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Jalaram Bapa

Jalaram (Gujarati: જલારામ) popularly known as Jalaram Bapa (Gujarati: જલારામ બાપા) (14 November 1799 – 23 February 1881) was a Hindu saint from Gujarat, India.

Family

Jalaram Bapa and Virbai had a daughter named Jamnaben from their marriage. Jamnaben's grandson Harirambahi was adapted by Shri Jalaram Bapa and his direct descendant, Giridhar Bapa and now his son Raghuram Bapa now heads the gadi of revered Virpur shrine of Jalaram Bapa.

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 seven days after the festival of 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 and have prasad of chiefly of khichdi with Bundi and popular farsan item Ganthiya The Jalaram Jayanti celebrations are also held at all Jalaram temples spread throughout India & abroad with festivities, where devotees participate to pay their respects and have prasad.

Jalarambapa's Gurubhakti

GREAT DISCIPLES OF SHRI BHOJABHAGAT (SHRI JALARAM)

Bhojabhagat says: "Lord Shyam [Lord Krishna] himself came to my hermitage to stamp my hand." Such was the Lord's response to Bhojabhagat's devotion.

Shri Jalarambapa, well known in Saurashtra: "Jala So Allah" [Jalaram is God] felt a stirring of his spiritual aspiration of previous lives. One day told his wife Shri Virbai Ma that he had to go to Fattepur to see Shri Bhojalrambapa who was a great Siddha Purush [ a man of great spiritual powers]. Shri Jalarambapa wanted to establish Shri Bhojalrambapa as his Guru [spiritual preceptor] and to pursue his sadhana [spiritual efforts] for self realization. He expressed his determination to be Shri Bhojalrambapa's disciple if Shri Bhojalrambapa accepted him. Otherwise he would remain in Fattepur untiring like a stone. He would not return to Virpur. When a sadhak [spiritual seeker] feels an intense aspiration for finding a Guru, the Guru's grace showers on him. His aspiration is answered with Guru's unceasing grace.

Shri Jalaram reached Fattepur and entered the courtyard of Shri Bhojalram's Ashram. Shri Bhojabhagat welcomed him: "Welcome Jalaram." This warm welcome touched the innermost care of Shri Jalaram and he said: "Gurudev ! you have raised me from Jala to Jalaram." [The addition of God Ram's name to Jala as a suffix to his name glorified the aspiration of Shri Jalarambapa.] "Now accept me as your disciple." Shri Bhojabhagat performed the ritual ceremony of Diksha [initiation into spiritual path] of Shri Jalaram who stayed with Shri Bhojabhagat for a long time and then departed for Virpur where he established his Ashram.

(An example of faith in the words of Guru)

Bhojalrambapa once organized a gathering of people at Fattepur. Thousands of saints, devotees and recluses came to Fattepur which was a small village. The whole village was filled with crowds and crowds of people everywhere. Jalarambapa and Valarambapa made preparations for accommodation and food for the visitors. They got the cooperation of people of near by villages and Bhojabapa's followers of Amreli.

A doubt sometimes entered Jalaram's mind as he was anxious that food stuff and other needed material should last till the end and no death a shortage felt. He expressed his anxiety before his Guru who assured him that everything would be alright. Jalaram trusted his Gurus words when all the needs of the visiting people were satisfied as they had eaten with satisfaction and peaceful lay down to sleep. Jalaram came to his Guru and told him that everything was satisfactorily over. He asked his Guru where he should do and where sleep. The Guru in jest asked him to fall in the river. It was a cold night of winter season, yet trusting his Guru's words Jalaram jumped in to the cold water of Thebi river near the village and remained stand the whole night reciting his Guru's name.

Early in the morning at about four o'clock in the morning Bhojabhagat went towards the river for his morning ablations. He looked for Jalaram and called out his name loudly which Jalaram replied that he had been standing in the river as per his Guru's order. Bhojabhagat asked him affectionately patting him paternally how he remained in cold water and whether he id not feel the coldness of water and cold air. Jalaram replied that he fulfilled the words of his master and the warmth of Guru's words protected him against cold.

