Ramananda: Difference between revisions

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{{Infobox Hindu leader
{{Infobox Hindu leader
| name              = Ramananda
| name              = Ramananda
| image              =
| image              = Stamp of India - 2002 - Colnect 158243 - Swami Ramanand.jpeg
| caption            = A Portrait of Swami Ramanand with [[Bairagi (caste)|Bairagi Saints]] in [[Varanasi]]
| caption            =  
| religion          = [[Hinduism]]
| religion          = [[Hinduism]]
| birth_date        = uncertain date, ~1300-1380 CE<ref name=ronald>Ronald McGregor (1984), Hindi literature from its beginnings to the nineteenth century, Otto Harrassowitz Verlag, {{ISBN|978-3447024136}}, pages 42-44</ref><ref name=schomer/>l
| birth_date        = December 30, ~1300-1380 CE<ref name=ronald>Ronald McGregor (1984), Hindi literature from its beginnings to the nineteenth century, Otto Harrassowitz Verlag, {{ISBN|978-3447024136}}, pages 42-44</ref><ref name=schomer/>l
| birth_place        = [[Prayagraj]], present day [[Uttar Pradesh, India]]
| birth_place        = [[Prayagraj]], present day [[Uttar Pradesh, India]]
| death_date        = uncertain date, ~1400-1475 CE<ref name=schomer>Schomer and McLeod (1987), The Sants: Studies in a Devotional Tradition of India, Motilal Banarsidass, {{ISBN|9788120802773}}, pages 4-6</ref>
| death_date        = uncertain date, ~1400-1475 CE<ref name=schomer>Schomer and McLeod (1987), The Sants: Studies in a Devotional Tradition of India, Motilal Banarsidass, {{ISBN|9788120802773}}, pages 4-6</ref>
| death_place        = [[Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh]]
| death_place        = [[Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh]]
| sect              = [[Vaishnavism]] (deity Rama), [[Hinduism]]
| sect              = [[Sri Vaishnavism]] (deity Rama), [[Hinduism]]
| known_for          = Founder of [[Bairagi (caste)|Bairagi Sampradaya]] ([[Ramanandi Sampradaya]]),<br />Guru of Major Poet-saints,<br />a Pioneer of [[Bhakti movement]] in north India, Social Reformer.
| known_for          = Founder of [[Bairagi (caste)|Bairagi]] [[Ramanandi Sampradaya]],<br />Guru of Major Poet-saints,<br />a Pioneer of [[Bhakti movement]] in north India, Social Reformer.
| disciples          = 2 poetess-sants and 10 poet-sants including [[Kabir]], [[Ravidas]], [[Bhagat Pipa]]
| disciples          = 2 poetess-sants and 10 poet-sants including [[Kabir]], [[Ravidas]], [[Bhagat Pipa]]
}}
}}
{{Hindu philosophy}}
{{Hindu philosophy}}
{{Sikhism sidebar}}
{{Sikhism sidebar}}
[[File:Ramanandswami.jpg|thumb|Ramananda]]
'''Ramananda''' ([[IAST]]: Rāmānanda) or '''Swami Ramanand''' was a 14th-century [[Vaishnava]] devotional poet [[Sant (religion)|saint]], who lived in the [[Gangetic basin]] of northern India.<ref name=william/> The Hindu tradition recognizes him as the founder<ref name=schomer/> of the [[Ramanandi Sampradaya]], the largest [[Sannyasa|monastic]] Hindu renunciant community in modern times.<ref name=selva>Selva Raj and William Harman (2007), Dealing with Deities: The Ritual Vow in South Asia, State University of New York Press, {{ISBN|978-0791467084}}, pages 165-166</ref><ref name=lochtefeld>James G Lochtefeld (2002), The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Hinduism: N-Z, Rosen Publishing, {{ISBN|978-0823931804}}, pages 553-554</ref>
'''Ramananda''' ([[IAST]]: Rāmānanda) was a 14th-century [[Vaishnava]] devotional poet [[Sant (religion)|saint]], who lived in the [[Gangetic basin]] of northern India.<ref name=william/> The Hindu tradition recognizes him as the founder<ref name=schomer/> of the [[Ramanandi Sampradaya]], the largest [[Sannyasa|monastic]] Hindu renunciant community in modern times.<ref name=selva>Selva Raj and William Harman (2007), Dealing with Deities: The Ritual Vow in South Asia, State University of New York Press, {{ISBN|978-0791467084}}, pages 165-166</ref><ref name=lochtefeld>James G Lochtefeld (2002), The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Hinduism: N-Z, Rosen Publishing, {{ISBN|978-0823931804}}, pages 553-554</ref>


