Background
Bhoja or Bhojo was born in 1785 in Leva Kanbi caste at village named Fattehpur or Devkigalol near Jetpur in Saurashtra. His father"s name was Karshandas and mother was Gangabai and family surname was Savalia.
Bhoja or Bhojo was born in 1785 in Leva Kanbi caste at village named Fattehpur or Devkigalol near Jetpur in Saurashtra. His father"s name was Karshandas and mother was Gangabai and family surname was Savalia.
He met his guru, a sanyasin from Girnar at age of 12. Later, when he was 24, the family shifted to Fatehpur near Amreli, Gujarat. He came to be known as Bhoja Bhagat (Bhagat derived from Bhakt, devotee) and Bhojalram in his later life.
By occupation he was a farmer.
Although, he was an illiterate, but with blessings of his Guru in Girnar, he wrote poems and songs condemning social inequities, which became well known as "Bhoja Bhagat Na Chabkha". Bhoja Bhagat died in 1850 at age of 65 at Virpur, where he had gone to visit his disciple Jalaram.
His memorial temple (called Ota locally) is located at Virpur. His followers visit Fatehpur toady to pay their respects, where he spent major part of his life.
The ashram of Bhoja Bhagat houses his paghdi, rosary beads and padukas The original brick-house of Bhoja Bhagat stands as it is and his personal belonging are kept here and there is an ashram headed by mahant, called gadi-pati (head of gadi)
He had many disciples of whom the two most illustrious and known are saints Jalaram of Virpur and Valamram of Gariadhar.