Khedbrahma, Gujarat, India

Etymology:

It is believed that Brahma had ploughed the land here and a river had flown out of it which is now known as Harnav.


History:


Khedbrahma is a city and a taluka in Sabarkantha,Gujarat.The city known for its historical and mythological connections, Brahma’s temple and stepwell, Ambika temple, Jain Temple of Mahavir. According to Padmapuran this is an ancient town being known as Brahmpur in Sat Yug; Agnikhet in Treta; Hiranyapur in Dwapar and talukhet in Kali Yug. Puratan Brahmakshetra says that many Digambar temples were also present in this locality.History can be traced back to the 11th century when Lord Brahma Temple and Ambika Temple were built. Brahma stepwell was built in the 14th century.


Geography:


There is a sangam (meeting point) of three small rivers here, namely Hirnakshi, Bhimakshi and Kosambi. After the confluence of these three rivers, the river is named Harnav which merges with Sabarmati river. It divides the town in a northern and a southern part. Harnav river was formerly known as Hiranyaksh or Harnai river.


Devine Places:


#BRAHMA TEMPLE and Stepwell:-

It is believed that Brahma had ploughed the land here and a river had flown out of it which is now known as Harnav.There is a temple of Brahma which is rarely seen in India, only second to Pushkar. It was built in third quarter of the 11th century or in the 12th century. Of white sandstone and cement-covered brick, fifty-seven feet long, thirty broad, and thirty-six high, it has an image of Brahma which is worshipped. The fair held yearly in February and attended by merchants from all parts of Gujarat and Mewar in past. In former times Khedbrahma is said to have drawn millions of pilgrims and merchants from Mewar, Marwar, Malwa, Vagad, Sirohi, Gujarat, Kutch, and Kathiawar. The Kathiawar traders used to raise booths on the south bank of the Hiranyaksh and deal in opium, cloth, copperware, jewelry, grocery, and horses. The gathering lasted for fifteen days. Goods worth a lakh were sold. The fair is said to have fallen into comparative unimportance from the time of Rao Kalianmal (about 1630), when the Idar State fell a prey to rebellion and disorder.

There is a step-well known as Brahma Vav which have carving that resembling temple spires and idols. It is now in despair due to lack of maintenance. It is also known as Aditi Vav historically and was built in the 14th century. An inscription of Vikram Samvat 1256 is present in Vav.

#AMBIKA TEMPLE:-

Ambika temple was built in the early 11th century. Every year many pilgrims come to Ambika temple especially during September–October due to Bhadarvi Purnima festival. It is also known as Nana Ambaji Temple. There is a fair during Kartik Purnima(on full moon day of November–December)here. Pushya Purnima(on full moon day of February–March) is important because it is considered as a foundation day of the temple.

#BHRIGURISHI ASHRAM:-

There is also the Bhrigurishi ashram and a Shiva temple which is associated with folklores and Puranic stories. According to the Brahma Puran, the temple was built by Bhrigu, Brahma's son who was once sent by the seers, rishi, to find out who was the noblest of the Hindu trinity. Insulting Brahma and Rudra, they got angry and threatened to punish him. Seeking out Vishnu, Bhrigu was bold enough to place his foot on the god's chest. Instead of resenting, the kindly god asked the seer's pardon for the hardness of his breast. Bhrigu returned and praised Vishnu as the noblest of the gods. To wipe out the sin of insulting the gods, Bhrigu came to Brahma Kshetra, bathed in the Hiranyaksh, made his hermitage the scat of a Shiva, and performed such rigid austerities, that Shiva was pleased and freed him from his sin.

Bhrigurishi Ashram, which is believed to be to as old as 1000 BC. According to legend, Saint Bhrigurishi had to spend about 200 years of his life praying to Lord Shiva at this three river sangam in order to fulfill his wish. Kashi Vishvanath Temple and P Temple are situated on the bank of the Harnav River.

#KSHIRJAMBA MAHALAXMI TEMPLE:-

According to the Brahma Puran, this place owes its sanctity to a desire of Brahma to free himself from impurity. Vishnu, whom he consulted as to the means, advised him to perform a sacrifice at some holy spot in Bharatkhand in the Jambudvipa, and get learned Brahman to officiate for him. Under Brahma's orders, Vishvakarma built a city on the right bank of the Sabarmati south of mount Abu, six miles (4 kos) round. It had golden ramparts and twenty-four gates and through it flowed the river Hiranyaksh, the modern Harnav. He then created 9000 Brahmans to officiate at the sacrifice. And, when the sacrifice was over, and the impurity removed, to maintain his Brahmans, he created 18,000 Vaishyas and gave them Kshirja as their family goddess. Before withdrawing from the world, he let the Brahmans dedicate a shrine to him, and place in it his four-faced image.

#SHIV TEMPLE:-

KASHI VISHVANATH TEMPLE and PAKSHENDRANATH MAHADEV TEMPLE (PANKHESHVAR) are situated on the bank of the Harnav river which are popular locally.

#JAIN TEMPLE:-

Mahavir Swami Jain temple, situated in northern part of town, is almost 500 years old.


Civic Administrations:


Khedbrahma is municipality and Taluka headquarter. It has 9 wards and 27 seats in Municipality. There are 15 seats for reserved categories and 12 seats for unreserved categories.


Education:


Khedbrahma has educational institutions teaching from primary education to higher education.The College of Khedbrahma is another historical place, which is situated on the mountain.

*Higher education:-

AARDEkta College of Engineering,
D D Thaker and K J Patel Arts and Commerce College,
Krishi Polytechnic affiliated to Dantiwada Agriculture University.

*Schools:-

Sheth KT High School,KKP Kanya Vidyalaya, Jyoti High School,Chanchalba Government Primary School,Asiana English School,Gravity School of Science, Ramjibapa KKP Kanya Vidyalaya.


Transportation:


There is a bus-station of state transport (GSRTC) connecting all major cities of Gujarat, and a railway station which has two trains a day.

*Distance from Places:

-From Ahmedabad it is 122 km away.
-From Himmatnagar it is 52 km away.
-From Ambaji it is 50 km away.
-From Mount Abu it is 100 km away.

Demographics


Villages of Khedbrahma Taluka is Matoda, Radhivad, Agia, Derol, Metral, Poshina, etc.

As of 2010 India census, Khedbrahma had a population of 29,402. Males constitute 52% of the population and females 48%. Khedbrahma has an average literacy rate of 67%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 73%, and female literacy is 56%. In Khedbrahma, 13% of the population is under 6 years of age.



Latitude: 24.23753
Longitude: 73.06078