Born in a [[Brahmin|Brahman]] family, Saint Ramananda for the most part of his life lived in the holy city of [[Varanasi]].<ref name=ronald/><ref name=lorenzen>[[David Lorenzen]], Who Invented Hinduism: Essays on Religion in History, {{ISBN|978-8190227261}}, pages 104-106</ref> His year of birth or death are uncertain, but historical evidence suggests he was one of the earliest [[sant (religion)|saint]]s and a pioneering figure of the [[Bhakti movement]] as it rapidly grew in north India, sometime between the 14th and mid 15th century during its Islamic rule period.<ref name=schomer/><ref name=william/> Tradition asserts that Saint Ramananda developed his philosophy and devotional themes inspired by the south Indian [[Vedanta]] philosopher [[Ramanuja]], however evidence also suggests that Saint Ramananda was influenced by [[Nath]]panthi ascetics of the [[Yoga]] school of Hindu philosophy.<ref name=lochtefeld/>
Born in a [[Gaur Brahmin]] family,<ref>{{Cite book |last=Macauliffe |first=Max Arthur |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5B0JEN2ct94C&dq=gaur+brahman&pg=PA100 |title=The Sikh Religion: Its Gurus, Sacred Writings and Authors |date=2013-03-28 |publisher=Cambridge University Press |isbn=978-1-108-05548-2 |language=en}}</ref> Ramananda for the most part of his life lived in the holy city of [[Varanasi]].<ref name=ronald/><ref name=lorenzen>[[David Lorenzen]], Who Invented Hinduism: Essays on Religion in History, {{ISBN|978-8190227261}}, pages 104-106</ref> His date of birth is December 30 but death is uncertain, but historical evidence suggests he was one of the earliest [[sant (religion)|saint]]s and a pioneering figure of the [[Bhakti movement]] as it rapidly grew in [[North India]], sometime between the 14th and mid-15th century during its [[Islamic rule in India|Islamic rule]] period.<ref name=schomer/><ref name=william/> Tradition asserts that Ramananda developed his philosophy and devotional themes inspired by the south Indian [[Vedanta]] philosopher [[Ramanuja]], however, evidence also suggests that Ramananda was influenced by [[Nath]]panthi ascetics of the [[Yoga]] school of Hindu philosophy.<ref name=lochtefeld/>


An early social reformer, Saint Ramananda accepted disciples without discriminating anyone by gender, class. Traditional scholarship holds that his disciples included later Bhakti movement ''poet-sants'' such as [[Kabir]], [[Ravidas]], [[Bhagat Pipa]] and others,<ref name="lochtefeld" /><ref name="lorenzen" /> however some postmodern scholars have questioned some of this spiritual lineage while others have supported this lineage with historical evidence.<ref name="McLeod 1987 page 54">Schomer and McLeod (1987), The Sants: Studies in a Devotional Tradition of India, Motilal Banarsidass, {{ISBN|9788120802773}}, page 54</ref><ref name="julia">Julia Leslie (1996), Myth and Mythmaking: Continuous Evolution in Indian Tradition, Routledge, {{ISBN|978-0700703036}}, pages 117-119</ref> His verse is mentioned in the Sikh scripture [[Adi Granth]].<ref name="lochtefeld" /><ref>Winnand Callewaert (2015), The Hagiographies of Anantadas: The Bhakti Poets of North India, Routledge, {{ISBN|978-1138862463}}, pages 405-407</ref>
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]], [[Ravidas]], [[Bhagat Pipa]] and others,<ref name="lochtefeld" /><ref name="lorenzen" /> however, some postmodern scholars have questioned some of this spiritual lineage while others have supported this lineage with historical evidence.<ref name="McLeod 1987 page 54">Schomer and McLeod (1987), The Sants: Studies in a Devotional Tradition of India, Motilal Banarsidass, {{ISBN|9788120802773}}, page 54</ref><ref name="julia">Julia Leslie (1996), Myth and Mythmaking: Continuous Evolution in Indian Tradition, Routledge, {{ISBN|978-0700703036}}, pages 117-119</ref> His verse is mentioned in the Sikh holy scripture [[Guru Granth Sahib]].<ref name="lochtefeld" /><ref>Winnand Callewaert (2015), The Hagiographies of Anantadas: The Bhakti Poets of North India, Routledge, {{ISBN|978-1138862463}}, pages 405-407</ref>


Saint Ramananda was known for composing his works and discussing spiritual themes in vernacular [[Hindi]], stating that this makes knowledge accessible to the masses.<ref name=william>William Pinch (1996), Peasants and Monks in British India, University of California Press, {{ISBN|978-0520200616}},
Ramananda was known for composing his works and discussing spiritual themes in vernacular [[Hindi]], stating that this makes knowledge accessible to the masses.<ref name=william>William Pinch (1996), Peasants and Monks in British India, University of California Press, {{ISBN|978-0520200616}}, pages 53-89</ref>
pages 53-89</ref>


