Atkot

Atkot is a village in Jasdan Taluka of Rajkot district, Gujarat, India. It is about thirty miles south-east of Rajkot on the west bank of the Bhadar river. There is a temple dedicated to Goddess Amba in southwest of the village.

Atkot is famous in local legends as having been founded by the celebrated Lakho Phulani, who fell fighting against Solanki king Mulraj of Anhilwad Patan within the lands of Atkot. Lakho's paliyo or funeral monument stands here to this day. Lakho was the son of Raja Phul of Kerakot in Vagad states and is said to have been born when his father was absent warring against Mulraj. On the day that Lakho was born Atkot his father is said to have made a foray as far as Patan and to have plundered a few shops, whence the couplet:

The day Lakho was born, both heaven and earth trembled; That day the fort of Piran Patan he successfully plundered.

When Lakho grew up he was so daring and headstrong that his father found it difficult to keep him under control, and when he remonstrated with him regarding his conduct, Lakho crossed over the Rann of Kutch into Kathiawar, and stayed for some time in the neighbourhood of Than where he founded the village of Lakhamanchi. Here he stayed for a year or two, and during this time he made the acquaintance of Rao Grahari Singh of Junagadh who conceived a great friendship for him and invited him to populate Atkot. This Lakho did, and took up his residence there. Atkot had at first eight separate suburbs, and hence was named Atkot. Lakho Phulani is said to have introduced the grain called bajri, Pearl millet, to Kathiawar from a distant eastern country where he had gone on a foray. In that country the grain is said to have been called khardhan. There is a bardic couplet about this:

Bravo for your bajri which hath long leaves ; From it horses acquired wings, and old men became young.

Lakho is said to have had an amour with a celebrated songstress called Dayi Dumri, about whom many legends are told. She is said to have lived in a house on the opposite side of the river. The spot is known to this day as Dayi Dumri's dhar or ridge. Lakho's raids however into Gujarat excited the wrath of Mulraj Solanki, who had also a quarrel with Grahari Sing, the Chudasama Rao of Junagadh. But they were such fast friends and so renowned for prowess, that Mulraj hesitated to attack them. At last however Lakho alienated his sister's son Rakhayat, who went over to Mulraj and offered to conduct his forces to Atkot. Mulraj accepted the offer, and a great battle was fought in which Lakho was slain. The honour of slaying Lakho is attributed by some to Mulraj himself and by some to Rakhayat. But the popular belief is that Pabji Rathod received the reward but that Lakho actually fell by the hand of Dhabal Solanki. And thus the bardic couplet:

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