Siddhpur

History

Siddhpur was historically known as Sristhal, literally "a pious place".

The bard sings of it,

Tirath bhumipavan Siddhakshetra subhasar,
Nirmal nir vahe Sarasvati sada mokshko dwar, ... —

"A Tirtha, a place to make holy, is the good Siddha Kshetra,
Where flows Sarasvati's pure stream — ever beatitude's door.
A city three worlds to purify, by Siddhs ever worshipped,
Gods, Rishis, and men cherish the desire to live there.
And there dwell devas unnumbered, as a tirtha regarding it, —
Of Kasi, Gaya, Godavari, and all other tirthas, the best ;
Where Kardam and Dehuti lived, and Kapila was born.
Here is Bindusarovar's pure fount, and Matrugaya;
Applied to the bodies of men degraded and fallen, it washes their myriads of sins.
Here is Prachi Mahadev, whose renown by Veda and Purana is sung :
Of all Tirthas, the essence — it is named Kapilashram."

It is mentioned in the Rig Veda to be existing at that time as the Dashu village. The legend is that the great sage Dadhyanca or Dadhichi had donated his bones to God Indra here at Siddhpur. Siddhpur is also believed to be located at the junction of two rivers Ganges and Saraswati. Even in the Mahabharata, the great Indian epic, it is mentioned that the Pandavas had visited the place while they were in exile. During the 4-5th A.D a large number of people settled in this part. They were Gurjara people from Iran.

In tenth century (943 AD), Mularaja, the founder of Chaulukya dynasty, started constructing the Rudra Mahalaya Temple. On completion of the temple, around 1140 AD, Jayasimha Siddharaja consecrated it and established the town as his capital. He changed its name to Siddhpur, literally Siddhraj's town. The temple was dismantled an army under Almas Beg Alaf Khdn and Nusrat Khan Jalesri sent by Alauddin Khilji in 1296 AD (Samvat 1353).

During the Gujarat Sultanate, the town was under the rule of local dynasty ruling from Palanpur. In the 15th century, the town was brought under the Mughal rule by Akbar. Under the Mughal rule the town developed and flourished.

Asaita Thakar, traditionally credited for the origin of traditional folk theatre Bhavai, in 14th century, lived in Siddhpur.

Climate

The climate of Siddhpur is continental. The summer season is hot and dry, with temperature in the range of 40s. While in winter it is pleasant with temperatures in 20s. The average annual rainfall is 40-50 inches.

Demographics

At the 2001 census of India, Siddhpur had a population of 53,581, of which 52% were male and 48% female. Siddhpur had an average literacy rate of 71%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy was 77%, and female literacy was 64%. In Siddhpur, 12% of the population is under 6 years of age.

Attractions

Sidhpur has two protected monument under Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) namely: Ruins of Rudra Mahalaya temple and the Jami Masjid. The city is also known for his havelis in hacienda architecture largely belonging to Dawoodi Bohra community and spread over 18 mohallas or neighbourhoods.

Bindu-sarovar: It is a small artificial tank, even mentioned in rig-veda and considered pious by Hindus. According to Hindu theology, there are five sacred lakes; collectively called Panch-Sarovar; Mansarovar, Bindu Sarovar, Narayan Sarovar, Pampa Sarovar and Pushkar Sarovar. They are also mentioned in Shrimad Bhagavata Purana.Matrushradh, Mother Moksha /Tarpan on Saraswati river (Rig-Veda) an ancient Hindu culture. one of the famous place to visit in the siddhpur. Sage Kapil had founded Sankhya sastra, and Mother Devahuti got Moksha, Explained the Sankhya Darshan by his son (Kapila) on the Saraswati bank: Since the Moksha of Devhuti established this place Bindu sarovar in Siddhpur an only place in India where Matru-shradh is being carried out, thus thousands of people come here annually to perform the rituals for their dead mothers. in month of Kartik of Hindu calendar. History says the Lord Parshuram had worship here for his sins and done the Matrushradh for his Mother. Moksha karmakand by brahman priest on saraswati river at pipal tree of Siddheswar temple possess ancient place of God Vishnu. Rig-Ved mentioned for ancient Sristhal and Saraswati river.

Siddhpur have the magnificent and beautiful havelis or medieval homes of Bohra traders. They are famous for their delicate wooden architecture and interior decoration of medieval style of India.

Arvadeswar temple of Lord Shiv at Siddhpur is a very ancient place of Nath sampradaya in this place Late Devshankarbapa Bhatt who had worshiped 50 years and Died in 1978.

Tower of Sidhpur, built by Mr. Muhammadali Hararwala (RajRatna) on 4 April 1915. That time built cost of tower was Rs. 15000.00 during rule of Gaekwad.

The Siddhpith is established by Devshankarbapa. Where vedic activities, archana of Lord shiva like Laghurudra, Maharudra, Atirudra . Daily Agnihotra and Gayatri chants is being carried out by Brahmin Priest Shri Vikrambhai Pancholi at present. At Siddhpith annually pilgrims/Devotees from India come at Birth, Death anivesary of Devshankarbapa. Siddhpith had a place of Rushi Kardama's worship spot, and evidence of ancient history being the Lord Brahma'"s visit The Siddheswar temple on Sarswati river, Chandrakant Pathak(chanduguru) great human devotee of Dutta, ved pathi, brahmchari established guru-sishya parampara here after lord Krisna-Sandipani. Thousands of Rushiputra/Brahman priest learned in free gurukul since 200 years at the same place and developed Brahmtej.

Muktidham

Muktidham (mortuary) called as the place where humans left the world leaving their family behind. This place is famous for holy funeral process of human body after death. People from about 85 villages in Siddhpur taluka come for funeral process after anybody died in their village. This is the "gandharv smashan". In India Gandharva Smashan like 1. Ujjain 2. Kashi 3. Prayag 4. Siddhpur you can watch the live agni sanskar from the muktidham. The trusty of muktidham had implemented this Idea in co-operation with the Muktidham trust.

It is said that to muktidham people from various towns and places come and it is said that if we want MUKTI then you should come here after death.

Politics

Sidhpur is a constituency of the Gujarat Legislative Assembly within the Patan (Lok Sabha constituency).

Transport

It has the 4-lane state highway passing through it connecting Ahmedabad with Palanpur. The broad gauge railway line connecting Mumbai to Delhi passes through Siddhpur.

By train

79437 Abu Road DMU Ahmedabad Jn Abu Road 17:58 18:00 2 min79438 Abu Road DMU Abu Road Ahmedabad Jn 07:02 07:04 2 min19707 Aravali Express Bandra Terminus Jaipur Jn 07:50 07:52 2 min 16507 Ju Banglore Exp Jodhpur Jn Bangalore Cy Jn 12:18 12:20 2 min19105 Haridwar Mail Ahmedabad Jn Haridwar Jn 12:43 12:45 2 min19565 Uttaranchal Exp Okha Dehradun 18:07 18:09 2 min19566 Uttaranchal Exp Dehradun Okha 04:50 04:52 2 min19708 Aravali Express Jaipur Jn Bandra Terminus 18:56 18:58 2 min19223 Adi Jat Express Ahmedabad Jn Jammu Tawi 13:21 13:23 2 min19224 Jat Adi Express Jammu Tawi Ahmedabad Jn 12:40 12:42 2 min19106 Hw Adi Mail Haridwar Jn Ahmedabad Jn 13:46 13:48 2 min

By road

You can use the western express highway to reach there.