There is a small village called Odarka in the Saurashtra region. Odarka was known as the home of the infamous Ramsang Bapu (Ramsinhji Takhatsinhji Gohil). He was a skilled fighter and thief. He didn’t bother stealing from people or businesses, Ramsang Bapu terrorized villages! He was so good at what he did that Bhupat, a nationally feared gangster, offered a partnership. Bhupat had told Ramsang Bapu that with you on my side, I can rattle the national government. He offered half his profits to Ramsang Bapu, but Ramsingh Bapu was not interested in such high profile action. Describing his original nature, he would say, “If you had seen me before, you would have thought I was Ravan and Kansa’s brother! I was destined to die a very painful and humiliating death, but Pramukh Swami Maharaj changed my life.”

Swamishri visited his house in Odarka and talked to him about the repercussions of violence, theft and hurting others. Ramsang Bapu followed Swamishri’s wish and started to live a morally pure life, giving up his vices and violent ways. Ramsang Bapu was no longer a thug or gangster. Pramukh Swami Maharaj had made him a devotee.

His transformation helped the entire region sleep better at night. For the rest of his days, Ramsang Bapu lived a pious life based on the codes of satsang.

On 13 October 1997, Swamishri promised Ramsang Bapu that Bhagwan Swaminarayan would take him to Akshardham very soon.

In just 13 days, Ramsang Bapu breathed his last while telling his son Janaksinh, “Bhagwan Swaminarayan and Pramukh Swami Maharaj have come to take me. I am going...”

Changing obvious misfits in society is common, but there is a type of transformation Swamishri brings about that is not as obvious. Swamishri’s divine aishvaraya has helped people rid themselves of anger, lust, greed and arrogance.