Saint Samarth Ramdas

May 10, 2023

About Samarth Ramdas

Samarth Ramdas (1608 – 1681), also known as Sant Ramdas or Ramdas Swami, was a Hindu saint, philosopher, poet, writer and spiritual master.
He was a devotee of Lord Ram and Hanuman.
He toured the entire Indian subcontinent for 12 years, during which he came across various spiritual teachers and diverse religious traditions.
His paean to Lord Hanuman, Maruti Stotra, is still commonly recited by school children as well as wrestlers akhadas across Maharashtra.
He built a temple of Rama and Maruti (Hanuman) and founded a math or monastery which exists to the present day.
Swami Ramdas was an exponent of Bhakti Yoga or the path of devotion. According to him, total devotion to Rama brings about spiritual evolution.
He was of the opinion that saints must not withdraw from society but instead actively engage towards social and moral transformation.
He encouraged the participation of women in religious work and offered them positions of authority.
He published two books based on his experiences, “Asmani Sultani” and “Para chakra niroopan.”
Ramdas founded the Samarth sect to reintroduce spirituality into society. He established several matha.
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.