Spiritual Development

Spiritual Development

For the next twelve years, Ramdas devoted himself to study Hindu religious books, meditation, and prayers in a place named Panchavati (पंचवटी) -- near Nashik-- on the banks of Godavari (गोदावरी) river. He would also do lot of exercise to attain physical strength. Surya Namskar was his favourite exercise as it involves every part of the body and leads to overall muscle development. It is said that he would do 1200 Surya Namskar's every day; which is a very difficult task for a common man. He believed that no spiritual level could be attained if the physical body is not strong. He had an idol of his, Lord Hanuman who, in his mind who was almighty and aspired to become like him. He established 12 temples of Lord Hanuman (known as elevenमारुती) to worship the Lord and gain physical strength necessary to build spiritual understanding. The 11 temples are as follows: दास मारुती, चाफळ (राम मंदिरासमोर); वीर मारुती, चाफळ (राम मंदिरामागे); खडीचा मारुती, शिंगणवाडी, चाफळ (डोंगरावर); प्रताप मारुती, माजगांव, चाफळ; उंब्रज मारुती (ता. कराड); शहापूर मारुती (उंब्रज जवळ); मसूर मारुती (ता. कराड); बहे-बोरगांव (क्रुष्णामाई) मारुती (जि. सांगली); शिराळा मारुती (बत्तीस शिराळा, जि. सांगली); मनपाडळे मारुती (जि. कोल्हापूर); पारगांव मारुती (जि. कोल्हापूर) MSRTC conducts a bus trip from Satara to visit all these places.