On hearing these words of unflinching devotion of his disciple Bhojabhagat was touched to heart and blessed Jalaram and prophesied that with his heartfelt blessings Jalaram would place greater than his Guru and he would became reword all over the world and with the mention of his name wonders would be achieved. The prophesy has come true.

Promise Given to Disciple

Once Bhojabhagat asked Jalarambapa to go to Virpur to start a service centre for sages and saints and free food distribution centre for the poor and needy people of the area. Jalaram was relrectant to leave his Guru. Bhojabhagat explained to him and injected on his going. Jalaram accepted Guru’s order on the condition that Bhojabhagat should visit him pass his last days in Virpur and give up the ghost (die) in Jalaram’s presence. Bhojabhagat accepted his condition and said that God himself would one day visit Jalaram’s place.

In 1888 e.d. God visited Jalaram in the guise of a recluse to try his truth by asking him to handover his wife Virbaima to serve him (realize) in his old age. It was an add and awkward event where a husband was asked to hand over his wife to a stranger. But Jalarambapa and Virbaima were made of spiritual stuff and they know their truth would be vindicated by this trail. Virbaima followed the recluse at the behest of her husband. God in the guise of the recluse gave a staff and a bag to Virbaima and disappeared. It was God’s vindication of Jalarambapa and Virbaima’s truth and devotion. The staff and the bag proclaimed to the world the supreme action of the Lord to glorify the devotion couple. It was a sanction of the supreme Lord to their mission and bhakti. It fulfilled Bhojabhagat’s prophecy of God’s visit to vindicate Jalarambapa’s greatness.

Likewise Bhojabhagat’s promise to Valamram that the future flag hoisting of Bhojabhagat’s Ashram would be done with Gariyadhar flag material. Guru knew the intensity of disciple love and attachment and he accepted the condition of the disciple and perpetuated a tradition suggested by the disciples on Janmashtmi Day every year the tradition is observed.

When felt that he wanted to leave his old body he remembered his promise to Jalarambapa. He gathered his followers and told that he wanted to go Virpur to pass his last days of life and discard his body in Jalarambapa’s presence. He asked his followers to ask for any boon they wanted. They had already achieved everything. A person who has received Akshaydham (abundant wealth given by Mohan (God) needs nothing else. But prophesied that as card Krishna of Dwarka had hallowed the Ashram by his auspicious visit those who in future would die in the Ashram would achieve liberation (Moksha). Thus Fattepur was turned in to Kashi by Bhojabhagat.

As tradition tells us Bhojabhagat took leave of his followers and dipped his feet in red colored powder (Kumkum) and made permanent impression on the floor. He also left his turban and rosary as his relics in the Ashram. He went to Virpur and left his body in Virpur on posh sudha 8 the day of 1850a.d.

A memorial has been built on the place where Bhojabhagat’s dead body was cremated. It stands between Ramji Mandir in Jalaram’s shrine in the place near flower shrine. Thus the light in the form of Bhojabhagat’s life started at Dewkigalol near Jetpur and ended at Virpur. Human light merged in to light of the supreme Lord.

Story

Shri Jalaram Bapa was born on Monday, November 14, 1799 the seventh day of the bright half of the kartik, Vikram era 1856 in Virpur. He had a first meeting with the God at the age of five and since then he was all the time muttering Rama Rama. His father was a grocer and had a small shop in the town. From childhood only Jalaram was inclined towards the Sadhus and Sannyasis. Whenever he saw a sadhu he would take him to his house for meals. In the age of 14 he started working with his father in his shop. At the age of 16, Jalaram was married to Virbai the daughter of Pragji Thakkar of Atkot. As Jalaram continuously indulged in offering the meals to the sadhus his father had separated him from the house and shop. Now he started working in his uncle’s shop.

One day dozen’s of Sadhu came to his uncle’s shop and Jalaram gave them some yards of cloth and sufficient quantity of pulses, rice and flour. He also took the vessel filled with the Ghee . His neighbour merchant made this thing known to his uncle. His uncle stopped in the way and asked him ," what is there in the bundle". Jalaram said nothing but the dung cakes. His uncle asked him to show. Jalaram untied the bundle and there were the dung cake. Now he asked him to show the vessel, Jalaram ram said there is water and when he turned the vessel water flow out of it. Everyone was stunned but Jalaram knew that it is done by God.

