Brahma Kund

Brahma Kund Sihor

Pronounced as 'Brahmkund', 'Brahm Kund' and 'Brahma Kund', the Brahma Kund at Sihor is a stepped tank surrounded by idols of Hindu deities. Brahma Kund exhibits some fine sculptures and architecture, located in Sihor city in Bhavnagar district of Gujarat. There are a few places or monuments called 'Brahma Kund' across India but the Brahma Kund of Sihor is among few famous ones. There is Brahma Kund at Haridwar, Brahma Kund at Pushkar, Brahma Kund at Vrindavan, and a Brahma Kund in Assam, all located in India. The Brahma Kund at Sihor, a Kund (stepped tank) meticulously engineered and built covering a big area, is a historical place of significance. Immediate history suggests that King Siddhraj Jaisinh after the curse from Ranakdevi, happened to pass through this region. Siddharaj was believed to have been suffering from skin disease which he developed after curse by Ranakdevi to him.

While the Brahma Kund falling on the route, he stopped by there along with his courtiers and a small battalion who were all on a tour of Saurashtra with Siddharaj. Thirsty he was, Siddharaj took a few sips of water from the Kund and he instantly experienced some changes on his skin. After drinking the water, he felt very pleased and relieved. Dumb struck by this miraculous experience, he thought to testify the water and wished to pour the water on some parts of his body, especially his infected skin which had frightened him as if it was leprosy.

Twice the experience and after a few moments his party also followed Siddharaj. They all drank water from Brahm Kund and took a bath at Brahma Kund. All the others felt great and pleased by experiencing some unexplainable vibrations, while Siddharaj made sure, the space at this place and its water are abnormal and not comprehensible by timid souls such as mortal humans.

He decided to break his tour and arranged to stay at Sihor as his rationale was not allowing him to make an instant judgment. Following a few weeks, it became evident that what he felt and thought about the Brahma Kund and its water was correct. After some time during his stay in Sihor, his regular visits to Brahma Kund and using its water, he found to be recovering completely. Obliged by the blessings of this place and its miracle, he decided to refurbish the place and it’s the Brahma Kund of today which boasts of a renewed architecture (during 12th Century) and unbroken faith.

Antiquity and early history

In recent history, especially post 12th century, Brahma Kund kept finding its reference and mentions citing King Siddharaj Jaisinh. But the fact is Brahma Kund had been an entity from time unknown. There are its references in Skanda Purana, poet Nanalal Dalpatram Kavi expresses and explains in his ‘Hari Samhita’ for Lord Krishna had arrived here. “Ain-e Akbari” the history of Akbar, his biographical account and ‘Prabandh Chintamani’ written by Merutung talk about Sihor's Brahma Kund. However, major credits go to Siddharaj Jaisinh for he refurbished the place with utmost dedication and detail.

Since ancient times, the last day of Shraavan, called as 'Bhadarvi Amas' meaning "Bhadrapad Amavasya" is represented by a big festival - Mela at Brahma Kund engaging tens of thousands people, for the reason it has a great religious - spiritual importance on this day.

Maintenance

Periodically across decades, the Brahma Kund undergoes maintenance and conservation, but off late, this place is now craving for great deal of attention and intervention. Archaeology department and local authorities including Municipality-Nagar Panchayat or respective citizens – caretakers need to initiate aggressively for a holistic maintenance, sensible restoration and development of this place.

Interestingly, water in Brahma Kund, its source, quality and consistent level throughout the year, all these have been a mystery all the time. One could hardly find any significant compromise in its characteristics despite its stagnant form and the place being isolated in the interior hill side and despite not so frequently maintained. But now the surroundings have been compromised. In absence of affirming and binding framework of rules & regulations, the area has been encroached and it poses haphazard construction activities and pollution that is attributed by them.

Accumulating bio disposals from the surrounding trees and winds, idols made of plaster of paris which get immersed in the Kund during various festivals-ceremonies, and the materials, artifacts, food offerings, etc. during rituals and Puja, etc., make the subtle energy and a pure space struggling and crying, as the Brahma Kund still accepts everything above to its bottom, and for its holy water to dilute.

Future of Brahma Kund

Brahma Kund, built in the style of medieval architecture, has a design of steps, small temples, metaphors, motifs and beliefs, idols of deities, stone work, some scientific entities, everything carved within and across the complex.

References

As of this edit, this article uses content from "Brahma Kund, Sihor and Siddharaj Jaisinh", which is licensed in a way that permits reuse under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License, but not under the GFDL. All relevant terms must be followed.

• Sihor Municipality and Library
• 'Prabandh Chintamani' by Merutunga
• Skanda Purana
• 'Hari Samhita' by Nanalal Dalpatram Kavi
• Ain-e-Akbari