The Thar desert in India is full of ironies—one of them being the Bishnoi community of Rajasthan. Here, peace is maintained with aggression and robust health rubs shoulders with regular famine. Here penniless women flaunt heavy gold jewelery and wild animals leave the supposed security of jungles to stroll around village huts and farmlands.
Khejarli - The sacrifice made by Amrita Devi and over 350 others
The Bishnoi's, a Vaishnavite sect, living in western Rajasthan on the fringe of the Thar desert, have for centuries, been conserving the flora and fauna to the extent of sacrificing their lives to protect the environment. For these nature-loving people, protection of the environment, wildlife, and plants is a part and parcel of their sacred traditions. The basic philosophy of this religion is that all living things have a right to survive and share all resources.
In the fifteenth century, Jambhaji, a resident of a village near Jodhpur, had a vision that the cause of the drought that had hit the area and hardship that followed was caused by people’s interference with nature. Thereafter, he became a sanyasi or a holy man and came to be known as Swami Jambheshwar Maharaj. This was the beginning of the Bishnoi sect. He laid down 29 tenets for his followers which included a ban on killing animals, a ban to the felling of trees – especially the khejri – which grows extensively in these areas, and using material other than wood for cremations.
In the fifteenth century, Jambhaji, a resident of a village near Jodhpur, had a vision that the cause of the drought that had hit the area and hardship that followed was caused by people’s interference with nature. Thereafter, he became a sanyasi or a holy man and came to be known as Swami Jambheshwar Maharaj. This was the beginning of the Bishnoi sect. He laid down 29 tenets for his followers which included a ban on killing animals, a ban to the felling of trees – especially the khejri – which grows extensively in these areas, and using material other than wood for cremations.
29 Principles [Bish=twenty(20); noi=nine(9)]
1. Not to fell green trees.
2. To provide a common shelter (Thhat) for goat/sheep to avoid them being slaughtered in abattoirs .
3. Not to have bull’s castrated.
4. To take early morning bath daily.
5. To maintain both external and internal cleanliness and remaining content.
6. To meditate twice a day i.e. morning and evening (times when night is being separated from the day) .
7. To sing the Lord’s glory and reciting His virtues every evening .
8. To offer daily oblation to the holy fire with a heart filled with feelings of welfare, love and devotion .
9. Use filtered water, milk and carefully cleaned fuel/ firewood .
10. Filter your speech.
11. To be forgiving in nature .
12. To be compassionate.
13. Not to steal .
14. Not to revile/ condemn someone .
15. Not to tell lies .
16. Not to indulge in opprobrium .
17. To observe fast and meditate on no-moon night (and the same day i.e. Amavsya).
18. To recite the holy name of Vishnu .
19. To be compassionate towards all living beings .
20. To kill the non-perishables.
21. To partake food cooked by self/ other religious person or one who is pure by heart and work .
22. To observe segregation of the mother and newborn for 30 days after delivery .
23. To keep woman away from all activities for 5 days during her menstrual periods .
24. Not to partake of opium .
25. Not to use tobacco and its products.
26. Not to partake of cannabis .
27. Not to drink liquor.
28. Not to eat meat or non-vegetarian dishes.
29. Not to use blue coloured clothes .
Bishnois: The protectors of Blackbuck
Bishnoi is a community that work for save tree and all wide life animal. We are working from last 500 years when VISHNOI community is made by the our dharm Guru Shri Jambho ji Maharaj.
Vishnoi are mainly living in Rajasthan, Haryana ,west UP and some in other part of india.
Vishnoi are mainly living in Rajasthan, Haryana ,west UP and some in other part of india.
About Jambho ji
Jambho ji, was born in village Pipasar in 1451 A.D. He was the only child of his parents i.e. Father,Lohat ji Panwar and Mother, Hansa Devi. For first 7 years, Jambho ji was a silent, introvert child. He also spent a lot of time (27 years) as a cowboy like Lord Krishna (Incidentally both had an identical Birth day i.e. Janmashtami!) At a age of 34, Jambho ji founded Bishnoi religion.His teachings were in poetic form,known as Shabadwani or shabad that as our geeta .
Jambho ji made a community known as Vishnoi at Samrathal Dhora on eighth day of black fortnight of the month of Kartika (Indian Lunar Calender) in 1485 A.D.
Jambho ji, was born in village Pipasar in 1451 A.D. He was the only child of his parents i.e. Father,Lohat ji Panwar and Mother, Hansa Devi. For first 7 years, Jambho ji was a silent, introvert child. He also spent a lot of time (27 years) as a cowboy like Lord Krishna (Incidentally both had an identical Birth day i.e. Janmashtami!) At a age of 34, Jambho ji founded Bishnoi religion.His teachings were in poetic form,known as Shabadwani or shabad that as our geeta .
Jambho ji made a community known as Vishnoi at Samrathal Dhora on eighth day of black fortnight of the month of Kartika (Indian Lunar Calender) in 1485 A.D.
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