A great saint
Jalaram Bapa: A Saint for the Ages
Jalaram Bapa, originally named Jaliyan Pradhan, was born in November 1799 in Virpur, a village in the Rajkot District of Saurashtra, now part of modern-day Gujarat, India. He was the second son of six children born to Rajbai and Pradhan Thakkar, who belonged to the Lohana community of Raghuvanshis—descendants of Raghu, the ancestral lineage of Lord Rama. From the very beginning, Jalaram exhibited deep devotion to Lord Rama, becoming a lifelong Ramabhakta (devotee of Rama).
Early Life and Spiritual Awakening
Jalaram's early spiritual foundation was laid by his mother, Rajbai, who was devoted to serving saints, sages, and pilgrims passing through Virpur. She instilled in him values such as respect, patience, self-sacrifice, duty, and grace. Among those who recognized her piety was Sant Raghuvirdasji, who prophesied that young Jalaram would lead a life of profound devotional service.
A transformative experience occurred when Jalaram was just five years old. A visiting saint from Girnar recognized something special in the boy. After a brief but significant exchange, where Jalaram seemed to recognize the saint from a past life, the sage disappeared, leaving Jalaram deeply immersed in chanting the sacred benediction "Rama Rama Sita Rama."
At fourteen, Jalaram completed his basic education and underwent the traditional janoi (thread-initiation) ceremony. Two years later, in line with family duty and customs, he entered into an arranged marriage with Virbai Somaiya of Atkot. Although this union was against his personal inclinations toward a spiritual life, he respected the wishes of his father and paternal uncle, Valjibhai Thakkar, who desired to see him take up the responsibilities of a householder.
Path to Renunciation and Service
Despite his early marriage, Jalaram's spiritual inclinations only grew stronger. He gradually distanced himself from marital and familial obligations, seeking instead a life dedicated to spiritual and devotional pursuits. During a period of estrangement from his father’s business, Jalaram lived with his uncle Valjibhai, where a pivotal event marked the beginning of his miraculous life. Jalaram generously gave away food and cloth from Valjibhai’s shop to a group of pilgrim-sages. When his uncle confronted him, Jalaram prayed for divine intervention, and miraculously, the shop’s supplies were replenished.
Around this time, a large grain container in the family home also became an inexhaustible source of food, symbolizing the divine support for Jalaram's charitable endeavors. Another significant moment came when a visiting sadhu (sage) gifted Jalaram an idol of Lord Rama, predicting that Hanuman, Rama’s great devotee, would soon appear. True to the prophecy, a murti (idol) of Hanuman, along with those of Sita and Lakshman, emerged from the earth shortly after the idol of Rama was installed as the family deity.
Pilgrimages and Spiritual Growth
Between 1816 and 1818, Jalaram and Virbai embarked on a series of pilgrimages (yatras) to some of India’s most revered holy sites, including Mathura, Haridwar, Ayodhya, Kashi, and Badrinath. These journeys, undertaken mostly on foot, were in the great tradition of India’s saints and sages. Upon returning home, Jalaram received diksha (spiritual initiation) from his chosen guru, poet-saint Bhojalram Bapa Bhagat, a humble farmer from Fatehpur near Amreli. The bond between Jalaram and his guru was strong and enduring, and it guided Jalaram throughout his life.
Under the guidance of his guru, Jalaram began his lifelong journey of charity, compassion, and community service. At the age of twenty, in November 1820, he founded the Sadavrat (literally "everlasting")—a center dedicated to feeding the hungry. Starting with just forty measures of grain, Jalaram established a practice rooted in the Vedic principle of "Atithi Devo Bhava" ("Guest is God"). The Sadavrat’s credo of "no one turned away, no one leaves hungry" ensured that it welcomed all, regardless of religion, race, caste, creed, or status.
Legacy of Compassion and Service
Sadavrat quickly became a beacon of hope for the poor and pilgrims, demonstrating the power of Jalaram’s faith and commitment to seva (service to humanity). His acts of generosity attracted the support of many benefactors, including local rulers and the Nawab of Junagadh, who donated land for the temple and ashram (spiritual sanctuary) that would continue to serve countless devotees for generations.
