SRI SAMARTH RAMDAS...
Birth
Saint Shri Samarth Ramdas was born in 1608 A.D. in the village Jaamb, in
Marathwada on the auspicious day of Ramnavmi as the second son to the pious
couple Suryaji Panth and Renuka Bai. His parents named him Narayan. His elder
brother was Gangashar Shastri alias Sheshta.
In the year 1620 all arrangements were made for Narayan’s wedding. He sat in
front of the bride. There was a screen between the bridegroom and the bride.
When the priests started chanted "Sawadhan!" which means ‘alert oh!
Bridegroom’, Narayan vanished in a twinkling of an eye.
Renunciation
From there he went to village Takli near Nasik. There he practiced meditation
of Gayatri and Rama Mantra. He chanted the mantras in knee-deep water from
early morning till noon. BY raising alms he took his prasad, he attended
spiritual discourses in his free time. The discoursers were at various
temples in Nasik and Panchavati.
Ramdas also studied Sanskrit and copied in his own hand the Ramayana of
Valmiki. His manuscript of Valmiki Ramayan is still preserved in the
collection of Sri S.S. Dev of Dhubliah. This shows his knowledge of Sanskrit;
he got the blessings of Sri Ram after a rigorous penance of ‘rama japa’ for
twelve years. Later he came to be known as SAMARTH RAMDAS. This mantra of
thirteen letters "Sri Ram Jaya Ram Jaya Jaya Ram" was chanted by him thirteen lakhs of times at Tafali, near Nasik, on the banks of the Godavari.
Pilgrimage
On attaining twenty four, he started for pilgrimage, moved to all corners of
India such as Nasik, Haridwar, Kasi, etc., for nearly twelve years. The
tradition says, that Lord Panduranga Vittal Himself appeared before Ramdas
and took him for the visit to Pandharpur and gave him dharshan as Sri Rama.
In Pandharpur, Ramdas came in contact with Tukaram and other saints of
Pandharpur. Both the saints had spread the message of bakthi by traveling
together. It is said that Sri Genasha, the presiding deity of Mayureswar
alias Moorey goen had given dharshan to these saints as Panduranga Vittal and
Sri Rama at the same time. Even today the invoking prayer of Sri Genasha at
this temple is the one that was composed by Ramdas. In his pilgrimages,
Ramdas observed and studied the social, political and economic conditions of
Indians and their utter helplessness in life. He started the mission for the
upliftment of mankind.
Guru of Chatrapati veer Shivaji
Ramdas went about preaching his philosophy, along the banks of river Krishna
between Mahabaleswar and Kholapur. At Singanvadi, Ramdas met Chatrapati veer
Shivaji, the then ruler of Maharashtra.
Shivaji became an ardent devotee of Ramadas. Being an ardent devotee of Sri
Rama and Maruti (Anjenaya) he installed shrines of Rama at Champavati, and
established eleven principal seats of Maruthi. At that time Shivaji’s rule
some territories were under the tyranny of foreign rulers. In adopting the
principals of his Guru Samarth Ramdas, he was able to bring peace and harmony
to his country and country men.
Teachings and Religious Activity
His inspiring teachings in pragmatic treatise 'Dasbodh' were written at 'Shivthar'
a place, which is virtually heaven on earth. The literary works of Ramdas
such as Dasabodh, Manache Shlok (verse addressed to the mind), Karunashtakas
(hymns to God) and Ramayana (describing only the conquest of Lanka by Sri
Rama and the vanquishing of Ravana) are very popular. To men really
interested in his teachings, he gave the “thryodhashari “ Mantra "Sri Ram Jaya Ram Jaya Jaya Ram".
Ramdas had many disciples, including many noble women. The women disciples
were also expert preachers and were virtuous. Ramdas 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 and his work. Ramdas's
organisation had spread to South also and with Thanjavur as the center.
Ramdas appointed Bhimaswami, his direct disciple, as the Mahant of the
Thanjavur Mutt.
Mukti Days
In his last days Ramdas devoted his time to literary activity and building up
of his mutt in various corners of India. It was as a tribute to Ramdas's
extraordinary patience and determination in rehabilitating the Hindu religion
in India that people named him Samarth (all-powerful) Ramdas, a name that he
richly deserved. This great Guru of Maharashtra breathed his last on the 'Navami'
in 'Maagh', 1681 at Sajjangad, near Satara, a fortress, which was given to
him by Shivaji for his residence. His samadhi at Sajjangad, inspires devotees
for self elevation and supreme excellence in every segment of life.
The last instructions of 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".
|| Sri Ram Jaya Ram Jaya Jaya Ram ||
|| Sri Ram Jaya Ram Jaya Jaya Ram ||