Information on Swami Ramananda

[Guest guest]

Sri Kannan,

 

I am certain that there are a number of web sites that can provide you with more

details. But, having had some interest in Rama Bhakti and his movement during

my college days, I would be happy to share what I know:

 

According to what one Western author could piece together, the elusive Swamy

Ramananda was born and raised in what is now the State of Karnataka, presumably

in one of the villages surrounding Mysore. He had his formal training under one

Sri Raghavachariar Swamy, and served the deity of the mutham of his guru (which

is not known), Sri Rama Pariwaram.

 

Under the directions of his guru, Ramanand went on a pilgrimage to bring the

teachings of Bhagavad Sri Ramanuja to the North, particularly in the areas that

were troubled by the onslaught of the Mughal Empire. It was here that on one or

more occassions, situations forced the ardent bhagavatha to partake food offered

by Muslims and Harijans. When confessing to this to his teachers upon his

return to the South, Ramanand was asked by his guru to leave the mutham, return

North and establishment a practice of his own, based on the teachings of

Bhagavad Sri Ramanuja. He did so, but out of respect for the rahasyatrayam,

focused his teachings not directly upon Sriman Narayana, but rather the worship

of Sri Rama as the Supreme and initiated his followers into Rama Nama. Note,

however, that Rama in Sri Ramanand's teachings was not superior to Sri Hari, but

rather the Form the Lord Himself Chose so that He could relate to His devotees

on a human level.

 

If Ramanand wrote any works of his own, they are now lost. There is mention of

a work in Hindi that parallels Sri Vachana Bhushanam, however, but I am not sure

whether a print version of this is available anywhere.

 

As you rightly mentioned, since Ramanand's path was only inspired by Sri

Ramanuja, it was free and open spiritual philosophy that was available to people

of all backgrounds. Indeed, the first well-known sishya among his many

disciples was Kabir, a Muslim weaver. Since the path was so open, however, it

left lots of room for personal interpretation, allowing for advaitic - as can be

seen in Tulsidas's Ramacharitmanas - and even iconoclastic elements (Kabir and

Ravidas) to work their way in now and then.

 

I do recall reading something about how 12 of Ramanand's disciples were compared

to the 12 Alwars; but the only two that I am sure about at this time is

Meerabai, who is referred to as the Andal of the North, and Kabir, who is

likened to Nammalwar.

 

I hope this helps as a start.

 

adiyen

Mohan

 

 

Kannan wrote:

 

> Srimate Ramanujaya Namaha

> Azwar Thiruvadigale Sharanam

>

> Dear Sri Vaishnavas,

>

> While reading a book on Emperumanar written by

Swami Tapasyananda

> (RamKrishna Math), Adiyen came across a reference to

a SriVaishnava by

> the name Ramananda (1300 - 1411). The book mentions

Swami Ramananda as

> having being initiated into SriVaishnavism and then

going on to settle

> in Benares, where he propagated our religion and was

the spiritual

> simulator of twelve great leaders of Vaishnavism in

the north (which

> included great Bhaktas like Sant Kabirdas, Swami

Ravidas and others).

>

> Adiyen would like to know more about this great

SriVaishnava. Can any

> member of this esteemed group help me in this.

>

> Dasan,

> Kannan

>