Saint Samarth Ramdas: Controversy
A controversy arose pertaining to Saint Samarth Ramdas’s alleged connection to Marathi icon Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.
- Saint Samarth Ramdas was an Indian Marathi Hindu saint, poet, philosopher, writer and spiritual master.
- He was a devotee of Hindu deities Rama and Hanuman.
- He was previously famous as Narayan.
- He was born in Jamb, a village in the present-day Jalna district of Maharashtra.
- He was born on the occasion of Rama Navami, in 1608.
- His literary works include Karunashtakas, Dasbodh, Yuddhakand, Sunderkand, Poorvarambh, Antarbhav, Chaturthman, Aatmaaram, Panchman, Panchsamasi, Manpanchak, Janaswabhawgosavi, etc.
- Ramdas is not deemed a pacifist.
- His writings include strong expressions encouraging nationalism to counter aggressive Muslim invaders.
- Ramdas served as an inspiration for several Indian thinkers, historians and social reformers from the 19th and 20th-century, including Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Rajwade, Keshav Hedgewar, and Ramchandra Ranade.
- A spiritual guru, Nana Dharmadhikari, promoted the views of Ramdas through his spiritual discourses.
