THE FOLLOWERS OF RAMAPIR

Jesal – Toral

Historically there are no details available about Toral. Where no such details are available on some well-known women, they are considered as cursed fairies. Hence, some people say that Toral was a cursed fairy. Others believe she was the one weighed with a bundle of wood after birth. Who then was Toral? In essence, Toral was a supernatural woman in the early 15th century (V.S. 1500) who became a stout devotee of Ramapir. In a town in Saurashtra (Gujarat), Sansatiya Kaathi, a Rajput Thakur, spotted her. He becomes a follower of Toral and pleads with her to stay with him. After a time, she came to the town of Sansatiya Kaathi and lived with him.

Sadhir Sheth a well-known rich horse-trader joined in devotion with Toral. His supplier of horses was a Jadeja Rajput from Anjar in Kutch known as Jesal during the period V.S. 1600 ( 16th century). Following the incident where Jesal was caught “red - handed” stealing a horse from the stable of Sansatiya Kaathi, Jesal becomes a follower of Toral. Later, Toral travels to Anjar with Jesal. Both lived together in Anjar and spread the message of Ramapir in the form of Nijiya Panth (Path of Self - Consciousness) in Gujarat and to some extent in Rajasthan.

Following the meeting with Maldev - Rupande on Ashadh Sudi 2 at “Dhanva Tekra”, they became the guests of Maldev - Rupande in Jodhpur. According to a belief that a Pir of Nijya Panth must be a married man, Jesal promises Maldev - Rupande to get married. Then they return to Anjar. Jesal takes Samadhi at some point between V.S. 1620 (1546 A.D.) and V.S. 1628 (1572 A.D.) at Maha Vad 13th or Maha Shivratri. Toral was attending Savra Mandap (a religious gathering of all people, including a Holy Communion of devotees of Nijar Panth, on one platform, without any discrimination of race, colour , caste or creed) on Girnar. Toral, upon hearing the news of Jesal having taken Samadhi, she returns immediately. On the third day she reaches Anjar. By this time Maldev - Rupande and other Nijiya Panth devotees had reached Anjar. Maldevji reminds Toral of the promise by Jesal to get married. Toral pleads with Jesal to awake. Jesal awakens and fulfils his promise by getting married to Toral who then joins him in Samadhi. Hence you can see joint – Samadhi of Jesal - Toral in Anjar.