SEVABHAYA

Sant Sevalal Maharaj was born on 15 Feb,1739 to parents Shri Dharmani Yaadi (mother) and Shri Bhima Naik(father) and hence sevalal jayanthi is celebrated by members of Banjara community on 15^th February every year.  

Seva Bhaya born as Shiv Rathod is considered to be an incarnation of lord Siva and was blessed by goddess Mariama yadi. The goddess is said to have given a pill of dirt collected from her body to a banjara woman saying that a great man will be born from that pill. The banjara woman swallowed it and gave birth to Seva Bhaya. 

Mariama yadi also called as goddess of small pox, responsible for Seva Bhaya’s birth, fell in love with him. But he refused and hence the goddess haunted him throughout his life. Ultimately she killed him and his cremation place at Pohradevi in Washim district of Maharastra has become a pilgrim centre for banjaras.

While Banjara Leaders led by late Mr.Ranjit Naik were trying to locate the birth place of Bhagawan Sevalal, in the year 1998, near Charlopalli (Sevagad, Near Guntakal in Andhra Pradesh), another group of Banjara Leaders have identified a place called Suryagondanakoppa, about 15 kilometers from Shivamoga city of Karnataka as the birth place of Sevalal. Finally both the groups have concluded that Sevalal was born in Suryagondanakoppa and brought up in Charlopalli Thanda.

Banjara community members have now built a temple of Sevalal and another one for Mariyamma or Amba Bhavani at Suryagondanakoppa. To reach Suryagondanakoppa, one has to travel to Shivmoga city by bus or train which is  about 250 kilometers from Bangalore. From Shivmoga travel up to Savalanga village on Honnalli Road which is about 10 kilometers from Shivamoga then, take diversion on Shikaripura Road and travel about 5 kilometers to reach Suryagondanakoppa. The priest and his family members reside near the temple and available for performing pooja.