The founder of the princely state of Jamnagar was
the Jam Rawal, who descended on the northern coast
of Kathiawar in 1535 A.D. Jam Rawal's father Jam
Lakhaji ruled in Terabanu in Kutch. According to
bardic chronicles, Jam Lakhaji had two cousins Tamachi
Deda and Hamirji Jadeja, they envied his reputation
for valor. Their envy was heightened by the fame
of Jam Lakhaji at the siege of Pawagadh. So largely
did he contribute to its capture by Bahadurshah,
the Emperor of Gujarat, that he was bestowed 12
villages by him. As Jam Lakaji was going to take
possession of his new fief, he was treacherously
killed by his cousins Tamachi Deda and Hamirji Jadeja.
Jam Lakhajis son Jam Rawal escaped and on growing
up, took vengeance of his fathers murder in the
same manner by killing Hamirji Jadeja. Hamirjis
two sons Khengarji and Sahibji fled to Delhi and
after twelve months of waiting to meet the Great
Moghul Emperor Humayun, they got the chance to join
the crowd goingalong with the Emperor for lion hunting.
During the lion hunt,
they got the chance to kill the lion just when it
was going to attack the Emperor. As a reward, an
army of 1,00,000 was sent with them to regain back
their kingdom. When Jam Rawal heard of the two princes
coming back to the Kutch with the imperial army,
he started getting ready for the battle. On one
night, Goddess Ashapura came in his dream and told
him that as he had broken the oath taken on her
name about not killing Hamirji, even though, he
was the person responsible for the death of his
father. She should have punished him, but as he
had at all other times honored her. So he should
no longer dwell in Kutch but cross the sea and take
Kathiawar as a dwelling place.
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