Lilashah
| Lilashah | |
|---|---|
|
Lilashah statue at Gandhidham | |
| Born |
March 1880 Village Mehrab Chandni, Tanda Baga, Taluka Hyderabad, Sindh Province of British India |
| Died |
4 November 1973 Adipur, Gujarat |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Religion | Hinduism |
Lilashah (March 1880 – 4 November 1973) is the guru of Asaram and Sri Manohardas of Ajmer. He practiced celibacy throughout his life.
Biography
Lilashah was born in Hyderabad, Sindh in March 1880. His father's name was Topandas and his mother's name was Hemibai. His birth name was Lilaram. At the age of ten, his parents died; he was subsequently raised by Lakhumal. He was religious during his childhood. He refused to marry and opted to live like a saint. He decided to work in favor of the people living in Laad, south of Sindh, for they were illiterate and living in poverty. Lilaram was made president of Bhagat Ratan Darbar, but he left the post in search of truth. He learned Hindi, studied religious and Vedic books, and lived amongst saints. He became a disciple and student of Keshavaram, who named him Lilashah.[1]
Thereafter, Lilashah traveled in North India and visited Haridwar, Rishikesh, North Kashi, Kashmir, Tibet and the Himalayas. During these travels, he lived in caves, meditated, and did bhakti (devotion and practice). He had started publishing a religious monthly magazine called Tatwa Gyan. After the partition of India in 1947, he assisted the Sindhi community by going to places in India such as Ahmedabad, Alwar, Jaipur, Jodhpur, Agra, Bombay, Baroda, and Gandhidham.[1]
He established schools, dharmshalas, gaushalas, hospitals, vridhshrams, libraries, and satsang halls. He propagated against the dowry system and encouraged group marriages. Swamiji's capital was religious book and a bed of Tat. On 4 November 1973, he died at the age of 93 years. His memorial is situated at Adipur.[1]
He studied Vedanta and was the editor of a philosophical work named "Atmadarshan".