He was convinced that to serve the sadhu is to serve the God. At the age of 17 only Jalaram went on the pilgrimage. Soon after returning from there he moved to see God - man "Bhoja Bhagat ". Bhoja Bhagat had composed the hundreds of devotional songs. These songs were popular in Gujarati as the " Bhoja Bhajat na Chabkha". He paid obeisance to him and requested him to be his Guru. So at the very early age of 20 Bhoja Bhagat accepted him as his disciple and gave him the Ram-mantra to utter. Jalaram wished to earn his livelihood and feed others from his own earning without being burden to anyone.

Once a Saint dropped at Jalaram place and Jalaram served him muttering the name of God. Saint was pleased and he was given small Krishna Idol and was told that,” Hanumanji will soon appear himself here at your place.” On the third day an Idol of Hanumanji made its appearance there. Day by day the number of Sadhus and pilgrims visiting house increased, So Virbai had given her gold chain and other ornament to Jalaram for sale.

Once the tailor named Harji had been suffering from some pain in the stomach from long time. He was told to utter the name of Jala Bhagat and he utter hisname and within week he was completely recovered. From this event he was called “JALARAM BAPA”. There lived a rich Muslim named Jamal in Virpur.

Once his ten-year-old son was ill. Inspite of the treatment he could not recovered so he took the name of the Jalaram Bapa and his son recovered. From thattime he was know as “Jalla so Allah”. At this event he was only 22 years of age.

Once the King of Dhrangadhra was going on a pilgrimage to Somnath and he had to pass through the Virpur. Jalaram stopped him and said, “ you cannot leavethis place without taking the prasad”. Bapa started distributing the prasad of sweet with the small baskets on his shoulder. Raja was pleased to seethis and ask for anything Jalaram needed. Jalaram asked for the small grinding mill that can grid upto the six to seven mounds of the grain daily. Rajasend the best grinding stones to Jala Bapa even today these stones can be seen in the temples.

Once the Gor(Priest) of Lohana Community had been suffering form the paralysis for the last fifteen years. He came to Virpur and paid the obeisance toJalaram Bapa. Bapa said ,”Gor Bapa it is not you but I am paying obeisance to you”. Jalaram Bapa said just worship the God and feed sadhus there. Gor Bapadid this and soon he was recovered. So he composed the song praising the Jala Bapa. Bapa said,”Please stop this non sense! Sing only the virtues of God,not of mine! If you praise me God would make you again as you were!”. Such a selfless soul was he!.

It was Vikram Era 1886. Once an old Sadhu came to the Ashram muttering the “Narayan, Narayan, Narayan!”. Bapa had offered meals but he said ,“NO”.Bapaasked him what he would take. He said his body is worn out and he wants some body to look after him. Bapa said that he would look after him but told him to send Bapa’s wife. Bapa hesitatingly said to Virbai that an old sadhu has arrived and had asked for her to look after him in his old age. Virbai Maa said that to tell Sadhu that she will go with him. Hearing this bapa was relieved. And she goes with sadhu.

The Sadhu and the Virbai Maa came across a river at a distance two - three miles. There the Sadhu said to mother that , “Look after my Bag and Staff(thick stick) I will just return after attending the natural call”.Saying this Sadhu disappeared behind the bushes. Virbai Maa waited for him till the sunset and now she was anxious about Sadhu and started weeping. Some cowherd boys saw that and call the villagers and now all realized that the Sadhu was no one else but God himself who had come to put the Bhagat to test. Since that day the bag and the thick stick are kept in the temple and are worshipped twice daily. Bapa was thirty when this event took place.

Bapa was doing the work of Ashram himself, he never wait for anybody to do work. Sometime if the streets are not cleaned up Bapa himself clean them and if the pots are not filled for Sadhus he himself went to the step - well and fill the pot. Jalaram Bapa often went to Fatepur near Amreli to see his Guru. Sometimes he went there even twice in the month, walking the distance of 24 miles. The Bhoja Bhagat and Bapa built the walls of the Ashram. Bhoja Bhagat did the masonry work and the Jala Bhagat carried the basket of wet earth or bricks or stones on head. Bhoja Bhagat comes to Virpur and it was in Virpur he had breathed his last.

