Early life

Early life

Ramdas swami was born in a Deshastha Rugvedi Brahmin family to Suryāji (सूर्याजी) and Rānu-Bāi (राणूबाई) Thosar (ठोसर) in Jāmb (जांब) in Jalna District of Maharashtra on Ram Navami, 1530 according to "Shāliwāhan Shak" calendar. His given name was Nārāyan (नारायण). He was devotee of god Ram and took the name "Ramdas" - servant of Ram at the age 24.

Since his childhood, Ramdas had an inclination toward metaphysical contemplation and religiosity. When he was eight, his father died; and at age 12, his mother arranged his marriage to her brother's daughter. However, he wanted to pursue a monastic life, and so just as the wedding ceremony was proceeding, he ran away before the marriage vows were exchanged.

During Hindu marriage ceremony, the last word which seals the marriage is "Saavdhan" meaning, 'be careful', Swami ramdas interpreted that word to mean that he had to be careful and not get entangled in the binds of Maya, Illusion and seek Self realization.

One recorded incident from his childhood is as follows, He was walking in the dark and under a tree bumped into something, after getting a light he saw that it was a local villager who was arbitrarily hanged by the Mughal rulers. This incident fired in him a desire to be Free and in all aspects of the word, freedom from foreign rule and also freedom from Illusion (Maya).