અન્નક્ષેત્ર તેમજ ચમત્કારી જ્ગ્યા એટલે વીરપુર

અન્નક્ષેત્ર તેમજ ચમત્કારી જ્ગ્યા એટલે વીરપુર

યાત્રાધામોની શ્રેણીમાં વીરપુર એ એક અનન્ય યાત્રાધામ છે. જલારામ બાપાના નામ સાથે સંકળાયેલું આ સ્થળ સમગ્ર ગુજરાતનું તીર્થઘામ છે.ગોંડલ અને જેતપુર વચ્ચે આવેલા વીરપુરમાં રામનું મંદિર આવેલું છે.કારણ કે જલારામ બાપા નાનપણથી રામના પ્રેમી હતા. જલારામ બાપાની ઈચ્છાનુસાર અહીં સદાવ્રત ચાલે છે અને બારે માસ યાત્રાળુઓની ભીડ રહે છે.જરાલામ બાપાના નામે ચાલતા ટ્રસ્ટ તરફથી શિક્ષણના વિકાસની પ્રવૃત્તિઓ ચાલે છે. સંસ્કૃત ભાષાની ઉન્નતી માટે શિષ્યવૃત્તિ અપાય છે.

જલારામ બાપા નો જન્મ સં. 1856 ના કારતક સુદ સાતમને સોમવારે તારીખ 4-11-1799 ના રોજ વિરપુરમાં થયો હતો. જલારામના પિતા વેપારી હતાં. ખપ પૂરતુ ભણાવવા જલારામને ગામઠી નીશાળમાં ભણવા માટે મૂક્યા હતા.પરંતુ જલારામનું મન ભણવા કરતાં સાધુ સંતમાં વધારે નમેલું રહેતું હતું. પોતાની હાટ ઉપરથી જલારામ સાધુ સંતોને દાળ,ચોખા, લોટ કે ગોળનું પોટલુ આપી દેતો.પરણ્યા છતાં તેમનું મન સંસાર કરતાં સાધુસંતોના સમાગમમાં રહેતું હતું. આથી જ તેમને એકાએક મનમાં જાત્રા કરવા જવાનો સંકલ્પ કરી લીઘો અને દોકુળ-મથુરા અને બદ્રીનારાયણ અયોધ્યા,કાશી,પ્રયાગ,ગયા અને જગન્નાથપુરી, રામેશ્વર એમ સકળ તીર્થનાં દર્શન કરી ઘરે પાછા ફર્યા.જાત્રાઓથી પાછા ફરીને આવ્યા બાદ જલારામ ભોજા ભગતના દર્શને ગયા અને એમને ગુરૂ તરીકે સ્વીકાર્યા. ગુરૂએ કંઠી બાંધી અને રામ મંત્ર આપ્યો.ભગતે પત્નિ વિરબાઈ સાથે વિરપુરમાં સદાવ્રત સ્થાપ્યુ. અને રામનું નામ લઈને ભૂખ્યાને ટુકડો આપવાનું શરૂ કર્યું.એક વાર જલારામને ગુરૂને કહ્યુંકે,મહારાજ મારે સદાવ્રત બંધાવવું છે,આપની આજ્ઞા માંગું છું, ગુરૂએ આજ્ઞા આપી અને કહ્યું કે,

સૌને સરસ કહેવું, આપ નીરસ થવું,

આપ આધીન થઈ દાન દેવું,

મન કરમ વચને કરી નિજ ધર્મ આદરી,

દાતા ભોક્તા હરિ એમ કહેવું.

આમ ઈશ્વવર ઉપરની શ્રદ્ધા અને સંકલ્પશક્તિને કારણે સંવત 1876ના મહા સુદ બીજના રોજ સદાવ્રતની શરૂઆત થઈ. વીરપુરમાં જલારામ ભગતને મળેલી લાલજીની મૂર્તિ, પ્રગટ થયેલી હનુમાનજી મૂર્તિની સ્થાપના કરીને નાનકડા આશ્રમ જેવું બનાવ્યું.સદાવ્રત ચલાવતા એક વાર દાણાપાણી ખૂટતાં વીરબાઈએ પોતાના ધરેણા વેચી નાંખ્યા અને સાધુઓને રોટલા ખવડાવ્યા.પણ એનો જલારામને કે વીરબાઈને કોઈ રંજ નહોતો.જલારામબાપા પ્રાણી માત્રમાં રામનાં દર્શન કરતા અને એમની સેવા કાજે સદા તત્પર રહેતા. તેઓ નિસ્પૃઃહી હતાં.

