Thread by @malhar_pandey, #Thread: Samarth Ramdas Jayanti.It was an era of darkness when Samarth Ramdas [...]

#Thread: Samarth Ramdas Jayanti.

It was an era of darkness when Samarth Ramdas arrived on the canvas of Bharat. The entire nation was facing the tyranny of Islamic rulers and it was in dire need of someone who will awaken the Hindus, to fight against these forces.
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Samarth Ramdas did the same. Born in a humble Brahmin family of Thosars, in Jalna, Narayan was an ardent devotee of Prabhu Shri Ram and Bhagwan Hanuman since his childhood. Curious by nature, he always sought to learn new things.
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He left his home to find his Ram probably in 1621. From then he spent about 12 years in Takli. He devoted his life seeking the Darshan of Prabhu Shri Ram. Rigorous exercise, meditation and worship were part of his daily routine.
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It is said, by the age of 24, said to have taken the name Ramdas. Meaning 'Devotee of Prabhu Shri Ram.

After this, he decided to travel the entire Bharat to meet various people and learn some things.
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While he was travelling he found out that the atrocities committed by Islamic rulers against Hindus. He felt that there is a dire need to awaken the political conscience of Hindus to get rid of these cruel rulers.
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He kept on recording all the attrocities and decided to launch a political movement to awaken the Hindus. But it was not possible easily. He came to Mahabaleshwar after concluding his pilgrimage and decided to celebrate 'Ramnavmi' which was attended by hundreds of devotees

At the same time, the new era of Bharat began when Chhatrapati Shivray was born in 1630. The goal of Shivaji Maharaj was same as that of Samarth Ramdas, but they were unaware of each other until 1644 as the record says.
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In order to gather people in large numbers Samarth Ramdas decided to build Mathas all over the nation. It is said that he built around 1000 to 1500 Mathas in his lifetime. He wrote number of books, in which he wrote about the pragmatic approach to politics via Dharma.
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In 1648, Samarth Ramdas installed an idol of Prabhu Shri Ram in Chaphal. From 1644, he installed 11 Maruti temples in various places. These places became a meeting point for devotees who would discuss the political things happening in and around their place.
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Samarth Ramdas believed in physical culture, he promoted the idea of 'बलोपासना'. He said,Power ( physical) is much necessary but it is nothing without properly guided discretion and keen intellect.He embodied the teachings of Bhagwan Hanuman. He truly belived in Bal-Buddhi-Vidya

In 1654, Ramdas Maharaj wrote Dasbodh, which is a comprehensive volume in verse form providing instructions on the religious life, presented in the format of a conversation between a Guru and disciple.
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Ramdas Maharaj was able to gather thousands of devotees not just for the Bhakti cause but also for political reasons. In his books, he clearly says, 'He is certainly a fool who attempts to rule without Power' and hence
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he supported and advised Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj a number of times as Shivaji Maharaj was gathering an army of Hindus to fight against the tyrannical Islamic rulers.
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After realising the goal of Ramdas Maharaj, Shivaji Maharaj decided to give Sajjangad to him. After Shivaji Maharaj won the battle of Parli Fort ( Sajjangad) in 1673, he built a Math and asked Samarth Ramdas to settle on this fort.
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Shivaji Maharaj came a number of times on Sajjangadh to meet Samarth Ramdas, where they discussed many things. Shivaji Maharaj passed away in 1680 and a year later, Ramdas Swami left the mortal world.
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Samarth Ramdas Swami (1608-1681) stands out as a unique saint in the whole galaxy of medieval Bhartiya saints.
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For, among them all he alone, while remaining essentially a saint, was an active political thinker and agitator. Today on his Jayanti, I pay my humble to this great thinker, A Guru and an ardent Devotee of Prabhu Shri Ram.
Jay Jay Raghuveer Samarth.
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