Who was Kallaji Rathore? It is about the warrior Kalla Rathore who became folk deity after his sacrifice in the 3rd Shaka of Chittorgarh against Akbar.
Kallaji Rathore was born in 1544 AD in Merta. His father's name was Asha Singh or Achal Singh. Krishna devotee Mirabai of Merta was his aunt, and Jaimal Rathore was his uncle.
Apart from being a brave warrior, he was also very well versed in yoga and medicines. Maharana Udai Singh made him the Jagirdar of Ranela in the Chappan region and entrusted him with the responsibility there.
When there was terror of Pemala dacoit in Bhaurai and Tokar area near Ranela, he attacked Bhaurai fort and killed Pemala dacoit and saved the people of Ranela from the terror of the dacoit.
Kallaji's marriage was fixed with Krishnakanta, princess of Krishnadas Chauhan of Shivgarh. At the time of marriage, he got the message of Akbar's attack on Chittor and asked him to come to Chittor immediately.
Kallaji went to Chittor promising the princess to return after the war and after reaching there, he started protecting the fort.
Before the third Shaka in Chittor, his uncle Jaimal Rathore was injured due to a bullet fired by Akbar in his leg, and he became unable to walk.
On 24 February 1568, when the third Shaka of Chittor took place, Kallaji fought with his uncle Jaimal Rathore on his shoulders. Jaimal Rathore and Kallaji fought in the form of Chaturbhuj, due to which he is also called the four-armed deity (Chaar Hathon Wala Devta).
While fighting the Mughal army near Bhairav Pol, his head was cut off, but even then, he fought without a head i.e. in the form of Kamdhaj and reached Ranela sitting on a horse.
After fulfilling the promise given to Princess Krishnakanta in Ranela, he gave up his life. The princess became Sati by taking Kallaji's Kamdhaj in her lap.
Kallaji is considered to be the incarnation of Sheshnag and is worshipped as a folk deity. It is believed that if a person is bitten by a poisonous animal, then putting a shackle on his hand removes the poison.
In Chittor, near Bhairav Pol, there is a chhatri of him and his uncle Jaimal. His biggest shrine is in Ranela village near Salumber, where lakhs of devotees come to have darshan.
See also Who was Patta Chundawat?
Author
Ramesh Sharma {M Pharm, MSc (Computer Science), PGDCA, MA (History), CHMS}
Disclaimer
The information given in this article has been taken from various online and offline sources, whose accuracy and reliability is not guaranteed. Readers should take this information for educational purpose only. Apart from this, the responsibility for any use of it will be on the user himself.
Tags:
Short-Blog