Once the three Arabs resigned from the job as they were not given increase in wage by four rupees a month. So they started for Junagadh and in the way they hunted a few birds and put them in a bag. They were passing through the Virpur in the evening Jalaram Bapa saw them and asked them to have meal. They hesitate as they were Muslims but Bapa said there’s no distinction of caste or creed in court of god. They took the meal and tried to go away silently but bapa stopped them and halt them for a night. Bapa then touched their bag and said Ah! the poor birds feel suffocated open the bag and make them free. Bapa open the bag and make them free.

The Arabs were amazed and fell at the feet of bapa that will they get the job at junagadh. Bapa said that they will get and as they asked for four rupees more he will give them seven rupees more. It really happens so, A camel-man came to take them back.Once a Daughter-in-law of a farmer in Virpur went to a village named Roopvati in a marriage party and she lost her precious nose-ring with a Red Pearl. She took a vow of offering coconut in Bapa’s temple and after party she went straight to the Bapa’s Ashram with coconut. Seeing her weeping Bapa took the coconut from her hand and broke it before the idol of Rama. A Miracle happened. The nose-ring came out from the broken coconut.

Amarchand Sheth of the Jodia Port was returning from the Basara with a loaded shipment. On the way there was a storm in the sea. The ship developed the hole at the keel and it was being filled with water. Amarchand cried out for help. “Oh! Jaliya Bapa, save me! I will send the entire shipload of rice to you!”. In a mysterious way the water stopped entering the ship through the hole and the storm also was subsided. After reaching at port safely he thought that rice are costly and he need not send it to Ashram. So he send the Inferior quality of rice in carts.

Once a devotee of the Bapa wants to go on Pilgrimage to take the bath in Ganga-Yamuna and purify the body. Bapa asked him to sleep in bed near the gate of the Ashram for that day. The Devotee was peacefully resting there. Suddenly he was awake at mid-night, he saw the two women in white attire with the pots of water in their heads. The women emptied their pots in the big vessel emptied of Ashram. In the morning he talked about this to Bapa. Bapa said ,“ you are fortunate as you saw Ganga and Yamuna with your own eyes! You see they too are eager to server the sadhus who come here. Tell me now,do you still want to go on a pilgrimage?” The devotee said ,“ No all the pilgrimage is here for me.

Once some people of the wandering tribe encamped in front of Ashram. Men, women and children were shivering in the rains. Bapa approached them as asked them what they would prefer flour or loaves Women asked for loaves. Bapa took a heap of loaves from the kitchen and tied it into a bundle. He also took some dung-cakes in a sack, a few shears of dry grass for the donkeys and went to give these things to the tribesmen. Seeing this Lakhmanrao the darbar of Thandevadi exclaimed, “ Blessed are you and your parents Bapa! You are truly an angel.”

A European had a desire to take the photograph of the saint first as an inauguration of his studio. He therefore come to Virpur and asked for Bapa’s photograph. Bapa said that why his photograph and asked him to take the photograph of the cows and birds. European prayed to him. Bapa did not like to make anyone unhappy and so he allowed him to take his photograph. When he was being photographed his one eyes winked. This is the only photograph of Bapa. Bapa used to sing the bhajans in the court of the host’s house and they go on singing the songs one after another and the whole night would pass in the deep divine joy.

Bapa took the rice from the cartmen and when they were returning the cart asked for any message for the sheth. Bapa said “Greet him with the God’s name and tell him that the vow was for the shipped rice, but never mind, my sadhus will eat coarse rice with love.” Then after the pause he hesitatingly said “ Well tell the sheth to return the tooth-pick from the shirt which blocked the hole in his ship.” Hearing this message from the cartmen the sheth at once rushed to the port searched the ship and found a cloth in the hole. He stretched it out and found that it out and found that it was Bapa’s shirt with a toothpick in it. The sheth repented now,“ Fie upon me! I have deceived Bapa.” On the same day he sent to Bapa other sacks full of best quality rice.

