Ramdev Pir: Difference between revisions

{{EngvarB|date=September 2016}}

'''Baba Ramdev''' ({{lang-hi|बाबा रामदेव}}) (or '''Ramdevji''', or '''Ramdeo Pir''',<ref name="Mohammada2007">{{cite book|author=Malika Mohammada|title=The foundations of the composite culture in India|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=dwzbYvQszf4C&pg=PA348|access-date=15 April 2013|date=1 January 2007|publisher=Aakar Books|isbn=978-81-89833-18-3|page=348}}</ref> '''Ramsha Pir'''<ref name=ct/>) (1352–1385 AD; [[Vikram Samvant|V.S.]] 1409–1442) is a [[Hindu]] [[folklore|folk]] [[deity]] of [[Rajasthan|gujarat and Rajasthan]], India. He was a fourteenth-century ruler, said to have miraculous powers, who devoted his life to the upliftment of the downtrodden and poor people of society. He is worshiped by many social groups of India as [[Ishta-deva]].<ref>[http://www.ramapir.org/ramapir_whoisramdevpir.html History goes that five Pirs from Mecca came to test his miraculous powers and after being convinced, paid their homage to him. Since then, he has been venerated by Muslims as Ramshahpir or Ramapir.] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101205152150/http://www.ramapir.org/ramapir_whoisramdevpir.html |date=5 December 2010 }}</ref><ref>[http://www.ramapir.org/ramapir_ramshahpir.html Parcha of Ramdevpir Why do Muslims call Ramdevji "Ramshahpir" or "Ramapir"? The Pirs and Fakirs intentions were to bring disgrace upon Ramdevji, instead they blessed him and Musapir announced that Ramdevji from now on will be known as Ramshahpir, Ramapir or Hindawapir in the whole world and all the Pirs and Fakirs present hailed to Ramdevji "Jai Ramapir, Jai Ramapir".] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101205151744/http://www.ramapir.org/ramapir_ramshahpir.html |date=5 December 2010 }}</ref>

King Ajmal (Ajaishinh) married Queen Minaldevi, daughter of Pamji Bhati of Chhahan Baru village. The childless king went to [[Dvārakā|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 Bhadra Shukla Dooj in V.S. 1409 in a [[Rajput]] family at [[Ramderiya]], Undu and Kashmir in [[Barmer district]].

Ramdev believed in the equality of all human beings, be they high or low, rich or poor. He helped the down-trodden by granting them their wishes. He is often depicted on horseback. His followers are spread across in [[Rajasthan]], [[Haryana]], [[Punjab, India|Punjab]], [[Gujarat]] and [[Madhya Pradesh]], Mumbai, [[Delhi]] and also in [[Sindh]] in Pakistan. Several fairs in Rajasthan are held to commemorate him. Temples in his name are found in many states of India.{{Citation needed|date=January 2020}}<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=राजस्थान के गौरव - पियूष प्रवाह|url=https://rajeduboard.rajasthan.gov.in/books-2019/cls12/Piyush%20Prawah%20(58).pdf|url-status=live|website=Board of Secondary Education, Rajasthan - Official Website|page=54 Page of the PDF or 46 Page of the Book.}}</ref>

