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Baba Ramdev Samadhi Temple, Ramdevra (Runicha Dham)

Ramdevra (Runicha), near Pokaran, Jaisalmer district, Rajasthan

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Baba Ramdev Samadhi Temple, Ramdevra (Runicha Dham)
Photo: AmitKankar, CC BY-SA 4.0

About

Ramdevra, about 12 km north of Pokaran in Jaisalmer district, is the place where the folk saint Baba Ramdev Ji took samadhi. The temple stands over his samadhi, and the village, once called Runicha, is known by his name. Baba Ramdev Ji was a 14th-century Tanwar Rajput who gave his life to helping the poor and treated everyone as equal. Hindus revere him as a form of Shri Krishna, and Muslims honour him as Ramsa Pir, so people of every faith and community come here together. During the Bhadva fair, lakhs of pilgrims walk here on foot.

The story

Baba Ramdev Ji was the son of Ajmal Ji Tanwar, a Rajput ruler of the Pokaran area. All his life he stood by the poor and by those whom society kept away. He taught that no one is high or low, and that is why people of many communities take him as their own deity.

A famous story tells that five pirs came from Mecca to test him. Baba invited them to a meal, but they said they ate only from their own bowls, which they had left behind in Mecca. Baba smiled, and their bowls came flying through the air. The pirs bowed to him and called him Ramsa Pir. Tradition says the pirs stayed on, and their graves are near his samadhi.

By tradition, on Bhadrapad Shukla Ekadashi of Vikram Samvat 1442, at about 33 years of age, Baba Ramdev Ji took jeevit samadhi at Runicha. Near his samadhi is the samadhi of his devotee Dali Bai. In 1931 Maharaja Ganga Singh of Bikaner built the present temple around the samadhi.

Visiting

The Bhadva fair (August–September) is the busiest time, when groups walk here from far away; October to February is cooler and calmer. Ramdevra railway station is about 700 metres from the temple. Next to the temple is Ram Sarovar lake, which Baba is believed to have dug himself, and the Parcha Baori stepwell is close by. Pokaran is about 12 km away.

Festivals

  • Bhadva fair (Bhadrapad Shukla Dwitiya to Ekadashi)
  • Baba Ramdev Jayanti, 'Baba ri Beej' (Bhadrapad Shukla Dwitiya)
  • Samadhi day (Bhadrapad Shukla Ekadashi)

Devta dhams

Sources