Draft:Baba Jitto Ji

= THE LEGEND: BABA JITTO JI = Baba Jitmal Ji also known as Baba Jitto was the son of a Brahmin Farmer. His mother’s name was Janja, and his father’s name was Roop Chand. He was born around 750 to 800 years ago in Agharkot, Reasi. Baba Jitto Ji was known from childhood to be a hardworking and spiritual individual. When his father showed his horoscope to the village priest, the priest said that the child was destined to make a great sacrifice on this earth. According to belief, Baba Jitto Ji was considered an incarnation of Lord Shiva. From a young age, Baba Jitto Ji worshipped Mata Vaishno Devi and his family deity, Raja Mandleek Ji.

HISTORY OF BABA JITTO JI & BUA KODI JI
As time passed, his parents suddenly passed away. Baba Ji then went to live with his uncle and aunt. His aunt, Jonja, who was also his mother’s sister, was very cunning and had learned black magic in Bengal. Jonja had her eyes on Baba Jitto Ji’s land, as she had seven sons while Baba Jitto Ji was the only son of his father. Greed took hold of her, and she began using black magic against Baba Jitto Ji. Despite this, Baba Ji’s uncle supported him fully.

During this time, Baba Jitto Ji would go to Trikuta Mountain daily, bathe, and offer prayers to Mata Vaishno Devi. He did this for twelve years. After twelve years, while meditating outside the ancient cave of Vaishno Devi, the goddess appeared and told him that his hard work had paid off and that he could ask for anything he wanted. Baba Jitto Ji said he did not desire power or wealth, only that the sacred water of the Ganges flow in his village for the welfare of the world. He also expressed his desire to serve the goddess from his home. The goddess blessed him and told him that he would mark seven spots where first milk would flow for twenty-four hours, followed by water.

Baba Jitto Ji marked the seven spots, and as foretold, milk flowed first, then water. One day, while bathing in the fifth stream, he placed his turban aside and, after his bath, found a little girl there. Baba Jitto Ji asked everyone around about the girl, but no one claimed her. He then realized that the girl was an incarnation of the goddess, named Gori. Later, she came to be known as Bua Kodi (Bua meaning little girl and Kodi being her name).

As Bua Kodi grew older, the troubles for Baba Jitto Ji and Bua Kodi increased, caused by Jonja’s black magic. Baba Jitto Ji, seeking relief, remembered his family deity, Raja Mandleek Ji, who advised him to leave the village. Thus, Baba Jitto Ji left Agharkot Reasi and went to Jhiri Shamachak, Jammu, to a friend who was a blacksmith. Baba Jitto Ji explained his problems, and his friend took him to the village head, Veer Singh Mehta, to request land for farming. Veer Singh Mehta offered him a barren piece of land, which Baba Jitto Ji accepted. An agreement was made that one-fourth of the crop would go to Veer Singh Mehta and the remaining three-fourths to Baba Jitto Ji.

Baba Jitto Ji turned the barren land into fertile soil and grew crops. When it came time to harvest, Baba Jitto Ji’s crop yield was the highest in the village. Greed overtook Veer Singh Mehta, who then claimed the entire crop, refusing to give Baba Jitto Ji even a single grain. Veer Singh Mehta had Baba Ji bound and started taking away the grain. In his despair, Baba Jitto Ji took his dagger and stabbed himself in the stomach, cursing Mehta with his dying breath that he would not be able to consume the grain without also consuming Baba Jitto Ji’s blood. He further cursed that Mehta's future generations would suffer and never find peace or prosperity.

As Baba Jitto Ji sacrifices himself, Mehta thinks that this curse has come upon him from a Brahmin. So, he goes to the Brahmin priest in his village and confesses that he has committed Brahmin murder. The priest advises him to hide Baba Jitto Ji inside a tree. Following the priest's advice, Mehta has his men conceal Baba Jitto Ji inside the tree and leaves.

Shortly afterward, Bua Kodi Ji arrives and notices that Baba Jitto Ji is no longer in the fields. She sees the blood-stained grains and exclaims that they will now show her the way. Following the trail, Bua Kodi Ji finds Baba Jitto Ji inside the tree. Subsequently, Bua Kodi Ji and Baba Jitto Ji commit sati together.

THE ORIGIN OF THE TEMPLE
A few years later, two brothers, Sudh and Budh, were passing by the place where Bua Kodi Ji and Baba Jitto Ji had committed sati. They were quite sad and distressed as their business had almost collapsed. As they sat down to rest at that spot, Baba Jitto Ji and Bua Kodi Ji suddenly appeared before them. Baba Jitto Ji explained that he was a Brahmin farmer who had to sacrifice his life for his rights.

Baba Jitto Ji and Bua Kodi Ji told the brothers that they would grant their wishes, but in return, the brothers would have to build a temple at that place. This temple would serve as a reminder to future generations of their sacrifice.

Next to the temple where Baba Jitto Ji's fields were located, there is a pond. It is believed that anyone suffering from physical ailments, obstacles, or any negative influences like black magic, can find relief by bathing in this pond. It is said that applying the mud from this pond can alleviate all physical ailments.

JHIRI MELA
Sudh and Budh built two temples side by side for Baba Jitto Ji and Bua Kodi Ji. The auspicious day of the temple inauguration was Kartik Purnima. Since then, every year on Kartik Purnima, a grand fair is held at this location, which has become the largest fair in North India. Devotees from far and wide attend to pay their respects. People from Jammu, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Haryana, Delhi, and other places come to this fair every year.

The village Jhiri is located about 20 kms from Jammu, off the Jammu-Akhnoor highway. Every year during the Karthik Purnima (Late autumn full moon) falling during the last week of October and early November, an annual mela is held here.

The festivities during the mela last for a week with the main day of the fair being held on Karthik Purnima. People pay obeisance at the Baba Jitto temple and seek his blessings and the blessings of his daughter Bua Kodi, who as per the legend also took her life by jumping on her father’s funeral pyre. People also take a customary dip in the Baba-da-Talab (Pond), a natural pond four kms from the temple which is believed to have curative powers


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