Virpur
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Understand
Virpur is a village 53 km from Rajkot reached through highway NH-8b. It is one of the famous places in Gujarat as it is the birth place of saint Jalaram Bapa. He was a Bhakt (devotee) of Lord Rama, seventh avatar of Lord Vishnu.
He was mostly engaged in serving sadhus and saints. He separated himself from his father's business and his uncle Valjibhai asked Jalaram Bapa and his wife Virbai to stay in his house. 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 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.
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 during 24 hours. Nobody returned from that place without having food.
Even today, all the people who visit Jalaram Bapa temple are insisted to have a lunch/dinner. Also, there is a specialty of temple that No Donation of money are accepted strictly from anyone since 9 February 2000. In fact, it is only temple in India to set such a trend to not to take any offerings and donations.
The temple consists of the belongings of Jalaram Bapa and the idols of Rama, Sita, Lakshamana and Hanuman worshipped by him. It also has on display the Jholi and Danda said to be given by God. But the main attraction is the portrait of Jalaram Bapa. There is also an actual black and white photo of Jalaram Bapa, taken one year before his death.
He was mostly engaged in serving sadhus and saints. He separated himself from his father's business and his uncle Valjibhai asked Jalaram Bapa and his wife Virbai to stay in his house. 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 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.
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 during 24 hours. Nobody returned from that place without having food.
Even today, all the people who visit Jalaram Bapa temple are insisted to have a lunch/dinner. Also, there is a specialty of temple that No Donation of money are accepted strictly from anyone since 9 February 2000. In fact, it is only temple in India to set such a trend to not to take any offerings and donations.
The temple consists of the belongings of Jalaram Bapa and the idols of Rama, Sita, Lakshamana and Hanuman worshipped by him. It also has on display the Jholi and Danda said to be given by God. But the main attraction is the portrait of Jalaram Bapa. There is also an actual black and white photo of Jalaram Bapa, taken one year before his death.
Get in
Direct trains and buses are available from Rajkot to Virpur. It takes 1.5 hrs to reach Virpur from Rajkot.
See
- Jalaram Bapa Temple: Watch belongings of Jalaram Bapa, an actual black and white photo of Jalaram Bapa taken one year before his death, idols of Rama, Sita, Lakshamana and Hanuman worshipped by him and Jholi and Danda said to be given to Virbai (Jalaram Bapa's wife) by God.
- Market around Temple
Eat
- The "PRASAD" which consist of "GANTHIA","BUNDI" and "SABJI" in morning and "KHICHADI-KADHI" and "DESHI GHEE" in evening.
Drink
- Take "Jal" from three Giant Copper Pots in the Temple which was given by "GANGA MAIYA" filled with the "PAVITRA JAL" of Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswati rivers.
Sleep
There are many hotels and guest houses nearby but they should be used by people coming from states other than Gujarat specially to visit Virpur.