Tejaji Maharaj

September 7, 2011

A commemorative postage stamp on Veer Teja, a Rajasthani folk deity :

Issued by India

Issued on Sep 7, 2011

Issued for : India Post is happy to issue a commemorative postage stamp on Tejaji Maharaj.

Credits :
Stamp/FDC/Cancellation : Nenu Gupta

Type : Stamp, Mint Condition

Colour : Multi colour

Denomination : 500 Paise

Stamps Printed : 0.3 Million

Printing Process : Wet Offset

Printer : S.S.P. Hyderabad

About :

Rajasthan is a land filled with fascinating folk-stories woven around heroic warriors. During an era when small clans ruled under local chieftains, there were constant conflicts among them. The chieftains of these clans were warriors, fiercely loyal to their subjects, ready to risk their lives, jealously guarding their honour and displaying rare courage in protecting the lives of the people. Their life was an inspiration and they were revered by the people who worshiped them as folk-deities.
Veer Teja also known as Tejaji was one such folk-deity worshipped by some communities of people in Rajasthan and in parts of Madhya Pradesh. Tejaji was said to be born on 29^th January 1074 to Chaudhary Tahar and Smt. Sugna of Khirnal in Nagaur district in Rajasthan.
It was customary at that time for the chieftains, after the arrival of the first rain, to initiate the ploughing of fields. As Tejaji‘s father and brother were out of the village, his mother asked him to initiate the ploughing. While he was ploughing, his elder brother’s wife was late in bringing him his food, which irked Tejaji. She retorted by advising him to bring his wife from her maternal home at Paner.
Next day he set out to bring his wife. Overcoming all the hardships on the way, he reached Paner in the evening. His mother-in-law was milking the cows that were disturbed by the commotion caused by his arrival. Unaware of Tejaji’s arrival, his mother-in-law cursed him which annoyed Tejaji who turned back. But his wife’s emissary Laccha Gurjari persuaded him to return to help seek her cattle which had been stolen by dacoits.
Tejaji dashed off and fought the dacoits bravely but was killed in the ensuing battle. Another legend however, says that while he was returning after successfully retrieving the cattle, he died due to snake bite as a consequence of the curse. The valour and good deeds of Tejaji made an everlasting impression on his people who started worshipping him as a deity. A number of temples have been built to honour him in Rajasthan He is also honoured by a large fair held in his memory.
Text : Based on the text received from PMG, Rajasthan Region Ajmer Southern.