Sacred Spaces Of Bhope Jo Tar – A Journey Into Tharparkar’s Heritage

Sacred Spaces Of Bhope Jo Tar – A Journey Into Tharparkar's Heritage.

Key points

• Apart from Pabuji Jo Thaan, Dongar Puri Ji Marhi (additionally called Veeram Puri Ji Marhi) is another sacred space in Bhope Jo Tar.
• Sacred Spaces, Shattered Lives – Time To End The Silence On Madrasa Abuse.
• What's In A Name – The Politics Of Memory And Heritage Spaces In Hyderabad.
• After whom Bhope Jo Tar is named, next to the stone tablet of Pabuji is the Loharti of Bhopo Amro Rathore.
• I visited this village with Hari Singh Dohat of Vejhiar village to study the sacred spaces in Bhope Jo Tar village.

For context, the Thaan of Khetarpar serves as a spiritual sanctuary, where an iconic wooden tablet depicting a snake represents the deity protecting the village's lands and territory. Caption: Dongar Puri Ji Marhi at Bhope Jo Tar.

Bhope Jo Tar is a historical village in Tharparkar's Mithi taluka. It is located regarding 35 km southeast of Mithi town. The village is known for sacred spaces dedicated to Khetarpal (Khetarpar), Pabuji, and Dongar Puri. These sacred spaces play an significant role in the religious and social life of the communities that worship there. They are not simply places of devotion but living cultural spaces where rituals are performed, beliefs are expressed, and connections with local deities and sacred traditions are maintained. Through regular visits, offerings, prayers, and other ritual practices, community members strengthen their sense of belonging and preserve religious traditions passed down through generations.

In practice, the Thaan of Khetarpar (additionally called Khetarpar Jo Marh) in Bhope Jo Tar is one of the village's most famous sacred spaces. Khetarpar is a folk deity whose Thaans, or Marh (shrines), are located in plenty of villages in Tharparkar. Under the tree is placed a wooden tablet depicting a snake.

Celebrated as a protector of cattle and a warrior who honoured his promises, Pabuji occupies a central place in the oral epic tradition.

In practice, the lower part of the tree is covered with cloth. Khetarpar protects the territory, lands, fields, and villages. In Bhope Jo Tar village, Dohat Rathore Rajputs, Bhils, and Meghwars venerate Khetarpar. Outside the village, plenty of other communities visit and frequent Khetarpar Jo Thaan. Pabuji Jo Thaan and the Rathore Legacy.

Apart from Khetarpar, Pabuji Jo Thaan is another sacred space in Bhope Jo Tar village. It is one of the earliest Thaans in the village, established by Bhopo Amro Dohat Rathore, the village's founder. I met Heerji Bhopo, a descendant of Bhopo Amro, in 2016. I interviewed him regarding various sacred spaces in Bhope Jo Tar, particularly Pabuji Jo Thaan. He was the caretaker of Pabuji Jo Thaan. He died a few years ago.

Pabuji is a folk deity of Thar and is venerated by plenty of communities. His Thaans are discovered in a number of villages of Tharparkar district. Five stone tablets lie inside the Thaan under the tree. One enters through the entrance to Pabuji Jo Thaan. Meanwhile, the most prominent stone tablet, or Loharti, belongs to Pabuji Dhandal Rathore. It is partially broken. Pabuji is shown riding a horse, holding a spear in one hand and a shield in the other.

For context, a partially broken image of Dhenbo Bhil is additionally depicted on Pabuji's stone tablet; Dhenbo additionally died along with Pabuji. Pabuji Dhandal Rathore died while retrieving the cattle of Deval Mata in the fourteenth century. It is believed that Pabuji's brother Bhuro and a guard, Chando, additionally died in the encounter. In most of the Thaans in Tharparkar, one finds stone tablets of Pabuji. Lately built Thaans or shrines contain his posters and images.

Pabuji Rathore was a legendary Rajput hero and folk deity of Rajasthan, particularly associated with Kolu near Jodhpur, and is generally believed to have lived during the fourteenth century. Celebrated as a protector of cattle and a warrior who honoured his promises, Pabuji occupies a central place in the oral epic tradition known as Pabuji ki Phad. According to the legend, he left his own wedding ceremony to recover the cattle of the Charan woman Deval. It jindrav (Jindrao) Khichi had taken. During the ensuing conflict, Jindrav Khichi killed Pabuji. His death was afterwards avenged by his nephew Rupnath, the son of Pabuji's brother Buro. This person killed Jindrav Khichi and subsequently renounced worldly life to become a holy man.

