Devayat Bodar

Devayat Bodar (circa 900 AD – 1025 AD) was an Ahir warrior known for his bravery, sacrifice and love of his motherland, with the help of whom Ra Navghan, the Chudasama ruler of Junagadh and father of Ra Khengar, had taken the throne of Junagadh.

Bodar was born in the Ahir family of Alidar-Bodidar village of Junagadh in Gujarat. He had a son, Uga, and a daughter called Ugaand Jahal with Sonal.

Bodar sacrificed Uga to save Ra Navghan from the Solanki king who dethroned and killed Ra Diyas, father of Ra Navghan. A maid of Ra Diyas handed the little child (Ra Navghan) of Ra Diyas to Bodar, who promised that he would do whatever was necessaryto protect Ra Navghan and to give back his kingdom of Junagadh.

Bodar raised Ra Navghan and his own son Uga together until they were aged 12. Someone informed King Solanki that Ra Navghan had been raised by Bodar, who was brought to the king's court and was asked that whether the information was true or not. Bodar confirmed it and the king asked him to bring Ra Navghan. He wrote an encrypted message: "રા રાખી ને વાત કરજે આહિરાણી!" meaning "Oh! Ahirani talk but keep Ra!" to his wife Sonal. So his son instead of Ra Navghan is brought to the king, as no one could differentiate between Ra Navghan and Uga. The King tested him, by asking him to kill Ra Navghan (who was actually Uga) by his own hands. Devayat Bodar cut off the head of his son, to prove that to the King that he was not his son but was Ra Navghan. The King was still not satisfied. So, he asked to bring Devayat Bodar's wife Sonal and asked her to remove eyes from the head of dead Uga, keep it on ground, and walk on that eyes, without dropping even one drop of tear from her own eyes. As, it was such a cruel and hard test for a mother, but Sonbai did that, to prove that he was not her son. Finally, the king came to the conclusion that the person whose head was cut off was Ra Navghan. Within 10 years to this event, Ra Navghan was grown up to attack Solanki.

Bodar, who was a leader of the Ahir community, called on his fellow Ahirs to fight against Solanki to de-throne him and give the throne of Junagadh to Ra Navghan, son of Ra Diyas. The Ahirs fought and defeated Solanki, leading to Ra Navghan being enthroned as King of Junagadh.

Today there are two wells constructed by Ra Navghan I in Junagadh Uparkot Fort.

A temple of Bodar exists at Bodidar village, near Junagadh. Today many Bodars live in Gujarat (Specially in Kathiyawad). These Bodars are one of the clan of Devayat Bodar. From 24 April to 1 May 2011 a huge function was organised by Bodars in honour of Devayat Bodar at Bodidar village, and for changing the name of place Bodidar to Devayatgadh.

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Wikipedia