Bullet Baba Shrine

 shrine, interesting place

History

Vikram Samvat 2045 ( 2nd December, 1988 ) night hours at 10 accident happened at this location. Om Banna along with his friend was driving Royal Enfield motorbike from Pali on the way towards Rohat when their motorcycle hit Jaal tree. Om Banna died on spot but friend survived. Motorcycle was taken to Kerla (now known as Rohta) by policemen. After two or three years few say after six months suddenly one night the motorcycle started automatically on its own at police station. Few say it was later seen at accident site. This happened quiet a few time. Each time motorbike was take back to police station but again was found near the tree. It was decided to send the motorbike to Hukma Ram’s house – a potter’s at Chotila. Again one day the motorcycle started at potter’s house. It was then decided by locals to place motorbike at the accident site near the tree. Since then motorbike never started on its own. One day Om Banna showed miracle to his grandmother by appearing at night and saying I am not dead, I am alive. He also requested his grandmother to donate two bigha land to Hemraj Purohit which was done. They say only after six months of death Om Banna started showing miracles to village people and faith developed among them. Many truck drivers driving at National Highway 65 said they felt that someone sitting with them during night hours and many stories how Om Banna saved few accidents.

Om Banna died at the age of 23 or 24 years and was the only son of his father. His son Maha Prakrami Singh is 23 years old now was born two months after that accident. Late Om Banna grandmother is no more alive but father Shree Jog Singh stay at Chotila village three km from the shrine. Eight days after Diwali there is huge gathering of devotees at this location. The location where currently worship is done was actually land for cattles to graze but as it was an accident place and number of devotees was increasing the land was transferred to Om Banna’s father and equal size of land was donated by Om Banna’s father for cattle graze little away from shrine. Last 20 years motorcycle was near to Jaal tree but as NH 65 widening was going on nine months back it was shifted little inside close to fields.

How To Reach

Buses from Jodhpur Bus Depot for Pali, Sanderao, Abu Road will drop you at Om Banna.

Accommodation

A small dharamshala is there if you want to stay at night or a stop in a day for prayers and a little rest.

We went to Chotila village to meet Om Banna’s father. He is old but welcoming guest is his priority. We were offered water, tea and talks for hours. We saw a 1962 model Russian make tractor not in use since Banna death was purchased for Rs. 13,100 only. Om Banna son is currently studying at college. We met him at shrine location. We were showed an article about a film in making under Koyal Film Production banner Mumbai very shortly. In short it was a new experience. While returning towards Jodhpur left hand side little far from shrine we stop at Prahladchand Mangilalji Prajapat shop for famous Mogar ki Kachori and for tea Prajapat tea stall. The journey continues… The unlikely shrine near Chotila village, around 20 km away from Pali en route to Jodhpur on the highway, has a Royal Enfield 350 cc motorbike as its deity. It’s hard to miss the din of pilgrims here. Every day nearby villagers and travellers stop and pray to the bike and its late owner Om Singh Rathore. The temple beside the Enfield motorbike has a big picture of Singh, fondly known as Om Banna.
It is said that a person who does not stop to pray at the shrine is in for a dangerous journey. The story goes that back in 1991, on a fateful summer night, Om Bana was returning from Pali to his native Chotila on his Bullet 350 when it skidded and hit a tree, killing him on the spot. The tree stands over the battered vehicle till date. Villagers say after Om Bana’s death, the motorbike was taken to a local police station. But next day morning, it was found at the accident spot.


The Bullet Baaba Shrine at Chotila village


Om Banna – Om Singh Rathore

Police initially thought it was a prank and after emptying the fuel tank they brought the bike back to the station. However, the motorcycle was again at the accident spot the next day. “As soon as the story spread, people in the nearby village built a platform on the spot where the death occurred and started offering prayers,” said Chotu Singh, a resident of the nearby village. Many shops offering incense sticks, flowers, coconut and red thread meant for offering prayers have sprung up near the shrine. Local people sing folk songs in the name of Om Bana who owned the Royal Enfield. The cause of his death, the tree itself remains ornamented with offerings of bangles, scarves and rope. The temple even has its own priest, Poonam Giri, who has been incharge of the upkeep of the shrine for two decades.


Every pass by pays respects here
The Royal Enfield Bullet 350 – motorcycle that is prayed to
Jodhpur to pali road who begins every trip with a salute to Bana, says, “Back then, only a few people would visit the temple. After tales of Om Bana riding his motorcycle on this road began to spread, his followers increased in number.” He recounts the story of one of his drivers whose vehicle skidded and fell into a ditch not far from the spot of Bana’s accident. “The driver was injured and bleeding in the vehicle when he swore that Om Bana came to him and helped him out. Such stories only increased this temple’s reputation,added by bhanwar singh chauhan village surdhana chauhanan distt bikaner.