Baba Ramdeoji (बाबा रामदेवजी) is a local folk–deity of Rajasthan, who worked for the welfare of society irrespective of cast and creed. Muslims called him Pir and Hindus and other communities call him Baba. For Ram sa Pir, there is no difference between a Hindu or Muslim. He was a saint of the fifteenth century who devoted all his life to the uplift of the downtrodden.    Baba Ramdeoji was a Tanwar Rajput born in a village in Rajasthan called as Ranuja ( now रामदेवरा). His father was Raja Ajmal Dev. Hindus regard him as an incarnation of Lord Krishna, while Muslims venerate him as Ramshah Pir. He is said to have had miraculous powers and his fame reached far and wide. Legend goes that five Pirs (saints) from Mecca came here to test his power and after being convinced, paid their homage to him. Since then he is venerated by Muslims also as Ram Shah Pir or Rama Peer.

Baba Ramdeoji

Around Ramdeoji's grave a magnificent temple called Ramdevra was built by Maharaja Ganga Singh of Bikaner in 1931 A.D. The pilgris shout slogens like 'Baba Ram-sa-pir ki jai' and "Jai Baba ree' on their way to to Ramdevra. Wooden toy horses covered with cloth are among the most popular offerings at the temple.     Devotees pray at Masuriya in Jodhpur where shrine of Baba's Guru Baba Balinath is situated, before leaving for Ramdevra.

Baba Ramdev believed in the equality of all human beings, both high and low, rich and poor. He helped the down-trodden by granting them their wishes. Baba Ramdev is often depicted on horseback. His worship crosses the Hindu-Muslim divide as well as crossing the caste line since his followers include caste Hindus and the casteless Dalits.   This year from from Bhadon Sudi 2 (Beej) to 11 (Ekadashi) (September 3 to September 11, 2008)  thousands of pilgrims are going on foot to pay respect to Baba Ramdeoji. They came from diffrent parts of the state, Gujrat, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh and other states. Roads in Sirohi, Pali, Ajmer and Jodhpur are flooded with padyatris (people going on foot) and Jatrus on cycles and motor cycles. The devotees of Ramdevpir offer rice, coconuts, churma and toy wooden horses to Ramdevji.    Some Muslim devotees are part of groups of padyatris covering distances of several kilometers from Madhya Pradesh, Guraj, Haryana and Maharastra.  A group of is coming from Chennai covering about 3,200 kilometers on foot.    In Ramdevra the main attraction is the Samadhi-Mandir, the temple of Ramapir, which includes the samadhis of his parents, King Ajmalji and the Queen Mata Meenaldevi. The other samadhis are of his grandfather Raja Ranjitsinhji and the elder brother Viramdevji and the two sons of Ramdevji. There are also some more Samadhis of  close family relations of Ramdveji.  The other places of interest are:  Parcha -vav,  Panch-Peepli,  Palace of Ajmalji in Pokran,  Dhuni of Baba Balnath, Guru of Baba Ramdevji and  Cave of Bhairavsinh (Bhairav Rakshas)   To reach Ramdevra travel  either from Jodhpur or Bikaner in Rajasthan by rail or road to Pokran in Jaisalmer District. Ramdevra is 12 kilometres from Pokran. Local people still travel on camels, bullock carts or on foot. During the fair, special buses and trains go from as far as Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat and Maharashtra. There are also daily Buses from Bikaner, Jodhpur, Jaisalmer to Ramdevra (Runicha).   Address:  Shree Ramdevji Mandir,  RAMDEVRA - 345023, Dist. Jaisalmer, Rajasthan, India.

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