GONDIA

In ancient times, the Gondwana region of central India was ruled by the Gond kingdoms, which thrived from the 14th to 18th centuries. The Gonds, one of India's largest tribal groups, were known for their traditions, including pottery, basketry, and music. The primary economic activities during this period included collecting lak (sealing wax) from the Palas tree and gum from the Babul tree, with the latter referred to as "gond" in Hindi. This connection to the gum tree led to the name "Gondia" being associated with the region. However, it is important to note that the name "Gondwana" actually means "country of the Gonds," reflecting the area inhabited by these people rather than deriving from the Hindi word for gum.

The ancient caves of Kachargarh, are the believed birthplace of the Gonds. According to their elders, this is where the tribe's roots may be traced back thousands of years.

Mata Gauri, a powerful matriarch, is said to have given birth to 33 rebellious sons. Angered by their mischievous behavior, Dev Shambhusek imprisoned the young men in a large cave and sealed the entrance with a massive boulder.

Mata Kali Kankali, heartbroken for the family, asked for their freedom. She found an odd friend in Hirasuka Patari, a talented musician who played the kingri, a traditional Gond instrument. As Patari's stirring melodies filled the air, the 33 brothers gathered their power and heaved the boulder aside, freeing free from their imprisonment. Unfortunately, the Patari was crushed to death by the falling stone. Nevertheless, the 33 brothers, now filled with a renewed sense of purpose, dispersed across the land, each founding their clan and tribe. Over time, the great teacher Pari Kupar Lingo united these various communities into a single Gond country with 33 clans and 12 separate lineages.

The Kachargarh caves, with their raw iron ore deposits, were a hallowed spot for the Gonds, where their own identity was formed in the fires of adversity. For millennia, this origin narrative has been passed down through generations, preserving the Gond tradition. It wasn't until lately that academics and historians found Kachargarh's significance, lifting the mystery that had enveloped this holy site for millennia. The Gond people now make an annual pilgrimage to the caves to reconnect with their roots and honour their predecessors' sacrifices for freedom and identity.

The Gond people were the original inhabitants of the Devgad region, which served as a stronghold of resistance against the repressive Mughal authority. The story begins with Jatba Raja, a Gond leader from Haryagarh, who organized his people to fight against the tyranny they faced. Jatba's son, Koksaha, continued the struggle, eventually constructing the formidable Pratapgad Fort atop a mountain to provide a sanctuary during the rising bloodshed.

In 1637 AD, the Mughal Emperor Shahjahan dispatched his commander, Shahnawaz Khan, to conquer the defiant Gond territory. However, Shahnawaz Khan's plans were temporarily put on hold as the adjacent Deogarh treasury had already been plundered, denying him the necessary funds. It was not until Aurangzeb's reign that Shahnawaz Khan, now appointed as the governor of the south, successfully seized the treasure from Pratapgarh, even acquiring 20 elephants in the process. In the 17th century, the Rajputs took control of the region, dominating both Pratapgad and Tiroda. During the British Empire's expansion, this area was eventually connected to Warhad (Nagpur), ushering in a new chapter in its history.

Today, ruins and samadhis (tombs) atop the Pratapgad mountain indicate the presence of stone pillars and human habitation generations ago, while a mysterious lengthy tunnel with an unknown destination continues to captivate visitors' imaginations.

Shri Chakradhar Swami went to the village of Dakram Sukdi, also known as Bhojaneshwar, where he begged for alms and ate from an earthen pot by a pond. As night fell, the Swami decided to sleep at the adjacent Bhimeshwara Mandir, ignoring the locals' warnings of a tiger roaming the region.

In the middle of the night, a terrible tiger invaded the mandir, but Shri Chakradhar Swami let out a loud lion's roar, compelling the tiger to leap over the mandir walls and escape. From that day forward, the locals performed music at the mandir every morning to scare the tiger away, but it never returned.

When the locals arrived at the Bhimeshwara Mandir the next morning, they found Shri Chakradhar Swami sitting in meditation, unharmed. They bowed at his feet, realizing he was no ordinary guy, and inquired about the tiger's fate.

The Swami just said, "I roared like a lion from here, and the tiger jumped out of the mandir and went to the forest. He'll never return." True to his pledge, the tiger never created any further trouble in the village.

The villagers realized then that Shri Chakradhar Swami was an incarnation of the divine, an omniscient person who had performed a wonderful Leela to protect them. His divine play and compassion for the believers were recalled and revered in the holy text, Leela Charitra.

Shri Chakradhar Swami grew up in a royal Gujarati Brahmin family, the son of a minister at the Gujarat Court. At an early age, he abandoned his princely lifestyle in favour of simplicity and spiritual awareness. After being accepted by his master Govinda Prabhu, Chakradhar meditated in the forests of the Vindhya mountains for twelve years. During this time, he experienced a tremendous spiritual awakening and formed his philosophy, Mahanubhava.

Swami then began travelling throughout Maharashtra, preaching his message of equality, nonviolence, and devotion to the common people in their native language, Marathi. He did not distinguish between castes and welcomed disciples from all backgrounds into his Mahanubhav sect. Chakradhar Swami's worldview emphasises equality for all people, regardless of caste, gender, or social standing. He accepted both men and women as his followers, breaking down customary barriers.

The Swami's teachings were gathered in the sacred scripture Lilacharitra, which details his extraordinary life and spiritual insights. He emphasised the necessity of bhakti to Bhagwan Krishna, asceticism, and living by nonviolent and moral values. Chakradhar's legacy lives on through the Mahanubhav sect, which spreads his message of oneness and compassion throughout Maharashtra and beyond. His Leelas and profound wisdom elevated him to the status of a respected sant and social reformer.