Mekan Dada

Mekan Dada(Mekran Dada)
Born1667 (1667)
Khombhadi village, Kutch, Gujarat
Died1730 (aged 62–63)
Dhrang, Kutch
OccupationsSufi Saint, Religious Guru
Parent(s)hardholji, Pabba bai

Sant Mekan Dada or Mekran Dada (1667–1730 AD) was a Hindu saint belonging to Kapdi sampradaya from Kutch, Gujarat, India.[1][2]

Biography

Mekan Dada it is said was born in 1667 (Vikram Samvant 1723). He spent his life traveling across the Rann of Kutch, doing this humanitarian services. In his late life he established himself in Dhrang, in V.S. 1786.[1][3]

Mekandada was born in Khomri village near Nakhatrana in Kutch district . At the age of seven he became a sanyasi . At Ashapura or temple of Hinglaj Mata in Nakhatrana he became a disciple of Gangaraja. Kantharnath and Dattatreya were his later Gurus. With their blessings he is said to have performed miracles and was revered by Hindus and Muslims both.[4]

Mekand Dada is said to have visited Hinglaj Mata Temple in Balochistan and is considered one of the last saint from their community[5]

He spent his whole life in Rann of Kutch, looking after survivors and people lost in desert and serving them food, water and shelter. His two partners were "Laliyo", the Donkey and "Motiyo", the dog. He would load "Laliyo"-donkey with water and food and the "Motiyo" was trained by him to direct the "Laliyo" to travelers lost in great desert of Kutch. Thus they would provide water, food and direction to the hungry, thirsty and lost travelers and nomads passing through the Rann of Kutch.[6] He was also a good poet and composed several hymns based on the Hindu philosophy. Today he is worshipped as the re-incarnation of Lakshman by the Ahir community.[7][2]

He also had five disciples with him, who religiously followed him and along with Sant Mekan Dada did the humanitarian services, as explained above. Rao Desalji was also a great follower of Mekan Dada. He used to preach villagers and his followers also. He preached against untouchability and superstitions.

The Sant Mekan Dada later took a Samadhi along with his eleven followers in Dhrang village. The Samadhis are one of the most revered sites of Kutch and people of all communities go there to pay their respects and offer prayers. Name of one of his eleven disciples, who took samadhi with Mekan Dada are Mayagarji, Lirbai, Kandha Ahir, Vigha Ahir, Kanthad Suthar, Premji Ganpat, Surdasji, Thakor Mokaji, Jada Khiyaranji Loria, Kadia Kanji, Prema bai. His samadhi along with that of his faithful friend Motiya, the dog and Lalia, the donkey, at Dhrung, a village about 40 km from Bhuj. Other two disciples Hira Harijan at Lodai and Waghoji Rampotro at Vijayasar also took Samadhi when heard news.[8]

Samadhi memorial

The memorial houses his Samadhi Temple, a Temple of Shiva, Samadhis of his five disciples, samadhi of his animal friends "Laliyo"- the donkey and "Motiyo" - the dog, an old 'Vaav'. Also on display are the robes he wore and things he used during his lifetime.[2]

Makadbanth Kapdi

Makadbanth Kapdi are a sect, who are followers of Mekan Dada, and are the most recent sect of Kapdi community.[9]

Mekan Dada Fair

A fair is held in Dhrang village, in memory of Mekan Dada on Mahashivratri, named Mekan Dada Fair. This is an annual event and Gujarat Tourism Department also organises "Kutch Festival" during this fair. This fair is also famous for its rural tradition of old times -"Malla-Akhado" (wrestling) and "Renkda-Daud" (Cart Racing). This 'Mekand Dada Fair' is a major event and centre of tourist attraction in Kutch, Gujarat State of India.[10][11][12][13][14][15]

References

  1. ^ a b "કચ્છના કાવડિયા સંતવર્ય મેકરણ દાદા". Divya Bhaskar (in Gujarati). 24 April 2011. Retrieved 22 August 2025.
  2. ^ a b c "Places of Interest District Kachchh, Government of Gujarat India". Retrieved 22 August 2025.
  3. ^ "મેકરણ દાદાની ભવિષ્યવાણી સાચી પડી! 400 વર્ષથી વહેતું 'પ્રગટ પાણી' થઈ રહ્યું છે અદ્રશ્ય". gujarati.news18.com (in Gujarati). 28 May 2025. Retrieved 22 August 2025.
  4. ^ Burman, J. J. Roy (2005). Gujarat Unknown: Hindu-Muslim Syncretism and Humanistic Forays. Mittal Publications. pp. 76–77–78. ISBN 978-81-8324-052-9. Retrieved 22 August 2025.
  5. ^ Schaflechner, Jürgen (2018). Hinglaj Devi: Identity, Change, and Solidification at a Hindu Temple in Pakistan. Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-085052-4. Retrieved 22 August 2025.
  6. ^ Born to Rann: Weaned on a harsh land, the Kutchi community firmly believes that self-help is the best help by Sagarika Ghose, Outlook (magazine), 19 February 2001. "Mekan Dada, saviour of the nomads, is worshipped by all wanderers"
  7. ^ Dharang India9.com.
  8. ^ કાપડી
  9. ^ Gujarat, Part 1 By Kumar Suresh Singh, Rajendra Behari Lal, Anthropological Survey of India. pp:603-606
  10. ^ All roads leads in remembrance of Mekan Dada Tridiv Vaidya, TNN, The Times of India, 25 February 2006.
  11. ^ Kutch Tourism
  12. ^ Festival Archived 2010-04-11 at the Wayback Machine
  13. ^ "Heritage: Kutchi web site". Archived from the original on 9 September 2006. Retrieved 2 November 2009.
  14. ^ State Events: Guajarat: Dharang Fair Zee News
  15. ^ "DADA MEKAN FAIR - DHRANG". utsav.gov.in. Retrieved 22 August 2025.
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