Virpur (Rajkot)

Virpur વીરપુર
Town
Virpur Show map of Gujarat Virpur Show map of India Located in Gujarat, India
Coordinates: 21°45′15″N 70°37′20″E / 21.75417°N 70.62222°E / 21.75417; 70.62222Coordinates: 21°45′15″N 70°37′20″E / 21.75417°N 70.62222°E / 21.75417; 70.62222
Country	India
State	Gujarat
District	Rajkot
Government
• Type	Democracy
Population
• Total	11,178 [1]
Languages
• Official	Gujarati, Hindi
Time zone	IST (UTC+5:30)
PIN	360380
Vehicle registration	GJ-3
Nearest city	Gondal
Website	gujaratindia.com

'Virpur' (Virpuranath Dham) is a small village, with a gram panchayat, in Gujarat, India. It is located 53 km from Rajkot. Virpur is the birthplace of Saint Jalaram Bapa. The nearest towns are Gondal, Jetpur and Dhoraji. The nearest airport is Rajkot Airport.

Temples

Virparanath, Jeatabapa and Jalaram Bapa are saints associated with this town and many of its sites. Religious sites in Virpur include:^[2]

• Jalaram mandir
• Samadhi of Jalaram Bapa – the resting place of Jalaram Bapa.
• Virpara Nath Mandir – Saint Virparanath mandir is located close to Jalaram Bapa mandir. Many pilgrims who visit Jalaram Bapa also visit this shrine. Virpur is named after Virpara Nath who lived here 400 years ago, which was earlier believed to have been haunted with evil spirits.
• Samadhi of Jetha Bapa – a sacred shrine that stands close to the Jalaram Bapa Mandir.
• Minaldevi wav – a step-well where women pray for children.
• Gayathri mandir- a modern temple located east of Jalram bapa mandir.
• Gala vada Hanuman mandir – located east of gayathri mandir on Navagam Road.
• Virbhai Maa Mandir at Triveni Sangam – a temple dedicated to Virbhai, wife of Jalram Bapa, located near northwest of town.
• Khodiyar Mandir is located southwest of Mavtar Vrudhashram [old age home] in the outskirts of the town.
• Shree KhodalDham, Kagvad ^[3] - a massive modern temple of Khodiyar Maa coming up in Kagvad, just southwest of Virpur.

Jalaram Bapa Mandir^[4][5][6][7]

Jalaram Bapa (Gujarati: જલારામ બાપા) popularly known as Bapa (Gujarati: બાપા) (4 November 1799 – 23 February 1881) was a Hindu saint from Gujarat, India. He was born in Virpur, Rajkot district, Gujarat, India, on 4 November 1799, which is the 7th day Krishna Paksha of Kartik month on the Hindu calendar VS year 1856, one week after the Hindu festival of Diwali. His father was Pradhan Thakkar and his mother was Rajbai Thakkar, who belonged to Lohana, a merchant clan. He was a devotee of the Hindu god Rama. Numerous temples across the world have been built in his name. The main shrine of Jalaram Bapa is located at Virpur. The shrine is actually the housing complex where Jalaram lived during his lifetime. The shrine houses the belongings of Jalaram and the deities of Rama, Sita, Lakshamana and Hanuman worshipped by him. It also has on display the Jholi and Danda said to be given to him by God, however the main attraction is the portrait of Jalaram Bapa. There is also a black and white photo of Jalaram Bapa, taken one year before his death. Millions of followers visit Virpur on the anniversary of Jalaram Bapa's birth, which is celebrated as Jalaram Jayanti.^[8] on the seventh day of the bright fortnight in the Hindu calendar month on Kartika. There are many guest houses in Virpur to accommodate tourists and pilgrims. Money is not accepted at the Jalaram Bapa temple. Some Dharmashalas serve food free of cost to visitors without taking any donation.

Virpur's economy is largely supported by the tourism industry with numerous tours and pilgrims attracting many visitors.

References