Haridas Kesaria

Clan and family

Sources:

The Kesaria clan of the Charans originally belonged to Patan region of Gujarat, named after their ancestor Kesaria-ji. Kesaria lived in Patan under the rule of Siddharaj Jaisimha, who honoured him with a jagir of Genasara including 6 villages. In time, a descendent of Kesaria, Mandan Kesaria left Genasara and came to Mewar, where the Maharana being pleased with his talent and knowledge, awarded him the jagir of Mahiyari including 6 villages. It is from this jagir, the later Kesaria came to be known as Mahiyaria.

Haridas was born to Mandan Kesaria in Mewar. He, in turn, had four sons; three of which are named Udaibhan, Keshavdas and Haribhagat.

Keshavdas and Haribhagat died without issue. Haridas's grandson through Udaibhan, Devidas Mahiyaria, was an accomplished warrior. He was the military general of Gopaldas Shaktawat and after their victory in the Battle of Benaras, he was granted a jagir including 24 villages.

Haridas built a temple of kuldevi of Mahiyaria clan, Shri Sunderbai, in the village of Madri (Rajsamand). Another shrine of this goddess was also built in village of Bhildi (Jahazpur), which is still present.

Anecdotes

Several anecdotes are popular about Haridas. One legend is that once Rana Sanga went hunting with his companions, one of his elephants which was tied nearby became enraged after being teased so that he broke the chain and ran after them. Others ran away but Haridas did not leave Sanga's side. When there was no way to escape, Sanga spoke to Haridas that you keep singing the praises of your kuldevis, why don't you call them today for protection? On this, Haridas said a couplet to his Aradhyashakti Shri Sunderbai-

आण दबाया गज अठे, और न हेक उपाय। ‘सुन्दर’ मां सज आवजे, सांगा तणी सहाय।।

And immediately they saw that the defiant elephant was being stopped by a force and it calmed down, thus preventing any harm to Sanga and Haridas.