Swami Ramdas (1884-1963) was a philosopher, philanthropist, and pilgrim. Giving up worldly possessions at a young age, he became a wandering monk. The inspirational story of his travels throughout India and his message of Universal Love has been presented in several different books and he is regarded by many as a spiritual master.

Biography[link]

Vittal Rao was born in Kerala, India in 1884 to Sri Balakrishna Rao and Smt. Lalita Bai. He worked as a spinning master in a cotton mill and in 1908 he married. He experienced difficulties, both in his financial pursuits and domestic life, and seeking relief from his circumstances, he began to chant "Ram" – a name of God. Soon after, his father gave to him a holy mantra to repeat, the Ram Mantra - 'Sri Ram jai Ram jai jai Ram'. Through inner guidance he started adding the 'Om' to each repetition - 'Om Sri Ram Jai Ram Jai Jai Ram' and he found the benefit at least threefold.

He quickly became detached from materialistic pleasures and left on a pilgrimage, taking on the name Ramdas, and living on charity (though he never accepted money). His practice was to view the world as forms of Ram – and thus to see everything that might befall him as the will of Ram. His mantra practice also gradually became a round-the-clock practice.

In 1922 he encountered the sage, Ramana Maharshi, and received his grace. As a result of this, he went into his first retreat, living for 21 days in solitude in a cave in Arunachala. Upon leaving this cave he was filled with the realization that, “All was Rama, nothing but Rama”^[1] Some time later an absorption experience near Mangalore fully erased his personal identity, so that only Oneness prevailed.

After continuing to live on the roads for many years, his devotees established Anandashram for him in Kanhangad, Kerala in 1931. The ashram worked to improve the living conditions of the local people, and continues to this day to share Swami Ramdas’ vision of Universal Love and Service.

A list of Ramdas' well known disciples includes Mataji Krishnabai, Swami Satchidananda, Swami Mudrananda and Yogi Ramsuratkumar.

He died in 1963.

Quotations[link]

See Also[link]

• Nama sankeerthanam
• Ram nam
• Rama
• Anandashram

Resources[link]

• The Essential Swami Ramdas

World Wisdom, 2005

• Servant of God

Motilal Banarsidass, India, 1999

• In the Vision of God vol 1

Blue Dove Press, 1994

• In the Vision of God Vol. 2

Blue Dove Press, 1995

External links[link]

• Homepage of Anandashram
• Ashram
• Beloved Papa And Sri Gurudev In My Life- Swami chidananda
• Excerpts and Real Audio clips

References[link]

1. ^ [1] The Mountain Path
2. ^ Ramdas, Swami. The Essential Swami Ramdas, World Wisdom, 2005.
3. ^ The Tribune, Reflections
4. ^ The Times of India, SACRED SPACE: Caring and Sharing

Samarth Ramdas
Samarth Ramdas
Born	1608 Jamb, Jalna District, Maharashtra, India
Died	1681 Sajjangad
Birth name	Narayan Thosar
Titles/honours	Sant in Marathi, meaning "Saint"
Literary works	Shri Manāche Shlok, Shrimat Dasbodh

Ramdas (Marathi: समर्थ रामदास, Rāmdās) (1608–1681) was a prominent Marathi saint and religious poet in the Hindu tradition in Maharashtra, India.^[1] Samarth Ramdas was a devotee of Lord Hanuman and Lord Rama. His birth name was Narayan Suryajipant Kulkarni Thosar.

Early life[link]

Ramdas Swami was born in a Deshastha Rugvedi Bramhan family to Suryāji and Rānu-Bāi Thosar in Jāmb in Jalna District of Maharashtra on Ram Navami (the birth festival of Lord Ram), 1530 according to "Shāliwāhan Shak" calendar. His given name was Nārāyan.

As a child, Ramdas showed an inclination toward metaphysical contemplation and religion. When Ramdas was eight, his father died; and when he was 18, his mother arranged his marriage. However, he wanted to pursue a monastic life. He ran away in the middle of the wedding ceremony, before the marriage vows were exchanged.

