Veer Teja

Birth

Veer Teja is considered to be folk-deity and admired in entire Rajasthan by all communities. His father was Kunwar Tahar, a chieftain of Kharnal in Nagaur district in Rajasthan. His mother’s name was Sugna. Mother Sugna is believed to have got son Teja by the blessings of Nāga-deity.

History

During Tejaji's period the country was ruled by small republics which were in constant struggle with each other. Taharji, Tejaji's father, was the Chieftain of Kharnal. There were conflicts between Nagavanshi is and Aryans. Nagavanshis were bent upon to destroy the Aryans. According to Hindu mythology, During Mahabharata period, Parīkśita the successor of Yudhishthira, was the ruler of Hastinapura. Parikshit was cursed by a sage's son to die after snake bite. On hearing this, the king forswore the throne for his son Janamejaya and spent his last days listening to the discourses of Sage Śuka on Bhagwat. As prophecised, Snake king Takshaka bit Parikshit leading to his death. In fact Takshaka was a Nagavanshi king who killed Parikshit.

Sacrifice

As per the tradition in that area, the chieftain had to initiate the ploughing of fields after first rains in jyestha month. Tejaji's father and brother were out of the village at first rains so his mother asked Tejaji to do the first ploughing for the season. Tejaji went to fields and started ploughing. His sister-in-law became late in bringing him, his food (a dish locally called Chhak) which angered Tejaji. On Tejaji's anger she taunted him about his halitosis and on the fact that his wife was in her father's home. This prompted him to go to fetch his wife from his in-laws. The sister-in-law asked Tejaji that before he brings his wife Pemal, he should bring his sister Rajal so that she can receive Pemal on her first arrival to Kharnal. Tejaji was married to Pemal in early childhood at Pushkar with the daughter of Rai Mal Jat of Jhanjhar gotra, chieftain of village Paner . After marriage there was a dispute between two families in which the maternal uncle of Pemal and father of Tejaji were killed. Tejaji did not previously know that he was married.

When Tejaji was on way to village Tabiji to bring his sister, he was attacked by Meena sardar. There was a war and Tejaji was victorious. He reached village Tabiji, got permission of her sister's husband Jogaji Siyag and brought Rajal to Kharnal.

Next day early in the morning he mounted his mare Līlaṇ with palāṇ and started journey to Paner to bring his wife Pemal. It was a difficult journey, but he crossed all the Rivers running full of water due to heavy rains. He reached Paner by evening. At that time his mother-in-law was milking cows. The cows got disturbed due to Tejaji's brisk entry on his mare. His mother-in-law could not recognize Tejaji and cursed him that he be bite by a black snake as he has disturbed her cows. Tejajj got angry over this comment and decided to return without Pemal.

Lachha Gujari was a friend of Pemal. Her house was about 2 km from Rupangarh. Lachha Gujari helped Pemal to meet with Teja. For this Lachha rode on camel and went to Tejaji facing many clashes with Meena sardars en route. Lachha reached Tejaji and gave Pemal's message that if Tejaji does not come she will die. Parents of Pemal had decided to remarriage her with some other person. At this time Pemal was going to die but saved by Lachha. Tejaji came to Paner and saw her there. Pemal was a beautiful and attractive girl. They were talking with each other that they heard knock of Lachha Gujari. Lachha told Tejaji that thieves have taken away all her cows and there is nobody in this to help. Tejaji mounted his mare Lilan and started alone to fight with dacoits, who had taken away Lachha's cows.

A man of words

Tejaji found that dacoits who had stolen the cows of Lachha Gujari were Meena sardar's people. Tejaji, who was made for helping others, decided to bring those cows. The myth is that he encountered a snake burning in fire that was saved by Tejaji. That snake cursed Tejaji and wanted to bite Tejaji. In fact he had encountered with a Nagavanshi chieftain and he had a war with him. He promised to come back after bringing his wife Pemal. He was badly wounded in the process to bring Gujari's cows back from dacoits. Veer Teja was man of words. While returning he kept his words and produced himself before the snake. The snake did not find unwounded place on the body of Tejaji, so Tejaji offered him to bite on tongue. The snake bit the tongue of Tejaji. Tejaji died due to snakebite on 28 August 1103.

Historical facts are that while Tejaji was returning from Paner with his wife he was attacked jointly by Meenas, who were defeated earlier and Nagavanshi chieftains. Tejaji and his wife fought bravely with sword. Tejajj was killed in the war and Pemal became sati (abandoned custom and no more practiced in India) at place called Sursura. Tejaji's sister Rajal had also become sati which is a unique example of sister becoming sati in the Indian history.

Postal stamp on Tejaji

India Postal Department released a special on commemorative stamp on Folk deity Veer Tejaji Maharaj at Kharnal in Nagaur District of Rajasthan on Tejadasani: Thursday, September 7, 2011. Union Minister Sachin Pilot released the stamp in a function in presence of thousands of people. The ruling Congress state President and former Minister Dr Chandrabhan, sitting Lok Sabha member Jyoti Mirdha, former Minister Harendra Mirdha and several dignitaries were present on the occasion. itava village near tarana tehsil

Veer Teja in media

A Rajasthani language movie titled “Veer Tejaji”, based on the life of Tejaji was made in the 1980s. The movie was a big commercial success in its time and gave a significant fillip to the Rajasthani movie industry.