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Hindu Saints and Philosophers Details

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Hagiography

Samarth Ramdas was a Hindu saint, philosopher, poet, writer and spiritual master who was devoted to the deities Rama and Hanuman. He was born in Jamb, Maharashtra, India in 1608 to a Marathi Brahmin family. After his father&#39;s death, he became introverted and eventually left his wedding ceremony at the age of twelve upon hearing the word &#39;Saavdhan&#39;. He spent the next twelve years in complete devotion to Rama as an ascetic in Taakli near Nashik, adhering to a rigorous daily routine of meditation, worship, and exercise.

Ramdas is said to have attained enlightenment at the age of 24 and began a twelve-year pilgrimage across India, recording observations on social life in his literary works Asmani Sultania and Parachakraniroopan. He established the Samarth sect to redeem spirituality among the masses and unite the Hindu populations, and established several matha across India. He also had Hanuman temples built in various regions of southern Maharashtra, which are now referred to as the 11-Maruti.

Ramdas died in 1681 at Sajjangad, where a shrine was built in his honor by the Maratha ruler, Sambhaji. He inspired many 19th and 20th-century thinkers, historians, and social reformers such as Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Keshav Hedgewar, Vishwanath Rajwade, and Ramchandra Ranade.

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Ramdas, a 17th-century saint and spiritual teacher, had a significant impact on various individuals and communities in India. His teachings were promoted by spiritual masters such as Nana Dharmadhikari and Gondavalekar Maharaj, and his book Dasbodh was used as a means of instruction by Bhausaheb Maharaj. Dasbodh has also been translated and published by followers of Ranjit Maharaj in America.

Ramdas&#39; influence was not limited to spiritual circles but also extended to politics. Keshav Hedgewar, the founder of the Hindu nationalist organization Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, quoted Ramdas on several occasions and noted his views in his personal diary. Ramdas is revered in Maharashtra, and his literary contributions have become an integral part of contemporary culture. His aarti to Ganesh is recited first in many Hindu rituals, and his Maruti Stotra is recited by school children and athletes at traditional gyms in Maharashtra.

Marathi children have been reciting Ramdas&#39; manache shlok at home or school for generations. Savarkar, the proponent of Hindutva, took inspiration from Dasbodh regarding protection for the dharma and the country. Ramdas&#39; Maruti worship has also been appropriated by Hindu nationalist groups such as Shivsena in Maharashtra.

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Ramdas was a prolific writer who produced a substantial body of literary works during his lifetime. His writings, which include works like Dasbodh, Karunashtakas, Sunderkand, Yuddhakand, and many more, were mostly composed in verse form. Unlike some other saints of the Warkari tradition, Ramdas did not promote pacifism in his writings, and in fact, encouraged the use of militant means to resist the Islamic invaders of his time.

Listed below are some of his notable literary works.

Manache Shlok&nbsp;(co-written by Kalyan Swami) 
Dasbodh 
Shree Maruti Stotra 
Aatmaaram 
11-Laghu Kavita 
Shadripu Nirupan 
Maan Panchak 
Chaturthmaan 
Raamayan (Marathi-Teeka)

Ramdas was a prolific composer, and his literary works included many aarti (worship rituals) dedicated to various Hindu deities. His most famous aarti, Sukhakarta Dukhaharta, is dedicated to Lord Ganesha, while Satrane Uddane Hunkaar Vadani is dedicated to Hanuman and Panchanan haivahan surabhushan lila is dedicated to Vitthala. He also composed aarti for other deities. Ramdas&#39; bhajan &quot;Raghupati Raghava Raja Ram&quot; is believed by many to be based on one of his mantras. One of his best-known works, Dasbodh, has been translated into several other Indian languages and the original copy is kept in a matha in Domgaon village in Maharashtra.

Ramdas was a follower of the Dvaita philosophy and believed in the path of Bhakti Yoga or devotion. He stressed the importance of physical strength and knowledge for individual growth and admired the role of warriors in protecting society. He believed that saints should not isolate themselves from society but actively work towards social and moral transformation. Ramdas aimed to revive Hindu culture after centuries of foreign occupation and called for unity among the Marathas to preserve and promote local culture. He opposed distinctions based on caste and creed and encouraged the participation of women in religious work, even appointing them to positions of authority. Ramdas once reprimanded a man who spoke against female participation in religious affairs and emphasized the importance of gender equality for social development. He also wrote about the virtues of aesthetic handwriting in his work Dasbodh.

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