== Biography ==
== Biography ==


Little is known with certainty about the life of Saint Ramananda, including year of birth and death<ref name=lochtefeld/><ref name=mcgregor51>Enzo Turbiani (Editor: RS McGregor, 1992), Devotional Literature in South Asia, Cambridge University Press, {{ISBN|978-0521413114}}, page 51</ref> His biography has been derived from mentions of him in secondary literature and inconsistent Hagiographies.<ref name=schomer/><ref name=william/><ref name=julia/>
Little is known with certainty about the life of Ramananda, including year of birth and death<ref name=lochtefeld/><ref name=mcgregor51>Enzo Turbiani (Editor: RS McGregor, 1992), Devotional Literature in South Asia, Cambridge University Press, {{ISBN|978-0521413114}}, page 51</ref> ''[[Encyclopaedia of Indian Literature|The Encyclopaedia of Indian Literature]]'' give dates of 1366–1467 for his lifespan.''<ref name=":6">{{Cite book |last=Datta |first=Amaresh |title=Encyclopaedia of Indian Literature: A-Devo, Volume 1 |publisher=Sahitya Akademi |year=1987 |isbn=9788126018031 |pages=79 |quote=}}</ref>'' His biography has been derived from mentions of him in secondary literature and inconsistent hagiographies.<ref name=schomer/><ref name=william/><ref name=julia/>


The most accepted version holds that Saint Ramananda was born in a [[Brahmin]] family,<ref>Max Arthur Macauliffe (2013 Reprint), The Sikh Religion: Its Gurus, Sacred Writings and Authors, Volume 6, Cambridge University Press, {{ISBN|978-1108055482}}, pages 100-101</ref> about mid 14th-century, and died about mid 15th-century.<ref>[[Charlotte Vaudeville]] (1974), Kabir, Vol. 1, Oxford University Press, {{ISBN|978-0198265269}}, pages 110-117</ref><ref>Selva Raj and William Harman (2007), Dealing with Deities: The Ritual Vow in South Asia, State University of New York Press, {{ISBN|978-0791467084}}, pages 165-185</ref><ref name=nirmaldass>Nirmal Dass (2000), Songs of the Saints from the Adi Granth, State University of New York Press, {{ISBN|978-0791446843}}, page 160-164</ref> 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).<ref name=":0">{{Cite journal|last=Grierson|first=George A.|date=1920|title=The Home of Saint Ramananda|journal=Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland|issue=4|pages=593|issn=0035-869X|jstor=25209662}}</ref><blockquote>"Not one word is said as to his southern origin, and the fact that he was stated to be a [[Kanyakubja Brahmin]] is decisively against such a theory" –[[George A. Grierson|George A. Greirson]] (1920).<ref name=":0" /></blockquote>According to the medieval era ''Bhaktamala'' text by Nabhadas, Saint Ramananda studied under ''Raghavananda'', a ''guru'' (teacher) in [[Vedanta]]-based Vatakalai (northern, Rama-avatar) school of Vaishnavism.<ref name="karen">Karen Pechelis (2014), The Embodiment of Bhakti, Oxford University Press, {{ISBN|978-0195351903}}, page 36</ref> <blockquote>"It was Saint 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 Saint Ramananda as his disciple."  –[[George A. Grierson|George A. Greirson]] (1920).<ref name=":0" /></blockquote>Other scholars state that Saint Ramananda's education started in [[Adi Shankara]]'s Advaita Vedanta school, before he met ''Raghavananda'' and began his studies in [[Ramanuja]]'s Vishishtadvaita Vedanta school.<ref>Edmour J Babineau (2008), Love of God and Social Duty in the Rāmcaritmānas, Motilal Banarsidass, {{ISBN|978-8120823990}}, pages 65-66</ref>
The most accepted version holds that Ramananda was born in a [[Gaur Brahmin|Brahmin]] family,<ref>{{Cite book |last=Macauliffe |first=Max Arthur |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5B0JEN2ct94C&dq=gaur+brahman&pg=PA100 |title=The Sikh Religion: Its Gurus, Sacred Writings and Authors |date=2013-03-28 |publisher=Cambridge University Press |isbn=978-1-108-05548-2 |language=en |page=100}}</ref>''<ref name=":6" />'' about mid 14th-century, and died about mid 15th-century.<ref>[[Charlotte Vaudeville]] (1974), Kabir, Vol. 1, Oxford University Press, {{ISBN|978-0198265269}}, pages 110-117</ref><ref>Selva Raj and William Harman (2007), Dealing with Deities: The Ritual Vow in South Asia, State University of New York Press, {{ISBN|978-0791467084}}, pages 165-185</ref><ref name=nirmaldass>Nirmal Dass (2000), Songs of the Saints from the Adi Granth, State University of New York Press, {{ISBN|978-0791446843}}, page 160-164</ref>''<ref name=":6" />'' 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).<ref name=":0">{{Cite journal|last=Grierson|first=George A.|date=1920|title=The Home of Saint Ramananda|journal=Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland|issue=4|pages=593|issn=0035-869X|jstor=25209662}}</ref><blockquote>"Not one word is said as to his southern origin, and the fact that he was stated to be a [[Kanyakubja Brahmin]] is decisively against such a theory" –[[George A. Grierson|George A. Greirson]] (1920).<ref name=":0" /></blockquote>According to the medieval era ''Bhaktamala'' text by Nabhadas, Ramananda studied under ''Raghavananda'', a ''guru'' (teacher) in [[Vedanta]]-based Vatakalai (northern, Rama-avatar) school of Vaishnavism.<ref name="karen">Karen Pechelis (2014), The Embodiment of Bhakti, Oxford University Press, {{ISBN|978-0195351903}}, page 36</ref> <blockquote>"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. Grierson|George A. Greirson]] (1920).<ref name=":0" /></blockquote>Other scholars state that Ramananda's education started in [[Adi Shankara]]'s Advaita Vedanta school, before he met ''Raghavananda'' and began his studies in [[Ramanuja]]'s Vishishtadvaita Vedanta school.<ref>Edmour J Babineau (2008), Love of God and Social Duty in the Rāmcaritmānas, Motilal Banarsidass, {{ISBN|978-8120823990}}, pages 65-66</ref>


