Bhadreswar, Kutch
Encyclopedia
Bhadreswar / Bhadreshwar is a village in Mundra
Taluka, Kutch District of Gujarat State of India. It is situated at a distance of about 32 km from Taluka head quarter Mundra and barely a kilometer away from sea-shore.
in olden times. The ruins of ancient city of Bhadrawati can be found here.
Bhadrawati was ruled by King Sidhsen in 449 B.C (according to the Hindu calendar) who renovated the place. Later it was ruled by The Solanki
es who were Jains, and they changed the name to Bhadreshwar. Then in 1315, a great famine struck Kutch, after which the town was renovated by Seth
Jagdu Shah, the famous Jain merchant.
The Bhadreshwar, today is famous for its centuries old Jain temples known as Bhadreswar Jain Temple. These temples are believed to be one of the oldest Jain temples in India, although they have been renovated and rehabilitated from time to time. In year 1315, they have been renovated by Seth Jagdusha. The temple complex has 53 Jinalays 52 of them built around main Bhadreswar Temple at the center, added over many centuries. The temples have been destroyed many times due to natural calamities like earthquakes and the chronicles of Mistris of Kutch, mention that they were the architects and artisans, who renovated temples during earthquakes of 1819, 1844–45 and 1875. Recently, the temple complex was again completely devastated in earthquake of 26 January 2001, however, it has now been completely restored and renovated to its ancient glory. A whole new temple complex has been built, as many of the old temples were destroyed to the extent that it could not be rehabilitated.
There is also an ancient Shiv
temple known as Chakhanda Mahadev situated at the sea-shore and the big square step well known as the Pandavs Kund built by the Pandavs 5000 years ago. This beautiful old temple made with red colored rock was also destroyed in 2001 earthquake and has now been completely restored. Besides there are also centuries old Rokadiya Hanuman
temple and other architecture in this ancient site.
There is also are two mosques called Duda Masjid and Duda vaav
in Bhadreshwar, which is very old and which are reliably dated to the late 12th century, meaning they predate the well-known Islamic architecture of Ahmedabad
by 250 years or so, making them in all likelihood the first mosques built in India
.
commander, Hussain Miyan met near Bahdreshwar. The British army was behind the famous Bhadreswar Jain Temple and temple was coming in between them. Husain Miya respected the sanctity of temple and he didn’t fire on British, fearing temples might be damaged and as such doors were laid open for British Army. The nearest major fortified town of Anjar
, Port of Tuna
& District of Anjar thus came under British occupation on December 25, 1815. This led to negotiations between rulers of Kutch and British. The Jadeja
rulers of Kutch accepted the suzerainty of British in 1818 and Captain James Meckmardo was posted as British Political Resident stationed at Bhuj
. The Anjar District, however, remained under direct occupation of British forces for seven years till December 25, 1822, when it was reverted back to Rajya Hukumat ( to Princely State of Kutch ) by way on agreement.
Mundra
Mundra is a census town in Kutch district in the Indian state of Gujarat. Mundra Port is the largest private port in India.-Geography:The town of Mundra is located about 50 km from Anjar which is one of the major towns in the district of Kutch in Gujarat. The other important towns in this...
Taluka, Kutch District of Gujarat State of India. It is situated at a distance of about 32 km from Taluka head quarter Mundra and barely a kilometer away from sea-shore.
History
Bhadreswar was known as Bhadrawati NagariTown
A town is a human settlement larger than a village but smaller than a city. The size a settlement must be in order to be called a "town" varies considerably in different parts of the world, so that, for example, many American "small towns" seem to British people to be no more than villages, while...
in olden times. The ruins of ancient city of Bhadrawati can be found here.
Bhadrawati was ruled by King Sidhsen in 449 B.C (according to the Hindu calendar) who renovated the place. Later it was ruled by The Solanki
Solanki
The Solanki was a royal Hindu Indian dynasty that ruled parts of western and central India between the 10th to 13th centuries. A number of scholars including V. A. Smith assign them Gurjar origin....
es who were Jains, and they changed the name to Bhadreshwar. Then in 1315, a great famine struck Kutch, after which the town was renovated by Seth
Sheth
Sheth was a title of honor, generally prefixed to the name of big businessmen, money lenders or rich persons of town in India. The title is still used but less often. In older days another title Nagar Seth was used to denote richest person of the town....
Jagdu Shah, the famous Jain merchant.
