Gogaji (गोगाजी) also known as Gugga is a folk deity of Rajasthan . He is an eminent warrior-hero of the region. He is also venerated as a saint and even as 'snake-god'. He is known as Goga among the Hindus and Jahar Peer among the Muslims
Gogaji (गोगाजी) also known as Gugga is a folk deity of Rajasthan state in India. He is an eminent warrior-hero of the region. Hindus and Muslims alike honor him. He is also venerated as a saint and even as 'snake-god'. He is known as Goga among the Hindus and Jahar Peer among the Muslims. The Kaimkhani Muslims claim descent from him and regard him as a peer (saint). Gogaji is popular as a snake-god and almost every village in Rajasthan has a Than (sacred place) dedicated to him. The devotees of Gogaji can be found in Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra. In Gujarat, an annual procession is taken out in honour of the great warrior.
A grand fair is held at Gogamedi, which is 359 km from Jaipur, in Hanumangarh district of Rajasthan in August in memory of Gogaji. It is believed that Gogaji went into samadhi at Gogamedi. Thousands of devotees gather to pay homage at this memorial annually in the month of Bhadrapada during the Gogaji fair, which lasts for 3 days.The fair is held from the ninth day of the dark half of Bhadrapada (Goga Navami) to the eleventh day of the dark half of the same month. The inscription in Persian at the main entrance describes Mahmud of Ghazni's regard for Gogaji. It is quite a sight to see people singing and dancing to the beats of drums and gongs with multicolored flags called 'nishans' in their hands.Early days of Gogaji were spent at village Dadrewa, situated on Hissar-Bikaner Highway in the Churu district. He was a Chauhan Rajput and were rulers of this area during that period - around 900 AD. A fair is simultaneously held here too in his memory.Gogaji was born by the blessing of Guru gorkhnath ji.The mother of Gogaji, Bachal worship her guru Gorkhnath for 12 years for a child. The Gogaji's wife name was Siriyal.
Hello, Greetings from Bangalore,
ReplyDeleteMy family name is MAGAJI. I am trying to find the meaning of this phrase as well, I think, that, there should be a village by this name as MAGAJI in Rajasthan. I certainly, know that it exists, but do not know where it is. We were at one time, from Rajasthan-Gujarat areas, were worshippers of Ambaji Shrine and were warriors protecting and guarding her fortress.
Now that we have migrated towards the south, we do not know, how we came here, what made us come and migrate.
We belong to the Community of Somvansh Sahasrarjuna Kshatriya Community, popularly, known as SSK for short. Our leader from the Puranas were Karthavirya Arjuna, and we are all his followers.
It is also said that we had inherited a practice of worship of Snakes-Nagas and was a custom that before we invited or entered into matrimonial alliances, we used to seek the approval or recommendation of the Snake Gods whether the bride or the groom is approved by the Naga God.
That is what we know and nothing much is known about this.
Probably, MAGAJI, could also be spelt MOGAJI or MEGHJI or MENGJI etc,. Our names end with the term as 'SA'. For Example : My father's name was Gangadharasa Magaji, there is a mention of 'SA' after my father's name, MAGAJI, being our Surname!
I would be very happy to be enlightened with this information and particularly, the Family Name of MAGAJI. Please do let me know.