==Literary works==
==Literary works==
Saint 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''.<ref name=mcgregor51/> However, poems found in the original and well-preserved manuscripts of [[Sikhism]] and handwritten ''Nagari-pracarini Sabha'' are considered authentic and highlight the ''Nirguna'' (attributeless god) stream of thought in Saint Ramananda.<ref name=mcgregor51/>
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''.<ref name=mcgregor51/> However, poems found in the original and well-preserved manuscripts of [[Sikhism]] and handwritten ''Nagari-pracarini Sabha'' are considered authentic and highlight the ''Nirguna'' (attributeless god) stream of thought in Ramananda.<ref name=mcgregor51/>
 


== Philosophy ==
== Philosophy ==
Saint Ramananda developed his philosophy and devotional themes inspired by the south Indian [[Vedanta]] philosopher [[Ramanuja]], however evidence also suggests that Saint Ramananda was influenced by [[Nath]]panthi ascetics of the [[Yoga (philosophy)|Yoga]] school of Hindu philosophy.<ref name=lochtefeld/>
Ramananda developed his philosophy and devotional themes inspired by the south Indian [[Vedanta]] philosopher [[Ramanuja]], however, evidence also suggests that Ramananda was influenced by [[Nath]]panthi ascetics of the [[Yoga (philosophy)|Yoga]] school of Hindu philosophy.<ref name=lochtefeld/>


Antonio Rigopoulos states Saint Ramananda's teachings were "an attempt towards a synthesis between [[Advaita]] Vedanta and Vaishnava bhakti".<ref name=antonio264>Antonio Rigopoulos (1993), The Life And Teachings Of Sai Baba Of Shirdi, State University of New York Press, {{ISBN|978-0791412671}}, page 264</ref> He adds that the same link can be found in the 15th-century text of ''Adhyatma Ramayana'', but there is no historical proof that Saint Ramananda's teachings inspired that text.<ref name=antonio264/>
Antonio Rigopoulos states Ramananda's teachings were "an attempt towards a synthesis between [[Advaita]] Vedanta and Vaishnava bhakti".<ref name=antonio264>Antonio Rigopoulos (1993), The Life And Teachings Of Sai Baba Of Shirdi, State University of New York Press, {{ISBN|978-0791412671}}, page 264</ref> 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.<ref name=antonio264/>


Shastri has proposed the theory that Saint 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 Saint Ramananda's disciples co-developed ''saguna'' and ''nirguna'' as the two parallel currents in the [[Bhakti movement]].<ref name=edmour67>Edmour J Babineau (2008), Love of God and Social Duty in the Rāmcaritmānas, Motilal Banarsidass, {{ISBN|978-8120823990}}, pages 66-67</ref> However, this theory lacks historical evidence and has not gained wide acceptance by scholars.<ref name=edmour67/>
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]].<ref name=edmour67>Edmour J Babineau (2008), Love of God and Social Duty in the Rāmcaritmānas, Motilal Banarsidass, {{ISBN|978-8120823990}}, pages 66-67</ref> However, this theory lacks historical evidence and has not gained wide acceptance by scholars.<ref name=edmour67/>


The Saint Ramananda literature that is considered authentic, states Enzo Turbiani, suggest a milestone development in metaphysical principles of the Bhakti movement.<ref name=enzo52>Enzo Turbiani (Editor: RS McGregor, 1992), Devotional Literature in South Asia, Cambridge University Press, {{ISBN|978-0521413114}}, pages 52-54</ref> Saint 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]] (supreme being).<ref name=enzo52/> Saint 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.<ref name=enzo52/>
The Ramananda literature that is considered authentic, states Enzo Turbiani, suggest a milestone development in metaphysical principles of the Bhakti movement.<ref name=enzo52>Enzo Turbiani (Editor: RS McGregor, 1992), Devotional Literature in South Asia, Cambridge University Press, {{ISBN|978-0521413114}}, pages 52-54</ref> 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]] (supreme being).<ref name=enzo52/> 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.<ref name=enzo52/>


