Banjara - Sevalal Maharaj Temple

Sevalal Maharaj Temple

Sant Shree Sevalal Maharaj (Seva Bhaya) was born on 15.2.1739 to parents Shri Dharmani Yaadi (mother) and Shri Bhima Naik on this holy land around 271 years back. At that time this location was popularly known as Ramagundam or Ramji Naik Tanda (Ramji Naik is grand father of Sevabhaya, who come to the location with 360 families of his Tanda and about 4000 loaded cattles). Ramji Naik Tanda when deserted by the end of 18th century, the local people built a village known as Chennarayani palle. This land now falls in the revenue village of Peddadoddi, Taluk / Mandal – Gooty, Dist. Anandpur, Andhra Pradesh.

Seva Bhaya lived with his parents at this place up to the age of 12. He bathed in “Kalo Kundo” (transparent clean water of natural spring water pond), worshipped in Chennakesava (Shiva) temple on the top of the Chandrayanagutta (hill) nearby Ramji Naik Tanda and grazed his cattle in “Zhoomri Jhol” (Forest of Palms). All the relics and monuments are existings even today. Banjaras and non-Banjaras in the locality hold Bhima Naik Katta (platform) in high esteem and reverence since the “ORE” (residue) of Sant Shree Sevalal Maharaj is buried under the ground of this platform which is the tradition of the Banjaras to bury the residue after the delivery of the baby. Shri Bhima Naik delivered his judgements to Banjaras of his and neighbouring Tandas from this Katta.

In narration and in praise of Seva Bhaya’s life and deeds, there are abundant folk songs and folklore sung and oral history is also told by Banjaras for last 250 years. It is mentioned that “Gooty – Bellary – Ma – Janam lido Sevabhaya” (meaning : Sevabhaya was born at Gooty – Bellary). Gooty taluka was in the then Bellary District of the then Madras province of British Raj. During that period there was no separate District called Anantapur as the Anantapur town was part of Bellary District. In Peddadoddi revenue village there is a piece of land of 18 acres next to dilapidated Ramji Naik Tanda and the same is shown in revenue records as “Nayakuni Bhoomi” (land of Nayak). It is also mentioned in the book “Sevadas Leelamrut” authored by Sant Shri Ramrao Maharaj of Pohragad (Sevabhaya’s Samadhi place) that Gooty Bellary was birthplace of Sevabhaya. Sant Shree Ramrao Maharaj is living Sant of Seventh generation of Shri Sevabhaya family. Even well-known author, poet and Banjara folk singer Shri Atmaram Rathod of Yevatmal (Maharashtra) has also established the same location in his popular book “Shri Sant Sevadas Leela Charitra” as Sevabhaya’s birthplace. After lot of research works and explorations by many research scholar, linguistics, historians particularly Banjara Dharmik Parishad of Bangalore have identified and proved this location as sevabhaya’s birthplace.

Sant Shree Sevalal Maharaj is also called as Mothivala, Toda vala, Nardhari, Narbhedi, Akhand Brahmachari, Bharosobhari etc, in their native language.