Joban Pagi

koli Dacoit

The Joban Pagi was a notorious dacoit of Gujarat who looted the treasury of the Rajas and Maharajas of the native Princely States. Joban Pagi had also looted the Treasury of Baroda State, the largest princely state of Gujarat. Pagi was born in a Koli landlord family of Vadtal village in Gujarat. Later Pagi became a devotee of Swaminarayan and built a big temple of Swaminarayan in Vadtal.[1]


Joban Pagi

Devotee of Swaminarayan
જોબન પગી
File:Swaminarayan Temple Vadtal.jpg
Swaminarayan Mandir of Vadtal built by Joban Pagi
Born
Joban Pagi

Died
Vadtal, Baroda State, British India
Cause of deathHunger
Other namesJoban Vadtalo
OccupationAgriculturist
EraBritish era
Criminal chargesMurder, Blackmail, Threatening, Looting
Criminal statusPardoned

Phool Dol festival

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In Gujarat, the Phooldol festival of Swaminarayan is made which was first celebrated at the behest of Joban Pagi. After becoming the devotee of Swaminarayan, Pagi requested Swaminarayan to celebrate the festival, since then that festival is known as Phool Dol.[2]

History

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Jaban Pagi had tried many times to steal Swaminarayan's mare named Manaki during the dacoit life, but failed every time, due to which the dacoit Joban Pagi became Swaminarayan's devotee and retired from the dacoit life.[3]

There is also a legend that Swaminarayan was on a tour of Vadtal village and he rested near the Gomti lake when there was a crowd of devotees. There were mango trees near the lake, in which juicy mangoes were planted, so the devotees expressed their desire to eat mangoes, only then Joban Pagi said, if the lord permit me, then I should shoot the mangoes down with the gun. In this, Swaminarayan saw arrogance in Pagi's words and ordered Pagi, if you can do so, of course, put the mangoes down, but not a single mango was targeted on Pagi, after which Swaminarayan asked all the devotees to give up arrogance. And ordered to live peacefully and Pagi did the same.[4]

References

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  1. Changela, Hitesh; Sansthan, Shree Swaminarayan Gurukul Rajkot. The Supreme Godhead Bhagawan Swaminarayan: Bhagawan Swaminarayan Jivan Darshan. New Delhi, India: Rajkot Gurukul. ISBN 978-1-5239-0900-1.
  2. "Festival Of Fuldol In Vadtal - Kalupur Mandir". www.swaminarayan.info. Retrieved 2022-04-25.
  3. Dave, Ramesh M. (1978). Sahajanand Charitra. New Delhi, India, Asia: Bochasanvasi Shri Aksharpurushottam Sanstha. p. 83.
  4. Sansthan, Shree Swaminarayan Gurukul Rajkot (2020-04-07). Inspirations 108 Satsang Stories (in Gujarati). New Delhi, India, Asia: Rajkot Gurukul. ISBN 978-93-84051-12-9.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link)