INTRODUCTION
TO
SHREE KABIR ASHRAM
JAMANGAR
GUJRAT, INDIA
It is 6oo years since the appearance of Shree Sadguru Kabir Sahib. In 1700 one of the branches of Shree Sadguru Kabir Sahib was established in Jamnagar, Gujrat.
During this period in 1700, a saint from Kabir movement went to the then King of Jamnagar, Rajvi Jam Ralmal and asked for a place to stay the night. King Ralmalji offered the saint a bungalow near the palace, near Bardhan Chowk, in the big court yard which was known as the ghost house by the local people. Nobody lived in this bungalow. It was believed that whoever lived there was haunted by the ghosts, therefore, no one stayed there particularly at night. The King of Jamnagar to test the saint offered him the bungalow for him to stay the night. The saint stayed there and recited the holy name of Shree Kabir Saheb all night. In the morning the King sent his guards to find out if the saint was still there. The saint after completing his daily routine of washing etc., was sitting deep in meditation when the guards came to check. When they reported back to the King what they had seen, the King himself came to pay his obeisance at the lotus feet of the saint. The King was very happy with the darshan and bhajans that the saint blessed him with. The King gave the saint the bungalow. From that day a lot of saints used to stay at the bungalow and it became known as Kabir Ashram.
In 1824 Param Pujya Shree Khem Dasji Saheb, was blessed and given the honour of Mahant by acharya Hazoor Anmolnam Saheb. He was a very honourable and an intellectual saint who spread the teachings of Shree Kabir Saheb in and surrounding area of Jamnagar. His disciple, Shree Nirbhai Dasji Saheb was blessed and given the honour of Mahant by acharya Hazoor Surutsnehinam Saheb in 1836.
In 1856 his disciple Shree Jivan Dasji Saheb was blessed and given the honour of Mahant by acharya Hazoor Haknam Dasji Saheb. In 1906 his disciple Shree Mohan Dasji Saheb was blessed and given the honour of Mahant by acharya Hazoor Paknam Dasji Saheb. In 1931 his disciple Shree Amar Dasji Sabeb was blessed and given the honour of Mahant by acharya Shree Hazoor Pragatnam Saheb. His disciple Shree Purshotam Dasji Saheb who was a great saint was blessed and given the honour of Mahant by acharya Hazoor Shree Ugranam Dasji Saheb.
During that period Mahant Shree Purshotam Dasji Saheb had thousands of disciples and thus a bigger Ashram was required. He asked one of his disciples, Shree Ram Dasji Saheb to find a new place for an Ashram. Shree Ram Dasji Saheb with his devotion, austerity and wealth of knowledge about Shree Kabir Sahib made a lasting impression on the then Shree Vibhajisaheb of Jamnagar. Shree Vibhajisaheb also known as Jamsaheb donated the land in 1951 in Kisan Chowk, near Khambhalia Gate where the present Ashram is situated. To mark the establishment of the new site for the Ashram, Shree Jamsaheb launched the flag of satya to mark the occasion.
In 1975 Mahant Shree Purshotam Dasji Saheb's disciple Shree Shanti Dasji Saheb was blessed and given the honour of Mahant by acharya Hazoor Shree Dayanam Dasji Saheb. During that period the Ashram consisted of two or three small rooms with the Shrine of Shree Kabir Saheb surrounded by land and trees. Mahant Shree Shanti Dasji Maharaj was a truly great saint and a poet who was respected and loved in Gujrat. In his memory a book called "Prabhu's Snehdara" has been published which is available from Jamnagar Ashram.
In 1985, Param Pujya Mahant Shree Shanti Dasji Maharaj Saheb's disciple Param Pujya Shree Ramswarup Dasji Saheb was blessed and given the honour of Mahant by acharya Hazoor Shree Prakashmani Saheb. Param Pujya Mahant Shree Ramswarup Dasji Maharaj Saheb travelled several times to over 45 countries in the world to spread the teachings of Shree Kabir Saheb as well as to help, serve and support thousands of people suffering as a result of poverty and ill health. As a result of the sheer devotion and dedication of Param Pujya Mahant Shree Shanti Dasji Maharaj Saheb and Param Pujya Mahant Shree Ramswarup Dasji Maharaj the Ashrams and services provided in the cause of humanity by Shree Kabir Ashram, Jamnagar has grown ten folds. Prior to taking samadhi in January 1995, Param Pujya Mahant Shree Ramswarup Dasji Maharaj Saheb in spite of his ill health travelled to foreign countries to bless his hundreds and thousands of disciples and to raise funds for the Shree Samarpan General Hospital. The hospital serves the most vulnerable people in need of health care in and surrounding areas of Jamnagar at a cost of 5 million rupees. The 100-bed hospital was opened on 20th December 1992.
In 1990, Param Pujya Mahant Shree Ramswarup Dasji Maharaj Saheb's disciple Shree Jagdish Dasji Shastri (Sahitya Acharya, Shankhyog Acharya, Vedant Acharya, B.A.LL.B) Saheb was blessed and given honour of Mahant on 15th February 1990 as the 9th Mahant of Shree Kabir Ashram, Jamnagar. Param Pujya Mahant Shree Jagdish Dasji Shastri Saheb speaks 9 languages,and inspired Dr Das and his family to establish Shree Kabir Association of Canada. Param Pujya has written numerous books in Hindi, Gujrati and English.