== Legacy ==
== Legacy ==
Saint Ramananda is often honored as the founder of ''Sant-parampara'' (literally, the tradition of bhakti [[sant (religion)|sant]]s) in north India.<ref>Antonio Rigopoulos (1993), The Life And Teachings Of Sai Baba Of Shirdi, State University of New York Press, {{ISBN|978-0791412671}}, page 37</ref> 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.<ref>Edmour J Babineau (2008), Love of God and Social Duty in the Rāmcaritmānas, Motilal Banarsidass, {{ISBN|978-8120823990}}, pages 65-68</ref>
Ramananda is often honored as the founder of ''Sant-parampara'' (literally, the tradition of bhakti [[sant (religion)|sant]]s) in north India.<ref>Antonio Rigopoulos (1993), The Life And Teachings Of Sai Baba Of Shirdi, State University of New York Press, {{ISBN|978-0791412671}}, page 37</ref> 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.<ref>Edmour J Babineau (2008), Love of God and Social Duty in the Rāmcaritmānas, Motilal Banarsidass, {{ISBN|978-8120823990}}, pages 65-68</ref>
 
=== Twelve disciples of Jagadguru Saint Ramanandacharya ===


Twelve influential disciples of Saint Ramananda included 10 men and 2 women poet-sants. According to [[Bhaktamal]], these were:<ref>Rekha Pande (2014), Divine Sounds from the Heart—Singing Unfettered in their Own Voices, Cambridge Scholars, {{ISBN|978-1443825252}}, page 77</ref>
=== Fourteen disciples of Ramananda ===
Fourteen influential disciples of Ramananda included 12 men and 2 women poet-sants. According to [[Bhaktamal]], these were:<ref>Rekha Pande (2014), Divine Sounds from the Heart—Singing Unfettered in their Own Voices, Cambridge Scholars, {{ISBN|978-1443825252}}, page 77</ref>


Men scholars:
Men scholars:
# Anantananda
# Anantananda
# Sursurananda
# Sursurananda
# [[Sukhanand]]
# Sukhanand
# Naraharidāsa
# Naraharidāsa
# Bhavanand
# Bhavanand
# Vitthalpant Kulkarni
# [[Bhagat Pipa]]
# [[Bhagat Pipa]]
# [[Kabir]]
# [[Kabir Das| Kabir]]
# Sen  
# [[Ravidas]]
# [[Bhagat Sain|Sen]]
# [[Bhagat Dhanna|Dhanna]]
# [[Bhagat Dhanna|Dhanna]]
# [[Ravidas]]
# [[Bhagat Sadhana|Sadhana]]
 


Women scholars:
Women scholars:
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=== Largest ascetic community in India: Ramanandi Sampraday ===
=== Largest ascetic community in India: Ramanandi Sampraday ===
Saint Ramananda is the founder of the eponymous Ramanandi Sampraday (Shri Ramavat or Shri Sampraday). This is the largest [[sannyasa|ascetic]] community in India, and their members are known as ''Ramanandis'', ''Vairagis'' or ''Bairagis''.<ref name=larsonvair>Gerald James Larson (1995), India's Agony Over Religion, State University of New York Press, {{ISBN|978-0791424124}}, page 116</ref><ref>Ramdas Lamb (2008), Theory and Practice of Yoga (Editor: Knut A Jacobsen), Motilal Banarsidass, {{ISBN|978-8120832329}}, pages 317-330</ref> They are known for their self-imposed highly disciplined, austere, structured and simple lifestyle.<ref name=selva/> Richard Burghart acknowledges that Saint 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 Saint Ramananda's death.<ref>Richard Burghart (1978), [https://www.jstor.org/stable/481036 The Founding of the Ramanandi Sect], Ethnohistory, Vol. 25, No. 2, pages 121-139</ref>
Ramananda is the founder of the eponymous Ramanandi Sampraday (Shri Ramavat or Shri Sampraday or Vairagi Sampradaya). This is the largest [[sannyasa|ascetic]] community in India, and their members are known as ''Ramanandis'', ''Vairagis'' or ''Bairagis''.<ref name=larsonvair>Gerald James Larson (1995), India's Agony Over Religion, State University of New York Press, {{ISBN|978-0791424124}}, page 116</ref><ref>Ramdas Lamb (2008), Theory and Practice of Yoga (Editor: Knut A Jacobsen), Motilal Banarsidass, {{ISBN|978-8120832329}}, pages 317-330</ref> They are known for their self-imposed highly disciplined, austere, structured and simple lifestyle.<ref name=selva/> 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.<ref>Richard Burghart (1978), [https://www.jstor.org/stable/481036 The Founding of the Ramanandi Sect], Ethnohistory, Vol. 25, No. 2, pages 121-139</ref>


===Social reforms===
===Social reforms===
Saint 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.<ref name=larsonvair/>
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.<ref name=larsonvair/>
 
