Krishna Dharajiya The world bows down to Saint Jalaram of Virpur due to his miracles, devotion and humanitarian services of feeding the poor and needy. But the grace behind him was of his Guru – Saint Bhojalram…!!! There is an ashram of Bhoja Bhagat in village of Fatehpur, five km from Lapaliya village of Amreli, Gujarat, India.
Also known as the ‘Kabir of Gujarat’, Bhoja Bhagat created an original and ironic poetry called “Chabkha”. People seldom know about Bhoja Bhagat, the famous saint poet of Saurashtra. The post introduces his incarnation and creative works, made two hundred years ago.
Childhood of Bhoja Bhagat
Bhojalram was born on Vaishakhi Purnima – 07-05-1785 A.D. in a small village of Devkigalol near Jetpur in Saurashtra, Gujarat, India. It is said that Bhojalram incarnated to a pious couple to finish incomplete tasks of pre-birth. His mother was Gangabai and father was Karsandas Savalia, belonging to Leuva Patel caste. Karsandas, an illiterate farmer, worked hard in fields to produce grains. Though Karsandas was not well financially, he was unusual in inner prosperity and devotion.
People who incarnate to perform great human welfares have peculiarities which are different from other common people. Till the age of twelve, Bhoja Bhagat survived by drinking milk only…!! The fame of Bhojalram, as a “Milk Child” with divine radiance, spread to all corners of Gujarat. His miracles started attracting devotees across the state.
Grace of Guru in Childhood
A wonderful event happened when child bhojalram was “living” on milk for twelve years. A yogi named Rametvan from the forest of Girnar came to Devkigalol village. He saw austerity of this divine child at an instance. The four eyes clashed. And the ascetic initiated Bhoja Bhagat by action of Shaktipat through his vision.
Giving the mantra of doing public service through mind, words and deeds, Rametvan informed Bhojalram’s parents, “Your son is a great personality who has born for human welfare – The savior of society in greatness….!! He is a yogi unified with God. The bonds of world cannot bind him….!!! ” Saying this , Sadhu went straight to Sheshavan of Girnar. It is said that people never saw this ascetic again.
Fatehpur Ashram History
After living in Devkigalol village for 24 years, family of Bhojalram moved to Chakkargarh near Amreli, due to famine and political chaos. Bhoja Bhagat decided to build an ashram, where he could worship peacefully. He chose a land in a serene place at distance of two miles from deserted hill Fatehpuria. The location had flowing Thebi river surrounded by dense forest. A very beautiful place – enchanted with chirping of birds. But locals believed that the place was haunted by ghosts…!
Bhojalram, said, “Why should a human being made of Panchbhuta need to be afraid of a bhuta (ghost)?” Bhagat, who took incarnation on earth to eliminate the darkness of superstition, built an ashram right there….!!! His sermon dispelled people’s superstition.
A desolate place got ablazed with devotion now….!!! The sound of conch shells colored hearts of people with spirituality. Bhoja Bhagat shifted to ashram and started chanting Ajapa Jaap…!! People listened and followed his sermons. Many people became his disciples. The village of Fatehpur now turned into Vaikunthadham in presence of Bhoja Bhagat….!!!
Literary Works of Bhoja Bhagat
He built a holy ashram in Fatehpur village near Amreli in Gaikwadi province. Dewan Vitthalrao of Amreli also became his disciple. The verses he sung, addressing the Dewan are known as ‘Chabkha’ in Gujarati literature – in which he dealt a heavy blow to superstition, hypocrisy and hypocritical practices in a captivating sharp voice….!!
Mahatma Gandhi was a big fan of his bhajans of ‘Praniya Bhaji Lene Kirtar’ and ‘Kachba-Kachbi Nu Bhajan’. Besides, he created many posts like Kirtan, Hori, Dholwar etc. A total of 200 posts were collected in his speech. Though being utterly illiterate, the words and metaphors in poetry of Bhojabhagat spread colorful light…!!
If you go deep to any village in Kathiawar, you may hear the bhajan of ‘Halo ne Kidibai ni Jaan Ma’ dripping from the “tambura” string of devotee poets. The bhajans usually end with name of Bhoja Bhagat. Tulsidas’s Chopai, Surdas’s verses and Rasik Bihari’s poems, are well known in Indian literature. But Bhoja Bhagat’s hymns and verses are equally popular…! He preached path of devotion to human beings with ‘Chabkha’ type of hymns.
Incident of Minal Devi
Bhoja Bhagat is associated with many stories of miracles. Once at the age of eighteen months, Bal Bhoja Bhagat developed a sore throat and ulcers. To cure such diseases, taking “Oath of Minaldevi” was prevalent in Virpur village in those times.
Minaldevi, the mother of Siddhraj Jaysinh, built Vav (stepwell) in Virpur. Folklore says that once Queen Minaldevi went for pilgrimage. On way to Virpur, by grace of Siddh Yogi Virpuranath, Siddhraj was born. So she built a step-well with an artistic architecture in memory of this happy occasion. She placed a huge idol of her own, showing breastfeed of baby Siddhraj – for people – to worship her. As a result, the worship of idol of Queen Minal and vowing in her name in time of obstacles became a hot trend.
Bal Bhoja Bhagat’s parents made an oath of Minal Devi. But on the other side, ulcers cured naturally..!. Still his parents brought him to Minal stepwell in Virpur to fulfill their faith and offer a coconut to her idol. A revelation came from Bal Bhoja Bhagat’s mouth immediately, “Oh Goddess! You took a coconut from me today and one day I will take all the coconuts you have collected.”
