dhrol]], [[Jamnagar district]], Gujarat, India
| nearest_city = [[Rajkot]]
| area =
| elevation =
| height =
| beginning_label =
| beginning_date =
| formed =
| founded =
| founder =
| built = 16th century
| built_for = [[Battle of Bhuchar Mori]]
| original_use =
| restored = 2015
| restored_by = [[Government of Gujarat]]
| current_use =
| architect =
| sculptor =
| architecture =
| visitors_num =
| visitors_year =
| visitors_ref =
| governing_body = Bhuchar Mori Shahid Smarak Trust
| owner =
| website =
| designation1 =
| designation1_offname =
| designation1_type =
| designation1_criteria =
| designation1_date =
| delisted1_date =
| designation1_partof =
| designation1_number = S-GJ-84
| designation1_free2name = Designated by
| designation1_free2value = Government of Gujarat
| designation1_free1name = Designation
| designation1_free1value = State Protected Monument
| designation1_free3name =
| designation1_free3value =
| designation2 =
| designation2_offname =
| designation2_type =
| designation2_criteria =
| designation2_date =
| delisted2_date =
| designation2_partof =
| designation2_number =
| designation2_free1name =
| designation2_free1value =
| designation2_free2name =
| designation2_free2value =
| designation2_free3name =
| designation2_free3value =
}}

'''Bhuchar Mori''' is a [[plateau]] and historic site about two kilometres northwest of [[Dhrol]], a town about 50 kilometres north of [[Rajkot]], [[Gujarat]], India. The place is known for the [[Battle of Bhuchar Mori]] and a memorial site dedicated to it. The annual fair dedicated to the event is organised in July and August.

==Etymology==
Bhuchar Mori, a cowherd of Mori branch of [[Rajput]] community, used to sit on the plateau while his animals fed on grass. The place was referred to as ''Bhuchar Mori No Timbo'' after him. It is said that the bad omens, such as voices of the birds, at the place had foretold about the future battle.<ref name="GSLJM1">{{cite web | title=આશરા ધર્મને ઉજાગર કરતી સૌરાષ્ટ્રની સૌથી મોટી ભૂચર મોરીની લડાઇ - લોકજીવનનાં મોતી | website=[[Gujarat Samachar]] | date=29 April 2012 | url=http://www.gujaratsamachar.com/gujaratsamachar.com/20120429/purti/ravipurti/lokjivan.html | language=gu | accessdate=10 May 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160510180850/http://www.gujaratsamachar.com/gujaratsamachar.com/20120429/purti/ravipurti/lokjivan.html|archive-date=10 May 2016|last=Jadav|first=Joravarsinh}}</ref><ref name="DB2015">{{cite web | title=ગૌરવ ગાથા: ક્ષાત્રધર્મના પાલન માટે ખેલાયું ભૂચર મોરીનું યુધ્ધ | website=divyabhaskar | date=3 September 2015 | url=http://www.divyabhaskar.co.in/news/SAU-RJK-HMU-bhuchar-mori-war-history-in-rajkot-latest-news-5102199-NOR.html | language=gu | accessdate=10 May 2016}}</ref><ref name="Kincaid1931">{{cite book|author=Charles Augustus Kincaid|title=The Land of 'Ranji' and 'Duleep', by Charles A. Kincaid|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8cYBAAAAMAAJ|year=1931|publisher=William Blackwood & Sons, Limited|page=54}}</ref><ref name="Gujarat1964">{{cite book|author=India. Superintendent of Census Operations, Gujarat|title=District Census Handbook|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XcrUAAAAMAAJ|year=1964|publisher=Director, Government Print. and Stationery, Gujarat State|pages=41, 45, 195}}</ref>

==Battle of Bhuchar Mori==
{{main|Battle of Bhuchar Mori}}
The battle of Bhuchar Mori was fought between the army of [[Kathiawar]] led by [[Nawanagar State]] and the [[Mughal Empire|Mughal]] army in July 1591 ([[Vikram Samvat]] 1648). It was meant to protect Muzaffar Shah III, the last Sultan of [[Gujarat Sultanate]] who had taken asylum under Jam Sataji of Nawanagar after his escape from the Mughal emperor [[Akbar]]. The Kathiawar army included the armies of [[Junagadh State|Junagadh]] and [[Savarkundla|Kundla]] who betrayed Nawanagar and joined the Mughal army at last. The battle led to a large number{{Clarify|reason=vague|date=August 2016}} of casualties on both sides. The battle resulted in the decisive victory of the Mughal army.<ref name="GSLJM1"/><ref name="PfefferBehera1997">{{cite book|author1=Georg Pfeffer|author2=Deepak Kumar Behera|title=Contemporary Society: Concept of tribal society|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=R--XMUsk7sIC&pg=PA198|year=1997|publisher=Concept Publishing Company|isbn=978-81-7022-983-4|page=198}}</ref>

It is considered the largest battle in the history of Saurashtra. It is often dubbed as the ''[[Battle of Panipat (disambiguation)|Panipat]] of Saurashtra''.<ref name="GSLJM1"/> Due to the large number of casualties, in Halar region, the word ''Bhuchar Mori'' became almost synonymous with the massacre.<ref name="Dosábhai1894">{{cite book|author=Edalji Dosábhai|title=A History of Gujarát: From the Earliest Period to the Present Time|url=https://archive.org/details/ahistorygujartf00dosgoog|year=1894|publisher=United Print. and General Agency|pages=[https://archive.org/details/ahistorygujartf00dosgoog/page/n175 133]–147}}</ref>
<ref name="Hodivala1979">{{cite book|author=Shahpurshah Hormasji Hodivala|title=Studies in Indo-Muslim History: A Critical Commentary on Elliot and Dowson's History of India as Told by Its Own Historians, with a Foreword by Sir Richard Burn : Supplement|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=73pDAAAAYAAJ|year=1979|publisher=Islamic Book Service|page=557}}</ref>

