Sri Ramanandacharya (
IAST
The International Alphabet of Sanskrit Transliteration (IAST) is a transliteration scheme that allows the lossless romanisation of Indic scripts as employed by Sanskrit and related Indic languages. It is based on a scheme that emerged during ...
: Rāmānanda) was a 14th-century
Vaishnava
Vaishnavism ( sa, वैष्णवसम्प्रदायः, Vaiṣṇavasampradāyaḥ) is one of the major Hindu denominations along with Shaivism, Shaktism, and Smartism. It is also called Vishnuism since it considers Vishnu as the ...
devotional poet
saint
In religious belief, a saint is a person who is recognized as having an exceptional degree of Q-D-Š, holiness, likeness, or closeness to God. However, the use of the term ''saint'' depends on the context and Christian denomination, denominat ...
, who lived in the
Gangetic basin
The Ganges Basin is a part of the Ganges-Brahmaputra- Meghna (GBM) basin draining 1,999,000 square kilometres in Tibet, Nepal, India and Bangladesh. To the north, the Himalaya or lower parallel ranges beyond form the Ganges-Brahmaputra divide. ...
of northern India.
[ The Hindu tradition recognizes him as the founder][ of the ]Ramanandi Sampradaya
The Ramanandi (IAST ), also known as Ramavats (IAST ), are a branch of the Vaishnava Sri Sampradaya of Hinduism. Ramananda sect is the largest sect of Vaishnavas, out of 52 gates of Vaishnavism, 36 are held by Ramanandi's. They mainly emphasi ...
, the largest monastic
Monasticism (from Ancient Greek , , from , , 'alone'), also referred to as monachism, or monkhood, is a religion, religious way of life in which one renounces world (theology), worldly pursuits to devote oneself fully to spiritual work. Monastic ...
Hindu renunciant community in modern times.[Selva Raj and William Harman (2007), Dealing with Deities: The Ritual Vow in South Asia, State University of New York Press, , pages 165-166][James G Lochtefeld (2002), The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Hinduism: N-Z, Rosen Publishing, , pages 553-554]
Born in a Brahman
In Hinduism, ''Brahman'' ( sa, ब्रह्मन्) connotes the highest universal principle, the ultimate reality in the universe.P. T. Raju (2006), ''Idealistic Thought of India'', Routledge, , page 426 and Conclusion chapter part X ...
family, Ramananda for the most part of his life lived in the holy city of Varanasi
Varanasi (; ; also Banaras or Benares (; ), and Kashi.) is a city on the Ganges river in northern India that has a central place in the traditions of pilgrimage, death, and mourning in the Hindu world.
*
*
*
* The city has a syncretic t ...
.David Lorenzen
David N. Lorenzen is a British–American historian, scholar of Religious studies, essayist, and emeritus professor of South Asian history at the Centre for Asian and African studies, El Colegio de México in Mexico City.
He is chiefly notable ...
, Who Invented Hinduism: Essays on Religion in History, , pages 104-106 His date of birth is December 30 but death is uncertain, but historical evidence suggests he was one of the earliest saint
In religious belief, a saint is a person who is recognized as having an exceptional degree of Q-D-Š, holiness, likeness, or closeness to God. However, the use of the term ''saint'' depends on the context and Christian denomination, denominat ...
s and a pioneering figure of the Bhakti movement
The Bhakti movement was a significant religious movement in medieval Hinduism that sought to bring religious reforms to all strata of society by adopting the method of devotion to achieve salvation. Originating in Tamilakam during 6th centur ...
as it rapidly grew in North India
North India is a loosely defined region consisting of the northern part of India. The dominant geographical features of North India are the Indo-Gangetic Plain and the Himalayas, which demarcate the region from the Tibetan Plateau and Central ...