{{Quote
|Don't ask a [[sadhu]] his caste, ask him about knowledge instead.
|Saint Ramananda, 14th century|<ref>Antoinette Elizabeth DeNapoli (2014), Real Sadhus Sing to God, Oxford University Press, {{ISBN|978-0199940035}}, page 124</ref>}}


=== Swami Ramanand poem ===
=== Swami Ramanand poem ===
 
[[File:Detail of Bhagat Ramananda from a mural at Gurdwara Baba Atal in Amritsar.jpg|thumb|Detail of Bhagat Ramananda from a mural at Gurdwara Baba Atal in Amritsar, circa 19th century]]
One poem of Swami Ramanand poem, originally written in Hindi, is a response to an invitation to go to a temple,<ref name=maxqna/> and the answer states there is no need to visit a temple because God is within a person, all pervasive in everything and everyone.<ref name=nirmaldass/>
One poem of Ramananda, originally written in Hindi, is a response to an invitation to go to a temple,<ref name=maxqna/> and the answer states there is no need to visit a temple because God is within a person, all pervasive in everything and everyone.<ref name=nirmaldass/>


{{Quote
{{Quote
Line 107: Line 102:
The word of the Guru ends millions of [[karma]].
The word of the Guru ends millions of [[karma]].
</poem>
</poem>
|Saint Ramananda in Raag Basant|[[Adi Granth]] 1995<ref name=nirmaldass/><ref name=maxqna>Max Arthur Macauliffe (2013 Reprint), The Sikh Religion: Its Gurus, Sacred Writings and Authors, Volume 6, Cambridge University Press, {{ISBN|978-1108055482}}, pages 105-106</ref>}}
|Ramananda in Raag Basant|[[Adi Granth]] 1995<ref name=nirmaldass/><ref name=maxqna>Max Arthur Macauliffe (2013 Reprint), The Sikh Religion: Its Gurus, Sacred Writings and Authors, Volume 6, Cambridge University Press, {{ISBN|978-1108055482}}, pages 105-106</ref>}}


==See also==
==See also==
*[[Bhakti movement]]
*[[Bhakti movement]]
*[[Sant Mat]]
*[[Ramanandi Sampradaya]]  
*[[Nabha Dass|Goswami Nabha Das]]
*[[Bhaktamal|Bhaktamala]]
*[[Galtaji|Galtaji dham peeth]]
*[[Thakurdwara Bhagwan Narainji]]
 


== References ==
{{reflist}}


==Further reading==
==Further reading==
Line 123: Line 121:


==External links==
==External links==
* [http://www.kamat.com/indica/faiths/bhakti/ramanand.htm Saint Saint Ramananda] Jyotsna Kamat (2008)
* [http://www.kamat.com/indica/faiths/bhakti/ramanand.htm Saint Ramananda] Jyotsna Kamat (2008)
* [https://www.jstor.org/stable/23340362 Kanakadasa: The Golden Servant], Basavaraj Naikar (2007), Indian Literature, Vol. 51, No. 5, pages 88–100
* [https://www.jstor.org/stable/23340362 Kanakadasa: The Golden Servant], Basavaraj Naikar (2007), Indian Literature, Vol. 51, No. 5, pages 88–100


{{Hindudharma}}
{{Hindudharma}}
{{Sikhism}}
{{Writers of Guru Granth Sahib}}
{{Writers of Guru Granth Sahib}}
== References ==
{{reflist}}


[[Category:Indian Hindu saints]]
[[Category:Indian Hindu saints]]
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[[Category:Anti-caste activists]]
[[Category:Anti-caste activists]]
[[Category:Indian reformers]]
[[Category:Indian reformers]]
[[Category:Bhakti movement]]

Latest revision as of 23:39, 12 August 2023


Ramananda
Stamp of India - 2002 - Colnect 158243 - Swami Ramanand.jpeg
Personal
BornDecember 30, ~1300-1380 CE[1][2]l
Prayagraj, present day Uttar Pradesh, India
Dieduncertain date, ~1400-1475 CE[2]
Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh
ReligionHinduism
SectSri Vaishnavism (deity Rama), Hinduism
Known forFounder of Bairagi Ramanandi Sampradaya,
Guru of Major Poet-saints,
a Pioneer of Bhakti movement in north India, Social Reformer.
Religious career
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Ramananda (IAST: Rāmānanda) or Swami Ramanand was a 14th-century Vaishnava devotional poet saint, who lived in the Gangetic basin of northern India.[3] The Hindu tradition recognizes him as the founder[2] of the Ramanandi Sampradaya, the largest monastic Hindu renunciant community in modern times.[4][5]

Born in a Gaur Brahmin family,[6] Ramananda for the most part of his life lived in the holy city of Varanasi.[1][7] His date of birth is December 30 but death is uncertain, but historical evidence suggests he was one of the earliest saints and a pioneering figure of the Bhakti movement as it rapidly grew in North India, sometime between the 14th and mid-15th century during its Islamic rule period.[2][3] Tradition asserts that Ramananda developed his philosophy and devotional themes inspired by the south Indian Vedanta philosopher Ramanuja, however, evidence also suggests that Ramananda was influenced by Nathpanthi ascetics of the Yoga school of Hindu philosophy.[5]

