SAMANTHA RAMDAS

1. About Ramadas

• Ramdas was born of Suryaji Panth and Renuka Bai in Jamb, Maharashtra, in 1608 A.D. His original name was Narain. He was a great devotee of Hanuman and Lord Rama.
• He was a contemporary of Sant Tukaram and an inspirer of Sivaji.
• He had Darshan of Lord Rama even when he was a boy. Lord Rama Himself initiated him.
• As a boy, Ramdas acquired some knowledge of Hindu sculptures and developed a liking for meditation and religious study.
• He left Takli in Maharashtra in 1632 to begin his spiritual quest. He crisscrossed India for the next 12 years, meticulously observing people's conditions.
• He published two books based on his experiences, "Asmani Sultani" and "Para Chakra niroopan"
• He erected a statue of Lord Ram and began commemorating Ram's festival, Janmotsav (Birth of Lord Ram).
• He built Hanuman temples in towns and villages to teach youth the value of exercise and to rally them to battle the enemy.
• He emphasized the warrior's position in society and built numerous study centres throughout the country.
• His teachings on patience and trust in the face of adversity aided others in dealing with adversity.
• He recognized the significance of women's roles in a harmonious society. He promoted women into positions of power and encouraged them to participate in religious work.
• He has 18 devoted female followers, Among them, Wennabai was in charge of the Miraj Study Centre, while Akkabai was in charge of Chafal and Sajjangad.
• Ramdas founded the Samarth sect to reintroduce spirituality into society. He established several mathas.
• Ramdas died in 1681 at Sajjangad. For five days previously, he had ceased drinking food and water. This practice of fasting unto death is known as Prayopavesa.

Image Source: Hindu Blog

• Ramdas did purascharana of the Rama Mantra of thirteen letters Sri Ram Jaya Rama Jaya Jaya Ram thirteen lakhs of times at Tafali, near Nasik, on the banks of the Godavari.
• Ramdas was a devotee of Madhvacharya and his Dvaita Vedanta Philosophy.
• He was a follower of Bhakti Yoga, also known as the path of devotion
• Total dedication to Rama, he claims, leads to spiritual progress and highlighted the significance of physical strength and knowledge in personal development.
• He voiced his appreciation for warriors and emphasized their importance in protecting society.
• He believed that saints should not retire from society, but rather actively engage in social and moral development.
• He attempted to resurrect Hindu culture after it had disintegrated over several centuries as a result of constant foreign intrusion. 
• He also urged for Maratha unity to preserve and develop the indigenous culture and he repeatedly emphasised his contempt for caste and creed distinctions.
• Ramdas said that Everyone came from a woman's womb and those who did not realize the significance of this were undeserving of being called men.

3. Literary works

• His writings contain strong comments advocating nationalism as a method of countering the violent Muslim invaders. His Marathi literature is mostly in the form of poetry.
• Numerous aartis are also included in his compositions (worship rituals).
• One of his most well-known aartis honours the Hindu deity Ganesha and is known as Sukhakartha Dukhaharta.
• Dasbodh's best-known work has been translated into several other Indian languages.
• Other compositions by Ramdas are well-known, including Manache Shlok (verses addressed to the mind), Karunashtake (hymns to God) and Ramayana (which only describes Sri Rama's conquest of Lanka and Ravan's defeat).

4. Conclusion

• Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Keshav Hedgewar, Rajwade and Ramachandra Rande were inspired by Ramdas.
• Tilak and his followers were responsible for portraying Ramdas as a militant monk to advance the cause of the nationalist effort. Through his spiritual teachings, Nana Dharmadhikari, a spiritual guru, advocated Ramdas' beliefs.

Source: The Dishq.org