જલારામ બાપાના આશ્રમમાં એક વાર ભગવાન પોતે તેમની પરીક્ષા લેવા આવ્યા હતાં. અને તેમણે આવીને બાપા પાસે વીરબાઈની માંગણી કરી હતી.બાપાએ સાધુની સેવા કરવા માટે ખુશીથી પોતાની પત્નિને અર્પણ કરી દીધા.પરંતુ માત્ર પરિક્ષા કરવા માટે આવેલા ભગવાન વીરબાઈમાતાને ઝોળી ધોકો દઈને જતાં રહ્યા.તે દિવસથી ઈશ્વરે આપેલી ઝોળી અને ધોકો આજે પણ મંદિરમાં પૂંજાય છે.

જલારામબાપાના મંદિરમાં ઊંચ,નીચ,ધર્મ કે જાતિના ભેદભાવ વગર દરેકને પ્રસાદ લેવાની છૂટ છે. જલારામબાપા નીચા ઘાટના હતાં,નહિ દુબળા કે નહિ જાડા.ગોઠણ સુંધીનું તેમનું અંગરખું અને ટૂંકી પોતડી તેઓ પહેરતા હતાં,માથે મોટી પાઘડી બાંધતા હતાં.એક હાથમાં લાકડી રાખતા અને આખો દિવસ માળા ફેરવતા તેઓ રામનું નામ લેતા હતાં. જલારામબાપાએ ભજન કરતા કરતાં સં.1937 ને મહાવદ દશમને 81 મા વરસે વૈકુઠવાસ કર્યો હતો. એમ કહેવાય છે કે –

જલારામ બાપાના ભંડાર અખૂટ છે,

તેમનું નામ અમર છે, કીર્તિ અખંડ છે.

પૂજય રણછોડદાસજી મહારાજના શબ્દોમાં કહું તો-

પરદુઃખ દેખે દવે હિય,

સંતન સૌ અતિ પ્રીત,

ભૂખે કો ચૂકડા મિલે,

બના, જલા કી રીત,

જય જલારામ,

જય જલિયાણ.

વીરપુર એ જલારામ બાપાની તીર્થભૂમિ છે. અમદાવાદથી રાજકોટ અને રાજકોટથી જુનાગઢ જતા રસ્તામાં વચ્ચે જ વીરપુરનું સ્ટેશન આવે છે. વીરપુર જવા માટે બસો પણ આખા ગુજરાતના કોઈ પણ સ્થળેથી હવે તો આસાનીથી મળી રહે છે. સ્ટેશને ઉતરીને ગામ તરફ જતા માત્ર 10 મીનીટ ચાલવાથી જલારામ અતિથિ ગૃહ આવી જાય છે. તેમાં 100 થી પણ વધારે ઓરડીઓ આવેલી છે. આ ધર્મશાળામાં અતિથિઓ માટે ગાદલા,ગોદડા,વાસણો, ધોડિયા વગેરેની સેવાઓ મળી રહે છે.જો કે હવે તો આ યાત્રાઘામની ખ્યાતિ દેશ વિદેશમાં પણ એટલી બધી વિસ્તરી છે કે દાનનો વિશાળ પ્રવાહ અત્યારે મંદિર ચાલુ જ રહેતો હોય છે. તેથી યાત્રાળુઓનો ઘસારો વિશેષ પ્રમાણમાં જોવામાં આવે છે. આ ઘસારાનો લાભ લઈને હવે સ્થાનિક જગ્યામાં ઘણી બધી હોટલો ઉપરાંત પ્રાઈવેટ ગેસ્ટ હાઉસો પણ એટલા બધા ખુલી ગયા છે કે રહેવા માટે કોઈ વિકલ્પ વિચારવાનો રહેતો નથી, જલારામ બાપાના મંદિરમાં બારે મહિના 24 કલાક અન્નક્ષેત્ર ચાલુ રહે છે જ્યા દરેકે દરેકને જમવાનું મળી રહે છે જેના બદલામાં તમારે જે કાંઈ પણ દાન દક્ષિણા આપવી હોય તે ઈચ્છાનુસાર ત્યાં ભેટ આપી દઈએ તે ચાલે છે.અત્યારના સમયમાં પણ લોકોમાં એવી માન્યતા રહેલી છે બાપાની બાંધા રાખવાથી મનની ઈચ્છાઓ પુરી થાય છે.