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, Ravidas, Bhagat Pipa and others,[5][7] however, some postmodern scholars have questioned some of this spiritual lineage while others have supported this lineage with historical evidence.[8][9] His verse is mentioned in the Sikh holy scripture Guru Granth Sahib.[5][10]

Ramananda was known for composing his works and discussing spiritual themes in vernacular Hindi, stating that this makes knowledge accessible to the masses.[3]

Biography[edit]

Little is known with certainty about the life of Ramananda, including year of birth and death[5][11] The Encyclopaedia of Indian Literature give dates of 1366–1467 for his lifespan.[12] His biography has been derived from mentions of him in secondary literature and inconsistent hagiographies.[2][3][9]

The most accepted version holds that Ramananda was born in a Brahmin family,[13][12] about mid 14th-century, and died about mid 15th-century.[14][15][16][12] 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).[17]

"Not one word is said as to his southern origin, and the fact that he was stated to be a Kanyakubja Brahmin is decisively against such a theory" –George A. Greirson (1920).[17]

According to the medieval era Bhaktamala text by Nabhadas, Ramananda studied under Raghavananda, a guru (teacher) in Vedanta-based Vatakalai (northern, Rama-avatar) school of Vaishnavism.[18]

"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).[17]

Other scholars state that Ramananda's education started in Adi Shankara's Advaita Vedanta school, before he met Raghavananda and began his studies in Ramanuja's Vishishtadvaita Vedanta school.[19]

Literary works[edit]

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.[11] However, poems found in the original and well-preserved manuscripts of Sikhism and handwritten Nagari-pracarini Sabha are considered authentic and highlight the Nirguna (attributeless god) stream of thought in Ramananda.[11]

Philosophy[edit]

Ramananda developed his philosophy and devotional themes inspired by the south Indian Vedanta philosopher Ramanuja, however, evidence also suggests that Ramananda was influenced by Nathpanthi ascetics of the Yoga school of Hindu philosophy.[5]

Antonio Rigopoulos states Ramananda's teachings were "an attempt towards a synthesis between Advaita Vedanta and Vaishnava bhakti".[20] 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.[20]

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.[21] However, this theory lacks historical evidence and has not gained wide acceptance by scholars.[21]

The Ramananda literature that is considered authentic, states Enzo Turbiani, suggest a milestone development in metaphysical principles of the Bhakti movement.[22] 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 (supreme being).[22] 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.[22]

Legacy[edit]

Ramananda is often honored as the founder of Sant-parampara (literally, the tradition of bhakti sants) in north India.[23] 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.[24]

Fourteen disciples of Ramananda[edit]

Fourteen influential disciples of Ramananda included 12 men and 2 women poet-sants. According to Bhaktamal, these were:[25]

Men scholars:

  1. Anantananda
  2. Sursurananda
  3. Sukhanand
  4. Naraharidāsa
  5. Bhavanand
  6. Vitthalpant Kulkarni
  7. Bhagat Pipa
  8. Kabir
  9. Ravidas
  10. Sen
  11. Dhanna
  12. Sadhana


Women scholars:

  1. Sursuri
  2. Padyawati

Postmodern scholars have questioned some of the above guru-disciple lineage while others have supported this lineage with historical evidence.[8][9]

Largest ascetic community in India: Ramanandi Sampraday[edit]

Ramananda is the founder of the eponymous Ramanandi Sampraday (Shri Ramavat or Shri Sampraday or Vairagi Sampradaya). This is the largest ascetic community in India, and their members are known as Ramanandis, Vairagis or Bairagis.[26][27] They are known for their self-imposed highly disciplined, austere, structured and simple lifestyle.[4] 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.[28]

Social reforms[edit]

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.[26]

Swami Ramanand poem[edit]

Detail of Bhagat Ramananda from a mural at Gurdwara Baba Atal in Amritsar, circa 19th century

One poem of Ramananda, originally written in Hindi, is a response to an invitation to go to a temple,[29] and the answer states there is no need to visit a temple because God is within a person, all pervasive in everything and everyone.[16]

Where should I go?
I am happy at home.
My heart will not go with me,
My mind has become crippled.

One day, a desire welled up in my mind,
I ground up sandalwood, along with several fragrant oils.
I went to the temple, to worship Him there,
Then my Guru showed me Brahman [Ultimate Reality, God], within my heart.

Wherever I go, I find only water and stones,
But Brahman is in everything.
I have searched through all the Vedas and the Puranas,
You go there, only if Brahman were not here.

I am a sacrifice to You, O True Guru.
You have dispelled all my confusion and doubt.
Ramanand's Lord is the all-pervading Brahman,
The word of the Guru ends millions of karma.

