Samarth Ramdas Swami : National Saint striving for Nation and Dharma

Today (6 March 2013) is "Ramdas Navmi" (Death Anniversary of Samarth Ramdas Swami.  Once again India needs a great motivator saint like Samarth Ramdas for achieving glory of our Nation and Dharma. It is certain that his teachings for excellence, will give rise to such persons of eminence from all of us and follow the search for self and group actualisation.

Samarth Ramdas Swami with Shivaji Maharaj

Our Role Models Shriram and Shrikrushna, Samarth Ramdas Swami and Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj are our role models. Samarth Ramdas Swami has shown us the way towards Lord Ram and Lord Krishna.  - H.H. Dr. Jayant Balaji Athavale (Sanatan Sanstha)

Contents

1. Introduction
2. Studies and Penances by Samarth Ramdas Swami
3. Pilgrimage by Samarth Ramdas Swami
4. Preachings of Samarth Ramdas Swami and his Life
5. Samarth Ramdas Swami's advise to Raje Sambhaji
6. Sambhaji Raje's Danpatra
7. Last Days of Samarth Ramdas Swami

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1. Introduction

Samarth Ramdas Swami is one of the greatest saints of the world. Samarth Ramdas was the Guru of Shivaji Maharaj. He was born of Suryaji Panth and Renuka Bai in Jamb, Maharashtra, in 1608 A.D. His original name was Narayan.

Samarth Ramdas Swami was a contemporary of Sant Tukaram. He was a great devotee of Hanuman and Sriram. He had Darshan of Prabhu Shriram even when he was a boy. Prabhu Shriram Himself initiated him.

As a boy, Ramdas acquired some knowledge of the Hindu scriptures and developed a liking for meditation and religious study. One day he shut himself in a room and began to meditate on God. When his mother asked him what he was doing, Ramdas replied that he was meditating and praying for the good of the world. His mother was surprised at the precocious religious inclination of the boy and felt happy.

When Ramdas was twelve years of age, all arrangements were made for his marriage. He sat in front of the bride. There was a screen between the bridegroom and the bride. When the priests chanted "Sawadhan!' (be alert), Ramdas bolted away from the place and disappeared within the twinkling of an eye.

2. Studies and Penances by Samarth Ramdas Swami

Samarth Ramdas Swami stayed at Nasik on the banks of the Godavari for 12 years. 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. Samarth Ramdas Swami first offered the collected food to his Deity Sri Rama and then took it as Prasad. After resting a while, he used to attend religious discourses in the various temples of Nasik and Panchavati. Samarth Ramdas also studied Sanskrit and copied in his own hand the Ramayana of Valmiki. This manuscript is still preserved in the collection of Shri. S.S. Dev of Dhubliah.

Samarth Ramdas Swami did Purascharana of the Rama Mantra of thirteen letters Sri Ram Jaya Ram Jaya Jaya Ram thirteen lakhs of times at Tafali, near Nasik, on the banks of the Godavari. After the Purascharana was over, once again Ramdas had Darshan of Prabhu Shriram. It is said that Ramachandra ordered Ramdas to visit holy places such as Nasik, Haridwar, Kasi, etc.

Samarth Ramdas Swami sprinkled over a dead body holy water uttering the name of Rama and the dead body was restored to life. Ramdas had to do this, because he had blessed a woman who had just lost her husband.

3. Pilgrimage by Samarth Ramdas Swami

Samarth Ramdas Swami

Samarth Ramdas Swami was an Advaitin and a Bhakta in one. He had this very noble quality that he never hated any religion or nation. His main object was to spread the Hindu religion throughout India.

Samarth Ramdas Swami had not visited Pandharpur, as he had not known the existence of this holy place. One day, the tradition says, Lord Panduranga Vittal, in the form of a Brahmin, with a batch of three hundred pilgrims, appeared before Ramdas Swami and asked him whether he had any objection to see Lord Krishna. Ramdas Swami replied in the negative. Panduranga then took Ramdas to Pandharpur, and when the Bhaktas approached the temple, the Brahmin disappeared. Samarth Ramdas then knew that it was none other than the Lord that had brought him to that holy place. He entered the temple, and to his great surprise, found Prabhu Shriram standing alone on a brick.

Samarth Ramdas addressed the Deity thus: "O Lord, what are You doing here alone? Where is Your brother Lakshmana and Your consort Sita Mata? Where is Maruti and where are the monkey hordes?". On hearing these words, the image at once transformed itself into Sri Pandarinath. Ramdas then praised Panduranga for His kindness, prostrated before Him and sang songs of joy for getting His rare Darshan. Ramdas Swami now felt doubly convinced that the several incarnations of the Lord were but His several forms and preached that everyone should respect and worship the One who took care of one and all in the world. Ramdas then worshipped Panduranga to his heart's content and became a frequent visitor and Bhakta of Panduranga Vittal also. In Pandharpur, Ramdas came in contact with Tukaram and other saints of Pandharpur. In his pilgrimages, Ramdas observed and studied the social, political and economic conditions of Indians and their utter helplessness in life.

It is said that Shriam ordered Samarth Ramdas to go to the banks of the Krishna and help the cause of Shivaji Maharaj, the incarnation of Shiva and founder of the Kingdom of Hindus. Ramdas Swami came to the Krishna and went about preaching from Mahabaleshwar to Kolhapur. He established eleven principal seats of Maruti which emphasized the importance of physical development. He installed the shrines of Sri Ramachandra at Champavati and introduced Shriram Navami Mahotsava and the procession of Sri Rama's chariot. It was at the place called Singanvadi that Shivaji Maharaj became the disciple of Samarth Ramdas Swami.