આમ જલારામ બાપાનું આ વિશાળ મંદિર શાંતિ, સંતોષ અને ત્યાગની અનુભૂતિ કરાવે છે. જો કે અત્યારે એક વાત ખાસ નોંધનિય છે કે શ્રદ્ધાળુઓનો દાનનો પ્રવાહ અત્યાર સુધીમાં એટલી વિશાળ માત્રામાં આવ્યો છે કે હાલની પરિસ્થિતિએ કોઈ પણ પ્રકારનું દાન કે ભેટ સ્વીકારવામાં આવતી નથી.આવા સંતોષની ચરમસીમાં એ ખરેખર વિરલ વ્યક્તિઓના સ્થાનોમાં જ બનતી હોય છે.

શુભ કાર્યની પહેલ રઘુવીર સેના તરફથીઃ

એક શુભ કાર્યની પહેલ રઘુવીર સેના તરફથીઃ


આ શિયાળાની ઋતુમા જરૂરિયાતમંદ ગરીબ લોકોને કપડા પહોચાડવાની પહેલ કરવામા આવે છ 


જો આપ આ શુભકાર્યમા સહભાગી થવા માંગતા હોય તો આપ આપના જુના કપડા આપવા માટે 


નીચેના નંબર પર ફોન કરી શકો છ ફોન કર્યા બાદ ૧૨ કલાકમા કપડા આપના ઘરેથી કલેક્ટ કરી 


લેવામા આવશે તો બધા જ લોકોને સહકાર આપવા રઘુવીર સેનાની વિનંતી. જય જલારામ જય 


જલિયાણ!!!



ધ્રુવલ બારાઈ (રાજકોટ) (૯૭૨૫૬૩૨૭૪૯)
મનીષભાઈ (રાજકોટ) (૯૭૨૫૨૫૨૫૬૪)
મયુરભાઈ (રાજકોટ) (૯૯૯૮૫૨૨૨૮૫)
સાર્થક(હિરેન ગણાત્રા) (રાજકોટ) ૯૦ ૯૯૯ ૨ ૯૯૯ ૪

Holy Gita fundamental

3 problems in life.
Adi amika - physical problems, mental problems
Adi bhautika- problems caused by mosquitoes, virus, animals, humans.
Adi devika- natural calamities

2 solutions

symptomatic solution
eg. blowing our wound/boil which makes us feel relaxed just for a while

By keeping ourself entertained with sense enjoyment, telivision, music, gaming, alchol, drugs for shelter etc & sometimes superficial beliefs like the card & his parrot predections, to forget our old age, death etc & we get so involved with material life which is known as temperory solutions.

Pythological solution
eg. we get a boil & instead of curing the boil we purify our blood which removes the boil from its root forever.

By balancing ourself in both material & spritual life, we prefer cleanliness of clothes, body, but ignore to purify our minds, mind is the root & when the mind is pure things gets balanced in life which is like a permenant solution. Mind can be cured by purification process, by drinking the nectar of harinam, bhagwat prashad, Blessings of guru, sadhus, elders, hearing/reading of Holy scriptures.

Why do Hindus Worship Tulsi Maharani?

Firstly every morning we need to offer prayers to Shrimati Vrindavi Tulsi Maharani -Vrindaya tulsi devaya, priyaya keshavshya krishnabhakti pratidevi satyawati namoha namahay. chant it 3 times.

Those who wears a tulis Kanthi/tulsi beeds on their kanth/neck & eats prashadam/food, every grain of food equals to the fruits obtained via Ashwamedha Yagya. Single grain = 1 ashwamedha yagya. (100 Ashwamedha Yagya make a person a king of Swargaloka/Indraloka)

Those who wears a tulsi Kanthi Yamraja orders Chitraketu to tear the page from his book of good/bad deeds because the person is suppose to reach Vainkutha directly & no more accounting is required.

Those who takes a tulsi pot & offer it to the supreme, he gets 60 crore years of residence in Vainkutha Dhama & later enter the maharas leela with Sri Krishna.

