Today, the Pankhania family is the largest within the Shree Sorathia Prajapati Gnati. Pankhania family originated from Chudasama, Rajput Kshatriya family. History reveals that Krishna Bhagwan’s 79th Generation of Chandravanshi Chudasama Rajput Kshatriyas gave birth to King Denendra. He had a son named Gajpat, who ruled his kingdom from Junagadh. One of the Chudasama Rajput families led by Savji Dada settled in ‘Pankhan‘, a place near Keshod, hence we are known as Pankhania. He also married a girl from Prajapati Kumbhar family. Along with the Pankhania family, there was a Vadher family who lived in Pankhan. The Pankhania and the Vadher families lived happily together and accepted each other as brothers. The two families did not intermarry with each other while keeping their bloodlines clean, they called themselves “Sakh Brothers” and do so at this present day.
Pankhania worshipped their family deity Adhya Shakti Harshidhi Mataji. We also believe in Brahmani, Naag Bapa and Vachhara Dada.
From our ancestor Savji Dada, the generations continued chronologically as Virji, Vikramji, Khasia, Saria, Deva, Hira, Mala, Mandan, Munja, Samat, Sarman. After the Mandan family, we branched out and settled in different places. Mandan Bapa died a valiant warrior in Pankhan. His rock memorial as ‘Surapura’ was erected. There is also a well known as Pankhan Vav. From Pankhan, some of us went and settled in Pata (ghed), some in Palakhada, some in Bhardwada. Rock memorials of our defenders and valiant warrior are evident in Pankhan, Pata, Mader, Kadachha and Shingada.
At present, some Pankhania families worship their Kurdevi, Shree Harshidhi Mata and pay their homage at temples in Miyani near Dwarka and at Ujjain, in Rajasthan. Others worship Lord Krishna and pay homage to Maha Prabhuji Bethak at Gaga Gurgat near Dwarka and Shree Nathji temple at Naathadwara in Rajasthan.
But we live united under the the family name Pankhania.
Complied by Kaviraj Manharbhai Buddhisagarbhai Barot , Ranavav and translated by the Late Laxman Ramji Pankhania