This verse is a short history of Devshibapa, who is worshipped as ancestor of Kothari Family; Devshibapa was the fifth son of Kanji Vaghji. They resided at Khanderia Street of Gondal, Gujarat.
Our ancestor King Gog Chauhan, was born in year 405 (349 AD) who was a Rajput. Therefore, we can infer that we belong to the Kshatriya Caste. He worshipped mother Goddess Chavand Maa (Chamunda Maa) and he belonged to the Rajdhar Gotra. Thus being descendant of the King Gog, we also worshipped mother goddess Chamunda Maa and belong to the Rajdhar Gotra.
In reign of Gupta rulers (i.e. 400-600 BC) our ancestors who were settled in Bhinnmad for business purposes were introduced to two different religions – Buddhism and Jainism. They chose the path of Jainism and adopted the lessons of non-violence. Bhinnmad was also called Shrimal thus we were known as ‘Shrimalis.’
For business, our ancestors migrated from one place to another. In 1345, our ancestor Udesang was travelling from Tharad to Muli. That time founder of Muli, King Lakhdhirji’s son was Ramoji and his son was Bhojraj, whose daughter was getting married in the same year i.e. 1345. For her marriage, the entire groceries was stored in storage (called as Kothar in Gujarati) was provided by our ancestors. King Bhojraj was impressed by such honesty, dependability and reliability and he presented the designation of Kothari to our ancestors, since then we came to be known as KOTHARI.
Our ancestor Devshibapa was born about 250 to 300 years ago. When he was engaged, at night before wedding, his elder brother Shamji, went to their near and dear ones and invited them for wedding. Shamji was tired and he slept after returning home. During night, Devshi told Shamji to get him a glass of water; but because Shamji was so tired, he told Devshi to get the glass of water himself. Devshi woke up to drink water. The pot of water was placed on a stone stand; and there was a snake on that stand. Since he was not aware of the presence of the snake, Devshi went ahead to take water, and was bitten by snake. Devshi was in pain and called Shamji. Shamji was shocked and went out to call neighbours who could cure and prevent the poison of snake bite from spreading. By that time, Devshi’s soul had left his body. When people gathered at Devshi’s house to enquire about the mishap, they concluded that the snake that has bitten Devshi was itself lying dead on the stone stand. The next day, both Devshi and the snake were taken together for performing the last rituals.
On the eleventh day of Devshibapa’s death, all the villagers gathered because a person from family was feeling the presence of some other soul in his body. When asked by the villagers about his identity, the possessed person replied,
“I am Devshi, and my soul is discontented. Designate me as your deity (as a God).” Initially the villagers did not believe them and asked for the proofs, possessed person replied, “I will give you a hint; I had asked the jeweller Talsi to make a gold ring of four Gadi (a measurement used in that era) for my wedding, you can confirm about the same with Talsi”.
The villagers went to the jeweller Talsi to verify about the statement given by Devshi. But, Talsi denied that he had not dealt in any Gold transaction with Devshi. The villagers went back to the possessed person and he replied “What if Talsi himself comes to you with the Gold ring, will you believe me?” the villagers agreed.
PROOF – I On the twelfth day of Devshi’s death, jeweller Talsi’s father came to the villagers and returned the gold of four Gadi and told them that Devshi had given four Gadi of gold to make a ring. Yesterday, when we denied about our deal of gold with Devshi, all of a sudden my family members fell ill, lately we realised that we should return Devshi’s Gold to avoid getting into more problems. The possessed person said, “I punish you to give gold of four more Gadi because you denied to my brothers when they had asked for it, and also for trying to prove me wrong in front of everyone. If you don’t follow, you will get into more problems.” Finally, the villagers believed about the truthfulness and considered it as valid proof.
PROOF – II Despite of giving many proofs after that incident, the villagers were sceptical about accepting Devshi as their deity, and they told the possessed person that only if Devshi’s soul comes into body of the seven-year old Natho, who was sleeping in the cradle and talks to them through him, only then the villagers will believe him (Devshi).
The villagers gathered and the boy in the cradle started shivering. The possessed boy told the villagers that he is ready to answer their questions. Finally, the villagers agreed to accept Devshi as their deity.
PROOF – III Devshi’s brothers being financially weak, they asked the possessed person Natha about what should be done about the expenses. Natha replied, “I cannot reside at the same place where Mataji’s idol is being worshipped, but worship me with the elder most Punja Bapa in a separate temple block. Also the snake who bit me, whose dead body was placed with mine for the last rituals, should be worshipped with Mataji in her temple block. He asked villagers to perform the rituals of mock marriage. Also, 108 Brahmins must read holy book for one month and eight days, and on the last day, one hundred and eight cows who have just delivered and are black in color, should be bought from a single person. Every cow must be bejewelled with silver anklets, horns of gold and a rope woven in silk for neck. Each cow should be donated to the 108 Brahmins present for the rituals. Afterwards, the Kothari’s must go to Prabhaspatan for Shraddh (a ritual in which favourite food of the person who has died is served to family members), and later go to Prachi and pour water on the trunk of Peepal tree” Arranging at least one lakh Kori for the entire process was a matter of worry for the Kothari’s.
