Rise and Glory History of Halari Visa Oshwals

Author(s): Rati Dodhia
Publisher: Rati Dodhia

Page 98

Chapter 15. The Origin of Halari Visa Oshwal Gotras
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People told him what had happened. He asked to see the body. Realizing that Haria was not dead but in a coma due to the effect of the poison he revived Haria by sucking out the poison and reciting the sacred mantra. People were overjoyed to see Haria alive. After listening to a sermon and a religious discourse by Suriji, Ranmal and his family embraced Jainism and became part of the Oshwal community. From his name Haria his descendants were given gotra name Haria.
Haria had a daughter named Mamal who was married into the Dedhia family. When she became a widow, she started practicing severe penances. One day while she was in deep meditation she passed away. Since then both the Haria and Dedhia families consider her as their family deity.
Gala: The ancestral father of Gala gotra belonged to the Yadu dynasty of Lord Krishna. Based on an account from an ancient document, when the city of Dwarka was destroyed, the ninth generation of Shri Krishna, Rai Bhatt moved to Marward and founded a city called Bhatner. One of his descendants, Jesal, founded Jesalmar. One of Jesal's descendants, Shivraj, founded the city called Kotda. One of his descendants, Somachand, became king of Kotda. With the help of his army he started looting the neighboring places. Once Jaina acharya Jaisinh and his disciples were visiting a town called Umarkot where his follower Nenshi Shah, by the wishes of the acharya, had built a temple to Lord Ajitnath. From there they were proceeding to Jesalmar. On the way Somachand attempted to rob them. The acharya stopped the attack by his spiritual powers and took Somachand under his custody. Somachand's mother Sarupdevi begged the acharya to forgive her son. The acharya agreed to release him on condition that he stopped robbing people and adopt Jainism. Somachand agreed, with his mother and King Chandarana as his witnesses. Somachand was released. The acharya and his disciples proceeded to Jesalmar.