Ram Charan (guru)

Spiritual life

Ram Charan began to lose interest in materialism after his father's death in 1743 AD. One day he found out about the forecast of Bhringi Saint about his destiny. On that same night he dreamt that a saint saved him from drowning in a river. The next day, he got permission from his family indirectly to leave home forever and began his quest to know God and find a perfect spiritual Guru in 1808 Bikram Samwat. Some believed that he left his house leaving his wife and a daughter behind.

He started travelling southwards, asking people about the saint he saw in his dream, explaining what the saint would look like. Finally, he found the saint "Kripa Ram" in Dantra village near Shahpura in Bhilwara district of Rajasthan. He became a disciple of Kripa Ram Maharaj and followed him. For nine years of tapasya he lived under the command of saint Kripa Ram. Kripa Ram was a disciple of Sant Das. During those nine years, Ram Charan performed many miracles which are still well known among the local people and "Ram Snehi Samprday". He also became very popular for his unique nirguna Bhakti. He visited many places, explaining his experience and advising people to eliminate "show", blind faith, hypocrisy and misleading teachings in the Hindu religion. He came to Bhilwara in 1817 (Bikram Samwat)and selected one lonely place named Miya Chand's bawri ( Step Well) for tapasya. By this time, he had reached the extreme level of Tapasya and reaching on the way to Nirvana.

Philosophy

Ram Charan advocated saying Raam Raam (Hindi: राम राम) as the way of reaching the ultimate. He preached selfless devotion as a means to realise God. He promoted Bhakti in general, trying to eliminate conflicts between Saguna and Nirguna types. Vaani Ji, the collection of works composed by him, focuses on knowledge, devotion and detachment. The spiritual master, Guru has been given the highest status by Swamiji in his own life, as is said in his shlokas. Often, the Guru is equated with 'Raam'. The student or seeker is told to avoid reading huge texts and instead focus on chanting Raam Raam as the simplest means to self-realization. The supreme being is present everywhere, in every living being. Swamiji followed the Vishishtadvaita school of thoughts. Non violence to any living being, including insects is a central tenet. The Bhagvatam is referred to most frequently, compared to other ancient Indian texts.

Social Reform

Ram Charan was against blind idolatry, which was prevalent during his time. His philosophy was that we must love God, and not merely create a show. He taught people to treat people equally, a king as well as a poor person. Also, he said that we must not discriminate on the basis caste or creed.

RamCharan Ji Maharaj also emphasised that instead of going to various places and searching for God, one must look inside oneself. Following Maharaj Ji, it is only necessary to engage in spiritual practices, at one's own place, with proper and essential guidance of one's Guru.

Death

Ram Charan died in 1799 (Vaisakha Krishna 5 in Bikram Samwat 1855).

Formation of Ramsnehi Sampradaya

In the same year (1817 Bikram Samwat), disciple Ram Jan Ji of Ram Charan Maharaj formed "Ram Snehi Sampradaya" ( Ram Snehi Spiritual Tradition).

The place of worship of believers of Swamiji is called a Ramdwara. Since Swamiji's times, the organisation has headquarters at Shahpura in Bhilwara district of Rajasthan. The Ramsnehi Sampradaya is currently led by Swami Ji Shri Ram Dayal Ji Maharaj.