Lodha
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There are a large number of Indians in this world with the title Lodha. There is no unique origin for all these people. Some Lodhas are members of a caste called Oswal. It is a social group of people from the Indian States of Rajasthan. Oswals are mainly Jain following the Swetambara tradition, but a few are Digambar Jains and a few are Hindu Vaishnavites. Many Lodhas are Agarwals and this article has nothing to do with them.
History of Oswal Lodha
Lakhansingh Deora Chauhan, the king of Nadole Kingdom, was the uncle of first Prithviraj Chauhan. Lakhansingh had no son so he was worried. Acharya Shri Raviprabh Suri did his chaturmas in VS 700 at Nadole. One day on the advice of his minister Lakhansingh went to see the Acharya and told him his trouble.
Acharya said, “If you leave violence and be a Jain by heart then I can bless you.” The king agreed, so the Acharya blessed him. When the queen was pregnant, he thought that a man can not get a child by blessing only, as it was luck that he was going to be a father of a son in his old age. He continued committing violence, hunting and forgot the oaths taken. The minister reminded him but he did not care.
After 9 months the queen gave a birth to a ball of flesh in the shape of a Lodh. Then Lakhansingh realised his mistake, but it was too late. His minister advised him to go search for the Acharya. Only the Acharya could tell him the remedy. Lakhansingh found the Acharya near Barnagar (Bhadana) in a forest. He was meditating under a banyan tree. The king apologized, requested for the remedy and wept bitterly. He regretted his blunder. At last the Acharya decided to help him, so he called Barmata (a goddess) and asked her to do the king a favour.
Barmata ordered Lakhansingh to put the ball of flesh in the shape of a Lodh in red cloth and put that in the hole of the banyan tree. She gave some water, and ordered him to pour it on the ball of flesh. A miracle happened and the fleshball turned into a beautiful child. From that day all successors are called Lodha. From that day all Lodha's worship Barmata which is Kul Devi of all lodhas.
Barmata temple is placed in Nagaur district. It is 4 km from Mundwa Marwad railway station in Rajasthan. Contact no. to reach this place is 01584-293086
They are even related to the Demon from Mahabharata known as Jarasandha <<ref>> www.oswals.net