As Bhoja Bhagat grew older, he fulfilled his prophecy. He ordered his disciple – gem of a saint – Jalaram to build a shrine in Virpur for public service. Gradually, worship of Minal devi turned into things of past thereafter…!!! Today, people go to place of Jalaram with reverence to overcome their obstacles. This way, Bhoja Bhagat turned superstition into divine faith. Even today, the fragmentary idols of Minal Devi are available in Virpur.
Miraculous Incident of Dwarkadhish
Bhoja Bhagat stayed in ashram and preached his disciples. He used to say, “Jatra (pilgrimage) are meant to save your life. But people do pilgrimages for sake of wandering. If your mind is pure, there is no need of performing Jatra. The lamp of conscience lights within. Lord Shrihari is not attained by Jatra, but by Antaryatra (travel to inner self)….!!! If there is compassion in your heart, there is no need of doing Kashi-Gaya Jatra…!!!”
Once on the night of Vaishakhi Purnima, a group of people who were on way to Dwarka pilgrimage halted at his ashram and camped overnight. A Bawaji named Balkadas also joined the group while going to Dwarka. He was flaunting his hard core devotion with pride. He headed Dwarka not by walking on his feet, but by doing continuous Dandwat through out the way….!!!! Seeing that, Bhoja Bhagat thought, “Oh! What a false pride of self penance that is…!!!”
Removal of False Pride
Devotees requested Bhagat to join the procession. He replied, ”It is not proper for a recluse like us – who is sitting on the seat of Ekasana and doing bhajan – to do Jatra.” Anyhow with blessings of Bhoja Bhagat, the group reached Dwarka on 58th day.
That night Bawaji Balakdas had a dream where he heard voice of a saint saying “You came here to bow down to Dwarkadhish, but He just departed to visit Bhoja Bhagat at his place…!!!” Returning to Fatehpur Ashram, Bawaji informed Bhoja Bhagat about his dream. Devotee Bhoja humbly said, ”It is true. What saint spoke to you in a dream is right. I had a vision of Lord Dwarkadhish in this ashram. That night, Lord actually arrived here, spreading light of thousand rising sun in this room. It immersed me in joy of samadhi. Lord Shyam himself imprinted his feet on my arms…!!”
Yogi Bhoja Bhagat
Bhoja Bhagat lived his life in devotion of God, Yoga and Poetry. Bhagat was worldly illiterate. Still he composed about 200 verses and hymns. But hymn copies with his signature are unavailable. Scholars say that he must be having knowledge of eternal consciousness. Yes – A yogi whose inner eye is open and who knows the language of Universe cannot be called an illiterate…!
Jivanram, the learned disciple of Bhoja bhagat, used to write all his scripts. As soon as waves of Bhajan flowed from throat of Bhoja Bhagat, Jivanram noted it down on paper. The words in poem descended in rhythmic order. Jivanram’s script and Nagari script copy are preserved in Bhoja Bhagat’s place (Fatehpur).
Bhoja Bhagat was a Pre-Born Yogi. You can feel the language of yoga in his verses in high proportion. Prabhatiyan, Mahina, Tithiyo, Kirtan etc. are full of renunciation and excellent devotion. He explained the futility of world by instructing human beings – Who have perishable bodies to walk on path of devotion in their short lives. Life of this holy devotee is ideal for us…! Being pious and philanthropic by nature, Bhagat became dear to people of Saurashtra.
Passing Legacy to Disciples
Bhoja Bhagat had two chief disciples. Saint Jalaram – a resident of Virpur and Saint Valamram – a devotee from Gariadhar. Valmaram’s devotion for Guru was immense. He saw Bhojalram in his dream and the memory of pre-birth awoke. For present life, Bhoja Bhagat initiated Valamram….!!!
After pleasing Guru with Charanseva, he asked for a promise that flag of Gariadhar shall be hoisted in Gurudev’s place forever….!!! Even today, according to promise given by Guru, flag from place of Saint Valmaram hoists in place of Fatehpur of Bhoja Bhagat on occasion of Janmashtami every year.
The flame of human welfare is still burning incessantly in religious places of these two disciples – At Virpur and Gariadhar. Both turned into immortals of service, where visitors receive – a sweet welcome, food for the hungry stomach and comfort for the miser.
Last Promise of Bhoja Bhagat to Jalaram Maharaj
Jalaram Maharaj had unique faith in Bhoja Bhagat. He pleased his Guru with his attitude of service and love..! And asked for a promise to give benefit of his ‘Last Darshan’ to him at the end of his life. Bhoja Bhagat was a yogi. A Yogi can execute mukti, when he desires – with their self wish…! Bhoja bhagat realized that his “kaal” is about to arrive. So he left Fatehpur and arrived at Virpur – To fulfill his promise to disciple Jalaram. He informed his relatives and devotees ”This is my last farewell”. After reaching Virpur, the majestic, gem of a Saint, passed away in presence of his able disciple Jalaram.
Nirvaana of Bhoja Bhagat
The devotee poet Bhoja Bhagat passed away in year 1850 A.D; in presence of his disciple Jalaram in Virpur. His body was cremated at Virpur, with a mausoleum built in his memory. There is temple of Bhoja Bhagat in front of Ram temple in place of Jalarambapa at Virpur. The Fatehpur village holds the relics of Bhoja Bhagat, the sacred items of his Prasadi, Dholio, Turban, Garland, Mat and Charan Paduka – along with his dazzling sitting idol.
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Hari Har
Krishna
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Saint Bhojalram in middle, with his disciples Saint Jalaram and Saint Valamram on his right and left sides respectively.
