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Swami Shree Ramanandacharya, also referred to as Sant Ramanand or Swami Ramanand, was a Vaishnava sant, a Ramavat (devotee of Rama). He is considered to be the reviver of the Ramavat sect. His impact on the Ramavat sect was so much that the sect was named after him - the Ramanandi sect.He lived in the holy city of Varanasi, and was a pioneer of the Bhakti movement, as well as a social reformer in Northern India. He was known for communicating in vernacular Hindi, and accepting disciples of all castes. His 12 disciples are very famous-Anantananda, Bhavananda, Dhanna Bhagat, Kabir, Nabha, Naraharyanda, Pipa, Ravidas, Sain, Sukhanada, and Tulsidas (not the author of the Ramcharitmanas). Ramananda is generally considered to have been born around AD 1400,some opine that born in 1366 CE. although there is disagreement on the exact date and place of birth, due to the few texts regarding his early life. Birthplaces have been suggested as Triveni Sangam Allahabad, Prayaga. He was born to an upper-caste Brahmin family, and his parents were probably named Sushila and Punyasadan Sharma.He was spiritually inclined from his early childhood. Acharya Raghavnand who is also known as Dakshinayat Rishi (as he lived in Jagannath Puri which is always considered a southern city in hindu scriptures) included him in the Ramavat sect. Ramananda spent most of his life in Kashi(Banaras), where, as a mark of respect, people built a memorial that stands there to this day. When Ramananda was a child, he studied scriptures and showed great interest in spiritual thoughts. He received his early education in Kasi. A renowned philosopher and the prophet of the new Vaishnava religion, known for his downplaying the role of caste. Ramananda was particularly known for worshipping Lord Rama and his wife Goddess Sita. Ramanuja and Ramananda both believed that the human soul is distinct from the Supreme Spirit and retains its identity and separate consciousness. His footprints are visible at Srimath, Panchganga ghat, KASHI. Ramananda visited many places of pilgrimage, including Jagganath Puri, still has a memorial in his honour...... There is much controversy concerning the place and date of Saint Ramananda’s death due to the lack of information available about his life. Many historians believe that Ramananda died around AD 1470-80 yet there is no unanimity regarding the date. Ramananda’s name is read on the list of predecessors during the time of a religious dispute between Sikandar Lodi and his religious teacher, Sheik Taki. From this information Ramananda’s date of death can be fixed as late 15th century. However, there is a story about Ramananda which claims he escaped death altogether by entering a Samadhi stage, a yogic exercise, and remaining is laying as charanpaduka at Srimathin kashi. Address: , INDIA |