Those who wears even a single, smallest beed or just one grain of tulsi in his kanth & takes bath the person gets the same fruit which is earned by taking bath in ALL PILGRIMAGE PLACE HOLY WATER.

These are very few Glories of Shrimati Tulsi Maharani, there are many more

Lectured by HH Sri Rajendraji Maharaj From Narada Pancratna.

Just by looking at you (Tulasi), all sins become removed. Just by touching
you, one's body becomes pure. By praying to her, all diseases practically
become removed. If one waters her or makes her wet, the fear of Yamaraja
(death personified) is destroyed. Just by planting or transplanting, one
achieves nearness to the Supreme Personality of Godhead. If someone offers
Tulasi at the lotus feet of Lord Sri Krsna, she awards liberation and devotion
to Him, therefore I pay my humble obeisances to such a wonderful Tulasidevi.

In Kali-yuga, Tulasidevi burns up all of a person's sins who bathes her,
gives her in charity, meditates on her, eats her leaves, worships Lord Sri
Kesava with her, transplants her or sings her glories.

The Tulasi plant gets her name from Srimati Tulasi-devi, one of Lord Krishna’s dearmost eternal consorts, a pure devotee in the form of a gopi, who lives in the spiritual world. The Tulasi plant is a manifestation or expansion of her. Because Tulasi is so dear to Krishna, one gains all kinds of benefits by worshiping her. By attaining her mercy, one can more quickly make spiritual advancement and gain entrance into the spiritual world


(The attached picture if of Tulsi Maharani in her Swaroop/deity form)

એક શુભ કાર્યની પહેલ રઘુવીર સેના તરફથીઃ

એક શુભ કાર્યની પહેલ રઘુવીર સેના તરફથીઃ


આ શિયાળાની ઋતુમા જરૂરિયાતમંદ ગરીબ લોકોને કપડા પહોચાડવાની પહેલ કરવામા આવે છ 


જો આપ આ શુભકાર્યમા સહભાગી થવા માંગતા હોય તો આપ આપના જુના કપડા આપવા માટે 


નીચેના નંબર પર ફોન કરી શકો છ ફોન કર્યા બાદ ૧૨ કલાકમા કપડા આપના ઘરેથી કલેક્ટ કરી 


લેવામા આવશે તો બધા જ લોકોને સહકાર આપવા રઘુવીર સેનાની વિનંતી. જય જલારામ જય 


જલિયાણ!!!



ધ્રુવલ બારાઈ (રાજકોટ) (૯૭૨૫૬૩૨૭૪૯)


મનીષભાઈ (રાજકોટ) (૯૭૨૫૨૫૨૫૬૪)


મયુરભાઈ (રાજકોટ) (૯૯૯૮૫૨૨૨૮૫)


સાર્થક(હિરેન ગણાત્રા) (રાજકોટ) ૯૦ ૯૯૯ ૨ ૯૯૯ ૪

History Of Sravan Kumar

There was one young boy named Shravan Kumar. Seems to be he was born quite late to his parents as his parents were old and also blind. Even at that age they wanted to go on pilgrimage, hence, they told their son to take them for the pilgrimage. He took both of them and was killed by an hunter who mistook him to be an animal in the forest. This hunter fired the arrow on the listening sound coming from a water hole thinking that some wild animal is drinking water. This hunter was Raja Dashrath who is more famous for his Ram. When Raja Dashrath came to know that it is a human and not an animal, he went to the parents of Shravan Kumar to seek their forgiveness. But in place of foregiving Raja Dashrath, parents of Shravan Kumar immediately cursed him that he will also die longing for his son.

What I understood from this story:

1. Shravan Kumar was made to spend his time in taking his parents on his shoulders for their pleasure which was pilgrimage.

2. Sharvan Kumar wasted his youth in contributing something to the world.

3. Parents of Shravan Kumar were short tempered and beyond reasoning. In a forest one can only think of wild animals roaming around and not human beings. There was a mistake by Raja Dashrath which he accepted and asked for the forgiveness but was given a curse.

Similarly there is a story of an ancient king (I have forgotten his name) who wanted to enjoy the masti of youth, hence, he borrowed the youthfulness of his son and enjoyed the life for eternity and after many centuries he returned the youthfulness to his son.

What I understand is that a child should accept the dictates of his parents even at his own perils.

Parents are supposed to be at a better advantageous position irrespective of their intelligence just becuase they are biological parents.

