Jalaram Bapa
Jalaram Bapa popularly known as Bapa was a Hindu saint from Gujarat, India. He is mainly worshipped in Gujarat, but his words and miracles have spread throughout India and many other countries. Jalaram Bapa was born in Virpur, Rajkot district, Gujarat, India in 1799. His father was Pradhan Thakkar and his mother was Rajbai Thakkar who belonged to Lohana clan. He was a devotee of Rama Bhagwan.
Jalaram Bapa mostly engaged in serving pilgrims, sadhus and saints. He separated himself from his father’s business. At the age of sixteen, in 1816, Jalaram married Virbai, the daughter of Pragjibhai Thakkar (Somaiya) of Atkot. However, he was inclined to completely withdraw from materialistic life and become an ascetic, Virbai stood behind him in his works of feeding poor and needy.
At the age of 18, soon after returning from pilgrimage to Hindu holy places, Jalaram Bapa became the disciple of Bhoja Bhagat of Fatehpur, who accepted him as his disciple. Jalaram was given the Guru Mantra and japa mala in the name of Rama by his Guru Bhojalram. With blessings of his guru, he started “Sadavrat”, a feeding centre, a place where all sadhus and saints as well as the needy could have food any time.
One day, a sadhu who came to his house gave him a deity of Lord Rama, forecasting that Hanuman, devotee of Rama, would follow soon. Jalaram Bapa installed Rama as his family deity and after a few days, a deity of Hanuman appeared out of earth, on its own. The deity of Sita and Lakshman also appeared. Due to a miracle in the house of Jalaram, where grains were stored, became inexhaustible. Later other devotees and village folk joined him in his works of human welfare.
Jalaram bapa’s fame spread as a divine incarnation. Whoever came to Virpur, whether Hindu or Muslim irrespective of caste, creed and religion were fed by Jalaram. This tradition of feeding people continues to this day in Virpur.
Virpur
Virpur was the workplace of Shri Jalaram Bapa. The main shrine of Jalaram Bapa is located at Virpur. The shrine is actually the house complex where Jalaram lived during his lifetime. The shrine houses the belongings of Jalaram and the deities of Rama, Sita, Lakshman and Hanuman worshipped by him. It also has on display the Jholi and Danda.
Jalaram Jayanti
Jalaram Bapa’s birthday is celebrated on 7th day Shukla paksha of the Hindu month of Kartika as Jalaram Jayanti. It falls on seventh day from Diwali. On this day, devotees are served meal as prasad. There is a huge fair and festival at Virpur on the occasion and millions of devotees visit Virpur, on this day to pay their respect to the saint. The Jalaram Jayanti celebrations are also held at all Jalaram temples across India & abroad with festivities, where devotees participate to pay their respects and have prasad.
