Gogaji Jahar Peer History Worship
Gogaji (Hindi: गोगाजी) (Rajasthani: गुग्गो), also known as Jahar Veer Gogga is a folk deity, worshiped in northern states of India especially in Rajasthan, Haryana, Uttarakhand, Punjab region and Uttar Pradesh. He is a warrior-hero of the region, venerated as a saint and a ‘snake-god’. He is worshiped as a peer among Hindus.
Gogaji is popular as a Devta who protects his followers from snakes and other evils. Almost every village in Rajasthan has a Than (sacred place, generally a small temple) dedicated to him.
His shrine, referred as medi, consists of a one-room building with a minaret on each corner and a grave(Mazar) inside, marked by a Nishan( A symbol, a sign), which is made up of a long bamboo with peacock plumes, a coconut, some colored threads and some handpankhas with a blue flag on the top.
On the 9th of Bhadra, the people worship his symbol, a black snake painted on a wall. Worshippers take a fly-flap, known as chhari, round the village. Devotees pay their respect to it and offer churma. The Savayians sing devotional songs known as ‘Pir ke Solle’ in his honour to the accompaniment of deroos. Beating of deroos is the exclusive privilege of the Savayian community; others may sing, dance or offer charhawa. It is believed that the spirit of Gugga temporarily takes abode in the devotee dancer who lashes himself with a bunch of iron chains. People also open their rakhis on this day (bhadra krishna paksh navmi) and offer them to him.They also offer mithi puri (a type of sweet chappati) and other sweets and take his blessing.