Parents can anything to their children even abuse them in public but the children are supposed to be nice to them under all circustances.

Even when children are taking good care of their parents but the parents just to kill their time are suppposed to make fun of their children, say nasty things about their children in front of others and so on.

Good parents are those who under all circustances think good, say good about their children and teach good to their children. It is irrespective whether their children take good care of their parents or not. Basically, if children are not taking good care of their parents it the parents under whom the child has learnt such things. Then why to curse the child.

DEAD BIRDS COME ALIVE !!!

There were three Arabs in the service of the Thakore of Rajkot. They demanded an increase in wages by four rupees a month. The Thakore refused. So they resigned and started for Junagadh. On their way they hunted a few birds, and put them in the bag they carried on their shoulders.

They were passing through Virpur in the evening when Jalaram Bapa saw them. He said, "Please have your meals here and then go."

The Arabs said, "We are Muslims!"

Bapa said, "there is no distinction of caste or creed in the court of god. You are welcome here!"

Led by Bapa, the Arabs came to his place. Now they rememberd that they had the dead birds with them and here was a hindu temple.What to Do ?

As soon as the meals were finished they tried to go away silently , but Bapa said , " You must have been tired ! Have a night halt here!"

The Arabs felt most embarrassed. Bapa then touched their bag with his staff and said , Ah ! The poor birds feel suffocated make them free."

The Arabs saw that the bag hanging on a peg had live birds in it . They opened the bag and the birds flew away to the tree nearby . The Arabs were amazed . They fell at the feet of Bapa and asked , "Bapa,shall we get a job in Junagadh ?"

Bapa said , why , the Arabs serve only one master ." The Arabs said, " But the Thakore of Rajkot is not willing to pay us adequately."

Bapa said , he will . You asked for four rupees more , but he will give you seven ."

It really happened so. Just at that time, a camel-man ,sent by the Thakore of Rajkot arrived there and took the Arabs back with honour. The Thakore had sanctioned an increase of seven seven rupeesin their salary.

A LOST NOSE RING FOUND FROM A COCONUT

The daughter -in-law of a farmer in Virpur went to a village named Roopavathi in a marriage party . She wore a nose ring with a precious red pearl set in it . While enjoying the wedding festivities she lost it somewhere, and did not find it . she took a vow of offering a coconut in Bapa's temple before going home .

The marriage party returned to Virpur. The daughter-in-law went straight to Bapa's ashram with a coconut .Seeing her weeping Bapa said , " Come on , my child, Let me break the coconut before God ."

Saying this he took the coconut and broke it before the idol of Rama . A miracle happened . The nose -ring came out of the broken coconut !

Bapa said , " Oh, how mischievous my Rama is !"

The daughter-in-law was simply mad with joy. She went home with nose ring .

The First Miracle

Virpur is on the way to Girnar, the holy pilgrimage centre, and all pilgrims and sadhus used to make a halt at Virpur for their food and rest. They used to ask for foodgrains at the shops in the village and used to cook their food. One day it is so happened, all the other shops were closed. Valaji' shop alone was open. Hence all the sadhus and mendicants called at Valaji's shop for alms. Jalaram was so delighted to see so many sadhus come to him. He doled out to them dal, rice, flour, ghee, sugar oil and many other items, which ever they asked for, as charity. Further when he saw some of the sadhus in torn clothes, he gave away new cloth also from the shop.

Some of the people of the village who were jealous and envious of Jalaram because of his uncle's fondness for him, went and complained to Valaji who become very furious on Jalaram. He came threateningly to the shop. He said he wanted a complete check to be made in the shop of all the things and materials. Jalaram felt frightened and started praying to God to save him from his uncle's wrath. As the uncle went on checking, every bag was full with the contents, there was no shortage of the cloth even. The uncle was amazed, and instead of taking Jalaram to task, complimented him profusely.

How did the above miracle happen? Only because whatever Jalaram did, he used to say within himself "Iswararpanam". And is it not the duty of the God to protect on who has surrendered himself unto him, and who saw in all but God alone !

