On a recent trip to the
city of Satara in Maharashtra, I grabbed an opportunity to visit nearby
Sajjangad (meaning "Fort of Good People"). It is a picturesque hilltop
fort where the great saint Samarth Ramdas lived and attained Samadhi.
Samarth Ramdas was a 17th
century saint and the spiritual Guru of Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. Samarth
Ramdas was a great devotee of Lord Ram and Hanuman.
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| The Entrance to Sajjangad Fort |
Believed to be born on
Ramnavami day in the year 1608 CE to Suryaji Pant and Ranubai, in the Jamb
village of Aurangabad District, Ramdas' birth name was Narayan Suryaji Thosar.
Because of his deep devotion to Lord Ram right from his childhood, he seems to have
acquired the name of Ramdas (Servant of Ram). I am not sure how he got the
prefix Samartha that means "capable or proficient."
Ramdas firmly believed
that Lord Ram and Hanuman provided good examples of courage in adversity. He established numerous temples of Hanuman in various towns and villages of Maharashtra. Walking up the hill
to the top of the fort, I observed at least 11 orange-colored Hanuman idols installed on
the side rocks.
The story of Samartha
Ramdas Swami is most inspiring. He was not a mere saint who indulged in blind
Bhakti. He synthesized material and spiritual life by stressing on dedication
to work, shrewdness, and above all faith in Ram and Hanuman. He is most
remembered for his Advaita Vedanta spiritual text called Dāsbodh (दासबोध) in Marathi language that provides spiritual advice on how to lead one’s life.
Realizing the crucial need for self-governance among the
people, Samarth Ramdas raised an organization of highly devoted
workers for the upliftment of society. He taught the youth on how to unite and
fight the enemy. Inspired by the great social work done by Ramdas, Chhatrapati
Shivaji Maharaj took ‘Guru Upadesh’ from him at a place called Chaphal sometime
in August 1649.
In 1676, Samarth Ramdas
moved from Chaphal to Sajjangad. Within the Sajjangad fort, Ramdas installed exquisite
Panchaloha idols of Shri Ram, Laxman, Sita and Maruti specially made and
brought from Thanjavur (under Maratta rule at that time). I was fortunate to
see these idols nicely decorated and worshipped by hundreds of visitors.
According to historical information, Ramdas spent the latter
part of his life in Sajjangad. He lived the life
of a selfless saint and used to constantly chant the the 13 syllable mantra of
Lord Ram – “Shri Ram Jai Ram Jai Jai Ram”. Before taking the simple sathvic
lunch (offered free to all devotees), this mantra was recited by all in chorus.
There was joy pervading all around while reciting this short and sweet Rama Mantra.
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| The Samadhi of Samarth Ramdas |
The story goes that after fasting for 5 days in front of the Rama, Laxman, Sita and Hanuman idols, Samarth Ramdas peacefully breathed his last in Sajjangad on Magh Vadya Navami, 22nd January 1682.
One of the most powerful gurus in Indian history, Samarth Ramdas Swami now rests as an
eternal Sleeping Saint of Sajjangad continuing to inspire millions of people
around the globe.