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 in the king's house. Soon thereafter, the royal couple gave birth to the boy, whom they named Bhiramdev. After a few years, Krishna took a small form and appeared next to Bhiramdev.<ref>[http://www.ramapir.org/ramapir_incarnation.html Why Hindus Believe Ramdevpir to be The Incarnation of Lord Krishna?] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110903172629/http://www.ramapir.org/ramapir_incarnation.html|date=3 September 2011}}</ref> 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 [[Pir (Sufism)|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 personal utensils, which were in [[Mecca]]. At this, Ramdev smiled and said look your utensils are coming and they saw that their eating bowls were coming flying in air from Mecca. After being convinced of his abilities and powers, they paid their homage to him and named him Rama Shah Peer.<ref name=ct>{{cite book|title=A call to honour: in service of emergent India by Jaswant Singh|year=2006|publisher=Rupa & Co|page=23|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YQVuAAAAMAAJ&q=RAMDEV+MECCA}}</ref><ref name=it/><ref>{{cite book|title=Hinduism: New Essays in the History of Religions By Bardwell L. Smith|year=1976|pages=138–139|isbn=9004044957|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_7Q3AAAAIAAJ&q=RAMDEV+MECCA&pg=PA139|last1=Smith|first1=Bardwell L.}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=Gujarat Unknown: Hindu-Muslim Syncretism and Humanistic Forays By J. J. Roy Burman|year=2004|pages=114–115|isbn=9788183240529|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0rpzmcHn-0kC&q=RAMDEVPIR+MECCA&pg=PA114|last1=Roy Burman|first1=J. J.}}</ref> The five [[Pir (Sufism)|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]]''.<ref name=it>{{cite book|title=India today, Volume 18, Issues 1-12|year=1993|publisher=Living Media India Pvt. Ltd|page=61|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JWUpAQAAIAAJ&q=+MECCA}}</ref>  

[[File:Devotees during the two month long carnival at Ramdevra.jpg|thumb|Devotees during the two-month carnival at [[Ramdevra]], [[Rajasthan]], [[India]]]]

 

[[File:Ramdev Pir Temple, Nogama Banswara.jpg|thumb|Ramdev Pir Temple, Banswara, Rajasthan]]

[[File:Shri Baba Ramdev Pir Temple, Santhu.jpg|thumb|Baba Ramdev Pir situated in the outskirts of [[Santhu]] village in [[Jalore district]] of [[Rajasthan]] state in India]]

[[File:Ramdev Pir Temple, Majadar.jpg|thumb|Ramdev Pir Temple, Majadar, Gujarat]]

Apart from Rajasthan, Ramdev has a strong Hindu following in Kathiawar and Kutch in Gujarat. A mystical festival called ''Mandap'' is also held in villages across Kathiawar to worship him. The highlight of the festival is an event in which a long (almost 60 feet or more in height) wooden log, called the [[Stambha]], is decorated and laid on the ground with a loose base, with eight ropes tied to it from eight directions. Several rites and rituals are performed for about a month. At a certain time and date, the Stambha stands up. The eight ropes are loosely tied in eight nails that are driven in the ground. [[Lakh]]s of devotees flock this festival of ''Mandap'' to have a [[darshana]] of the event. The Stambha stands erect for exactly a day and returns to its original position 24 hours later. It is believed that Ramdev himself appears in the Stambha.<ref>{{cite book|title=Journeys to Freedom: Dalit Narratives By Fernando Franco, Jyotsna Macwan, Suguna Ramanathan|year=2004|pages=234–36|isbn=9788185604633|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bzj1pyBKZzsC&q=ramdevji+mandap+festival&pg=PA234|last1=Kuortti|first1=Joel|last2=Vālmīki|first2=Omaprakāśa}}</ref>

* Ramdevji Maharaj Temple, Ranuja, near Kalawad, Dist. Jamnagar (Gujarat)

* [[Guwahati]]

* [[Tinsukia]]

* Shree Nirala Dham Ramdev Mandir, Bokakhat (Established by Marwari Yuvha Munch under the guidance of Samaj Sevak Shree Kashiramji Minaramji Choudhary)

* Baba Ramdev Temple, Alirajpur

(District-Alirajpur)

* Sri Krishna Avatar Baba Ramdev Mandir, Kanki Dham, Kishangunj

[[File:Rama Peer 1 (2).jpg|thumb|Ramdev Baba - Temple in Odisha (Between in Bhubaneswar & cuttack)]]

[[File:Rama Peer 1 (3).jpg|thumb|Ramdev Baba (Hindu pir) - Temple in Odisha (One of the largest Ramdev Pir temple)]]

[[File:Ramapir Temple (Between in Bhubaneswar & Cuttack).jpg|alt=Baba Ramdev Runicha wale trust.|thumb|(Between in Bhubaneswar & Cuttack) made by Baba Ramdev Runicha wale trust.]]

* Baba Ramdev Temple, Peddapally

 

[[Category:14th-century people]]

[[Category:14th-century rulers]]