Modh

Modh are the followers of Modheshwari Maa (also known as Matangi Maa), a form of Amba Maa with eighteen hands. They originally lived in a town called Modhera in Patan District in the northern part of Gujarat. The name of the town Modhera was adopted by the community living around the temple of Modheshwari Mata.

10th century onwards, the predominant community of Modhera consisted of the Brahmins and the Banias. The residents of Modhera migrated to other parts of Gujarat, Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh states to towns such as Surat, Bulsar, Navsari, Mandvi, Bharuch, Ankaleshwar, Bardoli, Billimora, Chikhli, Gandevi, Dharampur, Bombay, Varanasi etc. Hence, the descendants who originated from the township of Modhera whether they are Brahmins, Vanias, Kshatriyas or Harijans are all referred to as Modhs.^{[citation needed]}

It is believed that the Modhs are further divided into Dasha and Visha like any other Gujarati nyat (community). The residents of satellite townships of Modhera like Mandal,adalaj,Gobha also prefixes their town name like Mandaliya Modh, Adalja Modh, Gobhva Modh. The residents who lived on right (dakshin bhag) of townships are called Dasha and those living on left flank (vaam bhag)are called visha. While Dasa Modhs are essentially in business. a subsect of Visha Modhs are called as "GOWBHUJA". Reference is made in Ramayan that during fight between Viswamitra and Vashisht muni - On Order of Vashisth muni Sabala cow created an army from her arms to defend herself & ashram of Vashist muni and the descendents of these soldiers are also referred to as 'Gowbhuja'. Visha Modhs are in Land & Jewellary Business.

In the past century, many folks from the Modh community have migrated to countries such as East Africa, South Africa, United Kingdom, United States of America, Canada, Fiji and the gulf countries.^{[citation needed]}

Famous Modhs

• The famous Acharya Hemachandra (1089–1172), advisor to Chalukya Kumarpal^[1]
• Bhattaraka Kumudachandra of Bardoli of Mula Sangh, reigned during 1599-1630. He wrote 28 texts and was the composer of 30 padas. His main disciples were Abhayachandra (who succeeded him), Bramhasagar, Dharmasagar, Sanyamsagar etc. He wrote in Rajasthani with a touch of Gujarati. He also wrote in Marathi.^[2]
• Seth Laxmidas & Laxmandas 1812 - 1857) Hyderabad - Deccan. Top financier to Nizam
• Mahatma Gandhi, philosopher, humanitarian and the leader of India's swarajya movement. Father of Nation.^{[citation needed]}
• Sir Purshottam Das, a member in Nehru's Cabinet.
• Devkaran Nanji founder of Dena Bank.
• Dhirubhai Ambani, founder of Reliance Industries.^{[citation needed]}
• Rachit Dalal, founder of Ray Vision.
• Deepak Parekh, Highly respected chairman of HDFC^{[citation needed]}
• Mukesh Ambani, Chairman of Reliance industries ltd.^{[citation needed]}
• Anil Ambani, Chairman and CEO of ADAG.^{[citation needed]}

While most Modhs remained shiv / Mata upasak few of them became Vaishnava Hindus or occasionally Jains.

Modh Jains

The spiritual advisor to Mahatama Gandhi's mother was Modh Jain monk Becharji Swami. At his suggestion, Gandhi's mother asked him to promise that he would not eat meat in England, before she gave her consent to him going to England to study law.

There was a Modh Vasahika (Jain monastery) at Dhandhuka where the guru of Acharya Hemachandra stayed. There exist some historical Jain temples that were built by Modh merchants. About 500 Jain temples were built by a Modh Seth Paja in Samvat 1139 at Wadhwan.^[3]

Since the number of Modh Jains has declined in the past few centuries, they have joined the nav-nat Jain community.

Modh Vaishnavas

Modh vaishnavas worship Amba Maa or Modheshwari Mata. While they have become citizens of their adopted countries, they still maintain close contact with the relatives and friends in India. Many Modhs living in and outside Gujarat have become followers of Pushti Marg Vaishnav sampraday started by Srimad Vallabhacharya. Smt Kokilaben Ambani is de-facto Chairman of Nathdwara Temple Trust Board which manages the Temple Town of Shrinathji (Nathdwara) Rajasthan.yagnik mehta and bihag mehta vadodara

Modh Brahmins

Modh Brahmins are divided into main two castes Halari Modh (Gujarti Halari Samvay Chaturvediy Modh) and Machchhukathiya Modh.

External links

• Shri Modhera Tirth
• Gandhi, Modh community & Jainism
• The Story of My Experiments with Truth/Part I/Preparation for England
• Gandhi Samaj of South Gujarat
• http://www.modhbrahmin.org/
• http://modh-samaj.com/
• Otrada Vayara Utho Utho and Sonavarni; books exploring history of Modh Brahmins.

References

1. ^ Gazetteer of the Bombay Presidency 1896, Printed at the Govt. Central Press, p.191
2. ^ http://www.jainlibrary.org/jlib/Bhattarak_Ratnakirti_Avam_Kumudchandra_Vyaktitva__Avam__Krititva.pdf Ratnakirti Avam Kumudchandra Vyaktitva AvamKrititva
3. ^ Gazetteer of the Bombay Presidency 1896, Printed at the Govt. Central Press, p.693