Tapas – sincere and dedicated spiritual practices, carried out with focus over a long period of time- brings about self transformation. Tapas is essential for cleansing the toxins and kinks at the physical, mental and emotional levels. The negative karmas in our system get burnt out during the tapas and make us fit to receive the downpour of divine grace and wisdom which are the results of tapas. It gives clarity of intellect, thought and vision which help us in fulfilling our life goals. Tapas helps us to raise our consciousness and reach the Divinity within us. Tapas helps us to realise God within us. No one is an exception to Tapas. Given below are the forces and situations that set into motion the tapas of the great Swami Ramdas:
Swami Ramdas was born as Narayan, the second son of Sooryaji Pant and his wife Ranoobai in the village of Jamb, Maharashtra. His father worshipped the Sun God. Narayan was born on the day of RamaNavami – the day on which Sri Rama was born. Narayan was very mischievous and active boy. Someone advised marriage for him in order to control his mischievous tendencies. He had reached the marriage age as he was already ten years old. Narayan declared that he would not marry and ran away from that spot. Whenever the topic of his marriage was raised, Narayan would refuse and run away and hide himself. One day he hid himself in the temple of Hanuman. He did not know how long he was hiding there. Love for Lord Hanuman overwhelmed him. He wanted to become like Lord Hanuman. Lord Hanuman was a life long celibate. He was a devout servant of Sri Rama. He was unsurpassed in intellect and wisdom. He was the only one who could leap over the ocean and locate Lanka and Maa Seeta. The very presence of the idol of Lord Hanuman inspired Narayan to become like him and perform great deeds.
From that day Narayan was a changed boy. He became very quiet and sober. All became worried about him. Again everyone suggested a quick marriage for him to change him. His mother became emotional and wept and Narayan agreed to marry for her sake. During the auspicious time of marriage, the priest uttered the ‘Mangalashtakam’ slokas which ended with the words ‘ Sumuhurte Saavadhaana’. Saavadhaana means be careful! Narayan became suddenly alert. He realised he could not waste his life in worldly ties. He quickly and quietly disappeared from the marriage area before anyone could realise it.
From the marriage pandal (tent), Narayan went straight to Panchavati on the banks of the river Godavari in Nasik. It is a sacred place where Sri Rama, Maa Sita and Laxman spent their days during their forest sojourn and sanctified the area. The purpose of his life became clear to Narayan at this sacred spot. He spent the next twelve years of his life at this holy spot. He performed severe tapas. He would wake up two hours before dawn at the Brahma Muhurta and bathe in the river. He would perform his Sandhya Vandana, meditation and mantra japa.
Narayan stood knee deep in water for five to six hours a day from the time of dawn to mid noon. He meditated on God. The fish in the river would bite his legs but he would ignore them and focus his mind on Sri Rama. In the afternoon, he would visit a few homes and beg for food. He would divide the food he collected into three parts. He would feed the cows with one portion, give another to the fish and eat the third portion of food. The rest of the day he would read religious books, hear religious discourses and sing devotional songs. Though he was just thirteen years old, he stuck to this rigorous routine. His intense tapas made his body shine like gold and his mind became razor sharp. His love for his ishta deva – personal God – Sri Rama became intense and his love for his mother and mother land grew more. Narayan felt that he was the servant of Sri Rama. He would serve his mother and mother land the way Sri Rama served His mother and His kingdom. Hence Narayan became Ramdas - servant of Sri Rama. He was a major influence in social, political and religious reforms of his time. The intense tapas and power of Ram Nama transformed him.
