Shamlaji

An ancient shrine of the dark-complexioned Gadadhar on the Meshvo river in the Aravalli hills, famous for its Kartik Purnima fair.

Shamlaji lies in the Aravalli district of north-eastern Gujarat, near the Rajasthan border, on the banks of the Meshvo river among low, wooded hills. The presiding deity is a dark-complexioned form of Bhagavan Vishnu who is worshipped as Shri Krishna. He is known as Gadadhar, the bearer of the mace, and is lovingly called Shamlaji. In Gujarati, "Shamlo" or "Shamaliya" is a tender word for Krishna's dark, rain-cloud complexion, and that affection lives in the name. The Bhil and other tribal communities of the region also worship the Lord with deep faith and, in their own speech, often call him Kaliya Dev, the dark god.

The temple is an old stone shrine whose walls carry fine carving beneath a tall shikhar. The Shamlaji area is important to historians as well, because ancient sculptures have been found here and in the surroundings, showing that the place has been held sacred for many centuries. Gujarati Vaishnavs count Shamlaji among the principal Krishna tirthas of the state.

The greatest event of the year is the fair held around Kartik Purnima. Large numbers of pilgrims come from Gujarat and Rajasthan, especially from the tribal belts, to bathe in the Meshvo, take darshan of the Lord and enjoy the folk songs, dances and colourful bazaars that fill the riverbank with festivity. Janmashtami and the other Vaishnav festivals are also observed here with devotion.

Practical note: Shamlaji is on the Ahmedabad–Udaipur highway. Modasa and Himmatnagar are the nearest large towns, and the shrine is easily reached by road from Ahmedabad.

District

Aravalli