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In this famous poem, Dadudan Gadhvi (Kavi Daad) perfectly captures the elevated status that a martyr enjoys in Kathiawar, wherein their death becomes an offering more sacred than other forms of religious devotion or ritual. The specific performance of મારે ઠાકોરજી નથી થાવું in this video is by the legendary Ishardan Gadhvi. I’ve also included a photograph I took of a paliyo belonging to my ancestor (about 5-7 generations ago), one of many that stand crowded on the boundary of my father’s village.

Link to Instagram post: https://www.instagram.com/reel/Dd\_s\_TwNbXZ/?stkn=ZmFrOGVlbmx0N3J5

Spent some time recently translating this bhajan by Kavi Kag. Based on a famous episode from the Ramcharitmanas, it centres on Guha fashioning an excuse to wash Ram’s feet by recalling the story of Ahalya. Ram agrees in order to secure passage across the Ganga, with the final image of Guha holding Ram’s arm on the boat perhaps representing the human spiritual journey.

Link to Instagram post: https://www.instagram.com/p/DcBOJBKDasP/?igsh=MWd4aXozamR2OXVmMg==

Saurashtra’s overlooked Buddhist history is presented here, from early Buddhist texts and Ashoka’s edicts to the great university of Vallabhi and the eventual decline of the religion.
Part Two will explore the Buddhist sites of Saurashtra.

Link to Instagram post: https://www.instagram.com/p/DbK6VxzjacH/?igsh=Mm93N284NTI4bjhr

Popular tradition remembers Narsinh Mehta, arguably Saurashtra’s most famous saint-poet, making daily morning walks to Damodar Kund, where he would bathe and sing kirtan with society’s marginalised classes.

His devotion to Krishna was expressed in his quiet refusal of social boundaries, believing that one could not love Hari without loving all of mankind. This disregard for caste distinction was a source of scandal amongst his fellow Nagar Brahmins, who criticised him at every opportunity.

Nonetheless, Narsinh continued to champion the lower castes, arguing that their status as devotees rendered society’s preconceived notions of hierarchy meaningless. In his devotional worldview, Narsinh Mehta defined belonging not by birth, but by one’s relationship with Hari.

Song: Giri Taleti Ne Kund Damodar - Ninu Majumdar

https://youtu.be/7wJ3HSsJ7Cw?is=DznDMcDmFt0Rel8F

Link to Instagram Reel: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DZ7DzVbNuVb/?igsh=MWpxbzVveml3aWltNg==

Selected maps of Saurashtra across historical political changes. Full post on Instagram @SorathArchive: https://www.instagram.com/p/DZt34dxDUJG/?igsh=MWJ4MGtlaGZoaW02aQ==