Samarth Swami Ramdas
Jai Jai Raghuveer Samarth
Samarth Swami Ramdas was a glorious patriot sage during 17th century Maharashtra. He was the magnificent spiritual power behind Chhattrapati Shivaji Maharaj, the founder of the powerful Maratha empire which resisted the onslaughts of the Mughal empire.
The birth name of Samarth Swami Ramdas was Narayan Suryaji Thosar. He was born on Ramnavami (in the month of Chaitra) in 1608, in Jamb village, Ambad taluk, Jalna district of Maharashtra on the banks of the river Godavari. During childhood, Narayan was fond of vigorous physical activity. He loved to exercise and was well built and intelligent. He felt compassion for the common people. From his childhood itself, he was thinking about how to relieve the masses of their misery. Marriage and family were not his priorities, preferring the life of a monk.
His persona shone with devotion for Hanumanji and Lord Rama. He had Darshan of Lord Rama even when he was a boy. Lord Rama Himself initiated him into Rama Mantra of 13 letters "Sri Ram Jaya Ram Jaya Jaya Ram".
His mother wanted to get him married in childhood itself, and she pleaded with him earnestly. Finally he agreed to show himself as a groom. At the age of 12, while he was standing on the podium during the marriage ceremony, he heard the Brahmins chanting wedding mantras that included the word “Savadhan." This word has other meanings, including "Beware!” Immediately after hearing it, he knew what it meant; he fled the scene and went to the holy city, Nasik, where he started his worship of Lord Rama.
For 12 years Swami Ramdas stayed at Nasik on the banks of the Godavari river. He used to get up very early in the morning, go into the Godavari river, and with his body half-immersed in water, recite the sacred Gayatri Mantra till about noon. Then he would go round for alms. He would first offer the collected food to his Deity Sri Rama and then take it as Prasad. After resting a while, he used to attend religious discourses in the various temples of Nasik and Panchavati. He also studied Sanskrit and copied in his own handwriting the Ramayana of Valmiki. This manuscript is still preserved.
Swami Ramdas did Purascharana of the Rama Mantra 13 lakh times at Takli, near Nasik, on the banks of the Godavari. After the Purascharana was over, once again he had Darshan of Lord Rama. The Lord ordered him to visit holy places. Hanumanji also gave him Darshan and gifted him with some holy articles. These gifts can be seen preserved in the Sajjangad Mutt.
In the year 1632, he left Takli to start his spiritual journey and his movement. He journeyed for 12 years throughout India, observing the people. The frequent floods and famines and the wanton and indiscriminate attacks by Muslim rulers, had destroyed the society. Based on these experiences he wrote 2 books, Asmani Sultani and Parachakraniroopan, detailing his observations.
During his pilgrimage through North India, Swami Ramdas met Guru Hargobind (the 6th Sikh Guru). Swamiji was stunned that the Guru was maintaining an army and horses.
"Guru Nanak was a Tyagi sadhu - a saint who had renounced the world. You are wearing arms and keeping an army and horses. You allow yourself to be addressed as Sacha Patshah, the True King. What sort of a sadhu are you?" asked the Maratha saint.
Guru Hargobind replied, "Internally a hermit, and externally a prince. Arms mean protection to the poor and destruction of the tyrant. Baba Nanak had not renounced the world but had renounced Maya".
These words of Guru Hargobind found a ready response in Swami Ramdas, and he understood that the need of the times was to fight against oppression.
After finishing his grand pilgrimage, Swami Ramdas returned to Mahabaleshwar. He gathered people to advance his ultimate goal of returning Hinduism to its original form after its decline during hundreds of years of Muslim rule. He chose the village of Chafal and initiated his mission in the year 1644. He installed a statue of Lord Rama and started celebrating the festival of 'Birth of Lord Rama' (Ram Janmotsava) with fanfare.
He started preaching the message of courage, patience and faith in the face of adversity. He chose Lord Rama and Hanumanji as role models for the common man to combat murderous opponents. He felt that their personalities and characteristics would be ideal for the masses. He introduced a routine of regular exercise among the youth in order to create awareness of fitness so that they could participate in establishing a strong Maratha empire.
Swami Ramdas taught the youth to band together to combat despots and plunderers. He stressed the importance of both strength and knowledge, insisting that the weak could not bring about change. He preached that the lazy would feel good temporarily, but that hard working individuals would stay happy. He highlighted the warriors' role in establishing the rule of righteousness (dharma) in running society.
He established temples of Hanumanji in various towns and village. Out of hundreds of these Hanuman temples, 11 are specially mentioned by him as Eleven Maruti.
Swami Ramdas established Mutts at many locations all over India. He chose leaders of the Mutts who were multifaceted, spiritual, set high moral standards and were able to work for the society and were politically adept. He was of the opinion that saints who sit quietly in the midst of suffering were a shame on mankind and unfit to be saints. He thereby blended spirituality, social work and politics.
