Baba Ramdev (or Ramdevji, or Ramdeo Pir,[1]Ramsha Pir (1352–1385 AD; V.S. 1409–1442) is a Hindu deity of Gujarat and Rajasthan, India. He was a fourteenth-century Rajput ruler[2] of Pokhran region who was said to have miraculous powers and devoted his life to uplifting the downtrodden and poor people. In Rajasthan, people of Meghwanshi or Meghwal community are called Rikhiya. Who are considered to be staunch devotees of Baba Ramdev, they have special rights to worship baba Ramdev and
many other social groups in India worship him as Ishta-deva[3]. He is considered as an avatar of the god Krishna.[3][4]
Background
King Ajmal (Ajmal Tanwar) married Queen Minaldevi, daughter of Pamji Bhati of Chhahan Baru village. The sonless king went to Dwaraka and pleaded with Krishna about his wish to have a child like him. They had two sons, the elder Viramdev and the younger Ramdev. Ramdev was born on Chaitra Sudi Panchami in V.S. 1409 in a Rajput family in Ramdevra, Jaisalmer district.
Ramdev believed in the equality of all human beings, be they high or low, rich or poor. He helped the oppressed by granting them their wishes. He is often depicted on horseback. His followers are spread across Rajasthan, Haryana, Punjab, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh, Mumbai, Delhi and Sindh in Pakistan. Several fairs in Rajasthan are held to commemorate him. Temples in his name are found in many states of India.[5]
Story of King Ajmal
Devotees during the two-month carnival in 2012 at Ramdevra, Rajasthan
Ajmal arrived at Dwarka and prayed for many days. Ultimately, in sheer disappointment, he asked Krishna's image the reason for deserving such sorrow. The image did not respond to the king's repeated queries. Angered and enraged at this, the king threw a dried laddu at the head of the image. The priest of the temple, considering the king to be mad, asked the king to go to the mystic Dwaraka to speak to the Lord. Dwaraka, swallowed by the sea many centuries prior, lay on the bed of the Arabian Sea. The unfearing king dived into the sea to meet the Lord. Pleased at the king's dedication and faith, the Lord granted him a boon. The king asked for Krishna to be born as his son. Lord promised to come to the king's house. Soon after, the royal couple gave birth to a boy named Bhiramdev. After a few years, Krishna took a small form and appeared next to Bhiramdev.[6] Muslims venerate Ramdev as Ramshah Pir or Rama Shah Peer. He was said to have had miraculous powers, and his fame reached far and wide. Legend has it that five Pirs from Mecca came to test Ramdev's powers. Ramdev welcomed them and requested them to have lunch with him. The Pirs declined, saying that they ate only with their utensils, which were in Mecca. At this, Ramdev smiled and said, "Look, your utensils are coming, " they saw their eating bowls flying in the air from Mecca. After being convinced of his abilities and powers, they paid their homage to him and named him Rama Shah Peer.[7][8][9][10] The five Pirs, who came to test his powers, were so impressed by him that they decided to stay with him. Their graves are located near Ramdev's Samadhi. There are 24 miracles of him which he did in his life.[8]
Poetry and Literature
Ramdev wrote many verbally composed poems, also known as "bāņīs" (utterances), which later on were transcripted and translated by his followers. His most favoured literary work is a collection of his poems by one of his followers named Swami Gokuldas, the "Baba Ramdev Chaubis Praman"[4] (24 pieces of evidence), believed to be pieces of evidence, predictions or simply ways via which one can find the "Satguru", the ultimate pious spiritual guide, who in turn will help one attain the true Supreme God.
In one such couplet, he emphasizes the importance of having known the spiritual guide, saying that whoever will take God's name (Japa), only that person will ever get unaltered comfort and rest, which is the final beatitude, as follows:
"Jo satguru ka levein naamaa, woh hi paavein achal araama"
—Page 17, Baba Ramdev Chaubis Praman[4]
A collection of such translated couplets which successfully lead followers to specific conclusions can be found through resources and wayfinding.
The temple complex housing the resting place of Ramdev is located at Ramdevra (10 km from Pokhran) in Rajasthan. The temple structure was built around Ramdev's final resting place by Maharaja Ganga Singh of Bikaner in 1931.[11]
The complex also houses Samadhis of his disciples like Dalibai and some of his chief disciples. The complex also houses the tombs of five Muslim Pirs from Mecca.[8] It also houses a step-well, the water of which devotees believe has healing powers
Ramdev Jayanti
Ramdev Jayanti, the birth anniversary of Ramdev, is annually celebrated in India on Chaitra Sudi Panchami by his dedicated followers.
Baba Ramdevji announced a seven-day fair, spanning from Bhadva Sudi Duj to Bhadva Sudi Ashtami, during which saints of diverse faiths were invited to convene in a spirit of unity. As the designated Ashtami date approached, Baba expressed his intention for Samadhi. Concurrently, Bhaktamati Dali Bai announced her own intention to undertake Samadhi first. Consequently, Baba decided to undergo Samadhi three days later, specifically on Ekadashi. This decision led to a spontaneous increase in the program of affectionate gatherings and devotional bhajan satsangs, which persisted until Ekadashi.
^Pilgrims, Patrons, and Place: Localizing Sanctity in Asian Religions (illustrated, revised ed.). UBC Press. 2003. p. 347. ISBN9780774810395. Ramdev (Ramdeo, Ramde) Pir, a semi-legendary Rajput hero of the end of the fourteenth century who became the religious head of the untouchables in Rajasthan...
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