Baba Ramdev Ji, also known as Ramsa Pir or Ramdev Pir, was a great ruler, social reformer, and folk deity of the 14th century. He was born in the Undoo Kashmir village of Barmer district, Rajasthan, in a Tanwar Rajput family. His father was Ajmal Ji and his mother was Mainade.
Baba Ramdev Ji is equally worshipped by both Hindus and Muslims. Hindus consider him the Kalki avatar of Lord Krishna, while the Muslim community refers to him as 'Ramsa Pir'. He strongly opposed social evils like untouchability, discrimination, and inequality prevalent in society and fought throughout his life to ensure equal rights for all.
Baba Ramdev Ji established a village named Runicha (Ramdevra) near Pokhran, which is a major pilgrimage site today. During his lifetime, he performed many miracles (known as 'Parchas'). Upon witnessing his miracles, five Pirs who came from Mecca bestowed upon him the title of 'Pir of Pirs'. A massive fair is held every year in Ramdevra during the month of Bhadrapada (Bhadwa).
"A person's identity is determined by their deeds, not their caste. Serving the poor, helpless, and untouchables is the greatest religion."
Baba Ramdev Ji was born on the second day of the bright half of Bhadrapada (Babe Ri Beej) in V.S. 1409 (1352 CE) in Undoo Kashmir (present-day Barmer district). His father Thakur Ajmal Ji and mother Mainade were devoted followers of Lord Dwarkadhish. After a long wait for a child, God himself granted them the boon of taking birth in their home. His elder brother was Viramdev (considered an incarnation of Balarama). From childhood, divine traits were visible in Baba Ramdev, and he gave his first 'Parcha' (miracle) to his mother by making a cloth horse fly in the air.
When Baba Ramdev Ji was young, the Satalmer region near Pokhran was terrorized by a cruel tantrik demon named 'Bhairav'. He used to kill innocent people and animals. Baba Ramdev Ji went to his guru Balinath Ji's ashram, confronted Bhairav, and with his divine powers, slew the cruel demon, freeing the people of the region from his terror. After this, he rebuilt the city of Pokhran and gave it as dowry to his sister Sugna Bai.
Baba Ramdev Ji was not just a miraculous deity but also a great social reformer. He strongly opposed untouchability, casteism, and discrimination prevalent in society at that time. He made an untouchable (Meghwal) girl named 'Dali Bai' his sworn sister, spreading a message of equality in society. He established the 'Kamadiya Panth', in which people of all classes of society could participate without any discrimination.
Among the folk deities, Baba Ramdev Ji is the only deity who was also an excellent poet. He composed a text named 'Chaubees Baniyan', which is still read with great reverence by his followers. In this text, he opposed idol worship, refuted hypocrisy, and emphasized the formless and attributeless worship of God. His teachings still teach the society a lesson of humanity and harmony.
Baba Ramdev Ji performed many miracles to protect the public and establish the truth, which are colloquially known as 'Parchas'.
In his childhood, he gave his first divine parcha to his mother by making a cloth horse fly in the sky.
He earned the title of 'Pir of Pirs' by feeding the five Pirs who came from Mecca in their own utensils brought miraculously from Mecca.
At the time of his marriage, he completely healed Princess Netalde of Amarkot (now Pakistan) who was disabled from birth, through his miracle.
He saved the life and wealth of the merchant Lakkhi Banjara (Boita Bohra) by safely steering his sinking ship in the sea.
Even after taking Samadhi, he showed a miracle by appearing in person before his supreme devotee Harji Bhati near Osian.
Through his spiritual power and divine blessings, he brought his sister Sugna Bai's dead son back to life.
Baba Ramdev Ji took a living samadhi on the banks of Ram Sarovar (Runicha) on Bhadrapada Shukla Ekadashi in V.S. 1442 (1385 CE) at the age of just 33 years. Exactly one day before him, his sworn sister Dali Bai took samadhi at the same place.
Presently, this place is famous worldwide as Ramdevra. Maharaja Ganga Singh Ji of Bikaner had a grand temple built here. Every year, a massive and historic fair is organized in Ramdevra from Bhadrapada Dwitiya to Ekadashi, attracting millions of devotees who undertake foot journeys (Jatrus) from across the country and abroad. This fair is one of the largest and most significant religious fairs in Rajasthan.
