RAS question
Mehaji Mangalia, a folk deity of Rajasthan, is known for his association with:
Correct answer: (A) Horse riding and protection of cattle.
Mehaji Mangalia is associated with horse riding and the protection of cattle in Rajasthan's folk-deity tradition.
Explanation
Mehaji Mangalia is remembered for a folk-deity role linked to cattle protection, not for a royal, architectural, or miracle-healing theme. The official Rajasthan Tourism page for Phalodi lists the Temple of Folk God Mehuji Mangaliya at Bapini and says the temple is in Bapini village, 80 km from Phalodi City. Rajasthan Tourism also states that in rural Rajasthan he is worshipped as a folk deity and cow protector. His association is cattle protection and horse riding rather than fort-building, rain-making, or snake-bite healing.
Why the other options are wrong
- (B) Building forts is a royal or architectural association, whereas Rajasthan Tourism identifies Mehaji Mangalia with rural worship and cattle protection.
- (C) Rain-making miracles are not the primary association of Mehaji Mangalia; Rajasthan Tourism links him instead to his folk-deity role as a cow protector.
- (D) Healing snake bites points to other Rajasthan folk-deity traditions such as Gogaji and Tejaji, while Mehaji Mangalia is associated with cattle protection.
Concept
Rajasthan's folk-deity tradition includes functional associations by which local deities are remembered. RAS regularly covers folk heroes, fairs, temples, and rural worship practices as standard Rajasthan Art and Culture material.