Bhawanda | Jagir | Historic Thikana | Rajpurohit

Thikana Bhawanda was a Tazimi Thikana of the former Jodhpur State (Marwar). It was granted in Vikram Samvat 1847 by Maharaja Vijay Singh Ji of Jodhpur to Thakur Jivaraj Ji Vijayraj Ji Mahasinghot Akherajot, Rajpurohit, in recognition of his extraordinary loyalty, intelligence, and service to the state.

In VS 1847, a treaty was concluded between Maharaja Vijay Singh Ji of Jodhpur and Mahadji Sindhiya of the Deccan, under which Marwar had to pay 52 lakh rupees as war indemnity.

On the Maharaja’s orders, Jivaraj Ji Rajpurohit was handed over to Sindhiya in place of the indemnity amount. Jivaraj Ji accepted this sacrifice willingly and with full devotion to his ruler.

In VS 1852, through his wisdom, intelligence, and diplomacy, Jivaraj Ji succeeded in securing his release and also managed to obtain a complete waiver of the 52 lakh rupees indemnity.

When Jivaraj Ji was presented before the Peshwa, it so happened that the Peshwa’s wife had been suffering from labour pains for three days.

Jivaraj Ji was a devoted worshipper of Goddess Kalka and a man of high moral character. He meditated upon the Goddess, dipped the end of his cloth in water, sanctified it by invoking the Goddess, and gave it to the Peshwa’s wife to drink. Miraculously, the delivery became easy and successful.

Out of gratitude, the Peshwa offered Jivaraj Ji a jagir, but Jivaraj Ji refused, demonstrating his loyalty to his own ruler. Instead, he requested:

• A written cancellation of the 52 lakh rupees indemnity, and

• A written pledge that Marwar would never be attacked again.

Both requests were granted.

When Jivaraj Ji returned and narrated the entire episode to Maharaja Vijay Singh Ji, the Maharaja was highly pleased and granted him:

• Thikana Bhawanda (Tazimi Thikana), and

• Jagir of Khariya

At the same time, the jagirs of his relatives were confirmed:

• Thikana Modi,

• Medawas,

• Sarvada,

• Dhandhalawas,
  to his brothers Vijay Singh Ji, Mokam Singh Ji, and his uncle Fateh Singh Ji.

Later, due to misunderstandings, Maharaja Man Singh Ji confiscated these relatives’ jagirs (Modi, Medawas, Sarvada, and Dhandhalawas). Bhawanda itself was never confiscated.

During the reign of Maharaja Takhat Singh Ji, Bhawanda was reorganized as follows:

• From half of the estate, one quarter was granted to Bishan Singh Ji,

• One quarter to Mokam Singh Ji,

• And one-sixth of the total estate to Fateh Singh Ji.

Thakur Jivaraj Ji Rajpurohit constructed the grand Bhawanda Fort (Bhawanda Kot), spread over sixteen bighas of land. The fort is renowned for:

• Its massive bastions, and

• Parapets measuring about two and a half hands in height.

He also constructed the Temple of Goddess Kalka, his family deity, directly in front of the fort.

Within the estate were three ancient structures:

• The Fort (Kot),

• A Bungalow, and

• The Main Gate (Pol).

He also built the Shri Raj Thakur Ji Temple.

Additionally, 100 bighas of Doli land were granted to the temple priest family.

Originally, Old Bhawanda was located near Khariya and had been abandoned.

The foundation ritual (Chhadi Ropan) was performed by a Parsariya Jat, according to local tradition.

Thakur Jivaraj Ji Rajpurohit:

1. First built the Kalka Mata Temple,

2. Then constructed the Bhawanda Fort,

3. And later established the Bhawanda market, thereby founding New Bhawanda.

Bhawanda became famous as a commercial town, especially for:

• Chopra trade, and

• Grain market (Dhan Mandi).

Sher Singh Ji, brother of Jivaraj Ji, was of saintly nature. He constructed:

• Ghanwai Nadi (also called Ghadai Nadi) — a water reservoir.

Near this reservoir stands:

• His four-pillared cenotaph (chhatri), still existing today.

According to villagers, there was also an eight-pillared chhatri of his guru or guru-brother nearby, which collapsed last year. These are locally known as the “Guru–Chela Chhatris.”

Fateh Singh Ji, uncle of Jivaraj Ji, attained martyrdom during the time of Dhokalrasa. His cenotaph was located near the present school at Charda within the current Panchayat limits, but it was destroyed by anti-social elements. Only ruins remain today.

• The thikana follows the tradition of “Four Gavar and One Ishar” wedding procession.

Under Thikana Bhawanda, there were two villages:

• Total jagir area: 52,000 bighas

The modern development of Bhawanda is greatly attributed to:

Thakur Sahib Late Shri Simrath Singh Ji Rajpurohit of Bhawanda Kot
and his wife
Thakurani Sahiba Late Smt. Gigi Kanwar, daughter of the Mutha Rajpurohit family of Pilovani (Pali).

She became the first Bhamashah (philanthropist) of the village and about 50 years ago:

• Funded and established the first hospital in Bhawanda,

• Laid the foundation of organized public healthcare in the village.

The Bhawanda Dispensary / Health Centre was inaugurated on Magh Shukla Purnima, VS 2032.