Despite countering and removing Maratha influence from Punjab in the later part of the 18th century, the Sikh nation, and it’s principle ethos, had an extensive impact on the father of the Maratha polity Shiva Ji Maratha. Shivji’s spiritual teacher Samarth Ramdas had the occasion to receive the divine glimpse of Guru Hargobind Sahib Ji, and hear the latter’s exegesis on spirituality-cum-temporality. At present this event has been confined to the realms of ignorance, and as such has been extensively hidden from the masses in order to subdue the philosophical uniqueness of Sikhi. The truth however cannot be buried for long, and the event lives on in the hearts of the brave souls capable of imparting it and it’s morals to the world at large.
Samarth Ramdas was born in 1608 A.D. in Maharasthra. A product of a Brahmin family, he was originally named Narayana and was deprived of his father’s strong influence at the tender age of seven. In the traditional formalities of the time, as per his status, he was tutored in Sanskrit and left home to reside in the reclusive headquarters at Nasik for 12 years. A stay during which he prolonged his obeisance to the demi-God, Rama. After the conclusion of his twelfth year, he undertook an extensive pilgrimage to various sacred Hindu sites and garnered the different perspectives on the sub-continental theology widespread at the time. He finally returned home to his indigenous Maharashtra in 1644 A.D. and established the ‘Ramdasi’ sect. Named for it’s devotion to Lord Rama as per traditional Hindu precepts. It was here that he developed a the forebear of Hindu extremism, the ‘Maharasthra Dharam’ which placed a heavy emphasis on the aggressive purporting and defense of Hinduism. Whether this concept ever purported to and supported liberalism and universality, along with strains of diversity is not known.
Samarth Ramdas, as per other spiritual figures of his day, had heard of the famed mystical Guru Nanak, and also the latter’s subsequent successors. It was in this vein, whilst travelling in 1630 A.D. that he came in contact with Guru Hargobind Sahib Ji. The Guru at the time had commenced his journey to Nanakmata, and at the particular period had just returned from a hunting expedition. This was a stunning blow to Samarth Ramdas who had extremely acknowledged Guru Nanak Dev’s emphasis on peace, whilst discarding the Guru’s multi-fabricated ethos aside. He questioned Guru Hargobind as to why he was adorned in the fashion of an emperor, and took to the monarchy’s bloody practice of bearing arms and undertaking hunting. The Guru replied back with a bold answer, “internally one is a hermit and externally a prince. Arms are to defend the poor and destroy the oppressor. Guru Nanak renounced the illusion, not the world itself.” Despite being a complex answer, in the layman’s perspective, it nonetheless satisfied an advanced individual such as Samarth Ramdas. The two then parted ways. On a closer analysation of his extreme philosophy one can easily identify strains of Guru Hargobind Sahib Ji’s discourse to him. Ultimately Shivaji adopted him as his Guru, or spiritual guide and Samarth imparted his philosophy to him. It has however become a matter of debate in scholarly circles however as to whether Shivaji formulated his own firebrand ideology before accepting Samarth or afterwards.
The aforementioned meeting is recorded in a manuscript entitled ‘Ramdasswami’s Bakhar.’ Written in 1793 A.D. by a follower of the ‘Maharasthra Dharam’, Hanuman swami.
Sikh Unity ਸਿੱਖ ਏਕਤਾ 