Shivaji Maharaj 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 flag of orange colour. There is a beautiful and romantic incident current in the Maharashtra country about Shivaji's adoption of the Gerua flag and his ruling the kingdom in the name of Saint Ramdas.

One day Shivaji Maharaj saw, from the terrace of his palace, his Gurudev Ramdas going about the streets with his begging bowl. Shivaji Maharaj 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 Maharaj therefore called for his companion Balaji, wrote a small chit and asked him to give it to Guruji when he came to the palace. About noon, Ramdas came to the palace with his bowl and Balaji prostrated before Gurudev and placed the chit at his feet. Briefly, the chit conveyed that Shivaji had made a gift of his whole kingdom to Gurudev and he humbly solicited his Gurudev's blessing. The Guru smiled and told Balaji that it was alright. Next morning Ramdas called on Shivaji Maharaj and asked him what he proposed to do with himself as he had disposed of his kingdom.

Shivaji Maharaj prostrated himself before Samarth 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 Samarth Ramdas said, "Take this bowl and let us go on our rounds". So Ramdas Swami and Shivaji Maharaj went round Satara begging. The people reverently bowed before the pair and gave them alms. The pair returned to the river. Samarth Ramdas prepared his simple meals and Shivaji Maharaj partook of what was left after his Gurudev had finished his meals. Then Shivaji Maharaj, with a smile, asked his Gurudev what he was going to do with him after reducing him to a beggar. Ramdas Swami knew that the opportunity had come to set up a lofty ideal for the king.

Samarth Ramdas Swami asked Shivaji Maharaj to rule the kingdom in his (Ramdas's) 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.

Ramdas Swami spent several years in visiting holy places of pilgrimage. He erected several Hanuman temples in Maharashtra. When he returned from his pilgrimage, somebody told 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. Ramdas 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. Ramdas touched the eyes of his mother. She got back her lost eyesight through the Yogic power of her son.

4. Samarth Ramdas Swami's Preachings and his life

Samarth Ramdas Swami's ways were very peculiar. He appeared to the outside world as a mad man. He had a small bow. He used to have, by his side, a large number of stones with which he pelted every object he saw. To men really interested in his teachings, he gave the Mantra Shri Ram Jaya Ram Jaya Jaya Ram.

Samarth Ramdas Swami had eleven hundred disciples, of whom three hundred were women. The women disciples were also expert preachers and were virtuous. Ramdas Swami 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 Maharaj and his work. Ramdas's organisation in the South, round about Thanjavur, helped Shivaji's son Rajaram to go to Jinji and carry on the Twenty Years' War with Aurangazeb. When Samarth Ramdas visited Thanjavur, Venkoji, who was the step-brother of Shivaji, became his disciple. Ramdas appointed Bhimaswami, his direct disciple, as the Mahant of the Thanjavur Mutt.

5. Samarth Ramdas Swami's advise to Raje Sambhaji

After the acceptation of Sanyas on order of Chhatrapati Shivaji, Sambhaji Maharaj wanted to develop the spiritual philosophy in their state. But he gets opposed by some ministry persons and family members. Because of this oppose he become angry. He lost control and balance and the actual concept of Raje Shivaji became difficult to maintain. At this situation he was guided by Samarth Ramdas Swami. Samarth advised him that control your anger. Overcome the family problems. This can not give you any thing. Remember the Chhatrapati Shivaji's victorious work, their advise, how they work, how they handle the people and so on. Collect the people and consult them was the real advice of Shivaji raje behind the sacrifice to develop the spiritual Maharashtra state. For this purpose he donate the land and finance the spiritual holy saints. Keep your mind in control and concentrate on the meditation. Always live in alone. And keep satisfaction. Concentrate your sight in between the two eyes i.e. adnychakra ( He mention in Marathi as Bhumandal ). Stay alert in meditation.

Because of this precious advise to Raje Sambhaji, Samarth Ramdas Swami became a real spiritual guidance Guru of Shivaji in sight of their ancestor’s.

see below the page - Picture of Samarth Swami Ramdas Letter to Sambhaji Raje-Record from Itihas mangiri and Book of Dr.Sadashiv Shivade on Sambhaji raje.

6. Sambhaji Raje's Danpatra

Danpatra was a letter written by Sambhaji Raje. In this letter he admired to spiritual holy saints in following ways in his own handwriting.

“In Bramha who is happy, gladden, far away from happiness and sorrow, universal, philosophical etc. and who at all time feelings of words of Upnishadas, holiness, steady, uniform, acquainted with whole universe Namaskar to such a holy spiritual saints with a great honour and respect.”

7. Last Days of Samarth Ramdas Swami

Samarth Ramdas Swami generally preferred to live in the forest, where he would say, he had better meditation. In his last days, Ramdas Swami devoted his time partly to literary activities and partly to the systematic building up of his disciples and Mutts, both in the North and in the South. The literary works of Samarh 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. It was as a tribute to Samarth Ramdas's extraordinary patience and determination in rehabilitating the Hindu religion in India that people named him Samartha (all-powerful) Ramdas, a name which he richly deserved. This great Guru of Maharashtra breathed his last in 1682 at Sajjangad, near Satara, a fortress which was given to him by Shivaji for his residence.

Samarth Ramdas Swami 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 Ramdas was absorbed in the image of Prabhu Shriram.

The last instructions of Samarth Ramdas Swami to his disciples were: "Do not think much of your bodily wants. Have Satsang with devotees. Keep the image of Prabhu Shriram in your heart. Repeat the name of Prabhu Shriram always. Annihilate lust, greed, anger, hatred and egoism. See Prabhu Shriram 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".
Source: http://www.dlshq.org/saints