, sometime between the 14th and mid-15th century during its Islamic rule period.[ Tradition asserts that Ramananda developed his philosophy and devotional themes inspired by the south Indian ]Vedanta
''Vedanta'' (; sa, वेदान्त, ), also ''Uttara Mīmāṃsā'', is one of the six (''āstika'') schools of Hindu philosophy. Literally meaning "end of the Vedas", Vedanta reflects ideas that emerged from, or were aligned with, t ...
philosopher Ramanuja
Ramanuja (Middle Tamil: Rāmāṉujam; Classical Sanskrit: Rāmanuja; 1017 CE – 1137 CE; ; ), also known as Ramanujacharya, was an Indian Hindu philosopher, guru and a social reformer. He is noted to be one of the most important exponents o ...
, however evidence also suggests that Ramananda was influenced by Nath
Nath, also called Natha, are a Shaiva sub-tradition within Hinduism in India and Nepal. A medieval movement, it combined ideas from Buddhism, Shaivism and Yoga traditions in India.[Yoga
Yoga (; sa, योग, lit=yoke' or 'union ) is a group of physical, mental, and spiritual practices or disciplines which originated in ancient India and aim to control (yoke) and still the mind, recognizing a detached witness-consciou ...]
school of Hindu philosophy.[
An early social reformer, Ramananda accepted disciples without discriminating anyone by gender, class. Traditional scholarship holds that his disciples included later Bhakti movement ''poet-sants'' such as ]Kabir
Kabir Das (1398–1518) was a 15th-century Indian mystic poet and saint. His writings influenced Hinduism's Bhakti movement, and his verses are found in Sikhism's scripture Guru Granth Sahib, the Satguru Granth Sahib of Saint Garib Das ...
, Ravidas
Ravidas or Raidas, was an Indian mystic poet-saint of the bhakti movement during the 15th to 16th century CE. Venerated as a ''guru'' (teacher) in the modern regions of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Punj ...
, Bhagat Pipa
Bhagat Pipa, also known as Pratap Singh Raja Pipaji, Rao Pipa, Sardar Pipa, Sant Pipaji, or Pipa Bairagi was a Rajput King of Gagaraungarh who abdicated the throne to become a Hindu mystic poet and saint of the Bhakti movement.John Stratton Haw ...
and others, however some postmodern scholars have questioned some of this spiritual lineage while others have supported this lineage with historical evidence.[Schomer and McLeod (1987), The Sants: Studies in a Devotional Tradition of India, Motilal Banarsidass, , page 54][Julia Leslie (1996), Myth and Mythmaking: Continuous Evolution in Indian Tradition, Routledge, , pages 117-119] His verse is mentioned in the Sikh holy scripture Guru Granth Sahib
The Guru Granth Sahib ( pa, ਗੁਰੂ ਗ੍ਰੰਥ ਸਾਹਿਬ, ) is the central holy religious scripture of Sikhism, regarded by Sikhs as the final, sovereign and Guru Maneyo Granth, eternal Guru following the lineage of the Sikh gur ...
.
Ramananda was known for composing his works and discussing spiritual themes in vernacular Hindi
Hindi (Devanāgarī: or , ), or more precisely Modern Standard Hindi (Devanagari: ), is an Indo-Aryan language spoken chiefly in the Hindi Belt region encompassing parts of northern, central, eastern, and western India. Hindi has been de ...
, stating that this makes knowledge accessible to the masses.[William Pinch (1996), Peasants and Monks in British India, University of California Press, ,
pages 53-89]
Biography
Little is known with certainty about the life of Ramananda, including year of birth and death[Enzo Turbiani (Editor: RS McGregor, 1992), Devotional Literature in South Asia, Cambridge University Press, , page 51] His biography has been derived from mentions of him in secondary literature and inconsistent Hagiographies.[
The most accepted version holds that Ramananda was born in a ]Brahmin
Brahmin (; sa, ब्राह्मण, brāhmaṇa) is a varna as well as a caste within Hindu society. The Brahmins are designated as the priestly class as they serve as priests (purohit, pandit, or pujari) and religious teachers (guru ...
