At the tender age of 16, Jalaram married Virbai, daughter
of Thakkar Pragji Somajia. Jalaram was however not inclined to live
household life and to continue to do business with his father. He is mostly
engaged in serving sadhus and saints. He separated himself from his
father's business and stayed with his uncle, Valjibhai, who was very
fond of Jalaram. It was obvious that Jalaram was inclined to completely
withdraw from marital life. Fortunately his wife, Virbaima decided to
follow the path of Jalaram. So, when Jalaram decided to go for a pilgrimage
for holy places, Virbaima followed him.
At the age of 18, Jalaram Bapa accepted Shree Bhojalram from Fatehpur
as guru and was given a "Guru Malaa and Mantra" in the name of Shree
Ram. 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. All this he did single handed with Virbaima assisting
him.
Soon his fame spread as an incarnation of the divine. Whoever come
to Virpur, whether Hindu or Muslim was fed by Bapa. Once three Arabs
in the service of Thakore of Rajkot demanded an increase in wages by
four rupees in a month. Being refused, the Arabs resigned and set out
to Junagadh. On their way, they hunted few birds and kept them in their
shoulder bag. When they reached Virpur, Bapa asked them to have their
meals and then go. When they protested that they were Muslims, Bapa
said that in the court of God there was no distinction in caste and creed
and they were welcome.
The three Arabs had their meals in the temple but they were embarrassed
that they were carrying dead birds in their bag. The Bapa touched the
bag and said that the birds were feeling suffocated. The Arabs opened
the bag and found that the birds were alive. They flew away to a nearby tree. The Arabs were amazed and understood that they were in the
presence of divine person. They fell at his feet and asked whether they
would get a job in Junagadh.
Bapa said "What was the need to have a job in Junagadh? The Arabs
serve only one master." Just at that time, a camel man sent by
Thakore of Rajkot arrived there. He took back the Arabs with him saying
that Thakore has sanctioned an increment of seven rupees in their wages.
There are many stories about the greatness of the saint of Virpur.
Remembering the stories, we can fill the heart with devotion and gratitude.
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