Dada Jasraj

Dada Jasraj / Dada Jashraj also called Veer Dada Jasraj is a folk deity revered and worshiped by Lohana^[1] and Bhanushali^[2] community of India.

As per their folk fare, the Jasraj, was a chief of one of the 24 branches of Lohana clan, who lived around between AD 970 and 1000^[1] and by others from 1032 to 1048^[2] As per Lohana folk-tale Dda Jashraj is said to have killed Sabuk-tigin - father of Mahmud of Ghazni, in the year AD 997, in his own court in Kabul, in presence of his courtiers and still escaped with his party. History has recorded that to avenge the death of his father, Mahmud Gazni attacked their territories three times but failed to capture Loharpradesh but in one of those aggressions Jasraj lost his life.^[1]However, this seems another folk-tale as most of the other historians claim that Sabuktigin died of illness in 997 AD and was buried in Ghazni^[3] It is said after death of Jasraj, Muslims increased their influence in Sindh & Baluchistan and Lohanas migrated towards East and in to Kutch and Gujarat.^[4]

Another story claims that Dada Jasraj was just getting married, when he came to know that enemy was taking away cows, which are considered as holy animal by Hindus. As such he left his feras and went after enemy to save cows. He was assisted in war even by women-folk led by his own sister Harkor. Although, enemy was eventually defeated but not before Dada Jasraj fell in the battlefield as martyr. He has ever since been worshiped by Lohanas and Bhanushalis as Dada and his sister Harkor is worshiped as kuldevi by Lohana clan.^[5][2]

Further, most of Lohanas boast of that Dada Jasraj was responsible for killing Gengis Khan even claiming that a tomb that lies near the fort of Multan bears the epitaph in Chinese, "Here lays Genghiskhan whom Rana Jasraj of Lohar Gadha dealt a fatal blow."^[6] and also that he killed Timur Lang. But it is a false claim and fairy-tale, affirmed by Lohana communities own historian & researcher, R. T. Somaiya, who says that considering the fact that Chengiz Khan died in the year AD 1227 while fighting with Tanguts in Mongolia and lies buried in Burkan Qaldun-Mangolia and Tomb of Genghis Khan is yet to be discovered. While Timur Lang died in AD 1405 at Otraer on Jaxartes river in war against China, this claim of Dada Jasraj killing Chengiz Khan is not authentic.^[7] Perheps, the legend started as form of bardic tales to glorify their warrior, who is claimed to have been living around 970 to 1000 AD and died at age of 24. So he could have in no way killed Gengis Khan who died in 1227 and Timur Lang who died in 1408.

However, Lohanas today consider Dada Jasraj, as their folk-deity or kuladevata and there is custom to offer the idol of Dada Jasraj, who is shown riding a horse, some dates and jaggery. Newly wed brides offer this to Dada Jasraj wearing colorful clothes. Previously it was prescribed to wear only white clothes, while offering puja which now Lohanas have almost forgotten.^[4]

References

1. ^ ^{a b c} Lohana History
2. ^ ^{a b c} Jasraj Dada : Photo : Story : Bhanushali
3. ^ Ibn Asir in Al Kamel (Vol 9, p. 54) says: Subuktageen lived in Balkh and because of an illness left for Ghazni for a change of the weather and died on the road between Balkh and Ghazni. His body was taken to Ghazni and buried there. Ibn Khaldoun (Vol. 4, p. 633) and Bostani in his encyclopedia (Vol. 9, p. 462) quotes Ibn Khaldoun verbatim and none of them talk about the transportation of the body to Ghazni. Gardezi also mentions the decision of Subuktageen to travel from Balkh to Ghazni and his death but does not state the location where he died. Other historians of the time, such as Fereshta, and those who have referenced him state Subuktageen died in Termez.[i]
4. ^ ^{a b} Firmes et entreprises en Inde: la firme lignagère dans ses réseaux By Pierre Lachaier. pp. 70. http://books.google.co.in/books?id=j-xSUpZrzgMC&pg=PA70&dq=JASRAJ+LOHANA&hl=en&ei=x86sTu6cKsnQrQe2n5y0DA&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=4&ved=0CEQQ6AEwAw#v=onepage&q=JASRAJ%20LOHANA&f=false. 
5. ^ [1]
6. ^ [2]
7. ^ Here I would like to add that this being the historical fact, our legends saying that Dada Jasraj killed Chengizkhan and that Taimurlang also lost his life at Dada's hands, needs to be corrected. Chengiz died in the year AD 1227 while fighting with Tanguts in Mongolia and lies buried in Burkan Qaldun-Mangolia. So aiso, Taimur died in AD 1405 at Otraer on Jaxartes river in war against China.Lohana History by R. T. Somaiya