Once again, the Kothari’s gathered to invoke Devshibapa’s soul. In that gathering, Devshibapa told them that no one should worry about the expenses and arrangement of money. Entire process was explained by him. He asked the Kothari’s to dig the West corner of the house where he lived, and there they would find four copper pots consisting of One lakh, thirty three thousand Kori, dug in that corner. One copper pot was enough to cater to the expenses of the rituals and make temple block as instructed by Devshibapa to worship him as their deity.
PROOF – IV As instructed by Devshibapa, four copper pots were discovered in that corner and the amount of money as mentioned was found in those pots. Money of one pot was used for rituals and make the temple block of Devshibapa. The money in the rest of the three pots was distributed equally among Sanghji, Jevant, and Kanji – three sons of Vaghji.
PROOF – V As instructed by Devshibapa, the preparations for the mock marriage had begun. They got one hundred and eight Brahmans for rituals but getting one hundred and eight cows who has recently delivered and were black in color, from a single person was difficult. Once again everyone gathered to invoke Devshibapa’s soul and asked him about the difficulty in getting those cows as specified by him. To which he replied, “From here, at some distance, there is a village called Kantoliyu. A villager with a herd of 400 cows has few cows as specified by me. Of his total herds, he has 107 cows which are black in color and has just delivered, and one black cow will be delivering when you will reach there. You can buy these 108 cows from him.” They followed Devshibapa’s instructions and found the requested cows. As per the instructions about the rituals given by Devshibapa, the mock marriage and the rituals of Shraddh at Prabhaspatan were done. After that, Devshibapa and Punja Bapa were worshipped together in the same temple block. Since then the Gugad incense was replaced by Lobaan incense.
After that, Kanji Vaghji’s son Devkaran, and Devkaran’s son Purshottam were the two designated Bhuva of the family and they were answering all queries of family. After many years, Devshibapa spoke to people through Purshottam Kothari and told them, “I don’t want to stay in Gondal anymore. Now, I am going on the bank of Panchkodiya lake, which is situated on the top of the mountain ranges of Osam near Patanvav. Henceforth, I will stay there. Anyone who comes there to take my blessings and expresses their desires, their desires will be fulfilled”. When Purshottam Kothari fell ill. His niece went to call Punja Brahman with a postman. But they could not meet Punja Brahman. Purshottam Kothari mentioned that no one else has been instructed to become Bhuva of the family. Hence, the last Bhuva of our family was Purshottam Kothari.
PROOF – VI After some time, near the Panchkodiya Lake on the Osam mountain ranges, a 70 year old man was feeding to his cows. This old man had no children. He was married for the second time in order to have children, but that marriage failed too. One day when he was sleeping somewhere near Devshibapa’s temple block, in his dreams he saw that his first wife will give birth to a boy after nine and a half months and that child will have six fingers in each hand. If the above mentioned situation happens for real then one must believe that it is a mere blessing of Devshibapa. Getting impressed by blessing of Devshibapa, Rabari was regularly cleaning the temple block. He was also lighting the Diya filled with Ghee and also the Lobaan incense without failing on single day. Exactly after nine and a half months, his first wife gave birth to a boy, his faith got strengthened in Devshibapa. Once again, in Rabari’s dreams, Devshibapa instructed him to go to Gondal when his child turns one month and seven days old. Stay at Javerchand Kothari’s house and inform him about this incidence and announce Devshibapa’s comeback. After Rabari reached there, at Gondal, all the Kothari’s gathered, and Rabari narrated the story of his child birth by the blessing of Devshibapa. Because of the same child was named as Devo.
In 1941, for the first time, a large group of Kothari’s went to the Osam mountain range to pray to Devshibapa and Deva Rabari showed them the temple of Devshibapa near the Panchkodiya lake. The Kothari’s stayed there for eight days. Since then Kothari families started coming to Patanvav to take blessings of Devshibapa and everyone’s faith got strengthened in Devshibapa.
Not just Kothari’s, but a lot of people not belonging to the Kothari clan was also coming to Devshibapa’s temple block to get their wishes fulfilled. Since Devshibapa was bitten by a black snake on the stone segment and also black cows were donated to Brahmans, each and every family of the Kothari clan started using black pot for water. Hence, we are known as ‘Kala Gola Wada Kothari’ (Black Earthen Pot).
The ancestor of Shree Vaghji, due to their leading role in trade and commerce started enjoying leading position in Gondal’s Business communities. Kothari’s started getting front row attention by the name of Kothari’s (Kadwa – Mitha) in the Gondal Dashashreemali Community as well as Gondal Business fraternity. During the time of Gondal’s very popular ruler Shree Bhagwatsinghji, Gondal population was freed from paying any tax and people lived in the great peace and prosperity. To commemorate the silver jubilee year, Shree Bhagwatsinghji rule and to congratulate him on the occasion, a grand get-together was organized by successor of Shree Vaghji. On the evening of 31st August 1909, Dr. Trikamji Kothari read out the congratulatory letter for Shree Bhagwatsinghji in the presence of Gondal’s celebrity at Kailash Baug. Thus the Kothari (Kadwa – Mitha) came to be recognized.
Forgive us if there is any defect in the short history described above.