RIDDLE OF THE RANN
Great Monastic Orders

Many a legends that surround Kachchh history and folklore make a profound impression on the Kachchh visitor. Of particular interest are the monastic orders with a mystique attached to their origin and sublimate incumbent due to public sympathy and reverence.

Monastic order of KANPHATAS with their temple atop DHINODHER HILL is the best example of the rise of a legend. Dharmnath had come to Kachchh in search of a place where he could practise austerities. He selected Raipur for this penance, however, during his penance his disciple Garibnath had great difficulty in maintaining himself and his master due to apathy of locals. When Dharmnath came to know this, he cursed the town - "Pattan sub dattan ". There upon Raipur became desolate and its inhabitants had to move to Mandvi. Dharmnath then moved to Dhinodhar and began a twelve-year penance of more formidable kind. This gave him such power that where he set his gaze the sea dried up. Shortly afterwards he descended from the hill, built a moastery and founded the order of Kanphatas. The succession of royal grants which were bestowed upon the Kanphata order have provided the monastery with impressive buildings, fortified against marauders from Sind by high wall which encloses temples, dwelling houses and the tombs of former pirs. The monks dress in ordinary Hindu style. All the monks including Pir have their ears pierced for enormous horn, glass or agate earrings, which distort their ear lobes grotesquely. They are greatly respected for their simplicity and charity.

The Kapdis, like the Kanphatas, are a celibate order, given to charity and hospitality. They serve the most sacred and the most famous shrine of Kachchh, Mata-no-Modh, sixty miles from Bhuj. The deity is Goddess Ashapura, family deity of Jadeja nobles. According to the tradition the shrine was commanded to be closed for six months, at the end of which Goddess was to manifest herself. However, due to the pious over-zeal of one of the custodian the shrine was opened early, with the result which is still apparent - the Goddess's form remains partly, but only partly, emerging from the substance of a great block of rock that is six feet square. The effect is impressive in the extreme, as though the image of the Goddess were in the process of emerging into view through some natural convulsion of the rock.

Godjis of MOTI POSHAL in Bhuj also have similar mystique surrounding their origin and uninterrupted lineage. The first Godji, Manek Mirji had recognised child Khengar when they were escaping from the wrath of Rawal and had predicted that Khengar would be a famous monarch. He also presented Khengar a beautifully balanced spear of steel with which Khengar killed the lion that had leapt on Sultan Mahmud of Ahmedabad during a hunting expedition. This act of singular bravery was to win Khengar Sultan's favour and support with which he was to regain his kingdom. Rao Khengar showed his gratitude and reverence to Manek Mirji by setting up a monastery of Moti Poshal which exists to this day in the beautiful sixteenth century building. The monastery preserves Rao khengar's spear and the exquisite rock crystal jewelled image of the Goddess Ambaji, which Manek Mirji had brought with him.