Once a peasant family was relaxing under babul tree at noon after hard work in the field. Suddenly there were a whirlwind and the tree was uprooted. In a split of second it would on them and there was no time to escape. All were frightened. Suddenly one member cried out ,“ Oh save us, Jaliya Bapa.” No sooner did he speak this word then the tree stopped falling down as if some one had lifted it above. After few days they went to Virpur and tell Bapa about this incident then Bapa smiled and said ,“ See what has happened to my back and remove if there’s any babul thorn still inside the body. They saw that there were marks of the thorns on Bapa’s back.

Once the Kalo Raiyani of Virpur came with his ten-year-old son Govind and made him fall at the feet of Bapa. Then he said , “Bapa give him initiation.” Bapa said ,“ What to talk of initiation ? I only know feeding sadhus – nothing more.” But Kalo said ,“ No,no you must give him initiation!” A saint sitting there at that time said ,“ Bhagat give him initiation in the name of God.” Bapa never disobey the command of saints, so he initiated the boy and gave him Rama-Mantra. “Rama will protect him. He is the first initiated disciple of mine.” said Bapa. Ten years passed after the incident Govind was now twenty years old. Suddenly one day he developed an acute pain in his stomach and died with in a few hours. Bapa was informed about this and he reached at Kalo Raiyani’s house. The people had prepared the bier.Bapa asked to uncovered his face to see him and said ,“ O Govind! Why are you sleeping like this? Look at me!” Govind opened his eyes and looked at Bapa. Bapa asked Govind to get up. Peoples sorrow turns into joy. Everyone said that the Govind survive because of Bapa but Bapa said that, “ Everything happens due to God will".

Once the Jam Shri Ranamalji the Maharaj of Jamnagar ,the Maharaj of Jamnagar had invited some sadhus and devotees at his place. Jalaram Bapa was also one of them. There was a program of giving the clothes to the poor. It so happened that the number of people expecting clothes had increased beyond calculation, and it was impossible to secure the additional supply of clothes immediately. Jam shaeb requested Jalaram Bapa to distribute the clothes with his hand. For Bapa anybody’s request is the God’s command. He said ,“Let’s God will prevail.” Bapa gave the clothes to the thousands of people continuously for the four days and yet the stock was not exhausted. Bapa took Galol Ben of Devki Galol as his sister.

Once the Bapa reached her house unexpectedly talking about twenty-five sadhus with him. It was a time for lunch. Sister went into kitchen to prepare meal. Bapa understood the difficulty and told her whatever food is ready will be enough. Light the Ghee-lamp covers the food with a piece of cloth and start serving. The guests were seated for meals. The wonder of wonders is that everyone ate to his fill. Sister Galol looked into the vessel and found that there was still some food in it. She was so overwhelmed with emotion that she at the feet of Bapa. Bapa said “If you fall in my feet, I would be sinful.”

Once during the time of the crisis Bapa went to the Jivraj Vadalia of Thana and asked from him for two hundred rupees. Jivraj had only two hundred rupees in all with him. He brought out money and gave it to Bapa. When Jivraj’s wife knew this she lost her temper because there was not enough food for children in the house and her husband had gave money to Bapa. After the fortnight Bapa again came and returned the money saying that I donot not need money now crisis is over. Before leaving Bapa asked him to show his store. Jivraj said that the store is all empty. Bapa touched one vessel with stick and said that there is wheat in it. He touched the other one and said there is jowar in it , and similarly he go on touching and the grains get filled in the vessel.

Virbai Ma and Jalaram Bapa both were now old. Virbai Ma breathed her last on Monday, the ninth day of the dark Kartik in Vikram Era 1935. Bapa repeated God’s name ceaselessly for seven days. Bapa also was suffering from the piles. Hundreds of devotees used to come for his darshan every day. Bapa had a daughter named Jamnabai. Bapa had adopted Jamnabai’s grand son Hariram as his heir. Hariram was still a child so devotees were anxious about him but Bapa said, “Hariram’s Hari is at his side. Hari is powerful. Take it from me that will increase my worth after death. On Wednesday, February 23, 1881 the tenth day of the dark half of Magh, Vikram era 1937 Bapa left the World while praying God, at the age to eighty one.