family, about mid 14th-century, and died about mid 15th-century.[Nirmal Dass (2000), Songs of the Saints from the Adi Granth, State University of New York Press, , page 160-164] Although few people hold him to be of southern origin, there's no evidence to support such a claim. In fact, all genuinely Indian sources agree in stating that Ramananda was born at Prayaga (Allahabad)."Not one word is said as to his southern origin, and the fact that he was stated to be a Kanyakubja Brahmin
Kanyakubja Brahmins are a Brahmin community mainly found in northern India. They are classified as one of the Pancha Gauda Brahmin communities native to the north of the Vindhyas.
Kanyakubja Brahmins are also considered most Martial of all ...
is decisively against such a theory" – George A. Greirson (1920).
According to the medieval era ''Bhaktamala'' text by Nabhadas, Ramananda studied under ''Raghavananda'', a ''guru'' (teacher) in Vedanta
''Vedanta'' (; sa, वेदान्त, ), also ''Uttara Mīmāṃsā'', is one of the six (''āstika'') schools of Hindu philosophy. Literally meaning "end of the Vedas", Vedanta reflects ideas that emerged from, or were aligned with, t ...
-based Vatakalai (northern, Rama-avatar) school of Vaishnavism.[Karen Pechelis (2014), The Embodiment of Bhakti, Oxford University Press, , page 36] "It was Ramananda's teacher, Raghavananda, who came from the South, and after much wandering had settled at Benares. There, and not in the South, he had Ramananda as his disciple." – George A. Greirson (1920).
Other scholars state that Ramananda's education started in Adi Shankara
Adi Shankara ("first Shankara," to distinguish him from other Shankaras)(8th cent. CE), also called Adi Shankaracharya ( sa, आदि शङ्कर, आदि शङ्कराचार्य, Ādi Śaṅkarācāryaḥ, lit=First Shanka ...
's Advaita Vedanta school, before he met ''Raghavananda'' and began his studies in Ramanuja
Ramanuja (Middle Tamil: Rāmāṉujam; Classical Sanskrit: Rāmanuja; 1017 CE – 1137 CE; ; ), also known as Ramanujacharya, was an Indian Hindu philosopher, guru and a social reformer. He is noted to be one of the most important exponents o ...
's Vishishtadvaita Vedanta school.
Literary works
Ramananda is credited as the author of many devotional poems, but like most Bhakti movement poets, whether he actually was the author of these poems is unclear. Two treatises in Hindi, ''Gyan-lila'' and ''Yog-cintamani'' are also attributed to Ramanand, as are the Sanskrit works ''Vaisnava Mata Bhajabhaskara'' and ''Ramarcana paddhati''.[ However, poems found in the original and well-preserved manuscripts of ]Sikhism
Sikhism (), also known as Sikhi ( pa, ਸਿੱਖੀ ', , from pa, ਸਿੱਖ, lit=disciple', 'seeker', or 'learner, translit=Sikh, label=none),''Sikhism'' (commonly known as ''Sikhī'') originated from the word ''Sikh'', which comes fro ...
and handwritten ''Nagari-pracarini Sabha'' are considered authentic and highlight the ''Nirguna'' (attributeless god) stream of thought in Ramananda.[
]
Philosophy
Ramananda developed his philosophy and devotional themes inspired by the south Indian Vedanta
''Vedanta'' (; sa, वेदान्त, ), also ''Uttara Mīmāṃsā'', is one of the six (''āstika'') schools of Hindu philosophy. Literally meaning "end of the Vedas", Vedanta reflects ideas that emerged from, or were aligned with, t ...
philosopher Ramanuja
Ramanuja (Middle Tamil: Rāmāṉujam; Classical Sanskrit: Rāmanuja; 1017 CE – 1137 CE; ; ), also known as Ramanujacharya, was an Indian Hindu philosopher, guru and a social reformer. He is noted to be one of the most important exponents o ...