During the Hindu marriage ceremony, the last word which seals the marriage is "Saavdhan" meaning, 'be careful'. Swami Ramdas interpreted that word to mean that he had to be careful not to get entangled in the bonds of Maya, and must seek Self realization.

Residences[link]

Ramdas moved around quite a lot, and in the process, used several Ghal (Marathi: घळ), which are small caves used for meditation. The famous ones include: ^[2]

• Ramghal, on Sajjangad
• Morghal, at Morbag village near Sajjangad
• Tondoshi Ghal, North of Chaphal
• TaakLi, near Nashik
• Chandragiri, opposite Vasantgad, near Karad
• Helwak, near Helwak village
• Shiganwadi, near Chandragiri
• Shivthar Ghal, near Mahad

Spiritual Development[link]

Hanuman

For the next twelve years, Ramdas devoted himself to studying Hindu religious books, to meditation, and to prayers in a place named Panchavati, near Nashik on the banks of the Godavari River. At age 24 he took the name "Ramdas", meaning "servant of Lord Ram," an incarnation of God.

Ramdas practised physical yoga exercises as well as meditation. The Surya Namaskara or Sun Salutation was his favourite as it involves every part of the body. It is said that he would do 1,200 Sun Salutations every day, believing that no spirituality could be attained if the physical body was not strong.

In addition to his veneration of Ram, Ramdas worshipped Ram's divinely strong servant Lord Hanuman. He established 11 temples of Hanuman in Maharashtra and promoted physical exercise to develop a healthy society.

Writings[link]

Ramdas Swami was a gifted composer. He produced considerable literature in verse form in Marathi. Among his works, two compositions particularly stand out: A small book of meditations, Shri Manāche Shlok, advises ethical behaviour and love for God, and a large volume, Dasbodh, provides advice on both spiritual and practical topics. Apart from Dasbodh, Ramdas also wrote the Shri Māruti Stotra, a poem in praise of Hanuman, the AatmaaRaam, 11-Laghu Kavita and Raamayan (Marathi-Teeka).

His most popular composition is the Marathi song/prayer to Lord Ganesh Sukhkartā Dukhhartā Vārtā Vighnāchi. He also composed several other prayers such as Satrane Uddane Hunkaar Vadani to Lord Hanuman and Panchanan haivahan surabhushan lila to Lord Khandoba.

Disciples[link]

Samarth Ramdas had many disciples.Kalyan Swami worked as a writer for Ramdas, recording his songs and prayers. Ramdas tested him in many ways before giving him this responsible position. Other noteworthy disciples included

• Kalyan Swami
• Udhhaw Swami
• Vena Swami
• Akka Bai
• Bhim Swami
• Diwakar Swami
• Dinkar Swami

He is considered as the guru of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. It is said that Shivaji Maharaj requested Shri Ramdas swami to move his residence to a fort named Parali & establish his permanent monastery there. The fort was subsequently renamed Sajjangad (सज्जनगड) - Fort of the sacred.^[3]

In the 20th century, Nana Dharmadhikari undertook to spread the philosophy of Samarth Ramdas.

References[link]

Sources[link]

• "Shakti Saushthava शक्ती सौष्ठव" by D. G. Godse
• "Vinoba Saraswat" by Vinoba Bhave (edited by Ram Shewalkar)
• "Rajwade Lekhsangrah" by Vishwanath Kashinath Rajwade (edited by Tarkatirth Laxmanshastri Joshi)
• "Tryambak Shankar Shejwalkar Nivadak Lekhsangrah" by T S Shejwalkar (collection- H V Mote, Introduction- G D Khanolkar)

External links[link]

• • दासबोध
• www.samarthramdas400.in
• santvenaswami.com
• www.sadgurubhagwanshreedharswamimaharaj.com
• [1]
• मराठीचे मानदंड स्वामी समर्थ रामदास महाराज
• स्वामी
• दासबोध
• 'आठवणीतली गाणी.कॉम' या संकेतस्थळावर समर्थ रामदास यांचे अभंग
• Speech given by Dr. Shivajirao Bhosale on Samartha Ramdas in Marathi
• Letter of Ramdas Swami to Shivaji Maharaj