Sacred Spaces In Sand: The Temples And Thaans Of Kharerio.

In Pabuji Jo Thaan, a stone tablet of Rupnath alias Jhararo is additionally identified. He is additionally venerated by the local community. This person know him as Jhararo (Rupnath). After renouncing the world, he became a follower of Gorakhnath. Gorakhnath's stone tablet is additionally identified next to Jhararo's loharti (stone tablet) in Pabuji Jo Thaan. His loharti is broken in the middle. He is shown riding a horse and holding a sword.

Pabuji is the tutelary deity of the Rathores of Tharparkar. Along with Pabuji, Jhararo or Rupnath is additionally worshipped.

After whom Bhope Jo Tar is named, next to the stone tablet of Pabuji is the Loharti of Bhopo Amro Rathore. Bhopo Amro Rathore is additionally shown riding a horse and holding a sword. A stone tablet of Gorakhnath is additionally identified next to the Loharti of Jhararo. Apart from these stone tablets, or lohartis, a small stone fragment demonstrates only a bust, probably of Lord Shiva. This is one of the most sacred spaces not only in Bhope Jo Tar but additionally in neighbouring villages. As well as residents of plenty of other villages, venerate it, inhabitants of Bhope Jo Tar.

Apart from Pabuji Jo Thaan, Dongar Puri Ji Marhi (additionally called Veeram Puri Ji Marhi) is another sacred space in Bhope Jo Tar. Veeram Puri was a Gadisar of Dongar Puri whose samadhi is located at Chotan in Rajasthan's Barmer district. Dongar Puri was an eminent ascetic who had a sizeable after in Rajasthan and Sindh. He and his Gadisars kept visiting Tharparkar. I interviewed a shivadari of Dongar Puri at Bhope Jo Tar in 2016. The samadhis of some of Dongar Puri's devotees are located in Rareli village in Chachro taluka. According to It is, sant Jai Ram Das was a follower of Veeram Puri. Veeram Puri visited him at Bhope Jo Tar. That place afterwards became the most sacred space for followers of Dongar Puri and Veeram Puri. Sant Jai Ram Das became the caretaker of this Marhi.

Dongar Puri Ji Marhi is a domed structure. One can see an image of Sant Jai Ram Das under the domed structure. Above the three entrances leading into the Marhi are written 'Dongar Puri Mahraj Ki Jai' (Long Live Dongar Puri Mahraj), 'Sant Jai Ram Das Ki Jai', and 'Veeram Puri Mahraj Ki Jai'. A few Marhis in Tharparkar are associated with Dongar Puri's followers. These sacred spaces hold an significant position in the local society and culture. Individuals visit these sacred spaces and invoke them on special occasions. One of the most prominent Marhis associated with the cult of Dongar Puri is located in Rareli village.

On the premises of the marhi is a small structure built on a platform. This is located under a tree. It contains the image of Veeram Puri.

Apart from these sacred spaces in Bhope Jo Tar, one can additionally find the Chucho memorial stone, located east of the village near the Meghwar cluster. It depicts a standing hero who probably died in an encounter. It is one of the earliest monuments in Bhope Jo Tar, probably erected long before the village was founded. Old remains of the village were probable buried under sand over time. Chucho memorial stones are generally undecorated, largely since their rough and fissured surfaces produce carving tough.

For context, the stone is marked by numerous small natural cavities and cracks that resemble tiny eyes, a distinctive feature from which the name Chucho is believed to derive. Discovered throughout Tharparkar, these simple yet evocative memorials form an significant part of the desert's funerary landscape, preserving memories of the deceased and reflecting long-standing traditions of commemoration. Religious Harmony: A Journey Through Lahore's Shared Heritage. The author is an anthropologist. He tweets at: @Kalhorozulfiqar.

Taken together, the developments around sacred Spaces Of Bhope Jo Tar – A Journey Into Tharparkars Heritage point to a situation that is still moving, and the coming days should bring more clarity.