Jalaram Bapa

Jalaram / જલારામ
Born	(1799-11-14)November 14, 1799 V.S. 1856 Virpur, Gujarat, India
Died	February 23, 1881(1881-02-23) (aged 81) V.S. 1937. Virpur, Gujarat, India
Spouse	Virbai Thakkar
Parent(s)	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. He was born in Virpur, Rajkot district, Gujarat, India in 1799, on the seventh day of the Kaartika month. Names of his father was Shri Pradhan Thakkar and mother was Smt. Rajbai Thakkar, who belonged to Thakkar sub-group of Lohana clan of Hindu community.

Shree Jalaram Bapa was a devotee of Lord Ram.

Biography

An idol of Jalaram Bapa at a temple in Gujarat

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.

It was obvious that Jalaram Bapa was inclined to completely withdraw from marital life. Fortunately his wife, Virbaima decided to follow the path of Jalaram. So, when Jalaram decided to go for a pilgrimage for holy places like Ayodhya, Kasi, Badrinath and several other sacred places. Virbaima followed him.

At the age of 18, Jalaram Bapa accepted Shree Bhojalram from Fatehpur as guru and was given a "Guru Malaa and Mantra" 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 24 hours. Nobody returned from that place without having food. All this he did single handed with Virbaima assisting him. Soon his fame spread as an incarnation of the divine. Whoever come to Virpur, whether Hindu, Muslim or any Religion was fed by Bapa. This tradition of feeding people continues to this day in Virpur, Gujarat. 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, 2001. In fact, it is only temple in India to set such a trend to not to take any offerings and donations.

At a time when God himself in the guise of an old Saint told Jalaram Bapa to donate his wife Virbaima to serve him, after having deep sight in heart Jalaram Bapa actually donated Virbai Ma(with her consent there to). After reaching somewhere in forest a saint asked Virbai Ma to wait for him but he never came, this was followed by Akashwani stating that it was only to test hospitality of the couple, then God came and gave blessings. He had left a Danda and Jholi, with Virbai Ma, before the saint disappeared and Akashwani followed. This Danda and Jholi are still there at Virpur and are kept in display in a glass enclosure.

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 donate some money or grains or do fasting 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. Previously, devotees used to send to money to Jalaram Bapa's main temple at Virpur and flow of money never stopped. However, the Virpur temple has stopped taking any money in cash or cheque since over a decade and is one and only temple in world to do so. Theses "Parachas" are printed 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.

Jalaram Jayanti

Even today Jalaram Bapa's birthday (the seventh day of Kartik month) is celebrated as Jalaram Jayanti. On this day various groups of Jalaram devotees feed the food as prasad. This happens at a lot of Jalaram temples throughout India & abroad as well. Jalaram Jayanti is observed on the seventh day after Diwali.

External links

*[[1] : ભોજલરામ બાપા જેવા ગુરૂ અને જલારામબાપા જેવા શિષ્ય અવતર્યા ધન્ય સૌરાષ્ટ્રની ધરાને.]

• : 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.jalarammandir-alandi-chotila.com : Jalaram Mandir at Alandi, Pune, Maharashtra and Chotila, rajkot, Gujarat.
• www.jaijaliyaan.com : Jay Jalaram
• www.jalaramcochin.org : Jalaram dham at Cochin, kerala, India
• help page).m/ www.jalaramcochin.com : Jalaram dham at Cochin, kerala, India
• www.jalaram.com
• www.jalarambapa.com/main/history.htm
• www.jalaramjyot.in; Books on Jalaram Bapa
• www.jalabapa.org/life.htm
• www.jalabapa.org
• www.jalarambangalore.org/index2.htm : : Jalaram temple in Banaglore
• www.jalaramonline.org : Has list of Jalaram temples in India
• www.jalaramonline.org/flashindex.htm : Worship Jalaram Online
• Lohana Online list of Jalaram temple in India
• List of few Books on Jalaram Bapa on internet