, however evidence also suggests that Ramananda was influenced by Nath
Nath, also called Natha, are a Shaiva sub-tradition within Hinduism in India and Nepal. A medieval movement, it combined ideas from Buddhism, Shaivism and Yoga traditions in India.[Yoga
Yoga (; sa, योग, lit=yoke' or 'union ) is a group of physical, mental, and spiritual practices or disciplines which originated in ancient India and aim to control (yoke) and still the mind, recognizing a detached witness-consciou ...]
school of Hindu philosophy.[
Antonio Rigopoulos states Ramananda's teachings were "an attempt towards a synthesis between ]Advaita
''Advaita Vedanta'' (; sa, अद्वैत वेदान्त, ) is a Hindu sādhanā, a path of spiritual discipline and experience, and the oldest extant tradition of the orthodox Hindu school Vedānta. The term ''Advaita'' (lit ...
Vedanta and Vaishnava bhakti".[Antonio Rigopoulos (1993), The Life And Teachings Of Sai Baba Of Shirdi, State University of New York Press, , page 264] He adds that the same link can be found in the 15th-century text of ''Adhyatma Ramayana'', but there is no historical proof that Ramananda's teachings inspired that text.[
Shastri has proposed the theory that Ramananda's complex theological schooling in two distinct Hindu philosophies explains why he accepted both ''Saguna Brahman'' and ''Nirguna Brahman'', or god with attributes and god without attributes, respectively. Shastri suggests his theory offers an explanation why Ramananda's disciples co-developed ''saguna'' and ''nirguna'' as the two parallel currents in the ]Bhakti movement
The Bhakti movement was a significant religious movement in medieval Hinduism that sought to bring religious reforms to all strata of society by adopting the method of devotion to achieve salvation. Originating in Tamilakam during 6th centur ...
.[Edmour J Babineau (2008), Love of God and Social Duty in the Rāmcaritmānas, Motilal Banarsidass, , pages 66-67] However, this theory lacks historical evidence and has not gained wide acceptance by scholars.[
The Ramananda literature that is considered authentic, states Enzo Turbiani, suggest a milestone development in metaphysical principles of the Bhakti movement.][Enzo Turbiani (Editor: RS McGregor, 1992), Devotional Literature in South Asia, Cambridge University Press, , pages 52-54] Ramananda asserts that austerity and penances through asceticism are meaningless, if an individual does not realize ''Hari'' (Vishnu) as their inner self. He criticizes fasting and rituals, stating that the mechanics are not important, and that these are useless if the individual does not take the opportunity to reflect and introspect on the nature of Brahman
In Hinduism, ''Brahman'' ( sa, ब्रह्मन्) connotes the highest universal principle, the ultimate reality in the universe.P. T. Raju (2006), ''Idealistic Thought of India'', Routledge, , page 426 and Conclusion chapter part X ...
(supreme being).[ Ramananda states that rote reading of a sacred text is of no benefit, if the person fails to understand what the text is trying to communicate.][
]
Legacy
Ramananda is often honored as the founder of ''Sant-parampara'' (literally, the tradition of bhakti sants) in north India. His efforts, in a time when Ganges river plains of north India was under Islamic rule, helped revive and refocus Hindus to a personalized, direct devotional form of Rama worship, his liberalism and focus on the devotee's commitment rather than birth or gender set a precedent that attracted people to spirituality from various walks of life, and his use of vernacular language instead of Sanskrit for spiritual ideas made sharing and reflection easier for the masses.
Fourteen disciples of Ramananda
Thirteen influential disciples of Ramananda included 12 men and 2 women poet-sants. According to Bhaktamal
''Bhaktamal'' ( hi, भक्तमाल, ), written , is a poem in the Braj language that gives short biographies of more than 200 ''bhaktas''. It was written by Nabha Dass, a saint belonging to the tradition of Ramananda. Though considered a ...
