Samarth Ramdas
A commemorative postage stamp on Shree Samartha Ramdas Swami, spiritual guru of Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj :
Issued by India
Issued on May 1, 1988
Description of Designs : The stamp, designed by India Security Press, Nashik Road and the first day cover, designed by Sankha Samantha, both depict Samarth Ramdas. The cancellation is designed by Smt. Nenu Gupta.
Type : Stamp, Mint Condition
Colour : Single colour
Denomination : 60 Paise
Overall size : 4.06 x 2.73 cms.
Printing size : 3.71 x 2.38 cms.
Perforation : 13 x 13
Paper : Indigenous unwatermarked P.G. Matt Coated stamp paper
Number printed : 10,00,000
Number per issue sheet : 40
Printing Process : Photogravure
Printed : India Security Press
Name : Narayan Suryaji Thosar
Born on Apr, 1608 at Jamb village, Jalna district, Maharashtra, India
Died on Feb 2, 1681 at Sajjangad, Satara district, Maharashtra, India
About :
- Samarth Ramdas, the spiritual advisor of Shivaji, was born in Jamb, a village on the banks of the Godavari in 1608 and was named Narayan.
- As a child he favoured solitude and secluded places, engrossed in his own thoughts. He ran away from home and became a mendicant in the forests of Maharashtra. He meditated and practised austerities for about 12 years, later starting out on a pilgrimage which covered the land from Tanjore to Badrinath.
- What he saw of the social and religious difficulties of the Hindus at that time led to a revival of the concept of Maharashtra dharma, a concept of determined action by the common people to oust oppressors. Ramdas considered a disciplined life and resistance essential for political freedom.
- The philosophy found expression in his work, ‘Dasbodh’, which was to inspire the Marathas for generations. The book deals with “Adhyatma” i.e. the relationship between the Absolute and the individual soul and self realisation, and it also forms a compendium of worldly wisdom.
- Samarth Ramdas met Shivaji, a meeting which had a deep influence on both men. Shivaji acquired a spiritual mentor and Ramdas, an embodiment of his philosophy around whom others could rally. Ramdas spent the rest of his life mobilising Marathas and infusing the spirit of the Maharashtra Dharma in them.
- He set up Maruti Temples and a net-work of Ramdasi Maths which became centres of work-ship and for dispersal of his philosophy. All his work stresses the need for the common man to discharge his duty towards religion, community and country.
- Samarth Ramdas passed away in 1682.
- Text compiled from essays by S.S. alias Dada Apte and G.N. Purandare.
