Samarth Ramdas Swami

Ramdas (c. 1608 – c. 1682) , also Samarth Ramdas or Ramdas Swami, was an Indian Hindu saint, philosopher, poet, mystic and spiritual master. He was a devotee of the Hindu deities Rama and Hanuman.

Early life Ramdas was born as Narayan Thosar at Jamb, a village in present-day Jalna District, Maharashtra, on the occasion of Rama Navami in 1608. He was born to Suryajipant and Ranubai Thosar, and brought up in a Marathi Deshastha Rigvedi Brahmin family. He had an elder brother named Gangadhar. His father, Suryajipant, was a devotee of Surya, a Vedic deity. Suryajipant died in either 1615 or 1616. Ramdas turned into an introvert after the demise of his father and would often be engrossed in thoughts about the divine.

Historical information about his early life is scarce. According to legend, Ramdas—then known as Narayan—fled his wedding ceremony at the age of twelve. He did so upon hearing a pandit (Hindu priest) chant 'Saawadhaana! ' (Beware!) during the wedding ritual. Later, he walked hundreds of miles along the banks of the river Godavari to Panchavati, a Hindu pilgrimage town near Nashik. He then moved to Taakli, near Nashik, at the confluence of the Godavari and Nandini rivers. At Taakli, he spent the next twelve years as an ascetic in complete devotion to the deity Rama. During this period, he adhered to a rigorous daily routine and devoted most of his time to meditation, worship and exercise. He is claimed to have attained enlightenment at the age of 24. He adopted the name Ramdas around this time. He also installed and consecrated an idol of the deity Hanuman at Taakli.

Pilgrimage and spiritual movement

He departed Taakli and embarked on a pilgrimage across the Indian subcontinent. He travelled for twelve years and made observations on contemporary social life. He noted these observations in two of his literary works Asmani Sultania and Parachakraniroopan. These works provide rare insights into the then prevailing social conditions in the Indian subcontinent. He also travelled to regions in the vicinity of the Himalayas during this period. He met the sixth Sikh guru Hargobind at Srinagar. Around 1648, he installed an idol of Rama at a newly built temple in Chaphal, a village near Satara. He had eleven Hanuman temples constructed in various regions of southern Maharashtra. These temples are collectively known as 11-Maruti (see list below).

+11-Maruti Location Region Year ShahapurKarad 1644 Masur Karad 1645 Chaphal Vir Maruti Satara 1648 Chaphal Das Maruti Satara 1648 Shinganwadi Satara 1649 Umbraj Masur 1649 Majgaon Satara 1649 Bahe Sangli 1651 Manapadale Kolhapur 1651 Pargaon Warananagar 1651 Shirala Sangli1654

Literary contribution and philosophy

Literary works Ramdas wrote extensive literature during his lifetime. His literary works include Dasbodh, Karunashtakas, Sunderkand, Yuddhakand, Poorvarambh, Antarbhav, Aatmaaram, Chaturthman, Panchman, Manpanchak, Janaswabhawgosavi, Panchsamasi, Saptsamasi, Sagundhyan, Nirgundhyan, Junatpurush, Shadripunirupan, Panchikaranyog and Manache Shlok. Unlike saints of the Warkari tradition, he did not embrace pacifism. His writings evoke strong expressions encouraging militant means to resist contemporary Islamic rulers.

A major portion of his Marathi literature is in the form of verses. Listed below are some of his notable literary works. Manache Shlok (co-written by Kalyan Swami) Dasbodh Shree Maruti Stotra Aatmaaram 11-Laghu Kavita Shadripu Nirupan Maan Panchak Chaturthmaan Raamayan (Marathi-Teeka)

His compositions include numerous aarati or devotional hymns. One of his most well-known aarati commemorates the Hindu deity Ganesha, and is popularly known as Sukhakarta Dukhaharta. It is believed that the bhajan or devotional song, Raghupati Raghava Raja Ram, is based on a mantra composed by Ramdas.

His other works include the aarati commemorating Hanuman, Satrane Uddane Hunkaar Vadani, and the aarati dedicated to the Hindu deity Vitthala, Panchanan Haivahan Surabhushan Lila. He also composed aarti in dedication to other Hindu deities. His well-known work, Dasbodh, has been translated to several other Indian languages.

Philosophy Ramdas was an exponent of Bhakti Yoga or the path of devotion. According to him, total devotion to Rama brings about spiritual evolution. His definition of bhakti or devotion was in accordance with the philosophy of Advaita Vedanta. In chapter four of Dasbodh, he describes nine levels of devotion or communion; beginning with listening or shravan to total surrender or aatmanivedan.