, these were:
Men scholars:
# Anantananda
# Sursurananda
# Sukhanand
# Naraharidāsa
# Bhavanand
# Vitthalpant Kulkarni
# Bhagat Pipa
Bhagat Pipa, also known as Pratap Singh Raja Pipaji, Rao Pipa, Sardar Pipa, Sant Pipaji, or Pipa Bairagi was a Rajput King of Gagaraungarh who abdicated the throne to become a Hindu mystic poet and saint of the Bhakti movement.John Stratton Haw ...
# Kabir
# Ravidas
Ravidas or Raidas, was an Indian mystic poet-saint of the bhakti movement during the 15th to 16th century CE. Venerated as a ''guru'' (teacher) in the modern regions of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Punj ...
# Sen
# Dhanna
# Sadhana
Women scholars:
# Sursuri
# Padyawati
Postmodern scholars have questioned some of the above guru-disciple lineage while others have supported this lineage with historical evidence.[
]
Largest ascetic community in India: Ramanandi Sampraday
Ramananda is the founder of the eponymous Ramanandi Sampraday (Shri Ramavat or Shri Sampraday or Vairagi Sampradaya). This is the largest ascetic
Asceticism (; from the el, ἄσκησις, áskesis, exercise', 'training) is a lifestyle characterized by abstinence from sensual pleasures, often for the purpose of pursuing spiritual goals. Ascetics may withdraw from the world for their p ...
community in India, and their members are known as ''Ramanandis'', ''Vairagis'' or ''Bairagis''.[Gerald James Larson (1995), India's Agony Over Religion, State University of New York Press, , page 116] They are known for their self-imposed highly disciplined, austere, structured and simple lifestyle.[ Richard Burghart acknowledges that Ramananda is revered as the founder in the Ramanandi Sampraday's tradition, but adds that historical evidence about its origin is meager and India's largest monastic community may have gathered strength a few centuries after Ramananda's death.][Richard Burghart (1978)]
The Founding of the Ramanandi Sect
Ethnohistory, Vol. 25, No. 2, pages 121-139
Social reforms
Ramananda was an influential social reformer of Northern India. He championed the pursuit of knowledge and direct devotional spirituality, and did not discriminate based on birth family, gender or religion.[
]
Swami Ramanand poem
One poem of Ramananda, originally written in Hindi, is a response to an invitation to go to a temple,[ and the answer states there is no need to visit a temple because God is within a person, all pervasive in everything and everyone.][
]
See also
*Bhakti movement
The Bhakti movement was a significant religious movement in medieval Hinduism that sought to bring religious reforms to all strata of society by adopting the method of devotion to achieve salvation. Originating in Tamilakam during 6th centur ...
*Sant Mat
Sant Mat was a spiritual movement on the Indian subcontinent during the 13th–17th centuries CE. The name literally means "teachings of sants", i.e. mystic Hindu saints. Through association and seeking truth by following ''sants'' and their teac ...
Further reading
* JS Hawley (2015), A Storm of Songs: India and the Idea of the Bhakti Movement, Harvard University Press, Chapter 3
* William Pinch (1996), Peasants and Monks in British India, University of California Press
* David Lorenzen (1995), Bhakti Religion in North India: Community Identity and Political Action, State University of New York Press
* Richard Burghard (1978), The Founding of the Ramanandi Sect, London: London School of Economics and Political Science
External links
Saint Ramananda
Jyotsna Kamat (2008)
Kanakadasa: The Golden Servant
Basavaraj Naikar (2007), Indian Literature, Vol. 51, No. 5, pages 88–100
References
{{reflist
Indian Hindu saints
Sikh Bhagats
Vaishnava saints
14th-century Indian poets
Sant Mat
Medieval Hindu religious leaders
People from Varanasi
Brahmins who fought against discrimination
Anti-caste activists
Indian reformers