As
said earlier Modhera was known by various
names in different time such as Moherakpur,
Dharmaranya, Satya Mandir, Ved Bhuvan.
The local people of Modhera are known
as Modhera. This is the motherland of
Modh Brahmin and Modh Baniyas. It was
here only goddess Matangi emerged. Yudhisthir
and Lord Ram also visited this town. The
famous sun temple also built here. It
is at this place Brahmas daughter and
wife of Sun Sangnya and king Manu their
prayer under the tree of Bakul. Lord shiva
also resided here by name of Dharmeswar.
It is believed that all th gods used to
stay here. Court dancer of Indra, Lokpals
and dikpals also stayed here to do the
social work. All gods established this
place as a pilgrimage. Here there are
places known as Shivkup, Dharmavanpi,
Bhutnath Mahadev, Mukteswar
Mahadev, Dhara tirth,
Nag tirth, Indreswar Mahadev, Ganga kup
and Suvarna river is coincident very pious.
At this place Yamraj (Dharamraj) started
his prayers for one thousand years. Indraraj
got scared for his thrown Indrasan and
asked one of his apsara to disturb Yamraj
in his prayers. She did not succeed. Dharmaraj
told Indra that he does not want his Indrasan.
But would like to see Lord Shiva. Lord
Shiva was pleased with Yamraj and blessed
him with a boon. Yamraj ask to Join his
name with the place was he began hi his
prayers and also asked Lord Shiva to resided
there permanently. Lord Shiva
named the place as Darmaranya at he himself
stayed there as swayambhu by the name
of Dharmeshwar.
Lord Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh
created Brahmins who were master in Vedas.
So that they can turn Dharmaranya in a
centre of veda sanshkriti. The lords asked
to Vishwakarma to build houses forts and
temples reside for the Brahmins. Brahma,
Vishnu and Mahesh created six thousand
Brahmins each. They also gave them gotras
and gotrasdevi. Brahmin could consented
on their work, Brahma created kamdhenu
caw and on order of Brahma kamdhenu created
36000 people by digging earth by her nails.
Those were known as gobhuja or gobhva.
They settled in nearest Modhera so that
village known by Gabhu. Brahma gave the
responsibility of protection of Dharmaranya
to his daughter Shreemata.
In the third yuga the reinsertion of Vishnu
Lord Ram his wife sita and his brothers
came here to offer. Their repentance as
Ram had killed devil the raven who was
also a Brahmin. When they entered Dharmaranya
the speed of their chariots and music
went dawn. Even their elephants and horses
speed lessened. Ram was surprised to see
all these and asked his guru Vashistha
the reason. Vashistha said that they have
to walk down to this pilgrimage instead
of riding a vehicle or animal. Ram agreed
to this and all of them started walking.
After offering his Prayers to Matangi
Ram stayed at the bank of river Suvarna
and prayed Rameswar and Kameswar. Ram
saw the people of Dharmaranya have migrated
to other places and the Brahmins also
had left the town.
One day Ram heard a sound of woman's crying.
He sent his people to find out who she
is. The lady refused to say anything except
for Ram. So Ram went to her, consoled
her and asked her problem. She said though
you have come here, this town will remain
as it is without people. The well were
people used to have a holy deep, today
pigs are swims are messing up the place.
So please reestablish this town and oblige
me. Ram agreed to do so and called back
all the Brahmins who had left the town.
He got houses and temples reconstructed.
Ram wanted to donate something more, but
the Brahmins said that they cannot accept
any donation without permission of Brahma,
Vishnu and Mahesh. Ram worshiped Brahma,
Vishnu and Mahesh they allowed Brahmins
to accept the donation. Ram gave fifty
five villages. (According to other legend
four hundred) as a donation.
Hanuman also went around and asked Baniyas
to resettle in Dharmaranya. Ram constructed
many temples there and a beautiful fort
surrounding the city. About 1, 25, 000
Baniya settled in the town with blessing
of Ram. Ram also asked hanuman to protect
the town. So that nobody can disturb by
prayers of Brahmins. When Ram revisited
the place he performed a Havan there.
He created Sitapur and gifted it to Brahmins.
The happiness of Dharmaranya was not long
lived. The people of Modhera were in trouble
again. King of Kanyakubj Kanoj Aamraj
started bothering them. The king had given
up his religion and accepted Buddhism.
Because of his order even people were
forced to change their religion. Aamraj
got his daughter Ratnaganga Married to
the King of Vallbhi and gave away Dharmaranya
as a wedding gift to her. She used to
believe in Jain religion. She took away
all the rights of Brahmin, though Brahmins
tried to prove that the land was gifted
by Ram, but nobody was prepared to listen
to them. The Brahmins went to king, he
insulted them and said if Hanuman is suppose
to protect you and your land go out get
him here to protect you.
