MODH GHANCHI VASHYA - मोध घांची वैश्य

मोध घांची (मोढ़ / मोदी / साहू / तेली / गनिगा / गान्दला ) गुजरात, और भारत के विभिन्न भागों में पाए जाने वाली एक वैश्य जाति है। मोढ़ घांची की तरह से साहू, तेली, गनिगा, बंगाल, बिहार, छत्तीसगढ़, दिल्ली, झारखंड, महाराष्ट्र, कर्नाटक, मध्य प्रदेश, राजस्थान और उत्तर प्रदेश में पाया जाने वाला अन्य पिछड़ा वैश्य वर्ग हैं 

मोध घांची नाम भारतीय मूल का हैं, मोध घांची लोग जो की गुजरात में तेल और घी आदि का व्यापार करते हैं. मोध घांची लोग सामान्यतः अहमदाबाद, नवसारी, सूरत, वलसाड, बिलिमोरा में, मोढ़ घांची मूलतः मोढेरा गुजरात से निकले हुए हैं. सौराष्ट्र, अमरेली, बगासरा, बिलखा , भावनगर, जूनागढ़, कलोल, कादी, के कुछ हिस्सों में मोढ़ घांची पाये जाते है । कर्नाटक में गनिगा, गान्दला के नाम से जाने जाते हैं. 

नरेंद्र मोदी, भारत के 15 वें प्रधानमंत्री, मोढ़ घांची समुदाय के अंतर्गत आते है, उत्तर प्रदेश और बिहार में तेली जाति गुजरात की घांची जाति के समकक्ष हैं.

साभार: विकिपीडिआ 

HISTORY

Ancient Vaidik Era 

# Birth of Modh Samaj:

The information available from vaidik history about emergence of Modh samaj reveals that the Modhera of present era was known as Dharmar’nya in Vaidik era . To establish Dharmar’nya as a centre of the vaidik sanskruti , Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh created three thousand Brahmins each total eighteen thousand Brahmins who were master in three Vedas. According to ancient historians Brahmins created by Brahma were of sober & honest “RAJAS” nature, Brahmins created by Vishnu were of “SATVIK” nature and Brahmins created by Mahesh were of angry “TAMAS” nature.

Brahmaji ordered Kamdhenu cow to create thirty six thousand skilful and religious natured “SEVAK” to assist Brahmins created by him in their religious activities like “TAP” and “YGNA”. Kamdhenu cow created those Vaniks by digging earth’s crust with its leg’s hoof. They were called “Gobhuja” or “Gobhva” vaniks and they settled in Gabhu village beside Modhera. Adhalja, Mandaliya, Madhukara, Modh Modi, Teli Modi, Champaneri Modi, Prema Modi all were parts of Modh Vaniks. Among the Modh Vaniks those who settled in right hand of Brahmins were known as “DASHA” and left hand of Brahmins were known as “VISHA” . Those who joined farming were known as Modh Patel.

# Modheswari Mataji.:

According to ancient sayings , in and around the area of Modhera Raxasha called Karnat was creating trouble for Brahmins and disturbing in their worship of god called “YAGNA”. All the Brahimns got together and prayed to the goddess and urged her to free them from the terror of Karnat. On hearing this Goddess got angry and in anger the flames of fire bursted from her mouth, and she transformed herself in the ferocious angry avtar with eighteen hands, each hand holding weapon like Trishul, Sankh, Chakra, Kamandal ect. This avtar of Goddess was called “Matangi” or “Modheshwari”. Angry Goddess “Modheshwari” destroyed the Karnat Raxas and ended his terror. The residents of Modhera accepted Goddess “Modheshwari” as their Kuldevi and started worshiping her.

Medival Era

The era saw the rule of various Rajput & Hindu kings in Modhera and Gujarat. This was the era in which various muslims rulers were establishing in north India. In Vikram Savant 1356 Afzal Khan a general of sultan Alaudin Khilji attacked Gujarat and defeated last Rajput king Karandev Vaghela. The Muslims started ruling Gujarat. They destroyed many temples including Somnath and attacked Modhera to conquer it. The Modh Brahmins were not only educated but also they were brave fighters and also Jayesthimal Brahmins were leading fighters of Gurjareswar army.They closed the gates of the Modhera fort and fought bravely with muslims for about six months. The muslims who conquered Gujarat were about to face defeat by Modhs. The muslims agreed to sign a treaty with them and agreed to leave on receipt of 5000 gold coins.

On the day of Holi the treaty was signed , the doors of Modhera were opened. Muslims did not abide by the treaty and attacked the town , looted and damaged the parts of Sun temple, which can be seen still today. When they attacked the temple the Brahmins immersed the “Modheswari Mata Murty” in the Dharma Vav so that Muslims cannot damage it. The modhs migrated to different parts of Gujarat and now the members of Modh samaj are spread in in different parts of Gujarat like Visnagar, Viramgam, Amdavad,Vadodra, Siddhpur, Bharuch, Ankleshwar, Surat, Valsad and Billimora The resident of Surat are called “Surati Modh Vaniks”

Post Independence Era

The members of Modh samaj continued to visit modhera and worship the Dharma Vav, where the “Modheswari Mata Murty” was immersed. But by the efforts of Modh samaj devotees in Vikram Savant 1962 the construction work of the temple could start again and on Maha Sud 13 day of Vikram Savant 1966 the Pran Pratishtha of “Modheswari Mata Murty” was done.

साभार: suratimodhvanik.com/history.php