==Memorial site==
The ''[[paliya]]'' or memorial stone of Ajaji is a horse-mounted idol. The ''paliya'' with the hand, dedicated to his wife Surajkunwarba, stand south of it. The inscription on the stone can not be read. There is an inscription in the shrine that the memorial site was renovated by Jam Vibhaji and the shrine was constructed by him on the ''palia'' of Ajaji. On the north side wall of the shrine, there is a 16th-century art in traditional style depicting Ajaji on the horse attacking Mirza Aziz Koka on an elephant. There are shrines dedicated to Ram, Laxman and Bhutnath in the compound. To the north of the shrine, there are eight paliya on the floor; including dedicated to Jesha Vajir. There are four paliyas in the row and more three of large size nearby. There are six paliyas to the south of the shrine of which three are partially damaged. There are three black poorly shaped stones in the north of the opposite side of shrine which are dedicated to Atit Sadhus. There are 23 memorials in the compound. Eight more memorials are outside of the compound and one dedicated to Rakhehar Dholi is some distance{{Clarify|reason=vague|date=August 2016}} away. There are 32 memorials in total. The site is visited by people of Jamnagar every year and the worship these memorials with [[Sindoor]].<ref name="DB2015"/><ref name="GSLJM2">{{cite web | title=જામનગરની પ્રજાએ કુંવર અજાજીના મૃત્યુનો શોક અઢીસો વર્ષ પાળીને રાજભક્તિ દર્શાવી - લોકજીવનનાં મોતી | website=[[Gujarat Samachar]] | date=6 June 2012 | url=http://www.gujaratsamachar.com/gujaratsamachar.com/20120506/purti/ravipurti/lokjivan.html | language=gu | accessdate=10 May 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160510212540/http://www.gujaratsamachar.com/gujaratsamachar.com/20120506/purti/ravipurti/lokjivan.html | archive-date=10 May 2016 | last=Jadav | first=Joravarsinh | url-status=dead| df= }}</ref>

There are eight tombs on the southwest of the shrine dedicated to the soldiers of the Mughal army. It is believed that soldiers were buried together and eight tombs dedicated to leaders were built on it. The site also has a well and a mosque.<ref name="GSLJM2"/>

Since 1998, the site is maintained by Bhuchar Mori Shahid Smarak Trust. The site is a protected monument of the archaeological department of the state (S-GJ-84).<ref name="GSLJM2"/> A new memorial was commissioned by [[Government of Gujarat]] headed by [[Narendra Modi]] in 2007. The groundbreaking ceremony was held in 2007 and the memorial was completed in September 2015. The new statue of Ajaji was placed at the site which was inaugurated by [[Anandiben Patel]]. The government declared that a dedicated forest, ''Shaheed Van'', at site will be developed also.<ref name="DeshGuj2015">{{cite web | author=DeshGujarat | title=Memorial to martyrs of Bhuchar Mori battle unveiled | website=DeshGujarat | date=4 September 2015 | url=http://DeshGujarat.Com/2015/09/04/memorial-to-martyrs-of-bhuchar-mori-battle-unveiled/ | accessdate=10 May 2016}}</ref><ref name="AP2015">{{cite web | title=Guj CM Dedicates Bhuchar Mori Shaheed Memorial at Dhrol, Jamnagar | website=Official Website of Gujarat Chief Minister Anandiben Patel | date=4 September 2015 | url=http://anandibenpatel.com/en/bhuchar-mori-shaheed-van-will-be-developed-says-guj-cm-while-dedicating-bhuchar-mori-shaheed-memorial-at-dhrol-jamnagar/ | accessdate=10 May 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160601222405/http://anandibenpatel.com/en/bhuchar-mori-shaheed-van-will-be-developed-says-guj-cm-while-dedicating-bhuchar-mori-shaheed-memorial-at-dhrol-jamnagar/ | archive-date=2016-06-01 | url-status=dead| df= }}</ref>

Since 1992, the memorial site is visited by people of Kshatriya community for prayers on Shitla Satam. The annual fair is organized on the last day of the [[Shraavana]] month (Shraavana Vad Amavasya) (July–August) which is attended by thousands.<ref name="Gujarat1964"/><ref name="GSLJM2"/><ref name="General1965">{{cite book|author= Office of the Registrar General India|title=Census of India, 1961: Gujarat|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zQEdAQAAMAAJ|year=1965|publisher=Manager of Publications|page=378}}</ref>

==Gallery==
<gallery>
File:Bhuchar mori stone memorial 04.jpg|Memorial shrine of Ajaji and nearby ''[[paliya]]''s (herostones)
File:Bhuchar mori stone memorial 07.jpg|16th-century mural on the north side wall of the shrine depicting Ajaji on the horse attacking Mirza Aziz Koka on an elephant
File:Bhuchar mori stone memorial 06.jpg|Murals in the shrine of Ajaji
File:Bhuchar mori stone memorial 10.jpg|Horse-mounted statue of Ajaji at the site
File:Bhuchar mori stone memorial 01.jpg|Paliya
File:Bhuchar mori stone memorial 03.jpg|Paliya
File:Bhuchar mori stone memorial 05.jpg|Paliya of Nag Vajir on right
</gallery>

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{Commons category}}

[[Category:Tourist attractions in Gujarat]]
[[Category:Jamnagar district]]
[[Category:Monuments and memorials in Gujarat]]

Bhuchar Mori - Revision history

>Nizil Shah at 06:00, 13 August 2020