Let us learn about Thara Jhazavda Valinath Mahadev, the Gurugadi of Bharwad Gopalak Samaj located at Thara, the commercial centre of Kankerage taluka in the western part of this district.
DELHI KANDLA NATIONAL HIGHWAY NO. Thara on 14 is 27 km from Radhanpur, 35 km from Harij, 55 km from Patan via Shihori, and 50 km from Disa. Moreover, it is located at a distance of 60 km from the border of Tharad.
In the centre of the town is a massive Shiva temple reminiscent of the Somnath temple adorned with an attractive artistic door. The arrangements here, cowsheds and eateries, make the pilgrims feel a sense of peace and tranquillity.
According to a legend, this pilgrimage is believed to be from the time of Lord Shri Krishna. When Lord Shri Krishna finished his Leela and left for Swadham, the shepherds and cowherds living in Vraja wanted us to go on a pilgrimage to Dwarika. A group of shepherds and cowherds set out on a pilgrimage to Dwarka with their cows.
From Gokul to Dwarika, a direct route through Rajasthan to the Banaskantha district in Gujarat was direct. There are drinking water tanks on the Rajasthan-Banaskantha (Gujarat) short road.
The mention of ‘for the pilgrims of Dwarka’ is seen. On their way to Dwarka, this association of shepherds and cowherds came to what is now Thara in Kankeraj taluka. Banas river was flowing here on both banks.
Seeing the beautiful forest of trees and green fodder, the Krishna stayed here for the night with their threshers. Jasraj was an elderly leader of shepherds in the Sangh.
He was a great devotee of Lord Shri Krishna. Respected among cowherds and being the head of a large cowherd society, he was known as ‘Zhazavda’.
It is said that Lord Shri Krishna came to him in a dream that night and said, ‘O Vats! Stay where you are currently invested. This place is sacred and also suitable for cows.
Therefore, if you live here, you will be happy.’ Jasraj said, Lord, your command is supreme, but please give something as a memorial in the form of your prasadi so that everyone will have faith.
Lord Bholanath is dear to Shri Krishna, so he said: ‘If you dig in the cowshed, you will find Shivling.’ In the morning, Jhazavada Jasraj called the cowherds and told them about his dream.
According to the dream, a Shivling was found while digging in the cowshed, and all the cowherds danced with joy on seeing it. On the day of Shravan Sud-Poonam Rakshabandhan, the cowherd-cowherd community ritually worshipped the Shivling and worshipped it as their Ishtadev.
As per the traditional years, a grand Lok Mela of Raksha Bandhan is held here. All the herdsman-shepherd society fulfils its obligations. Like this Tirtha, Brahnleen Mahant Narbhepuriji Maharaj was an incarnated Olia Purush.
The present Mahant Shivpuriji Guru Narbhepuriji Maharaj carries on the tradition that the disciple learns from the Guru after receiving something special from his rites. The temple was magnificently renovated as an authentic tribute to the Guru, and an artistic entrance gate filled with advanced sculptural architecture was constructed.
If Gauseva, Gauvardhana and Goras are insisted on in every temple in India, the question of cow slaughter or cow slaughter becomes a question of public awareness.
Agriculture has also been given equal priority here. The tirtha has a good knowledge of agriculture, plays the role of a skilled agriculturist, and keeps the temple granary overflowing. Cows and calves roaming in the cowshed are a sight to behold.
Although this temple of Banaskantha valley is the Gurugadi of all the shepherd-shepherd societies, there is not a single chord (house) of the shepherd society in the Thara. Everyone has faith in this pilgrimage.
There is always a crowd of pilgrims, and a unique peace and tranquillity are achieved. This pilgrimage is one of the leading places of pilgrimage in Gujarat.
