Tejaji

Veer Teja, born on 29 January 1074 and passing on 28 August 1103, was a celebrated warrior and social reformer in Rajasthan. He is also known as Tejaji Maharaj or simply Tejaji, and is revered as a folk deity.

In rural northern Rajasthan, Tejaji is worshipped as a deity and considered one of Shiva’s eleven primary incarnations. His influence extends beyond Rajasthan, with devotion found in the states of Madhya Pradesh, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and Gujarat.

Tejaji is commonly referred to as the God of Snakes in Rajasthan, a title that reflects his role in protecting people from snake bites. He is also worshipped under the name Dhauliya Veer.

As per historians, Tejaji was born on Friday, Magha Shukla 14 samvat 1130 (29 January 1074) in the family of Tahar Dev Jat, a Jat chieftain in Kharnal, Nagaur, and Ram Kunwari in Kharnal village of Nagaur district in Rajasthan.

It is believed that Ram Kunwari, Teja's mother, received a boon from Nagaraja and gave birth to a baby named Teja. His parents were worshippers of Shiva.

Tejaji was born on Friday, Magha Shukla 14 samvat 1130 (29 January 1074) into the family of Tahar Dev Jat, a Jat chieftain in Kharnal, Nagaur, and Ram Kunwari in Kharnal village of Nagaur district in Rajasthan. His parents were worshippers of Shiva, and according to historians, his mother Ram Kunwari received a boon from Nagaraja, which led to the birth of Teja.

During his youth, Tejaji was on a journey to bring his sister Rajal back to Kharnal. On the way, he encountered Meena dacoits. In the ensuing fight, Tejaji emerged victorious and continued to Tabiji, Ajmer, where he secured permission from his sister’s husband to bring Rajal back.

Tejaji married Pemal, the daughter of Raimal, chieftain of Paner village in the Ajmer district of Rajasthan. The marriage took place at Pushkar Ghat on Pushkar Purnima in 1074, when Tejaji was nine months old and Pemal was six months old. After Tejaji’s sacrifice for cows, both his wife Pemal and his sister Rajal practiced sati pratha.

Teja Ji’s death is recorded as occurring on Bhadrapada Shukla Dashmi Saturday, V.S. 1160, which corresponds to 28 August 1103, when he was 29 years old. The event is commemorated annually as Teja Dashmi.

According to tradition, after returning cows to Lachha, Teja confronted the snake Basak Naga. He asked the snake to bite him, and when the snake found no vulnerable spots on his body, Teja requested a bite on his tongue. Basak Naga granted Teja a boon that he would become a deity of the Kalyug era and be worshipped.

Because of this encounter, Teja is revered as the God of Snakes. Those who suffer snake bites perform rituals at Tejaji temples to seek his blessings. In addition, Teja is remembered as a protector of cows, reflecting his role in safeguarding livestock.

The celebration of Teja Dashmi and the rituals associated with snake protection underscore his enduring legacy in Rajasthan’s cultural and religious life.