The Bhadreshwar, today is famous for its centuries old Jain temples known as Bhadreswar Jain Temple. These temples are believed to be one of the oldest Jain temples in India, although they have been renovated and rehabilitated from time to time. In year 1315, they have been renovated by Seth Jagdusha. The temple complex has 53 Jinalays 52 of them built around main Bhadreswar Temple at the center, added over many centuries. The temples have been destroyed many times due to natural calamities like earthquakes and the chronicles of Mistris of Kutch, mention that they were the architects and artisans, who renovated temples during earthquakes of 1819, 1844–45 and 1875. Recently, the temple complex was again completely devastated in earthquake of 26 January 2001, however, it has now been completely restored and renovated to its ancient glory. A whole new temple complex has been built, as many of the old temples were destroyed to the extent that it could not be rehabilitated.
There is also an ancient Shiv
Shiva
Shiva is a major Hindu deity, and is the destroyer god or transformer among the Trimurti, the Hindu Trinity of the primary aspects of the divine. God Shiva is a yogi who has notice of everything that happens in the world and is the main aspect of life. Yet one with great power lives a life of a...
temple known as Chakhanda Mahadev situated at the sea-shore and the big square step well known as the Pandavs Kund built by the Pandavs 5000 years ago. This beautiful old temple made with red colored rock was also destroyed in 2001 earthquake and has now been completely restored. Besides there are also centuries old Rokadiya Hanuman
Hanuman
Hanuman , is a Hindu deity, who is an ardent devotee of Rama, a central character in the Indian epic Ramayana and one of the dearest devotees of lord Rama. A general among the vanaras, an ape-like race of forest-dwellers, Hanuman is an incarnation of the divine and a disciple of Lord Rama in the...
temple and other architecture in this ancient site.
There is also are two mosques called Duda Masjid and Duda vaav
Stepwell
Stepwells, also called bawdi or baoli , or vaav are wells or ponds in which the water can be reached by descending a set of steps. They may be covered and protected, and are often of architectural significance...
in Bhadreshwar, which is very old and which are reliably dated to the late 12th century, meaning they predate the well-known Islamic architecture of Ahmedabad
Ahmedabad
Ahmedabad also known as Karnavati is the largest city in Gujarat, India. It is the former capital of Gujarat and is also the judicial capital of Gujarat as the Gujarat High Court has its seat in Ahmedabad...
by 250 years or so, making them in all likelihood the first mosques built in India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
.
A battle that was never fought
On December 15, 1815, the army of Kingdom of Kutch was defeated near Bhadreswar, Kutch. As per history the armies of British led by Colonel East and Army of Kutch led by a MuslimMuslim
A Muslim, also spelled Moslem, is an adherent of Islam, a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion based on the Quran, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God as revealed to prophet Muhammad. "Muslim" is the Arabic term for "submitter" .Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable...
commander, Hussain Miyan met near Bahdreshwar. The British army was behind the famous Bhadreswar Jain Temple and temple was coming in between them. Husain Miya respected the sanctity of temple and he didn’t fire on British, fearing temples might be damaged and as such doors were laid open for British Army. The nearest major fortified town of Anjar
Anjar, India
Anjar is a town and a municipality in Kutch district in the state of Gujarat, India. The country is dry and sandy, and entirely depends on well irrigation for its water supply. The town is situated nearly 10 miles from the Gulf of Kutch. The town was third time made capital of Kachchh on...
, Port of Tuna
Tuna Port
Tuna Port is a port-cum-town in Anjar Taluka of Kutch District of Gujarat State of India.-History:Tuna Port was developed during mid-eighteenth century by Kingdom of Kutch, later known as Princely State of Cutch....
& District of Anjar thus came under British occupation on December 25, 1815. This led to negotiations between rulers of Kutch and British. The Jadeja
Jadeja
Jadeja belong to the Yaduvanshi rajputs or Chandravanshi rajputs. They are one of the 36 royal dynasties of old tracing their origins to Lord Krishna...
rulers of Kutch accepted the suzerainty of British in 1818 and Captain James Meckmardo was posted as British Political Resident stationed at Bhuj
Bhuj
Bhuj is a city and a municipality in Kachchh district in the state of Gujarat, India.-History:It was established by Rao Hamirji in 1510 and was made the state capital by Rao Khengarji I in 1549. Its foundation stone as state capital laid formally on Vikram Samvat 1604 Maagha 5th...
. The Anjar District, however, remained under direct occupation of British forces for seven years till December 25, 1822, when it was reverted back to Rajya Hukumat ( to Princely State of Kutch ) by way on agreement.