| Lord Matangdev is the founder of 'Barmati Panth'. It | | | | Matangdev to bless him with supernatural powers to |
| is believed that Matangdev was born some 900-1000 | | | | have his own ruling state in Sindh/Kachchh. Revered |
| years ago at village 'Mandna' in Bihar (India) on the | | | | Matangdev blessed Lakha Ghurara that one day his |
| banks of holy river Ganges. His mother's name was | | | | descendents would be able to form their own |
| 'Jasdedevi' and father's name was 'Matra-rakh' and he | | | | princely state in Kutch region. Interestingly, history of |
| was maternal grandson of renowned 'Gautam-rakh'. | | | | Kutch reveals that the descendants of Lakha Ghurara |
| It is believed that after attaining spirituality on | | | | i.e. Jadejas were able to form their own ruling in |
| wearing ‘Karam-Vindhi’ (Gold ring) handed | | | | Kutch for more than eight centuries. |
| over to him by Aspar Pandya (Satgur), he decided to | | | | History of Kutch owes much to Matangdev for his |
| remove sorrows and sufferings from the life of | | | | sheer valour and gallantry shown while protecting |
| common man. On his journey towards bringing peace, | | | | motherland from brutal attack of ‘Haidarkhan |
| prosperity and happiness in the life of people of all | | | | Pastan’ (a Pathan warrior from Sindh). This feat |
| walks of life, he noticed that a large chunk of Indian | | | | of Matangdev is unparalleled in Indian history as no |
| Society is deprived of basic necessities of life. He | | | | other religious guru (teacher) has ever attempted to |
| observed that ‘Jhankhriyas’ (untouchables) | | | | lift sword for safety of its people. Eventually, while |
| and ‘Simbhriyas’ (tribals) have been | | | | fighting with Haidarkhan on the outskirts of Kutch |
| prohibited to profess religion that was due to religious | | | | Sindh region, Matang Dev died a martyr death |
| ban coerced upon them by high caste Hindus | | | | alongwith ‘Abda-Jiyani’ (a warrior of Kutch). |
| (predominantly Brahmins). Thus, he determined | | | | However, before leaving for heavenly abode, he |
| himself to devote his life for the welfare and | | | | called upon his son ‘Lunagdev’ for timely |
| upliftment of such neglected downtrodden people | | | | help in the battlefield. As soon as Lunagdev arrived, |
| and founded a messianic religion called ‘Barmati | | | | Matangdev could not survive longer and this great |
| Panth’ on the solid foundation of equality & | | | | messiah left this world leaving behind a gigantic task |
| brotherhood. His first message was | | | | of uniting people and preaching holy sermons. |
| ‘Dharmachar’ and ‘Karamjwar’ | | | | Witnessing martyrdom of his father and brave |
| which means to practice tenets of religion (Barmati | | | | Abda-Jiyani, Lord Lunagdev gathered all his strength |
| Panth) with utmost faith and devotion. His collections | | | | and attacked Haiderkhan with full force and killed him. |
| of discourses are known as ‘Genan’. | | | | Thus, the attacker was prevented from entering |
| On his initial solitary journey from Bihar to the | | | | Kutch soil else he would have ruined motherland with |
| western parts of ancient India, he congregated | | | | tears. |
| hundreds of thousands of people and assimilated | | | | Body of Lord Matang-Dev is buried at |
| them into his newly formed religion known as Barmati | | | | ‘Seni-Thar’ near Badin-Sindh (now in |
| Panth. Presently, lakhs of followers of Barmati Panth | | | | Pakistan), which is the foremost pilgrimage place of all |
| are professing religion founded by Matangdev with | | | | ‘Maisri Meghwars’. Every year, holy |
| great enthusiasm and complete faith in his teachings. | | | | pilgrimage is performed at ‘Seni-Thar’ in the |
| All his followers, known as ‘Meghwars’, are | | | | month of Vaishakh (Indian Calender) with utmost |
| spread all over India but its population is predominant | | | | faith and devotion. |
| in Kutch, Saurashtra and Sindh regions. | | | | Source: The above article is written on the basis of |
| Barmati religious discourses (Genan) reveals that | | | | facts narrated in Barmati Panth religious discourses |
| Lakho Ghuraro, a very first ancestor of Jadeja clan | | | | known as ‘Genan’. |
| (princely ruling class of Kutch region), urged | | | | |