— Ramananda in Raag Basant, Adi Granth 1995[16][29]

See also[edit]


Further reading[edit]

  • 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[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Ronald McGregor (1984), Hindi literature from its beginnings to the nineteenth century, Otto Harrassowitz Verlag, ISBN 978-3447024136, pages 42-44
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 Schomer and McLeod (1987), The Sants: Studies in a Devotional Tradition of India, Motilal Banarsidass, ISBN 9788120802773, pages 4-6
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 William Pinch (1996), Peasants and Monks in British India, University of California Press, ISBN 978-0520200616, pages 53-89
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Selva Raj and William Harman (2007), Dealing with Deities: The Ritual Vow in South Asia, State University of New York Press, ISBN 978-0791467084, pages 165-166
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 James G Lochtefeld (2002), The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Hinduism: N-Z, Rosen Publishing, ISBN 978-0823931804, pages 553-554
  6. ↑ Macauliffe, Max Arthur (28 March 2013). The Sikh Religion: Its Gurus, Sacred Writings and Authors. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-1-108-05548-2.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 David Lorenzen, Who Invented Hinduism: Essays on Religion in History, ISBN 978-8190227261, pages 104-106
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 Schomer and McLeod (1987), The Sants: Studies in a Devotional Tradition of India, Motilal Banarsidass, ISBN 9788120802773, page 54
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 Julia Leslie (1996), Myth and Mythmaking: Continuous Evolution in Indian Tradition, Routledge, ISBN 978-0700703036, pages 117-119
  10. ↑ Winnand Callewaert (2015), The Hagiographies of Anantadas: The Bhakti Poets of North India, Routledge, ISBN 978-1138862463, pages 405-407
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 Enzo Turbiani (Editor: RS McGregor, 1992), Devotional Literature in South Asia, Cambridge University Press, ISBN 978-0521413114, page 51
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 Datta, Amaresh (1987). Encyclopaedia of Indian Literature: A-Devo, Volume 1. Sahitya Akademi. p. 79. ISBN 9788126018031.
  13. ↑ Macauliffe, Max Arthur (28 March 2013). The Sikh Religion: Its Gurus, Sacred Writings and Authors. Cambridge University Press. p. 100. ISBN 978-1-108-05548-2.
  14. ↑ Charlotte Vaudeville (1974), Kabir, Vol. 1, Oxford University Press, ISBN 978-0198265269, pages 110-117
  15. ↑ Selva Raj and William Harman (2007), Dealing with Deities: The Ritual Vow in South Asia, State University of New York Press, ISBN 978-0791467084, pages 165-185
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 16.2 Nirmal Dass (2000), Songs of the Saints from the Adi Granth, State University of New York Press, ISBN 978-0791446843, page 160-164
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 17.2 Grierson, George A. (1920). "The Home of Saint Ramananda". Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland (4): 593. ISSN 0035-869X. JSTOR 25209662.
  18. ↑ Karen Pechelis (2014), The Embodiment of Bhakti, Oxford University Press, ISBN 978-0195351903, page 36
  19. ↑ Edmour J Babineau (2008), Love of God and Social Duty in the Rāmcaritmānas, Motilal Banarsidass, ISBN 978-8120823990, pages 65-66
  20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 Antonio Rigopoulos (1993), The Life And Teachings Of Sai Baba Of Shirdi, State University of New York Press, ISBN 978-0791412671, page 264
  21. ↑ 21.0 21.1 Edmour J Babineau (2008), Love of God and Social Duty in the Rāmcaritmānas, Motilal Banarsidass, ISBN 978-8120823990, pages 66-67
  22. ↑ 22.0 22.1 22.2 Enzo Turbiani (Editor: RS McGregor, 1992), Devotional Literature in South Asia, Cambridge University Press, ISBN 978-0521413114, pages 52-54
  23. ↑ Antonio Rigopoulos (1993), The Life And Teachings Of Sai Baba Of Shirdi, State University of New York Press, ISBN 978-0791412671, page 37
  24. ↑ Edmour J Babineau (2008), Love of God and Social Duty in the Rāmcaritmānas, Motilal Banarsidass, ISBN 978-8120823990, pages 65-68
  25. ↑ Rekha Pande (2014), Divine Sounds from the Heart—Singing Unfettered in their Own Voices, Cambridge Scholars, ISBN 978-1443825252, page 77
  26. ↑ 26.0 26.1 Gerald James Larson (1995), India's Agony Over Religion, State University of New York Press, ISBN 978-0791424124, page 116
  27. ↑ Ramdas Lamb (2008), Theory and Practice of Yoga (Editor: Knut A Jacobsen), Motilal Banarsidass, ISBN 978-8120832329, pages 317-330
  28. ↑ Richard Burghart (1978), The Founding of the Ramanandi Sect, Ethnohistory, Vol. 25, No. 2, pages 121-139
  29. ↑ 29.0 29.1 Max Arthur Macauliffe (2013 Reprint), The Sikh Religion: Its Gurus, Sacred Writings and Authors, Volume 6, Cambridge University Press, ISBN 978-1108055482, pages 105-106
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