HISTORY

Ancient Vaidik Era  

# Birth of Modh Samaj:

• The information available from vaidik history about emergence of Modh samaj reveals that the Modhera of present era was known as Dharmar’nya in Vaidik era . To establish Dharmar’nya as a centre of the vaidik sanskruti , Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh created three thousand Brahmins each total eighteen thousand Brahmins who were master in  three Vedas. According to ancient historians Brahmins created by Brahma were of sober & honest  “RAJAS” nature, Brahmins created by Vishnu were of “SATVIK” nature and Brahmins created by Mahesh were of angry “TAMAS” nature.


•  Brahmaji ordered Kamdhenu cow to create thirty six thousand skilful and religious natured “SEVAK” to assist Brahmins created by him in their religious activities like “TAP” and “YGNA”. Kamdhenu cow created those Vaniks by digging earth’s crust with its leg’s hoof. They were called “Gobhuja” or “Gobhva” vaniks and they settled in Gabhu village beside Modhera. Adhalja, Mandaliya, Madhukara, Modh Modi, Teli Modi, Champaneri Modi, Prema Modi all were parts of Modh Vaniks. Among the Modh Vaniks those who settled in right hand of Brahmins were known as “DASHA” and left hand of Brahmins were known as “VISHA” . Those who joined farming were known as Modh Patel.

# Modheswari Mataji.:

• According to ancient sayings , in and around the area of Modhera Raxasha called Karnat was creating trouble for Brahmins and disturbing in their worship of god called “YAGNA”. All the Brahimns got together and prayed to the goddess and urged  her to free them from the terror of Karnat. On hearing this Goddess got angry and in anger the flames of fire bursted from her mouth, and she transformed herself in the ferocious angry avtar with eighteen hands, each hand holding weapon like Trishul, Sankh, Chakra, Kamandal ect. This avtar of Goddess was called “Matangi” or “Modheshwari”. Angry Goddess “Modheshwari” destroyed the Karnat Raxas and ended his terror. The residents of  Modhera accepted Goddess “Modheshwari” as their Kuldevi and started worshiping her.

Medival Era

•  The era saw the rule of various Rajput &  Hindu kings in Modhera and Gujarat. This was the era in which various muslims rulers were establishing in north India. In Vikram Savant 1356 Afzal Khan a general of sultan Alaudin Khilji attacked Gujarat and defeated last Rajput king Karandev Vaghela. The Muslims started ruling Gujarat. They destroyed many temples including Somnath and attacked Modhera to conquer it. The Modh Brahmins were not only educated but also they were brave fighters and also Jayesthimal Brahmins were leading fighters of Gurjareswar army.They closed the gates of the Modhera fort and fought bravely with muslims for about six months. The muslims who conquered Gujarat were about to face defeat by Modhs. The muslims agreed to sign a treaty with them and agreed to leave on receipt of 5000 gold coins.


•  On the day of Holi the treaty was signed , the doors of Modhera were opened. Muslims did not abide by the treaty and attacked the town , looted and damaged the parts of Sun temple, which can be seen still today. When they attacked the temple the Brahmins immersed the “Modheswari Mata Murty” in the Dharma Vav so that Muslims cannot damage it. The modhs migrated to different parts of Gujarat and now the members of Modh samaj are spread in in different parts of Gujarat like Visnagar, Viramgam, Amdavad,Vadodra, Siddhpur, Bharuch, Ankleshwar, Surat, Valsad and Billimora The resident of Surat are called “Surati Modh Vaniks”

Post Independence Era

• The members of Modh samaj continued to visit modhera and worship the Dharma Vav, where the “Modheswari Mata Murty”  was immersed. But by the efforts of Modh samaj devotees in Vikram Savant 1962 the construction work of the temple could start again and on Maha Sud 13 day of Vikram Savant 1966 the Pran Pratishtha of “Modheswari Mata Murty” was done.

History Of Surati Modh Vanik Samasta Panch 

 # Past Presidents

1. Late Ranchhoddas Chunilal Vankawala                           25/07/1946  to  02/12/1950


2. Late Goverdhandas Narottamdas Ghael                           03/12/1950  to  26/01/1958


3. Late Nanalal Maganlal Gajjar                                                 27/01/1958  to  18/11/1964


4. Late Sanmukhlal Girdharlal Mehta                                     19/11/1964  to  30/08/1968


5. Late Prabhudas Bhaichand Modi                                       01/07/1968  to  16/12/1972


6. Shree Jamnadas Jhaverbhai Halatwala                            17/12/1972  to  14/03/2004


7. Late Dilipbhai Mohanlal Gajjar                                              15/03/2004  to  17/07/2010

 # Immediate Past President

1. Bipinchandra C. Lapasiwala                                                 18/07/2010  to  --/--/2018