Samarth Ramdas

Rāmdās (Devanagari: रामदास) (1608-1681) was a prominent Marāthi (मराठी) religious poet in the Hindu tradition in Mahārāshtra (महाराष्ट्र), India. Samarth Ramdas was a great devotee of Hindu Gods Hanumān (हनुमान) and Rāma (राम).

Early life

Ramdas swami was born in a Deshastha Rugvedi Brāhman family to Suryāji (सूर्याजी) and Rānu Bāi (राणूबाई) Thosar (ठोसर) in Jāmb (जांब) in Jālna District (जालना जिल्हा) of Maharashtra on Ram Navami, 1530 (रामनवमी, चैत्र शुद्ध ९, १५३०) according to "Shāliwāhan Shak" (शालिवाहन शक) calendar. His given name was Nārāyan (नारायण). He was devotee of God “Ram” and that’s why he named as Ramdas (At age 24, he named as Rāmdās.)

Since his childhood, Ramdas had an inclination toward metaphysical contemplation and religiosity. When he was eight, his father died; and at age 12, his mother arranged his marriage to her brother's daughter. However, he wanted to pursue a monasitc life, and so just as the wedding cermony was proceeding, he ran away before the marriage vows were exchanged.

Ramdas Swami guided Shivaji Maharaj to setup Swaraj.

piritual Development

For the next twelve years, Ramdas devoted himself to study Hindu religious books, meditation, and prayers in a place named Panchawati (पंचवटी) --near Nāshik (नािशक)-- on the banks of Godāwari (गोदावरी) river.

Writings

Ramdas swami was a gifted composer. He produced considerable lucid and effective literature in verse form in Marathi. Among his works, two compositions particularly stand out: A small book of meditations titled “Manāche Shlok” (मनाचे श्लोक), which consists of 205 memorable four-line verses, and a large volume titled Dāsabodh (दासबोध), which consists of 7,751 called as “owi” (ओव्या). Manāche Shlok is an advice and preaching to the human mind, to behave in an ethical way and devote oneself in the love of god. Dasabodh provides sagacious advice on both spiritual and diverse practical topics. Samartha Ramdas swami also wrote Maruti Stotra, marathi adulatory poem for Lord Hanuman.

ajjangad

Shivaji and Ramdas swami first met in 1674, Shivaji accepting Ramdas swami then as his spiritual guru. Shivaji made available to Ramdas swami a fort named Parali Fort to establish his permanent monastery there. The fort was subsequently renamed as “Sajjangad” (सज्जनगड).Also there are some references that Sant Tukaram is the real Spiritual guru Of Shivaji raje.

References

* "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)
* http://www.ramdas.org/
* http://www.swamisamarth.com/dervan/gad.html
*Real enimies of King Shivaji raje- Shrimant Kokate

External links

* [http://www.hindupedia.com/en/Samarth_Ramdas Samarth Ramdas]