Baderi, Umaria

Baderi Coat of Arms

Baderi, also known as Bareri, was a jagir (estate) of Rewah riyasat. It belonged to the Baghelkhand Ajency of central india. It has the eponymous capital, the village of Baderi.

History

According to legend, the estate of Baderi was granted by Raja Prithivi Singh of Chandiya to Thakur Ranmat Singh around 17th century. 

In 1617, Maharaja Vikramaditya moved his capital from Bandhavgarh to Rewa. During administrative division, the estate of Chandiya was given to his youngest son Kunwar Mangad Rai. In this same reign, Kunwar Ahlad Singh was born to Raja Fakir Singh. Later on, he was granted the pawaidari of Baderi by his elder brother Raja Prithivi Singh. He got the title Thakur with 28 villages. But it was under the rule of Lodhis (Malgujars). When he came here he made a palace on a mountain in Baderi and named it Nand Mahal. After some years, his great-grandson Ranmat Singh conquered the fortress (garhi) of Baderi from Lodhis and he also made a magnificent temple of Lord Narshimha in the fortress. Some claim that Ranmat Singh had some special blessings of Maa Shakti (called Daiviya Shakti) who guides and protect him, so he alone killed hundreds of Lodhis in war. Baghela Dynasty ruled this estate with the guidance of Maa Shakti for many centuries. Thakur Dal Pratap Singh was the last ruler of Baderi who acceded to the Union of India after the country became India.

Post-independence period

Upon India's independence in 1947, the jagir of Baderi acceded unto the Domain of India. Along with Rewa, it later merged with the Union of India and became a part of Vindhya Pradesh, which was formed by the merger of the former princely states of the Baghelkhand and Bundelkhand agencies. Town of Umaria became a district of Madhya Pradesh.

Baderi became a prominent Gram Panchayat in district Umaria. Bagheli is local language of Baderi. Thakur Dal Pratap Singh served as first sarpanch and gram pramukh in 1962. Descents of this lineage now lives in Fortress of Baderi.

Rulers

The rulers of this estate were the decents of Maharaja Vikramaditya of Rewah. This estate was granted as Jagir to Ranmat Singh Ji in 1740s. 

List of Rulers

The following is a list of known rulers of Baderi (or its predecessor state Rewah and Chandiya), in chronological order by their regin. They took the title of Thakur. And later on, he was granted the title of "Shri Lal Thakur Saheb" by the people of Baderi.

• Maharaja VIKRAMADITYA SINGH, Maharaja of Rewah riyasat, he founded the town of Rewa in 1618.
• Raja MANGD RAI, Raja Saheb of Chandiya estate.
• Raja PAHAR SINGH, Raja Saheb of Chandiya.
• Raja MADHO SINGH
• Raja FAKIR SINGH
• Raja AHLAD SINGH, 1st Thakur Saheb of Baderi
• Thakur RANMAT SINGH, 4th Thakur of Baderi
• Thakur CHANDRA BHAN SINGH, 5th Thakur of Baderi, He established the town of Umaria and granted its zamindari to his younger brother.
• Thakur HEERA SINGH, 6th Thakur of Baderi
• Shri Lal Thakur Saheb MAHESH PRATAP SINGH (Babu Saheb), 7th Thakur of Baderi, He was a very religious person he renovated the temple of Lord Narshimha, he also made a temple of Lord Shiva in the bank of a river in Baderi (khonga) and after him, it named Maheshwar Mahadev. Some claim that he saw Kaal Bhairav and was blessed by him. He also made many buildings in nearby town of Umaria. He is also known as Babu Saheb and Thakur Baba.
• Shri Lal Thakur Saheb DAL PRATAP SINGH Ju Deo (Lal Ji Saheb), 8th Thakur of Baderi

Historical landmarks

Baderi Fortress

Fortress of Baderi is situated on some height in mid of village. It is known as Garhi in locality. It had four siege towers (called Kothis) out of which only one is remaining. Fortress has three courtyards dedicated to three different gods.

First courtyard is dedicated to Lord Kaal Bhairava. It is one the entrance gate of fortress. It is believed that Kaal Bhairava is the protector of this fortress. Some claim that Lal Mahesh Pratap Singh was blessed by lord himself.

Second courtyard is dedicated to Lord Narshimha. It had the Raj Darbar of Thakurs of Baderi. All the events are arranged in this courtyard. Shri Ram Navami, Dusshehra and Shri Krishna Janmastami are the main events here.

Third courtyard is dedicated to the Kuldevta of Baghels of Baderi. It had annual celebration of festival Holi. This courtyard is the present residence of Thakurs of Baderi.

Nand Mahal

Nand Mahal was made by Thakur Ahlad Singh Ji in 17th century as residence of Baghela army and it was also a army headquater of Rewah riyasat. It was situated on mountains so it was also used as protection of Bandhavgarh Fort and also used as hunting site for royal princes. Maa Shakti was also situated here. According to legends, this mountain has a miraculous rock which was written in some secret language, if anyone can read it he could get food for seven days. That is why Baderi was a hub of kitchen stuff for Rewa riyasat.

Old palace of Nand Mahal is totally demolished. Now, the goddess was named as Nand Mahal Mata. The mountain is famous for its magnificent Nand mahal Mata Temple and its natural beauty. A annual fair is held on the mountain by the local people on the occasion of Makar Sankranti.

Maheshwar Mahadev Temple

Maheshwar Mahadev temple is known as Khonga in locality. The shivling was installed here by Lal Mahesh Pratap Singh. After him, it is named Maheshwar Mahadev. It is about 200 years old. It is located next to the waterfall, on the bank of river surrounded by exquisite natural beauty. It is believed that during heavy rain, a coin kept on shivling can never move by heavy flow of river through it. Every year, a fair is held by the people of nearby villages on the occasion of Vasant Panchami.

The village of Baderi has a number of temples. Some of them are :-

• Phoolmati Mata Mandir, gram devi of village Baderi.
• Shiv Mandir
• Shri Ram Mandir
• Radha Krishna Temple
• Kher Mata Mandir
• Shani Mandir
• Hanuman Temple