Samarth Ramdas

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.

After pilgrimage, he returned to Mahabaleshwar, a hill-town near Satara. Later at Masur, he arranged for Rama Navami celebrations that were reportedly attended by thousands. He established several matha or monasteries. Common estimates suggest that he may have established somewhere between 700 and 1100 monasteries during his travels. Narahar Phatak in his biography of Ramdas claims that the actual number of monasteries founded by him may have been fewer. 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).

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.

He encouraged the participation of women in religious work and offered them positions of authority. He had 18 female disciples, among whom Vennabai headed the monastery at Miraj near Sangli. Akkabai supervised the monasteries at Chaphal and Sajjangad. He once reprimanded an aged man who voiced his opposition to female participation in religious affairs. Ramdas reportedly responded by saying "Everyone came from a woman's womb and those who did not understand the importance of this were unworthy of being called men". In Dasbodh, Ramdas eulogizes the virtues of aesthetic handwriting (Chapter 19.10, Stanza 1–3p).

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.

During their conversation, Ramdas reportedly asked "I had heard that you occupy the Gaddi (seat) of Nanak. Nanak was a tyāgī sādhu, a saint who had renounced the world. You possess arms and keep an army and horses. You allow yourself to be addressed as Sacha Patshah, the true king. What sort of a sādhu are you?" Hargobind replied, "Internally a hermit and externally a prince. Arms mean protection to the poor and destruction of the tyrant. Baba Guru Nanak had not renounced the world but had renounced māyā - the self and ego." Ramdas is reported to have said, "Yeh hamare man bhavti hai" (This appeals to my mind).

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.