Lord Shree Rama is the god of faith and trust for the people. His life, his dedication for the parents, his loyalty for his subjects, and his bravery inspired people to follow his life values. The devotees worship Rama, Laxman, Sita, Hanuman with great faith. The feeling of brotherhood, the love for family and nation are awakened by the life events of Lord Shree Rama. There are many temples of Lord Shree Rama are established in many villages. The one such temple is located in Moti Virani village. Virani is a village located in Nakhatrana Taluka of Kutch. This temple is established with the holy determination of saint Laxmidasji Maharaj of Ravi Bhan Ashram of Moti Virani.
Ravi Bhan tradition/sampraday
In India there are many Bhakti traditions and Sampraday famous for the spiritual significance. Ravi Bhan tradition is a tradition of Guru Bhakti. This tradition started in about 18th century by saint Bhan Saheb and his prominent follower saint Ravi Saheb so it known as Ravi Bhan Sampraday. They awakened people to follow Bhakti Marg through bhajans, satsang, spiritual speeches. Many bhajans are written in Gujarati by the saints of this Sampraday. The bhajans,sant vani and guru vani are famous in Gujarati devotional literature. The branches and the followers of Ravi Bhan Sampraday is increased by time. Ravi Bhan Ashram Moti Virani follows this Guru disciple tradition. In Kutch Ravi Bhan Ashram in many villages like Moti Virani, Hingariya and Bibbar. In this tradition Guru Gadi and Guru Charan Paduka pooja are done with great faith.
Shree Ram Mandir in Ravi Bhan Ashram
Shree Ram Mandir of Moti Virani is very holy place for the devotees to worship Shree Ram, Laxman and Sita. In the garbhgrih there are idols of Ram Darbar. The small idol of Bal Ram is also there. The whole temple is very beautiful in look with the minute carving work. The temple is centre of worship Shree Ram and the saint tradition of Ravi Bhan. The temple gives the shelter and food to many wandering sadhus and saints. The temple is built on Ram Navami Vikram Samvat 2039. The many devotees serve there in temple kitchen, gaushala and other activities.
Saint Laxmidasji Maharaj’s Nirvana Tithi Mahotsav in Ravi Bhan Ashram
In the Ravi Bhan Ashram the Nirvana Tithi (Departure Dat) of Laxmidasji Maharaj is celebrated as the Shraddhanjali to the Guru. Saint Laxmidasji’s parents were Ratanshibhai and Sejbai. His parents were the followers of saint Priyadasji Maharaj. Saint Priyadasji Maharaj had made him his disciple by performing holy rituals. After the death of Priyadasji Maharaj Laxmidasji Maharaj became the Mahant of the Ashram. Laxmidasji Maharaj had done many religious and spiritual activities and made many followers and disciples. He continued the bhajan, satsang, religious practice and followed the Ravi Bhan saint tradition. Then he took holy Sankalp (decision) to build Shree Ram temple in Ravi Bhan Ashram. By his dedication and donation of the followers Shree Ram temple was established on Ram Navami about fourty years ago. In the same holy occasion he announced Shantidasji Maharaj as the Laghu Mahant (the next head) of Ravi Bhan Ashram. On Vikram Samvat 2044 Magh Vad trutiya Tithi Laxmidasji Maharaj got Nirvana (passed away). Every year his Nirvana Tithi (death day) is celebrated to give tribute him. This day his followers come here to pay the shradhanjali to Laxmidasji Maharaj. The programmes like bhajan kirtan, prasad, and satsang are arranged. This year his 38th Nirvan Tithi is celebrated in Virani in the presence of Mahant Shree Shree 1008 Shantidasji Maharaj, Kalyandasji Maharaj Hingriya ashram, Jankidasji Maharaj from Kamijala and other followers and disciples. Many people inspired by the satsang and bhakti of Laxmidasji Maharaj and became his disciples.
Guru Purnima Mahotsav in Ravi Bhan Ashram
Guru Purnima is celebrated on the full moon day of Ashadh month. Disciples of Laxmidasji Maharaj and Shantidasji Maharaj come here from early morning to give tribute to their Guru. In early morning Shantidas Bapu give the religious speech to the devotees. Maha Prasad is arranged for all the disciples. The invitation cards distributed on social media groups and news paper. The religious and spiritual speech of Shantidasji Maharaj comes live in utube. Disciples of Laxmidasji Maharaj, Shantidasji Maharaj and the followers of Ravi Bhan tradition come from Gujarat and outside Gujarat also. The Ravi Bhan Ashram becomes the spiritual medium for the people to get peace and spiritual knowledge. The followers do Guru Pooja and Guru vandana with the high spirit of Guru disciple tradition. Many become new disciples to get spiritual guidance. Shree Shree 1008 Shantidasji Maharaj continues his Guru’s tradition of Bhakti. He guides the people to practice humanity and saint tradition. He actively manages the the Ashram’s activities, Ram Mandir holy rituals and keeps on the path of his Guru Laxmidasji Maharaj.
