Shri Dasbodh Jayanti, Jay Jay Raghuveer Samarth

Shri Ramdas Swamiji's real name was Narayan Suryaji Thosar. He was born in Jamb village in Jalna District. From his childhood he was devotee of Lord Rama and Lord Hanuman. Due to his devoted life to Lord Rama, he was named as Ramdas, which means a servant of Shri Rama. He ran from his Marriage Ceremony and went to Nashik. He refused all the luxuries of life and he worshiped Lord Ram for next 12 years.

In his childhood, he was fond of vigorous physical activities. He used to excursive on Daily basis. He had very well built his body in a perfect shape. In 1632 he left Maharashtra to begin his spiritual journey. He travelled throughout India for next 12 years observing conditions of people in their own Motherland. He wrote Asmani Sultani & Parachakra niroopan novels describing the crucial condition of Hindus in that period.

In his journey in North India, He also met Guru Hargobind, the respected Sikh Guru. After returning from his journey, he decided to spread our spirituality amongst people in country. He installed many (11) temples of Shri Hanuman on various places in Maharashtra. It was time when whole India was under injustice rule of Badshahi and Adilshahi. A Hindu was not able to worship his own god. So Samarth decided to oppose this thinking. He made spiritual rallies through enemys areas.

It was a period when people were worshiping Lord Vitthal. But Samartha Ramdas thought in this time of external rule, we all should worship Lord Ram and Lord Hanuman as his gods had fighting abilities and their worship can spread a message to become Self- defendant against enemy. He was hated and opposed very much due to his thinking. Once ge went to Pandharpur, to worship Lord Vitthal and to spread his thoughts amongst people their.

Many strong wrestlers came forward to oppose Ramdas from entering Vitthal Temple. But when all this people saw Samartha coming they all stepped back seeing how strong was his body. In that time he founded new Sampraday, "Ramdasi Sampraday". These people worshiped Lord Ram and they also used to practice the battle tactics for their defence. It was a condition to join Ramdasi Group, that a person should be physically strong and should be able to do at least 100 Suryanamaskar daily.

Shri Ramdas’s followers travelled amongst people to spread spiritual thoughts and motivated them to fight against the rulers to protect their religion. They used to motivate people to join forces of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, To join Hindavi Swarajya. He installed Lord Rama/s Temple at Chaphal, near Karad which was under Adilshah rule then. He Wrote DasBodh Grantha using a long time span of 8 years living in Shivthar Ghali near Javali. Today is Dasbodh Jayanti.

Once Shivaji Maharaj met Saint Tukaram in Alandi. He requested Tukaram Maharaj to accept him as his student and to give Gurumantra. But Tukaram rejected to give Gurumantra and told Shivaji Maharaj to wait untill the right time and a right person to come to do this important task. Shivaji maharaj were always in touch with Samarth Ramdas Swami through Letters. Ramdasi Followers always helped Shivaji Maharaj with Secret News in the area.

Samartha Ramdas Always Guided Shivaji Maharaj to continue his notable work. But they actually met in Person only in 1672. Samartha wrote a detailed Poem on Shivaji Maharaj describing his qualities. So Jijabai advised Shivaji Maharaj to meet Samartha and take his Gurumantra. So Chhatrapati Shivaji and Samartha Ramdas met in Chaphal and they performed GuruMantra ceremony.

When Jijabai were on her deathbed, they requested Ramdas Swami to take the responsibility of Shivaji Maharaj as his Mentor. He said that he will try his best, but only Jijamata had power to take this Son in their arms. In next meeting Sambhaji Raje was with Shivaji Maharaj. Sambhaji Maharaj asked Samartha that how they and their followers fight with enemy while worshiping God. Samartha showed his walking stick to Sambhaji, the stick was an adjustable stick and it consisted a sharp blade inside it. They said that they not only worship god, but can also fight any combat with enemy.

In later times, Samartha Ramdas moved to Parali Fort near Satara to live on request of Shivaji Maharaj. Due to Samartha Ramdas living there, the fort was named Sajjangad. Along with Sajjangad other 21 villages were gifted by Shivaji Maharaj. An official document is found in England library regarding this. After death of Shivaji Maharaj Samartha Ramdas wrote a detailed Letter to Sambhaji Maharaj to tell him some facts about being a great Ruler, and also told that there was no good leader better than Sambhaji at that time. Ramdas Swami Died in 1681 on Sajjangad. Jay Jay Raghuveer Samartha