He emphasized on the significance of physical strength and knowledge towards individual development. He expressed his admiration for warriors and highlighted their role in safeguarding the society. He was of the opinion that saints must not withdraw from society, but rather actively engage towards social transformation. He aimed to revive the Hindu culture after its gradual disintegration over several centuries due to continuous foreign occupation. He also called for unity among the Marathas to preserve and promote the regional culture.

Samarth sect

Ramdas founded the Samarth sect to revive religion and spirituality among various sections of the Indian society. He established several monasteries during his lifetime.

Links with contemporaries

Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj

Some historical accounts and popular traditions claim Ramdas to be a spiritual mentor to the first Maratha ruler, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. Disputing accounts present a contradictory view of there being no direct association between the two. Both sets of claims have been debated among scholars and historians.

Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj Samarth Ramdas Swami, a renowned 17th-century saint and poet, shared an important connection with Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj as an elder statesman and spiritual advisor. After the passing of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, Samarth Ramdas wrote a famous advisory letter to young Sambhaji Maharaj to guide him on statecraft and his duties as the new king.

Guru Hargobind

According to a manuscript in the Sikh tradition known as Panjāh Sakhīān, Ramdas met Hargobind at Srinagar near the Garhwal Hills. This meeting also finds mention in an 18th-century Marathi literary work known as Ramdas Swamichi Bakhar, authored by Hanumant Swami. The meeting most likely took place after 1630 when Ramdas travelled to northern India and Hargobind journeyed to Nanakmatta, a town in present-day Uttarakhand. Before the meeting, Hargobind had returned from a hunting excursion.

Residences Ramdas moved all across the Indian subcontinent and usually resided in caves (ghal in Marathi). Some of these are listed below.

Ramghal, Sajjangad Morghal, at Morbag near Sajjangad Tondoshighal, north of Chaphal Taakli, near Nashik Chandragiri, opposite Vasantgad, near Karad Helwak, near Helwak village Shiganwadi, near Chandragiri Shivtharghal, near Mahad

Death For five days before his death, Ramdas underwent Praayopaveshana, a voluntary abstinence from food and water consumption. He continuously recited the taaraka mantra "Shree Ram Jai Ram Jai Jai Ram", while resting beside an idol of Rama brought from Tanjore. His disciples, Uddhav Swami and Akka Swami, remained in his service during this period. Uddhav Swami conducted the final rites.

Legacy

Ramdas served as an inspiration for several Indian thinkers, historians, independence activists and social reformers. Some of these include Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Keshav Hedgewar, Vishwanath Rajwade, Ramchandra Ranade and Vinayak Damodar Savarkar. Tilak derived inspiration from Ramdas when devising aggressive strategies to revolt against the British colonial rule. Nanasaheb Dharmadhikari, a spiritual teacher and social reformer, promoted his philosophy through spiritual discourses. Gondavalekar Maharaj, a 19th-century saint and guru, expounded spiritual methods of Ramdas through his own teachings. Savarkar gained inspiration from Dasbodh. Bhausaheb Maharaj, founder of the Inchegeri Sampradaya, used Dasbodh as a means of instruction to his disciples. Dasbodh has been translated and published by American followers of Ranjit Maharaj, a spiritual teacher of the Inchegeri Sampradaya.

He had a profound influence on Keshav Hedgewar, the founder of Hindu nationalist organization Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh. Hedgewar quoted Ramdas on numerous occasions and would often note the latter's views in his personal diary. According to one entry in his diary dated 4 March 1929, Hedgewar writes "Shri Samarth did not want anything for himself. He mindfully guarded against self-pride that could have resulted from success and greatness. Ingraining this discipline, he devoted himself to the welfare of his people and a higher self-realization."

Ramdas is a revered religious and spiritual figure in the Indian state of Maharashtra and remains relevant to present-day society due to his enduring literary contributions. The aarati, Sukhakarta Dukhaharta, composed by him in veneration of the Hindu deity Ganesha, is often recited in numerous Hindu rituals. Maruti Stotra, his hymn in praise of the deity Hanuman, is commonly recited by schoolchildren and wrestlers training at traditional wrestling schools, known as akhada, in Maharashtra. Over generations, children in Maharashtra have been reciting verses from his popular literary work, Manache Shlok, at home and school. His teachings and philosophy have been promoted and endorsed by various political and social organizations in Maharashtra.