Friday, April 18, 2014

On 8th of April i.e RamnavamiRamnavami is the birth day of Shree Ramchandra, but it is also the birthday of great saint of India i.e Samarth Ramdas. He was a saint, philosopher, author, organiser and a hard core patriot at heart.

Born in a small town of Jamb in Thosar family, he was more known for his mischief than saintly behaviour in his childhood. Losing father at early age, his mother earnestly hoped that Narayan (his original name) will take household responsibilities like his elder brother. So like a typical Indian solution, his mother arranged his marriage at age of 12. But destiny holds more miracles than magic and Narayan ran away from the mandap. He landed in Takli near Nasik on the banks of Godavari river.

For 12 years with intense devotion he did sadhana for realising his beloved Shree Ramchandra. He performed austerities, studied scriptures and engaged in discourses. But like the true devotee of Shree Ram i.e Hanuman, he also exercised to build muscles of iron and nerves of steel. At the end of his tapasya he realised the ultimate goal of human life i.e the divinity within. He could have easily laid an ascetic life at Takli.

For the next 12 years he travelled from Manasarovar to Rameshwaram visiting holy sites like Ayodhya, Mathura and Kashi . It is said that he also met Guru Hargobind during his travels and was impressed by his martial and saintly qualities. He witnessed the plight of society that was being crushed under foreign rule and was losing it’s character. People becoming indolent and passing off hardships on luck or providence. He writes that he is sad because no one is happy, times are tough, people do’nt have anything to eat or build their homes, and moreover there is nobody who can offer a solution.

It is with these thoughts he came to banks of Krishna river and started touring villages. With references to stories of Ram and Krishna he inspired confidence in people to fight back for their rights. To oppose injustice one not only needs hope and character but also a strong body. So innovatively he established temples of Hanuman on the boundaries of villages. It became a hotspot where villagers especially youth came together to exercise and also discuss about ways to throw away the oppressors. The inspired youth naturally landed up fighting for Swarajya with Shivaji.

He established temples of Shree Ram across different places starting with Chafal to inspire people about DHARMA. To make people aware about the philosophical side, he wrote a master treatise like DASBODH (enlightenment for DAS i.e servant of RAM), to deliver message in succinct way he had MANACHE SHLOK (message for mind) and innumerable other songs for different GODS. He passed his last years in a fort called SAJJANGAD (fort of good people) near Satara creating new leaders for the society who will carry forward his task of social upliftment.

JAI JAI RAGHUVEER SAMARTH (Praise to SHREE RAM) !!!!

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