Samarth Ramdas Swami is recognized as a saint of dynamic personality. He tried to connect the spiritual life to material life for any achievement. He gave importance to material values as well as spiritual values. (उत्कट भव्य ते चि घ्यावे ) He was a saint who preached upbringing of individual, family, society and nation at large.
For self-development of personality Samarth Ramdas wrote Manobodh to give direction to mind, thinking, attitude, behavior, and desires. He wrote Dasbodh which gives direction to bodybuilding, values of life, how to shape our family, (social, educational and spiritual life) to achieve our goal. He wrote “Atmaram” which gives us knowledge about our own self.
Manobodh
Healthy body and a healthy mind is required for success in life. Thinking, desiring and experiencing are the activities of mind. Mind is busy in knowing believing remembering, judging and determining the goal. Mind plays an important role in meditation. Mind gives birth to an idea I am and then the person becomes aware of his own existence. Purification of thoughts of mind helps us to experience the soul within.
When the mind starts thinking of his own self, he questions who am I? Where have I come from? Where have I to go? Who is the creator of this world? And how am I reflected to him? Samarth Ramdas answers these questions in his small chapter “पुर्वारंभ गाथा” The more we think about these questions Our true image is distinguished, and the false image disappears. In Manobodh we travel from “I am somebody” to “I am nobody”.
In Manobodh Samarth Ramdas guide us to travel from Sagun Ram to Atmaram. He calls it “anant raghvacha panth”. All first we should have ethical and moral values in our life. Secondly, we should not be slaves of our body comfort. Thirdly we should keep ourselves in “Nam sadhana”. The sound of the name Shriram has a power in itself. It has an organized effect on the conscious and unconscious mind. Ramdas was repeating this mantra for twenty-four hours. Guru mantra is Guru itself. It connects us to divine power. Fortunately, Samarth Ramdas shares his experience with us and says when we chant the name of Ram, Lord Ram is with us. With this name of Lord Ram power of our mind becomes strong and the physical body works for Satkarma or Karma yoga. The namsadhna is boundless purity, peace, love, wealth and prestige.
Dasbodh
Dasbodh is the teachings of Samarth Ramdas on Karma Dnyan Upasana and Bhakti. It nourishes our mind and body. It has management principals of administration, planning coordination, and communication skills. Time management Banking and various other subjects. Samarth Ramdas built Ram mandir and Hanuman mandir at Chaphal near District Satara. These temples had vedic academy where young boys and girls recite Vedic mantras and study the holy books. Samarth Ramdas also wrote, about freedom movement of those days. He was politically vigilant. He narrated the management of kingdom and duties of king. In Dasbodh Samarth Ramdas discusses about self-confidence, Hard work, Will power, Self-respect, Communication, Commitment and Strength.
Samarth Ramdas worked for evoking good will and create inner happiness, in people. His life was dedicated to human welfare. He guided everyone to turn from evil path to right path. He cultivated divine qualities in himself and in others. Purity of body and mind is a divine quality. Physical cleanliness is conducive to ones physical health and purity of mind is conducive for peace and happiness. Samarth Ramdas says “ देव पुजावा विमल हस्ते or विमल करणी दे रे राम”
Samarth Ramdas spent some time in the lonely forest where the atmosphere was conducive for purity of mental vibrations. In relaxed position he experienced “I am the soul, immortal and eternal Brahmlok is my real dham(House)”. Prabhu Ram is my father, mother and supreme guide, teacher, and friend. There is no one else like him. I have no other wish; my worldly attachments have been destroyed. My doubts removed. He is the Son of Dashrath. He is soul of every human. Thus, Ramdas experienced the power of presence of Shriram in nature and in all the creatures. He says “रिता ठाव हा राघवेवीण नाही”
Atmaram
Atmaram is another philosophical book written by Samarth Ramdas Brahma, Maya, Tyag, Sadhana and self-experience are the chapters in this book. Self-surrendering is the main thought of this book. Surrendering is spontaneous self-giving of all yourself to the divine. “आत्म निवेदन” God is the supreme power who guides and controls our every action. This is possible when Abhimaan अभिमान (Arrogance) Ahankar अहंकार (Ego) leaves you. The student should not even have slightest feelings of making sacrifices while surrendering. As the drops of water unit with the sea the sadhak merges in the divine power of Lord Ram immediately. Brahma or Atma is neither born nor does it die. Human body is made up at five elements like Earth, Water, Fire, Air and Space. After death the body merges in these elements. We should use the body as an instrument to achieve our goal. Attachment towards our own body, relative’s money, property greed leads to pain and sorrows.
From 1294 Muslims invaded Maharashtra. People were agitated and frustrated and were living insecure lives for nearly 300 years. At that time Patriot Saints tried to awaken the people to fight for their rights, religion and freedom Samarth Ramdas was a great organizer, a far-sighted philosopher, a courageous hero, and a timeless servant of this country.
Establishing 1100 mathas, opening temples of Hanuman and Shriram, organizing lectures, kirtan for education of people and helping them to live free, peaceful, safe life. He tried to unite Indian people on ethical and spiritual values. He extensively traveled on foot to all over India. He left many books, poems, etc. behind him to guide us even in present days. He is with us in thoughts and actions. His Guru mantra is with us. Guru Mantra is Guru himself. Samarth Ramdas was repeating it for twenty-four hours. It made him completely divine with power. The joy which was latent in Ramdas came to the surface by the power when he uttered “जय जय रघुवीर समर्थ”