Ram Navami celebration in Ram Mandir
Ram Navami is celebrated as the birthday of lord Shree Rama. It is celebrated with great enthusiasm and trust in all India. Here, in Virani Ram Mandir the people enthusiastically celebrate Ram Navami. The temple is decorated with flowers, torans and lights and clay lamps. It starts from the morning holy procession(Shobha Yatra) in the streets of Virani. Some boy become Shree Ram, some becomes Laxman and someone becomes Sita, some becomes Hanuman in this holy procession. The decorated handcart with the photo of Shree Ram is carried by the followers in the village. The young girls carry holy Nadiyer on their heads. The devotees carry saffron flags in hands and chanting ‘Jay Jay Shree Ram’, ‘Jay SiyaRam’, ‘Jay Bajarangbali’. The men, women, girls and boys all the people singing bhajans of lord Shree Ram. The devotees plays Garaba in Garabi chalk and fly Gulal(colours). Then the procession comes back to the temple, the devotees donates to the young girls who carry the holy Nadiyer on their heads in this holy procession. The people participate in holy Pooja and havan. Then Maha Aarti is performed by Shantidasji Maharaj with drumbeats and singers at the noon time to celebrate Ram Janmotsav and perform Ram Janmotsav Pooja rituals. On this day Shree Rama devotees keep fast and sing devotional bhajans of Shree Rama. Then the devotees worship Ram Lalla (infant statue of Rama) and cradling Shree Rama. Maha Prasad (annkut-56 items) is offered to Shree Ram and then distribute this prasad among the devotees. The devotees’ sacred chanting vibrates the air into divine atmosphere. Asmita Soni and her family with great devotion take part in Ram Navami holy procession in Moti Virani.
Chaitra Navratri celebration in Ram Mandir
Chaitra Navratri is nine night festival celebrated with great worship of Godess Durga. The Hindu new year starts with Chaitra Navratri. It starts with Chaitra Shukla Paksha Ekam. Usually people plays ras garaba in Ashwin month Navratri. In Ram mandir, Virani Moti the nine day Ras Garba in Chaitra Navratri is arranged. The devotees plays Garba addressing God and Goddess. The local singers and music players participate in this Garaba. Every day before starting garaba Aarti of Godess is performed and Prasad is distributed. The devotees do Kanya Poojan and the people donates them sweets and shringar items like bangles, handkerchief and such other items. Chaitra Shukla Paksh Navami, with the celebration of Ram Navami the Ras Garba is completed. The holy Havan rituals are performed and the devotees, villagers, local political and religious representatives participate here. The followers of Ashram manages all this activities with the great devotion.
Recent Mahant of Ravi Bhan Ashram Virani Shree Shree 1008 Swamiji Shantidasji Maharaj
Shree Shantidasji Maharaj follows the path of his guru Laxmidasji Maharaj. His devotion, dedication, his religious speeches and meetings have made the Ashram the place of spiritual awakening. Many religious and helpful service activities are done by him. Many devotees take guru diksha and follow him. He was also invited in Ram Mandir Ayodhya Pran Pratishtha Mahotsav of 2024. In 2025 Maha Kumbh Utsav Prayag Raj, he was given the holy status of Shree Shree 1008 Mahamandaleshwar. This is a very high ranking honouring title for his profound spiritual devotion of Sanatan Dharma. After the Nirvana of his Guru Laxmidasji Maharaj Shantidasji Maharaj manages whole the Ravi Bhan Ashram and Shree Ram temple. Now Shree Sureshdasji is Laghu Mahant of the Ashram and he actively performed every rituals with his Guru Shree Shantidasji Maharaj. People can see and listen Shree Shantidasji Maharaj’s religious and spiritual speeches and other activities of Ravi Bhan Ashon YouTube channel Sadguru Krupa 5777.
Other service activities of the Ashram
Hari Saheb Nirvan Tithi Mahotsav
Hari Saheb was the Mahant of the Hingariya village Shree Hari Ashram. His Nirvan Tithi is celebrated in the Ravi Bhan Ashram Moti Virani on Paush Shukla Ashtami to give him tribute.
Staying facilities for guests and deep villages’ students
The Ravi Bhan Ashram is the place of the divine energy of the Guru. The devotees are spread in many directions and far places but minimum once in a year they come to take blessings of Guru. They come here, stay here, do satsang with the Guru and other followers. The Ashram provides them all the staying facilities.
Virani village is located near the Nakhatrana Taluka. Many schools and college present in Nakhatrana. Many students from deep villages come Nakhatrana for study but there are problems of transport vehicles in time. Many villages like Charakhada, Jatavira, Vedhar, near Virani don’t have regular government transport facilities for the students, so many students from the deep villages stay here in Ravi Bhan Ashram. The Ashram gives them all the facilities to stay and study.
Gaushala
Here in Ashram many cows are reared by the Ashram authority. The devotees are serving in gaushala. The Ravi Bhan Ashram devotees serve the cows heartly. The cow milk and other products are used prepare prasad in the kitchen of the Ashram.
Prasad bhojan facility
The Ravi Bhan Ashram walks on the path of human service. Here the hungry gets the food and the wanderer sadhus get the shelter. Many devotees works in the kitchen of the Ravi Bhan Ashram for preparing Prasad.
other festival celebration services
Many other Hindu festivals celebrate here and the Ram Mandir authority provides the service activities. The Ganesha statue keeping rituals for Ganesh Chaturthi, holy Garbo (earthen pot with holes) keeping for Navratri, celebration of Mahashivratri, Janmashtami celebrations and many other religious helpful activities are done by Shree Ram Mandir of Ravi Bhan Ashram Moti Virani.
Shree Sadguru Krupa
