Rama Tirtha

Biography

Rama Tirtha was born in a Gosvami Brahmin family to Pandit Hiranand Goswami on 22 October 1873 (Deepawali Vikram Samvat 1930) in the village of Muraliwala in the Gujranwala District of Punjab, Pakistan. His mother died when he was a few days old and he was raised by his elder brother Gossain Gurudas. After receiving a master's degree in mathematics from The Government College of Lahore, he became professor of mathematics at Forman Christian College, Lahore. Meanwhile, he started studying Vedanta, inspired by Sri Madhava Tirtha of the Dwarka Math.

A chance meeting with Swami Vivekananda in 1897 in Lahore, inspired his later decision to take up the life of a sannyasi. Having become well known for his speeches on Krishna and Advaita Vedanta he became a swami in 1899 on the day of Deepawali, leaving his wife, his children and his professorial chair. Subsequently, he lived in the forests of Brahmapuri, on the banks of the river Ganges, five miles from Rishikesh.

"As a sannyasi, he neither touched any money nor carried any luggage with him. In spite of it he went round the world." A trip to Japan to teach Hinduism was sponsored by Maharaja Kirti Shah Bahadur of Tehri. From there he travelled to the United States of America in 1902, where he spent two years lecturing on Hinduism, other religions, and his philosophy of "practical Vedanta". He frequently spoke about the iniquities emanating from the caste system in India and the importance of education of women and of the poor, stating that "neglecting the education of women and children and the labouring classes is like cutting down the branches that are supporting us – nay, it is like striking a death-blow to the roots of the tree of nationality." Arguing that India needed educated young people, not missionaries, he began an organization to aid Indian students in American universities and helped to establish a number of scholarships for Indian students.

He always referred to himself in the third person, which is a common spiritual practice in Hinduism in order to detach oneself from Ego.

Although upon his return to India in 1904 large audiences initially attended his lectures, he completely withdrew from public life in 1906. As he suffered ill health, he moved to the foothills of the Himalaya and settled at Vasishtha Ashram near Rishikesh. Here he prepared to write a book giving a systematic presentation of practical Vedanta. Tirtha died on 17 October 1906 (Deepawali Vikram Samvat 1963), and the book was never finished. His lectures and writing have been published as In Wood of God-Relization in 7 Volumes by Swami Rama Tirtha Pratisthan.

Many believe he did not die but gave up his body to the river Ganges.

A significant prediction made by Swami Rama Tirtha for future India is quoted in Shiv R. Jhawar's book, Building a Noble World. Rama Tirtha predicted: "After Japan, China will rise and gain prosperity and strength. After China, the sun of prosperity and learning will again smile at India."