Khedbrahma

Climate

Khedbrahma has a tropical climate. According to Köppen–Geiger climate classification system, this climate is classified as Tropical savanna climate (Aw). The average annual temperature is 26.5 °C. Average precipitation is 843 mm.^[13]

Brahma temple

Idol of Brahma in Temple

Brahma Vav

Khedbrahma has a temple dedicated to Brahma which is rarely seen in India, only second to Pushkar. It was built in third quarter of the 11th century during reign of Chaulukya king Karna.^[16][6] This east facing temple is built of white sandstone and cement-covered bricks. It is fifty-seven feet long, thirty broad, and thirty-six high. The sanctum is 32 feet wide which is navaratha in anga and hastangula in plan and is of fully decorated class. Its pitha (base), the vedibandha and the mandovara (middle part of the wall) is resemble to the temple at Sunak. The spire, mandapa (dome) and doorway must have been destroyed which are rebuilt later in bricks and mortar. The lower part of main shrine is intact and is filled with images of gods, goddesses and apsaras. These images in jangha portion are poorly retouched. The chauri-barers on nandika are elegantly carved which are common in 11th century temples. The phansana roof resembles Vimala Vasahi temple and is crowned with a ghanta. There are images of Brahma in the niches on the three sides. The interior is devoid of any ornamental carving. The image of four faced standing Brahma is 1.8 m (5' 6") high and has two consorts on each side, Gayatri and Savitri. The image seems later installation or the older image plaster with cement to merge broken parts.^{[8][10][12][3][5][6]}

Brahma stepwell

There is a stepwell, situated opposite the Brahma temple, known as Brahma Vav. It is built with grey granite stone. It is constructed in east-west direction; the entrance is in the east and the well is in the west. It is 38.10 metres long; 30 metres of stepped corridor and the well of 8.10 metre diameter. The stepwell becomes narrower as one goes downwards and to the well. It has four kuta (pavilion-towers) where fourth is attached to the well. The breadth is 8.50 metres (including parapet wall) and 6.60 metres (without parapet wall) at the entrance which decreases to 5.4 metres in second kuta and 3.90 metres in the third kuta. It had row of miniature shrines as an ornamentation in the wall of shaft of the stepwell which suggests it was built in 14th century. There is no inscription in the stepwell to ascertain its age. They resemble temple spires and has niches. It has 27 niches without any idols now. It is now in despair due to lack of maintenance.^[17][4] There are some paliya (hero stone) dedicated to Dhabi gatekeepers of the village who were died fighting Maharaja Shivsinhji of Idar around Samvat 1800. The inscriptions on them are worn out.^[3]

Aditi stepwell

Other historical stepwell, Aditi Vav is located on the north to the Brahma Vav on the way to Ambika temple. It was also known as Vikram Vav. An inscription dated Vaishakh Vad 1, Samvat 1256, Monday is present in the stepwell.^[7][18] The inscription states following: The stepwell was built by Vikram of Talukhet (former name of town) who was son of Nagshri and Someshwar. Nagshri was daughter of Vasudev who was in turn son of Vaman who were Brahmin of Shandilya Gotra and had done several sacrifices. Someshwar's grandfather's name was who was in turn son of Surdev who were Brahmins of Kaushik Gotra of Vishwamitra Kula. The inscription was written by local Brahmin Sarvadev and the stepwell was constructed under the architect, Shamal who was son of Devdhar. The inscription starts with respect to Ganesha, Saraswati, Brahman and Brahma followed by names of the town in each Yuga (era).^[3]

The stepwell is considered sacred by Humad Digambara Jains and Khedaval Brahmins who worship their patron deities in the stepwell.^[19][3]

Ambika temple

Situated in north-east of the town, the Ambika temple was originally built in the early 11th century and renovated many time subsequently.^[16] The older parts of the modern temple belong to the 17th century.^[5] The temple is simple rectangular chamber with mukhamandapa in front. The base has an unusually thick jadyakumbha, a karnika and a plain pattika. It is followed by a vedibandha and a plain mandovara relieved by three niches, now empty. The temple is roofed by phansana topped by three ghanatas in a row, the form only seen in 11th century. The mukhamandapa has usual moulding of mattavarana.^[6] The square of temple was known as Chachar Chowk. The temple is north-facing. The older idols in the temple complex include Ganesha idol on the entrance and Hanuman and Kal Bhairava idols. Of Brahmani, Sarasvati, Tripurasundari idols; the first two were originally found during excavation for construction of the main entrance or the rest house.^[3] Every year many pilgrims come to Ambika temple especially during September–October due to Bhadarvi Purnima festival. It is also known as Nana Ambaji Temple.^[4] There is a fair during Kartik Purnima (on full moon day of November–December) here. Pushya Purnima (on full moon day of February–March) is important because it is considered as a foundation day (Pragatya Divas) of the temple.^[20][21] The temple is also known as Nana Ambaji.^[4]