The Brahmins came back to Dharmaranya
and decide to go to Rameswar were Hanuman
is residing and seek for his help. Few
were in two minds they argued that after
going there is Hanuman doesn't meet us
then what to do. About fifteen thousand
Brahmins were in favor of such smart argument
so they were by caste as Chaturvedi. At
last they also agreed to go there. Though
their twenty and Trivedh's eleven representatives
total thirty one started for Rameswar
to meet Hanuman.
They had to suffer a lot during their
journey. They had to face cold wave, heat
and rain. The arrangement for food and
water was inadequate, oven the rest house
were not proper, many a days they had
to go without food. Because of this twenty
representatives were fed up and started
walking back. But the Remain representatives
with a strong will reached to Rameswar
and prayed Hanuman. Hanuman was pleased
and met them as a Brahmin. He heard the
story of Brahmins and as boon he gave
them hair of armpit in two packets and
said that when Aamraj will touch this
racket everything around him will catch
fire, at that time Brahmins should stay
away. Aamraj will come to you people asking
for forgiveness and when he promises to
give dharmaranya back to you, you will
give him this second packet, if you sprinkle
these hair all around the fire will go
off.
Brahmins went to kanyakubj and gave the
first packet to the king. Seeing hair
in it the king got angry and threw the
packet away. Then all there the palace
caught fire. King got scared and went
to Brahmins for forgiveness and promised
to give them back the town. Brahmins gave
him the second packet containing the hair
of right armpit by which the fire was
distinguished. The king made new documents
of town and handed over to Brahmins.
The last Rajput king of Gujarat Karndev
Vaghela was defeated by the general Afzalkhan
of sultan Alaudin Khilji in savant 1356.
The Muslims started ruling Gujarat. They
started destroying temples and merchant
towards Modhera to enquire it. The Modh
Brahmins were not only educated but they
were brave worriers also. Jyesti Malls
Brahmins used to lead in the army. Brahmins
and Baniyas were brave under the leadership
of Vithaleshwar all the Brahmins got together
and fought with Muslims bravely for about
six months. The Muslims who had defeated
Gujarat were about to face a defeat by
Modhs. They agreed to sign a treaty. The
Treats said that if people of Modhera
give them 5000 gold coins the Muslims
will retreat.
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 and looted the temple of Modhera
and also destroyed the sun temple. The
Brahmins immersed the idol of goddess
in Dharma Vav so that Muslims can not
damage it and people of Modhera migrated
to different Places.
After centuries Gayakwad started ruling
Baroda. They protected temples from further
destructions. But Brahmins and Baniyas
of Modhera had already migrated to other
places and due to that Modhera did not
prosper again.
Sayaji Rao was crowned as king. He made
railway traveling easier by laying the
railway lines. This emoted Modhs o go
to Modhera and offer their prayer at Dharma
Vav (The wall) in which they believed
that the idol was immersed. The temple
was destroyed. So Modhs thought of reconstruction
of temple.
The lead was taken by advocate Shri Nathubhai
Girdharlal basically hailed from Viramgam,
but settled in Patan. He gave up his profession
and took a vow that till the temple is
reconstruction he will not ware shoes
and will not tie a pagadi. A committee
far such noble cause was appointed. They
went to all the surrounding villages and
collected the funds with great labors.
Finally in 1962 the reconstruction work
started and on the thirteenth day of Maha
1966 it was completed. The idol was place
in the temple by Shashtri Hathibhai Harishankar
of Jamnagar and Shashtri Ramkrishna Harshjee
of Ahmedabad. A dharmashala, Fort, was
built. Shri Purshottamdas Thakurdas supported
late.Nathubhai very strongly. But unfortunately
after their death no good administrative
was found. Due to that Late.Bhogilal Saraiya
requested the industrialist Shri Ramnlal
Lallubhai to take over the administration.
He agreed and appointed a new committee
with the help of his brother Late.Shri
Ratanlal. He generated some fund to construct
new rooms for Dharmasala and temple was
repaired. Later under the leadership of
Shri Chandrakantbhai Jagabhai and Dayashankar
Vishvanath Trivedi other jobs for the
development of temple were taken up. For
the people who visit Modherswari temple
there are furnished rooms to stay, there
are facility of bathrooms and toilets,
a lodge for food and a hall to perform
religious rites. There is also adequate
facility to store water and one gaushala
is also built.