Jalaram Bapa

Jalaram / જલારામ
Born	November 14, 1799(1799-11-14) V.S. 1856 Virpur, Gujarat, India
Died	February 23, 1881(1881-02-23) (aged 81) V.S. 1937. Virpur, Gujarat, India
Spouse	Virbai Thakkar
Parents	Pradhan Thakkar,Rajbai Thakkar

Saint Shri Jalaram (Gujarati: જલારામ) popularly known as Shri Jalaram Bapa (Gujarati: જલારામ બાપા) was a Hindu saint from Gujarat, India.

Biography

An idol of Jalaram Bapa decorated in colorful dress on eve of Jalaram Jayanti celebrations at a temple in Gujarat

He was born in Virpur, Rajkot district, Gujarat, India in 1799, on the seventh day of the Kaartika month. His parents were, father Shri Pradhan Thakkar & mother Smt. Rajbai Thakkar belonging to Thakkar sub-group of Lohana clan. He was a devotee of Lord Ram.

Jalaram Bapa was however not willing to live household life and to continue to do business of his father. He was mostly engaged in serving Pilgrims, sadhus and saints. He separated himself from his father's business and his uncle, Valjibhai asked Jalaram Bapa and Virbaima to stay in his house.

At the age of sixteen, in year 1816 ( V.S. 1872), he was married to Virbai, daughter of Pragji Thakkar of Atkot.Jalaram Bapa was inclined to completely withdraw from materialistic life and become an aesthetic, however, Virbaima proved to be an asset to him in his works of feeding poor and needy. She was also a pious and saintly lady and she also decided to follow the path of serving mankind. When at age of twenty, Jalaram Bapa decided to go for a pilgrimage for holy places like Ayodhya, Kashi, Badrinath and several other sacred places, Virbaima also accompanied him in pilgrimage.

At the age of 18, Jalaram Bapa became disciple of Bhoja Bhagat of Fatehpur and accepted him as his Guru and was given "Guru Mantra" (mantra) and Malaa in the name of Shree Ram. With blessings of his guru, he started "Sadavrat" a feeding center, a place where all sadhus and saints as well as the needy could have food any time during twenty four hours a day and twelve months a year.

One day a sadhu who came to his house gave him an idol of Lord Rama, fore-casting that Hanumanji would follow soon. Jalaram installed Rama as his family deity and soon few days after, an idol of Hanuman appeared out of earth, on its own. The idol of Sita and Laxmana are also there. Nobody returned from that place without having food. All this he did single handed with Virbaima assisting him in starting years. Due to a miracle the container in house of Jalaram Bapa, where grains were stored became in exhaustible.Later other devotees and village folk joined him in his works of human welfare.

Soon his fame spread as an incarnation of the divine. Whoever come to Virpur, whether Hindu, Muslim irrespective of caste, creed and religion were fed by Bapa. This tradition of feeding people continues to this day in Virpur, Gujarat.

Once a tailor named Haraji, who was suffering from severe stomach-ache came to him to get himself cured. Jalaram prayed to God and he was cured. He fell at Jalaram's feet and addressed him as Bapa. Since then the name by which he was known became Jalaram Bapa. Soon his fame spread and people came to him to get rid of diseases, problems & other things. Jalaram Bapa would pray for them in name of Lord Rama and miracles started to happen. Both Hindus and Muslims people became his disciple. In 1822 son of a rich Muslim merchant named Jamal fell ill and doctors gave up all hopes. At that point of time tailor Haraji, told Jamal of his experience (paracha). Jamal, prayed from his house, that if his son is relieved of disease, he would give 40 maunds of grain to Jalaram Bapa for sadavrat. His son recovered and Jamal visited house of Jalaram Bapa with cart load of grains and called as him Jalla so Allah!!.

At one time when God himself in the guise of an old Saint told Jalaram Bapa to donate his wife Virbaima to serve him. Jalaram Bapa consulted Virbaima and taking her consent sent Virbaima with saint for his service. But after walking some miles and reaching a nearby forest, the saint asked Virbaima to wait for him. She waited but saint did not come back. Instead, there was an Akashwani stating that it was only to test hospitality of the couple, this test was taken. Before the saint disappeared, he had left a Danda and Jholi, with Virbai Ma. Virbaima returned home to Jalaram Bapa, as instructed in celestial voice with Danda & Jholi This Danda and Jholi are still there at Virpur and are kept in display in a glass enclosure.

Virpur

The main shrine and temple of Jalaram Bapa is located at Virpur near Rajkot in Gujarat. The shrine is actually the house complex where the saint lived during his life time. It is maintained as it was in original days. The shrine houses the original things used by Jalaram Bapa and idol of Lord Rama, Sita, Laxmana and Hanuman worshiped by him. It also has on display the Jholi and Danda said to be given by god himself.But the main attraction is the portrait of Jalaram Bapa. There is also an actual black & white photo of Jalaram Bapa, taken one year before his death.

Devotees have offered so much money to this temple in the past, that the temple is no longer taking any more donations since 9th February, 2000. In fact, it is only temple in India to set such a trend to not to take any offerings and donations.

Parchas

In modern time, many devotees of Jalaram have experienced that if they pray to Shree Jalaram Bapa from the depth of their heart, he kindly gives his blessings to them and fulfill their wishes. These experiences are known as "Parachas".

They pray to Jalaram Bapa, that if their wish is fulfilled they would do fasting and visit temple on Thursday or would send their experience (Parachas) to be printed on Jalaram Jyot - a magazine published from Rajkot. Due to innumerable Parchas, experienced by many persons, the name & fame of Jalaram Bapa has spread all over the world and his Temple can be found in all parts of India as well as overseas. Theses "Parachas" are printed free-of-cost in the magazine every month with name & address of devotee, for any can verify it and also the person who sent his experience can come to know that his Paracha has been printed.

Today there are large followers of Jalaram Bapa, who worship him like a God, similar in line of Sai Baba of Shirdi.

Jalaram Jayanti

Today Jalaram Bapa's birthday is celebrated on 7th day Hindu calendar month of Kartika as Jalaram Jayanti. It falls on seven days after main festival of Hindus - Diwali. On this day various groups of Jalaram devotees feed the food 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 and have prasad of chiefly of khichdi with Bundi and popular farsan item GanthiyaThe Jalaram Jayanti celebrations are also held at all the Jalaram temples spread throughout India & abroad with festivities, where millions of devotees participate to pay their respects and have prasad.

Temples

The idol of Jalaram Bapa is shown as a smiling man holding danda and wearing often a white paghadi and white dhoti-kurta.The idols of Lord Rama, Laxmana, Sita & Hanuman, whom he worshiped are also mostly found along with his idol. Temples of Jalaram Bapa today can be found in almost all big & small towns through out India. Outside India, temples are in East Africa, United Kingdom, United States of America and even New Zealand.

External links

• : Life-sketch of Shri Jalaram Bapa - mentioning incidents of his divine power.
• Jalaram Bapa - Life story, Paracha
• Jalaram Jyot : Paracha Archive
• Jalaram Bapa : Complete Life Story
• Main Preachings of Sant Shri Jalaram Bapa
• www.jalarambapa.com/main/history.htm
• www.jalaramjyot.in; Books on Jalaram Bapa
• www.jalabapa.org/life.htm