Swami Ramdas
Encyclopedia
Swami Ramdas was a philosopher, philanthropist
, and pilgrim
. Giving up worldly possessions at a young age, he became a wandering monk. The inspirational story of his travels throughout India
and his message of Universal Love has been presented in several different books and he is regarded by many as a spiritual master.
master in a cotton mill and in 1908 he married. He experienced difficulties, both in his financial pursuits and domestic life, and seeking relief from his circumstances, he began to chant "Ram
" – a name of God. Soon after, his father gave to him a holy mantra to repeat, the Ram Mantra - 'Sri Ram jai Ram jai jai Ram'. Through inner guidance he started adding the 'Om' to each repetition - 'Om Sri Ram Jai Ram Jai Jai Ram' and he found the benefit at least threefold.
He quickly became detached from materialistic pleasures and left on a pilgrimage, taking on the name Ramdas, and living on charity (though he never accepted money). His practice was to view the world as forms of Ram – and thus to see everything that might befall him as the will of Ram. His mantra practice also gradually became a round-the-clock practice.
In 1922 he encountered the sage, Ramana Maharshi
, and received his grace. As a result of this, he went into his first retreat, living for 21 days in solitude in a cave in Arunachala
. Upon leaving this cave he was filled with the realization that, “All was Rama, nothing but Rama” Some time later an absorption experience near Mangalore fully erased his personal identity, so that only Oneness prevailed.
After continuing to live on the roads for many years, his devotees established Anandashram
for him in Kanhangad
, Kerala
in 1931. The ashram worked to improve the living conditions of the local people, and continues to this day to share Swami Ramdas’ vision of Universal Love and Service.
A list of Ramdas' well known disciples includes Mataji Krishnabai, Swami Satchidananda, Swami Mudrananda and Yogi Ramsuratkumar
.
He died in 1963.
World Wisdom
, 2005
Motilal Banarsidass, India, 1999
Blue Dove Press, 1994
Blue Dove Press, 1995
Philanthropist
A philanthropist is someone who engages in philanthropy; that is, someone who donates his or her time, money, and/or reputation to charitable causes...
, and pilgrim
Pilgrim
A pilgrim is a traveler who is on a journey to a holy place. Typically, this is a physical journeying to some place of special significance to the adherent of a particular religious belief system...
. Giving up worldly possessions at a young age, he became a wandering monk. The inspirational story of his travels throughout India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
and his message of Universal Love has been presented in several different books and he is regarded by many as a spiritual master.
Biography
Vittal Rao was born in Kerala, India in 1884 to Sri Balakrishna Rao and Smt. Lalita Bai. He worked as a spinningWeaving (mythology)
The theme of weaving in mythology is ancient, and its lost mythic lore probably accompanied the early spread of this art. In traditional societies today, westward of Central Asia and the Iranian plateau, weaving is a mystery within woman's sphere...
master in a cotton mill and in 1908 he married. He experienced difficulties, both in his financial pursuits and domestic life, and seeking relief from his circumstances, he began to chant "Ram
Rama
Rama or full name Ramachandra is considered to be the seventh avatar of Vishnu in Hinduism, and a king of Ayodhya in ancient Indian...
" – a name of God. Soon after, his father gave to him a holy mantra to repeat, the Ram Mantra - 'Sri Ram jai Ram jai jai Ram'. Through inner guidance he started adding the 'Om' to each repetition - 'Om Sri Ram Jai Ram Jai Jai Ram' and he found the benefit at least threefold.
He quickly became detached from materialistic pleasures and left on a pilgrimage, taking on the name Ramdas, and living on charity (though he never accepted money). His practice was to view the world as forms of Ram – and thus to see everything that might befall him as the will of Ram. His mantra practice also gradually became a round-the-clock practice.
In 1922 he encountered the sage, Ramana Maharshi
Ramana Maharshi
Sri Ramana Maharshi , born Venkataraman Iyer, was a Hindu spiritual master . He was born to a Tamil-speaking Brahmin family in Tiruchuzhi, Tamil Nadu. After experiencing at age 16 what he later described as liberation , he left home for Arunachala, a mountain considered sacred by Hindus...
, and received his grace. As a result of this, he went into his first retreat, living for 21 days in solitude in a cave in Arunachala
Arunachala
Arunachala refers to the holy hill at Thiruvannamalai in Tamil Nadu, where the Annamalaiyar Temple, a temple of Lord Shiva is located. Every year in the Tamil month of Karthigai , the Karthigai Deepam is lit atop the hill...
. Upon leaving this cave he was filled with the realization that, “All was Rama, nothing but Rama” Some time later an absorption experience near Mangalore fully erased his personal identity, so that only Oneness prevailed.
After continuing to live on the roads for many years, his devotees established Anandashram
Anandashram
Anandashram is a spiritual retreat located in the city of Kanhangad, a city and a municipality in Kasaragod district in the Indian state of Kerala....
for him in Kanhangad
Kanhangad
Kanhangad is a town and a municipality in Kasaragod district in the Indian state of Kerala. It is 28 km from the district headquarters of Kasaragod. Bekal Fort is a 300-year old fort, one of the largest and best preserved forts in Kerala and lies 10 km north of Kanhangad. The fort is...
, Kerala
Kerala
or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....
in 1931. The ashram worked to improve the living conditions of the local people, and continues to this day to share Swami Ramdas’ vision of Universal Love and Service.
A list of Ramdas' well known disciples includes Mataji Krishnabai, Swami Satchidananda, Swami Mudrananda and Yogi Ramsuratkumar
Yogi Ramsuratkumar
Yogi Ramsuratkumar was an Indian saint and mystic. He was also referred to as "Visiri samiyar" and spent most of his post enlightement period in Thiruvanamalai, a small town in Tamil Nadu which is famous for attracting spiritual seekers worldwide and has had a continuous lineage...
.
He died in 1963.
Quotations
Resources
- The Essential Swami Ramdas
World Wisdom
World Wisdom
World Wisdom is an independent publishing company established in 1980 in Bloomington, Indiana. World Wisdom publishes religious and philosophical texts, including the work of authors such as Frithjof Schuon, Seyyed Hossein Nasr, Titus Burckhardt, Ananda K...
, 2005
- Servant of God
Motilal Banarsidass, India, 1999
- In the Vision of God vol 1
Blue Dove Press, 1994
- In the Vision of God Vol. 2
Blue Dove Press, 1995