Virbai, who became known as Virbai Ma, was Jalaram’s steadfast partner in all his endeavors. She supported the Sadavrat even at great personal cost, giving away all her jewelry and valuables to sustain the cause. For years, the couple worked tirelessly, even harvesting grain fields themselves to keep the feeding center operational.
By his late twenties, Jalaram had earned widespread recognition for his philanthropy and devotion. His fame spread beyond Gujarat, and he became known across northwest India. His patience, endurance, and compassion, even in the face of adversity, were legendary. As his reputation grew, people from all walks of life sought his spiritual guidance and blessings. He was affectionately given the honorific "Bapa" ("Father of All"), a title that first came from a tailor named Haraji, who was cured of a severe ailment by Jalaram’s prayers.
Recognition as a Saint
Jalaram’s status as a saint transcended religious boundaries. He was revered not only by Hindus but also by Jains, Sikhs, and Muslims. A Muslim merchant named Jamal, whose son was cured by Jalaram’s prayers, honored him as "Jalla so Allah" ("Jala is God"). Such incidents reflect the universal appeal of Jalaram’s message of love, service, and devotion.
One of the most famous episodes in Jalaram’s life involved a sage who tested his and Virbai’s devotion by requesting that Virbai leave home to serve him in the forest. The couple agreed without hesitation, demonstrating their unwavering faith. In return, the sage, through divine intervention, gifted them the legendary danda (staff) and jholi (cloth satchel), symbols of their spiritual journey.
Miracles and Final Years
Jalaram Bapa’s life was filled with miraculous events that reinforced his saintly status. One such incident involved three Arabs who were passing through Virpur. Jalaram invited them to stay at Sadavrat, despite their discomfort about carrying dead birds. Jalaram touched their bag with his danda and asked them to "free the birds who must be feeling suffocated." To their amazement, the birds flew out of the bag, alive. This event, along with countless others, cemented Jalaram’s reputation as a miracle worker.
In the later years of their lives, Jalaram Bapa and Virbai Ma dedicated themselves to helping those affected by the Great Famine of 1878. Despite their own advanced age, they worked tirelessly alongside Sadavrat volunteers to feed the needy. Virbai Ma passed away around this time, singing her beloved Rama bhajans (devotional hymns). Jalaram Bapa attained Mahasamadhi (conscious passing) in 1881, also while in deep prayer to Lord Rama.
Continuing Legacy
Jalaram Bapa and Virbai Ma had one daughter, Jamnaben, whose son, Hariramji Maharaj, succeeded Jalaram as head of the temple and ashram. Today, Jalaram Bapa’s descendants continue to oversee the sacred temple-shrine at Virpur. In 2000, the institution adopted a unique policy of graciously declining donations, remaining self-sufficient and continuing Jalaram Bapa’s legacy of service.
The original deities of Rama, Hanuman, Sita, and Lakshman still grace the temple. Visitors can also view memorabilia, including the revered danda and jholi, and a rare photograph of Jalaram Bapa taken in 1880, a year before his passing.
Two centuries after its founding, Sadavrat continues its noble mission of feeding the hungry. Prasad (consecrated food) is offered twice daily to thousands of pilgrims, sages, and visitors by hundreds of devoted volunteers. This service, rooted in Jalaram Bapa’s sixty-one years of selfless work, is a living testament to his enduring legacy.
Jalaram Bapa’s life story continues to inspire modern generations. His teachings of selfless service are carried forward by Jalaram temples and institutions worldwide, including in the United Kingdom, United States, East Africa, Australia, New Zealand, and Canada. These centers engage in charitable services in education, healthcare, and feeding programs, upholding the ethos of seva that Jalaram Bapa championed.
This historical tribute is inspired by Jalaram Bapa’s devotees, who continue to honor his legacy through their contributions to the welfare of humanity, ensuring that the ethos of the Saint of Virpur reaches across time and space.