Veer Teja Ji,Tejaji Or Teja Jat is a Rajasthani folk deity. He is considered one of the major eleven incarnations of Shiva and worshipped as a deity in Rajasthan.[1][2] Veer Teja was born around 29 January 1074 in Kharnal, Rajasthan, India. His parents, Ramkunwari and Tahar, were Jats.[3]
Early Life
Tejaji is considered to be folk-deity and worshiped in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh. Tejaji as a historical person was born on 29 January 1074, in the family of Dhaulya gotra Nagavanshi Jat at Kharnal, Nagaur.[4]
His father was Tahar Dev (Thirraj), a chieftain of a republic of 24 villages in Kharnal, district Nagaur in Rajasthan.
Tejaji Temple at Palot VillageTejaji Temple at Palot Village
Commemoration
India Post, Government of India releases commemorative postage stamp of Tejaji Maharaj
In Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh, Teja Dashami is celebrated on the Dashami Tithi (tenth day), Shukla Paksha (bright phase of the Moon) in the month of Bhadrapada. The festival commemorates the greatness of Teja Ji Maharaj, and the sacrifice he made to honour his words. Today, on Teja Dashami, know more about Teja Ji Maharaj, who is worshipped by his devotees and hailed as a nobleman. He is believed to be eleventh incarnation of Lord Shiva.[5]
In September 2011, India Post released a commemorative stamp depicting Tejaji.[6]
Rajasthan Govt has constituted Rajasthan State Veer Tejaji Welfare Board for farmers. The board will have seven members including the chairman and vice-chairman. According to the officials, the board will aim to take stock of the condition of the farmers’ society and suggest measures to remove the backwardness of the farmers.[7]
A Rajasthani language movie titled Veer Tejaji, based on the life of Tejaji was made in the 1980s.
In November 2023, Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Tejaji Temple in Kharnal village, Nagaur, Rajasthan.[8]
See also
Tejaji Temple at Kharnal - place where Tejaji was born
Tejaji temple at Paner - place where Tejaji was married
Shree Veer Tejaji samadhi sthala Temple, Sursura - place where Tejaji attained Nirvana
^Murphy, Anne (2003). "TĒJAJI". In Mills, Margaret A.; Diamond, Sarah; Claus, Peter J. (eds.). South Asian Folklore: An Encyclopedia. Routledge. p. 596. ISBN978-0-415-93919-5. Tējaji was a Jāt of Karnala near Nagaur, in Marwar
Madan Meena: Tejaji Gatha (Hadoti & Hindi), Kota Heritage Society, Kota, 2012 ISBN978-81-8465-686-2 (Published under the World Oral Literature Project, University of Cambridge, UK)