Swami Samartha Ramdas

Ramdas 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 Lord Rama. It is said that Ramachandra ordered Ramdas to visit holy places such as Nasik, Haridwar, Kasi, etc.

Ramdas 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. Ramdas 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.

Ramdas 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 and asked him whether he had any objection to see Lord Krishna. Ramdas replied in the negative. Panduranga then took Ramdas to Pandharpur, and when the Bhaktas approached the temple, the Brahmin disappeared. 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 Sri Rama standing alone on a brick.

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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 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.

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It is said that Sri Rama ordered Ramdas to go to the banks of the Krishna and help the cause of Shivaji, the incarnation of Siva and founder of the Kingdom of Maharashtra. Ramdas 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 Sri Rama Navami Mahotsava and the procession of Sri Rama’s chariot. It was at the place called Singanvadi that Shivaji became the disciple of Ramdas.

Shivaji 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 saw, from the terrace of his palace, his Gurudev Ramdas going about the streets with his begging bowl. Shivaji 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 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 and asked him what he proposed to do with himself as he had disposed of his kingdom.

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

Saint Dnyaneshwar, a great Yogi himself describes Gorakhnath with two adjectives, “Yogabjinisarovar” and “Vishayvidhvansekveera”. A close look at these two adjectives can gives us more detail on Gorkahnath’s spiritual work. [Source: Dnyaneshwari chapter 18]

Ramdas asked Shivaji 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 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.

Ramdas’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 Sri Ram Jaya Ram Jaya Jaya Ram.

Source: sivanandaonline,

Swami Samartha Ramdas: Life, Devotion, and Spiritual Legacy

Swami Samartha Ramdas was a revered seventeenth-century saint, poet, philosopher, and spiritual guide from Maharashtra. He is remembered for devotion to Lord Rama and Lord Hanuman, practical wisdom, disciplined living, and service to society. His life teaches that spirituality should not remain limited to prayer alone; it should create courage, character, self-control, and social responsibility. Through his writings and guidance, he gave people a path that joined bhakti with action.

Swami Samartha Ramdas was born as Narayan Suryaji Thosar in 1608 at Jamb in present-day Maharashtra. Traditional accounts say that from childhood he was deeply drawn toward God and inner reflection. A popular story describes how he left worldly life at a young age and later performed intense spiritual practice at Takli near Nashik. There he devoted himself to the name of Rama, meditation, discipline, and physical strength.

Swami Samartha Ramdas believed that devotion must make a person strong, alert, and useful. He encouraged worship of Rama as the ideal of righteousness and Hanuman as the ideal of strength, service, courage, and loyalty. His path was not weak or passive. He wanted devotees to build inner power, control the mind, protect dharma, and serve society with dedication. This made his message meaningful for both spiritual seekers and active householders.

Swami Samartha Ramdas is best known for his important works Dasbodh and Manache Shlok. Dasbodh gives practical guidance on devotion, discrimination, leadership, worldly duties, and spiritual realization. Manache Shlok speaks directly to the mind, advising it to become humble, disciplined, pure, and God-centred. These works remain popular because they explain deep truths in clear Marathi language and connect spirituality with everyday life.

Swami Samartha Ramdas travelled widely and inspired many people through teaching, kirtan, and personal example. He established mathas and encouraged collective devotion, physical discipline, and social awakening. Traditions also connect him with Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, and many devotees remember him as a saint who supported dharmic courage during a difficult historical period. His guidance emphasized duty, wisdom, and fearless devotion.

Swami Samartha Ramdas spent his final years at Sajjangad near Satara, which later became a major place of pilgrimage. He passed away in 1682, but his samadhi and teachings continue to inspire devotees. Sajjangad remains a sacred centre where people remember his message of Rama bhakti, self-discipline, service, and strength.

Swami Samartha Ramdas remains relevant today because people still need courage, clarity, and moral discipline. His life teaches that a devotee should speak truth, control anger, serve others, respect the guru, remember God, and avoid laziness. Spiritual life becomes powerful when it improves conduct. His example is also useful for students and families. Regular prayer, good company, honest effort, simple living, and respect for elders can make daily life more balanced. He reminds readers that strength should be guided by humility, and devotion should be proved through helpful action.

This great teacher stands as a saint of devotion, wisdom, and action. His legacy reminds modern readers to combine prayer with effort, faith with responsibility, and inner peace with service to society.