#REDIRECT [[Bahuchara Mata]]
{{Short description|Dacoit in Gujarat}}
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The '''Bapaiya''' (also spelled as '''Bapaiyya''') ([[Hindi|Hi]]: डकैत बापेय्या) was a [[Legend|legendary]] [[Koli people |Koli]] [[Dacoity|dacoit]] of [[Gujarat]] who killed the [[Bahuchara Mata|Bahucharaji]] mata at Shankhalpur during her return to [[Kathiawar]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Burman |first=J. J. Roy |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0rpzmcHn-0kC&dq=Bapaiya&pg=PA80 |title=Gujarat Unknown: Hindu-Muslim Syncretism and Humanistic Forays |date=2005 |publisher=Mittal Publications |isbn=978-81-8324-052-9 |location=[[New Delhi]], [[India]], [[Asia]] |pages=80 |language=en}}</ref>
{{R to related topic}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Bapaiya
| honorific_suffix = [[Dacoit]]
| image = Bahuchara.jpg
| caption = Portrait of [[Bahuchara Mata]] who was killed by Bapaiya
| native_name = બાપૈયયા
| native_name_lang = Gj
| birth_name = Bappasinhji Baria
| birth_place = Shankhalpur, [[Gujarat]], [[India]], [[Asia]]
| death_place = Arnej, [[Kathiawar]], Gujarat
| death_cause = Hunger
| nationality = {{flag|India}}
| citizenship = [[India]]n
| occupation = [[Thuggee]]
| era = Sultanate era
| known_for = Killing of [[Bahuchara Mata]]
| criminal_charges = *Murder
*Thuggee
*Kidnapping
*Blackmailing
}}
When Bahuchara and her two sisters were returning from [[Kingdom of Marwar|Marwad]] to [[Gujarat]], they were attacked by Bapaiya plunderer at Shankhalpur. He killed two of the sisters of Bahuchara. To save herself from being raped and abduction, Bahuchara cut off ber breasts, with a sword carried by [[Charan]] women, and pronounced the dread Traga on the Bapaiya, cursing him and prophesying that he would become [[Erectile dysfunction|impotent]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Jayakar |first=Pupul |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3LxlAAAAMAAJ |title=The Children of Barren Women: Essays, Investigations, Stories |date=1994 |publisher=[[Penguin Books]] |isbn=978-0-14-024068-9 |location=New Delhi, India, Asia |pages=44 |language=en}}</ref> Bapaiya begged forgiveness, and the dying Charan girl Bahuchara realizing that the Traga having been called forth could not be recalled, advised Bapaiya to install her as a goddess and worship her image. Bahuchara also promised that any [[eunuch]] who would stay at her shrine dressed as a woman and worship her would attain salvation.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Jayakar |first=Pupul |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=aO3C2XXliOYC |title=The Earthen Drum: An Introduction to the Ritual Arts of Rural India |date=1980 |publisher=National Museum |location=New Delhi, India, Asia |pages=67–75 |language=en}}</ref>
After death of Bahuchara, Bapaiya, who was feeling guilty, erected a shrine of the goddess Bahuchara under a varakhda tree and passed his life in worship of the Bahuchara, but died on the way to Arnej and Balal.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Gopal |first=Dr Krishna |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pQfgAAAAMAAJ |title=Fairs and Festivals of India |date=2003 |publisher=Gyan Publishing House |isbn=978-81-212-0811-6 |location=New Delhi, India, Asia |pages=112–113 |language=en}}</ref>
== References ==
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