Family tree of jalaram bapa

History Of LOHANA

The Lohanas (Originally LOH-RANAS) are the direct descendants of Lord Raam; they are 'the Kshatriyas' OR 'the Rajputs'. The Kshatriyas in our history are either 'Suryavanshi', meaning the worshippers of the Sun OR 'Chandravanshi', meaning the worshippers of the Moon. The Lohanas are Suryavanshi Kshatriyas. The Lohanas have played an important role in the freedom of the motherland when Islamic invaders were constantly threatening the country. In the tenth and eleventh century, there were 24 estates of the Loh-ranas: Thakral, Kotecha, Tanna, Somaiya, etc are the few of the titles that even today, the Lohanas take pride in mentioning. DADA JASRAJ was the most popular, most daring, the most adventurous and strong among all 24 estate chiefs. He is believed to be from the sect that held the family title of "Unadkat". Even today, the ab-original Sikhs in Kabul and Kandhaar remember DADA JASRAJ fondly and there are many folk tales and folk songs based on the valour displayed by this super human being. The Lohanas were to be found in Gizni, Kandhaar, Baluchistaan, Jalaalaabad, and Lohgarh the Lohanas in Afghanistan call themselves 'Miranas'. And DADA JASRAJ had earned the title of 'Mirana Pushtu' meaning the tiger among the Lohanas. The descendants of DADA JASRAJ are called 'Miranas'. Certain engravings found on ancient stones from China, Tibet and Siam support these facts. 'Jalaal-e-Jungnaamaa', an Islamic book from ancient Persia (today's Iran) also has a mention that Changez khan invaded Multan and died at the hands of DADA JASRAJ. DADA JASRAJ never knew what fear meant he disguised himself as the trader of horses and went right inside the enemy camp to create chaos and finish the enemy. 'The Somaiyas' were by his side and thus won a special mention by his side. The Cow has always been considered holy in our culture and always addressed as 'mother'. Cattle, especially cows were considered a treasure in those days the enemy always tried to take away the cows. On one such occasion, DADA JASRAJ displayed courage beyond the expression in words and saved the holy cows from being taken away he lost his life in the sword-fight that followed. But the tale is not so simple, because DADA JASRAJ was about to get married when the news came that the enemy is trying to take away the holy cows. The entire clan was celebrating... the women were singing the marriage songs loud music was being played and during this celebration, the news was broken that commander Sindhu Sharma had died at the hands of the enemy chief Shams-Ud-Din. Sindhu Sharma didn't want to disturb DADA JASRAJ as DADA was getting married. But the enemy chief cut off Sindhu Sharma's head and his horse came back with the headless body of Sindhu Sharma this is when DADA JASRAJ immediately decided to ride his horse for saving the holy cows... he fought brilliantly and saved the cow herd but alas! The enemy cheated on him. They disguised themselves as Hindus and while pretending to touch DADA'S feet for his blessings, they severed his head mercilessly. DADA JASRAJ had 80 wounds on his body, his intestines were ripped off and he was almost unconscious but his face had the smile of victory. Also, he was holding his sword in one hand and the head of the enemy chief in the other. But, he was also very sad because he had lost his dear friends, his loyal soldiers in the battle a total of almost eight thousand people sacrificed their lives under the command of DADA JASRAJ. For them, the honour of the clan was most important... so much so that even after DADA's death, they continued fighting. Even the last of the last soldier killed a dozen of the enemies before breathing his last. And it was not the end of the war: The women also fought bravely. They had the option of offering themselves to the holy fire but they decided to reduce the enemy in numbers and DADA's real sister Harkor was the leading lady, she sacrificed her life along with thousands of other women. Harkor is respected and taken as 'Kuldevi' or the mother of the clan by the POBARU KHATRIS. This is no ordinary tale but a saga of valour that every Lohana must know including the children of today's generation. Long live DADA JASRAJ!

