| 40th | Top people from Maharashtra |
| 62nd | Top Marathi people |
| Samarth Ramdas | |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | 1606 |
| Place of birth | Jamb, Jalna District, Maharashtra, India |
| Birth | Narayan Thosar (नारायण ठोसर) |
| Date of death | 1682 |
| Place of death | Sajjangad |
| Titles/Honors | Sant in Marathi, meaning "Saint" |
| Literary works | Shri Manāche Shlok (मनाचे श्लोक), shrimat Dasbodh (shrimat दासबोध) |
Ramdas (Devanagari: रामदास, Rāmdās) (1606–1682) was a prominent Marathi saint and religious poet in the Hindu tradition in Maharashtra, India. Samarth Ramdas was a devotee of Hindu gods Hanuman and Rama. His full name is Narayan Suryajipant Kulkarni Thosar
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Ramdas swami was born in a Deshastha Rugvedi Brahmin family to Suryāji (सूर्याजी) and Rānu-Bāi (राणूबाई) Thosar (ठोसर) in Jāmb (जांब) in Jalna District of Maharashtra on Ram Navami, 1530 according to "Shāliwāhan Shak" calendar. His given name was Nārāyan (नारायण). He was devotee of god Ram and took the name "Ramdas" - servant of Ram at the age 24.
Since his childhood, Ramdas had an inclination toward metaphysical contemplation and religiosity. When he was eight, his father died; and at age 12, his mother arranged his marriage to her brother's daughter. However, he wanted to pursue a monastic life, and so just as the wedding ceremony was proceeding, he ran away before the marriage vows were exchanged.
During Hindu marriage ceremony, the last word which seals the marriage is "Saavdhan" meaning, 'be careful', Swami ramdas interpreted that word to mean that he had to be careful and not get entangled in the binds of Maya, Illusion and seek Self realization.
One recorded incident from his childhood is as follows, He was walking in the dark and under a tree bumped into something, after getting a light he saw that it was a local villager who was arbitrarily hanged by the Mughal rulers. This incident fired in him a desire to be Free and in all aspects of the word, freedom from foreign rule and also freedom from Illusion (Maya).
For the next twelve years, Ramdas devoted himself to study Hindu religious books, meditation, and prayers in a place named Panchavati (पंचवटी) -- near Nashik-- on the banks of Godavari (गोदावरी) river. He would also do lot of exercise to attain physical strength. Surya Namskar was his favourite exercise as it involves every part of the body and leads to overall muscle development. It is said that he would do 1200 Surya Namskar's every day; which is a very difficult task for a common man. He believed that no spiritual level could be attained if the physical body is not strong. He had an idol of his, Lord Hanuman who, in his mind who was almighty and aspired to become like him. He established 12 temples of Lord Hanuman (known as elevenमारुती) to worship the Lord and gain physical strength necessary to build spiritual understanding. The 11 temples are as follows: दास मारुती, चाफळ (राम मंदिरासमोर); वीर मारुती, चाफळ (राम मंदिरामागे); खडीचा मारुती, शिंगणवाडी, चाफळ (डोंगरावर); प्रताप मारुती, माजगांव, चाफळ; उंब्रज मारुती (ता. कराड); शहापूर मारुती (उंब्रज जवळ); मसूर मारुती (ता. कराड); बहे-बोरगांव (क्रुष्णामाई) मारुती (जि. सांगली); शिराळा मारुती (बत्तीस शिराळा, जि. सांगली); मनपाडळे मारुती (जि. कोल्हापूर); पारगांव मारुती (जि. कोल्हापूर) MSRTC conducts a bus trip from Satara to visit all these places.
Ramdas swami was a gifted composer. He produced considerable lucid and effective literature in verse form in Marathi. Among his works, two compositions particularly stand out: A small book of meditations titled "Shri Manāche Shlok" (मनाचे श्लोक), which consists of 205 memorable four-line verses, and a large volume titled Shrimat Dāsabodh Dasbodh(दासबोध), which consists of 7,751 called as “owi” (ओव्या). Shri Manāche Shlok is an advice and preaching to the human mind, to behave in an ethical way and devote oneself in the love of God. Dasabodh provides sagacious advice on both spiritual and diverse practical topics. Samartha Ramdas swami also wrote the "Shri Māruti Stotra" (मारुती स्तोत्र ), Marathi adulatory poem for Lord Hanuman and several other works.
Other compositions of Shri Samartha Ramdas Swamiji are as below :- 1) AatmaaRaam 2) 11-Laghu Kavita 3) Raamayan (Marathi-Teeka)
Amongst these the 11-Laghu Kavita are very useful to the followers of Spiritual path, but Daasbodh is considered as at the 'First Number'.
His most popular composition is the Marathi song/prayer to Lord Ganesh "Sukhkartā Dukhhartā Vārtā Vighnāchi" (सुखकर्ता दुखहर्ता वार्ता विघ्नाची). He also composed several other prayers such as that to Lord Hanuman "Satrane Uddane Hunkaar Vadani" (सत्राणे उड्डाणे हुंकार वदनी) and to Lord Khandoba (खंडोबा) / Malhari (मल्हारी) "Panchanan haivahan surabhushan lila" (पंचानन हैवाहन सुरभूषण लीला).
Compositions (on Marathi Wikipedia):
Chhatrapati Shivaji and Ramdas swami are said to have first met in 1674. Shivaji said to have requested Ramdas swami to shift his residence to a fort named Parali & establish his permanent monastery there. The fort was subsequently renamed as “Sajjangad” (सज्जनगड). Shivaji though considered Samarth Ramdas Swami as his spiritual guru, he had great respects for other saints at that time.
Samarth Ramdas had many disciples. Noteworthy of them were Kalyan Swami, Udhhw Swami, Vena Swami, Akka Bai, Bhim Swami, Diwakar Swami. Kalyan Swami worked as a writer for Samarth Ramdas. He would note down his ovis, stotra, & other rachana. Samarth many times tested him in many ways before he could be made responsible for writing with him. Samarth also established Maruti Mandirs through out the nation & promoted physical exercise to develop healthy society.
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   | References on the Dasbodh - Teaching of Samarth Ramdas Swami for meaningful living. |
| | Regarding both Shivaji and Samarth Ramdas - Shiv Samarth Gad |
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