Bhrigurishi Ashram

There is also the Bhrigurishi ashram and a Bhrigunath Mahadev temple which is associated with folklores and Puranic stories. It is located in southeast of the town, on the south bank of the river and near the hillock.^[5]

According to the Brahmakshetra Mahatmaya, the temple was built by Bhrigu, Brahma's son who was once sent by the seers, rishi, to find out who was the noblest of the Hindu trinity. Insulting Brahma and Rudra, they got angry and threatened to punish him. Seeking out Vishnu, Bhrigu was bold enough to place his foot on the god's chest. Instead of resenting, the kindly god asked the seer's pardon for the hardness of his breast. Bhrigu returned and praised Vishnu as the noblest of the gods. To wipe out the sin of insulting the gods, Bhrigu came to Brahma Kshetra, bathed in the Hiranyaksh, made his hermitage the seat of a Shiva, and performed such rigid austerities, that Shiva was pleased and freed him from his sin.^[8][3]

Kshirjamba Mahalaxmi temple

The temple dedicated to Kshirjamba or Kshetramba is located on the hill near the Bhrigurishi Ashram.^[5]

According to the Brahmakshetra Mahatmaya, this place owes its sanctity to a desire of Brahma to free himself from impurity. Vishnu, whom he consulted as to the means, advised him to perform a sacrifice at some holy spot in Bharatkhand in the Jambudvipa, and get learned Brahmin to officiate for him. Under Brahma's orders, Vishwakarma built a city on the right bank of the Sabarmati south of mount Abu, six miles (4 kos) round. It had golden ramparts and twenty-four gates and through it flowed the river Hiranyaksh, the modern Harnav. He then created 9000 Brahmans to officiate at the sacrifice. And, when the sacrifice was over, and the impurity removed, to maintain his Brahmins, he created 18,000 Vaishyas and gave them Kshirja as their family goddess. Before withdrawing from the world, he let the Brahmins dedicate a shrine to him, and place in it his four-faced image.^[8]

Pankhanath Mahadev temple

Near the confluence of rivers, on the north bank opposite the Bhrigurishi Ashram, there is an old Pankhanath or Pankheshwar or Pankshindra Mahadev temple dedicated to Shiva. It is west-facing plain simple temple which is restored several times. In the back-niche of mandovara of temple, there is a figure of Nataraja (Shivatandav) with eight hands which helps in deciding the dating of the temple.^[10][7] There is also one more Shiva figure in other form. The temple belongs to c. 11th century, built during reign of Bhima I of Chaulukya dynasty, contemporary of Sun Temple, Modhera.^[7][6] In the sanctum, there is a small protuberance instead of an elaborate lingam which is considered swayambhu (self-existent) by the devotees.^[5]

According to the legend mentioned in Brahmakshetra Mahatmaya, the serpent king Pingal Nag had enmity towards the Garuda. He had taken a form of Brahmin to escape from the Garuda and hid in Brahmakshetra. He exposed his true form to his Brahmin wife on occasion of Nag Panchami. The Garuda came to know and there a battle between them. The wing of the Garuda was broken off in the battle and the temple was erected at the place of the battle to commemorate it and named Pankhanath.^[5][1]

Other temples

Kashi Vishwanath Mahadev Temple

Hatakeshwar Hanuman temple located in old town is considered old. Near the Brahma stepwell, there is a Nilkanth Mahadev temple. There is an inscription dated Samvat 1912 about renovation of earlier temple.^[3] Kashi Vishvanath Mahadev temples is situated on the south bank of the river which are popular locally. Mahavira Jain temple, situated in northern part of town, is almost 500 years old. The central catechu coloured idol of Mahavira is 90 cm in height and in Padmasana position.^{[11][12][7][18]}

Higher education

• Arrdekta College of Engineering
• D. D. Thakar Arts and K. J. Patel Commerce College
• Krishi Polytechnic affiliated to Dantiwada Agriculture University
• Industrial Training Institute and Skill Certification Centre

Schools

• Ramjibapa KKP Kanya Vidyalaya
• Jyoti High School
• Sheth Keshavji Thakarsinh High School
• Chanchalba Government Primary School
• Asiana English School
• Gravity School