Swami Ramdas produced volumes of output. These include a condensed version of the Sunderkand and the Yuddhakand of the epic Ramayana, many Abhangas and Owis, Poorvarambh, Antarbhav, Atmaram, Chaturthman, Panchman, Manpanchak, Janaswabhawgosavi, Panchsamasi, Saptsamasi, Sagundhyan, Nirgundhyan, Junatpurush, Shadripunirupan, Panchikaranyog, Manache Shlok, Shreemat Dasbodha and many other unpublished works. Unlike the Varkari saints, Swami Ramdas was not pacifist and his writings include strong expressions of Hindu nationalism as a means to protect against Muslim rule.
His writing was so simple that illiterates also would easily understand if read aloud to them. He took a straightforward, forceful and unhesitating approach. He used to write or dictate quickly and used Hindi, Urdu, Arabic or Sanskrit words so long as his writing remained simple. He introduced many new words from these languages into Marathi. Much of his works were written down by his favorite disciple Kalyan Swami.
His main and highly popular literary works were:
Shri Manache Shlok - advises ethical behaviour and love for God
Dasbodh - provides advice on both spiritual and practical topics
Shri Maruti Stotra - a poem in praise of Hanumanji
When he returned from his pilgrimage, somebody told Swami Ramdas that his mother was pining for him, and that she had lost her eyesight on account of extreme sorrow arising out of his separation. He immediately went to see his mother. He made prostrations to his mother. His mother was exceedingly pleased to meet her son after an absence of many years. Swami Ramdas touched her eyes. She got back her lost eyesight through the Yogic power of her son.
Sri Rama ordered Swami Ramdas to go to the banks of Krishna river and help the cause of Shivaji Maharaj, the founder of the Maratha empire. It was at the place called Singanvadi that Shivaji Maharaj became the disciple of Swami Ramdas.
Shivaji placed the sandals of his Guru on the throne and acted as regent of the kingdom under the orders and guidance of his Guru and adopted as ensign the saffron flag (Gerua). There is a beautiful incident about Shivaji's adoption of the Gerua flag - which represents bravery and sacrifice, and his ruling the kingdom in the name of Swami Ramdas.
One day Shivaji saw, from the terrace of his palace, his Gurudev Swami Ramdas going about the streets with his begging bowl. Shivaji was surprised and could not understand why his Guru should beg when he himself had already placed all his resources at the disposal of his Gurudev. However, Sadhus are difficult to understand. Shivaji therefore informed Gurudev that he had made a gift of his whole kingdom to him, and he humbly solicited his blessings. Next morning Swami Ramdas called on Shivaji and asked him what he proposed to do with himself as he had disposed of his kingdom.
Shivaji prostrated himself before Swami Ramdas and said that he would be very happy and consider himself blessed if he should spend his life in his Gurudev's service. Then Swami Ramdas said, "Take this bowl and let us go on our rounds". So Swami Ramdas and Shivaji Maharaj went round Satara town begging. The people reverently bowed before the pair and gave them alms. The pair returned to the river. Swami Ramdas prepared his simple meals and Shivaji Maharaj partook of what was left after his Gurudev had finished his meals. Then Shivaji, with a smile, asked his Gurudev what he was going to do with him after reducing him to a beggar. Swami Ramdas knew that the opportunity had come to set up a lofty ideal for the king.
Swami Ramdas asked Shivaji Maharaj to rule the kingdom in his (Ramdas') name, to take the Gerua Chaddar for his banner and defend its honour with his life, and to think that the kingdom did not belong to himself but treat it as a trust to be ruled justly and well before God. And thus had come the Gerua banner to Shivaji Maharaj.
Because of his extraordinary capabilities in nation-building, he was named Samarth (capable) by his disciples.
Samarth Swami Ramdas had 1,100 disciples, of whom 300 were women. The women disciples were also expert preachers and were virtuous. He sent his disciples to all parts of India to spread the Hindu religion. His disciples and Mutts in the North directly or indirectly helped Shivaji in his work.
This great Guru of Maharashtra breathed his last in 1682 at Sajjangad, near Satara. Swami Ramdas repeated the Rama Mantra with his last breath. At the time of his departure from the world, a dazzling light emanated from his body and he was absorbed in the image of Lord Rama.
The last instructions of Samarth Swami Ramdas to his disciples were: "Do not think much of your bodily wants. Have Satsang with devotees. Keep the image of Lord Rama in your heart. Repeat the name of Lord Rama always. Annihilate lust, greed, anger, hatred and egoism. See Lord Rama in all creatures. Love all. Feel His presence everywhere. Live for Him alone. Serve Him in all beings. Make total and unreserved surrender unto Him. You will always live in Him alone. You will attain immortality and eternal bliss".
