Baba Ramdevji

Ramdeoji is a folk–deity of Rajasthan in India. He was a saint of the fourteenth century who devoted all his life to the uplift of the downtrodden Around Ramdeoji's grave a magnificent temple was built by Maharaja Ganga Singh of Bikaner in 1931 A.D.

Ramdeoji was a Tanwar Rajput. Hindus regard him as an incarnation of Lord Krishna, while Muslims venerate him as Ramshah Pir. He is said to have had miraculous powers and his fame reached far and wide. Legend goes that five Pirs (saints) from Mecca came here to test his power and after being convinced, paid their homage to him. Since then he is venerated by Muslims also as Ram Shah Pir or Rama Peer. Wooden toy horses covered with cloth are among the most popular offerings at the temple

Baba Ramdev believed in the equality of all human beings, both high and low, rich and poor. He helped the down-trodden by granting them their wishes. Baba Ramdev is often depicted on horseback. His worship crosses the Hindu-Muslim divide as well as crossing the caste line since his followers include caste Hindus and the casteless (Dalits or Untouchables) in modern-day Rajasthan and Gujarat -and even further afield into Madhya Pradesh and Sind on the Pakistani side of the border. Several Rajasthani melas (fairs or festivals) celebrate his memory.

Baba Ramdevji in media

A Rajasthani language movie titled “Baba Ramdevji”, based on the life of Baba Ramdevji was made in the 1960’s. The movie was a big commercial success in its time and gave a significant fillip to the Rajasthani movie industry.

Other Details of Ram Devji Maharaj

Baba Ramdevji was born in a village in Rajasthan called as Ranuja. His father was Raja Ajmal Dev.

Apart from Rajasthan, Baba Ramdevji or Ram Dev Pir has a strong Hindu following in Kathiawar, Gujarat. There are many-a-temples dedicated to him. People from all stratas of society worship him, right from Harijans or Dalits to Lohanas, etc. A mystical festival is also held in villages across Kathiawar to worship him called Mandap. In this festival, a long (almost 30 feet in height or more) wooden log is used called the Khamb. It is given a loose base to the ground. It is decorated and has eight ropes in eight directions attached to it. It is laid on the ground. Several rites and rituals are performed for almost a month or so. The whole affair is funded by villagers and rich folks. At a given time and date, with the utterance of "Ramapir ni jai" meaning Victory to Ram Dev Pir, the Khamb starts to stand up. Very mysterically and strangely, the Khamb stands on its own without any support. The eight ropes are loosely tied in eight nails that are driven in the ground. Lakhs of devotees flock this mandap to have darshan and prasad. The khamb stands there for 24 hours exact and the very next day in the same fashion as it stood up, the khamb returns back to its position. It is believed that RamDev Pir himself appears in the Khamb

ee also

*List of Rajputs
*Ramdevra

External Links

*http://runichadham.blogspot.com/

*http://www.ramapir.org