History Of Jalaram Jayanti

SHRI JALARAM BAPA (1799-1881 A. D. ) The saying goes - Guest is god-'Athidhi Devo Bhava'. That is why among Indians, it is a tradition, whether there be sufficient food for the family members or not, but whoever comes to the house at the meals time, are first fed. Feeding all, and especially the poor, are not only a humane but also a spiritual act as per Indian thinking.There is no greater meritorious act than feeding the poor and hungry. Actually allaying the hunger of whosoever he is, whether he is rich or poor, is a highly meritorious act indeed. Virpur in Saurashtra is very famous. It was the place of birth of one of the great saints of recent times, namely Sri Jalaram. He had sanctified the place by his devotional and spiritual sadhanas. Feeding the people was one of the routine daily chores in his life, besides his other devotional exercises. He used to delight himself allaying the hunger of people. "It is Narayana, the lord himself I am feeding" - that was his bhavana and belief. Even today in the Jalaram Ashram at Virpur, thousands and thousands of people are fed daily. The kitchen is run there at all times of the day. What is fed there is 'Prasad', which not only fills the stomach and nourishes the body, but also nourishes the soul. Jalaram termed this mass feeding by the name 'Sada Vrat', that is an all-time and every day duty, which he undertook as his principal Sadhana. Jalaram was born in Virpur in the year 1799, on the seventh day of the Kartika month. His father was Pradhan Thakkar and mother was Rajbai. At his sixteenth year, Jalaram was married. His wife's name was Virbai. Jalaram's uncle Valji, who had no children, had always loved Jalaram. He asked Jalaram and his wife to stay in his house, as members of his own family. He had a grocery shop of his own, and made Jalaram to attend to it. Jalaram was working very sincerely at the shop. But here his charitable deeds continued as ever. Many miraculous events happening in Jalaram's life brought a tremendous change in his mind. His spiritual yearning, which was dormant in him so far, burst forth in a new blaze. It made him completely restless. His uncle, who noticed this, thought that it was good and advisable to send him on a pilgrimage to some of the holy places. Jalaram visited Ayodhya, Kasi, Badrinath and several other sacred places. He also visited Fatehpur and took Diksha from one saint named Bhojalram.He sought also the Guru's blessings to start ' Sadavrat'. Jalaram started the Sadavrat at his 20th year. He just started it with forty measures of grain. The very first guest to his Sadavrat was a saint. The guest saint blessed Jalaram and gave him the idols of Sri Rama, Lakshman and Sita and told him that he should offer worships to the idols daily. On the third day itself after Jalaram started the worship of the idols, he got a vision of Hanuman, Jalaram got a temple constructed and installed the idols gifted to him by the saint, along with the idol of Hanuman also.Jalaram was doing the daily worship of the idols till his very last day, with the deepest devotion. For his Sadavrat, the inflow of the people was increasing day by day. Jalaram's gentle and hospitable nature, combined with his humility, used to win the admiration for all. But his means were meager and limited to meet the ever-increasing expenses for the daily mass feeding of the visitors and the pilgrims. He used to work very hard in the field" to make both ends meet", to keep the "Sadavrat" ever going on without any slackening. But his ever-lasting faith and dependence on Lord Sri Rama guided him throughout. Inspired by his insatiable desire to feed the poor and needy, many became his devotees, and used to serve him, helping in the 'Sadavrat'. Mulubha Thakore, Jam Saheb and many others, who experienced Jalaram's grace, gave contributions to his Ashram. Whenever there was any shortage in the ashram, help used to come from unknown sources. His wife always stood by his side with total devotion and used to toil all the time in the Ashram- services and kitchen work. The maharajah of Dhrangadhara presented two big grinding stones for use in the kitchen, which are still there. The Nawab of Junagadh donated some land for the Ashram. Jalaram stood the test of time, wavered. One day an old sadhu came. He appeared greatly fatigued and tired. Jalaram welcomed him and offered to serve him. The visitor made a strange request. He said" I do not want your food. I have no one to attend to me, if you really want to help, you give away your wife and send her along with me to serve and attend on me." Jalaram after consultation with his wife offered Virabai to him. The sadhu left the place along with Virabai. They reached the outskirts of a forest. The sadhu asked her to wait there for some time and said he had a little work to attend to and would come back soon. He left with his 'Danda' and 'Jholi' asking her to keep watch on them while he would be away. As he walked along in to the forest, Akash vani was heard saying "Virabai, my child ! you are a great sati. Your husband Jalaram is matchless in his charity; he excels even Sibi and Karna. He is my dearest devotee. I bless you both always. Go back to your husband, install my Danda and Jholi in your Ashram, and worship them. Go on serving your husband and people. That is your worship to me. I shall be ever with you." The Danda and Jholi were installed in Virpur and they are worshipped even now. Jalaram and his wife thus stood the severest test of God, passed through it unscathed and earned the fullest Grace of God. Jalaram had one daughter. She was married to Bhaktiram of Kotdapitha. She had one son Hari Ram. In the year 1881, Jalaram Bapa took his Samadhi. At Virpur, the Sadavrat goes on still, in a most magnificent way.