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'{{EngvarB|date=September 2014}} {{Use dmy dates|date=September 2014}} {{Infobox Hindu leader | name = Ramananda | image = | caption = | image_size = | birth_date = uncertain, ~1300-1380 CE<ref name=ronald>Ronald McGregor (1984), Hindi literature from its beginnings to the nineteenth century, Otto Harrassowitz Verlag, ISBN 978-3447024136, pages 42-44</ref><ref name=schomer/> | birth_place = [[Allahabad]], present day [[Uttar Pradesh, India]] | death_date = uncertain, ~1400-1475 CE<ref name=schomer>Schomer and McLeod (1987), The Sants: Studies in a Devotional Tradition of India, Motilal Banarsidass, ISBN 9788120802773, pages 4-6</ref> | death_place = [[Varanasi]], [[Uttar Pradesh]] | sect = [[Vaishnavism]] (deity Rama), [[Hinduism]] | known_for = [[Ramanandi Sampradaya]],<br>Guru of major poet-sants,<br>a pioneer of [[Bhakti movement]] in north India, Social reformer | disciple = 2 poetess-sants and 10 poet-sants including [[Kabir]], [[Ravidas]], [[Bhagat Pipa]], [[Sukhanand]] }} {{Vaishnavism}} '''Ramananda''' ([[IAST]]: Rāmānanda) was a 14th-century [[Vaishnava]] devotional poet [[Sant (religion)|sant]], in the [[Ganga]] river region of [[Northern India]].<ref name=william/> The Hindu tradition recognizes him as the founder<ref name=schomer/> of the [[Ramanandi Sampradaya]], the largest [[Sannyasa|monastic]] Hindu renunciant community in modern times.<ref name=selva>Selva Raj and William Harman (2007), Dealing with Deities: The Ritual Vow in South Asia, State University of New York Press, ISBN 978-0791467084, pages 165-166</ref><ref name=lochtefeld>James G Lochtefeld (2002), The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Hinduism: N-Z, Rosen Publishing, ISBN 978-0823931804, pages 553-554</ref> Born in a [[Brahmin]] family, Ramananda for the most part of his life lived in the holy city of [[Varanasi]].<ref name=ronald/><ref name=lorenzen>[[David Lorenzen]], Who Invented Hinduism: Essays on Religion in History, ISBN 978-8190227261, pages 104-106</ref> His year of birth or death are uncertain, but historical evidence suggests he was one of the earliest [[Sant (religion)|sant]]s and a pioneering figure of the [[Bhakti movement]] as it rapidly grew in north India, sometime between the 14th and mid 15th century during its Islamic rule period.<ref name=schomer/><ref name=william/> Tradition asserts that Ramananda developed his philosophy and devotional themes inspired by the south Indian [[Vedanta]] philosopher [[Ramanuja]], however evidence also suggests that Ramananda was influenced by ''Nathpanthi'' ascetics of the [[Yoga]] school of Hindu philosophy.<ref name=lochtefeld/> An early social reformer, Ramananda accepted disciples without discriminating anyone by gender, class, caste or religion (he accepted Muslims).<ref name=larsonvair>Gerald James Larson (1995), India's Agony Over Religion, State University of New York Press, ISBN 978-0791424124, page 116</ref> Traditional scholarship holds that his disciples included later Bhakti movement ''poet-sants'' such as [[Kabir]], [[Ravidas]], [[Bhagat Pipa]] and others,<ref name=lochtefeld/><ref name=lorenzen/> however some postmodern scholars have questioned some of this spiritual lineage while others have supported this lineage with historical evidence.<ref name="McLeod 1987 page 54">Schomer and McLeod (1987), The Sants: Studies in a Devotional Tradition of India, Motilal Banarsidass, ISBN 9788120802773, page 54</ref><ref name=julia>Julia Leslie (1996), Myth and Mythmaking: Continuous Evolution in Indian Tradition, Routledge, ISBN 978-0700703036, pages 117-119</ref> His ideas also influenced the founding of Sikhism in 15th century, and his verse and he are mentioned in the Sikh scripture [[Adi Granth]].<ref name=lochtefeld/><ref>Winnand Callewaert (2015), The Hagiographies of Anantadas: The Bhakti Poets of North India, Routledge, ISBN 978-1138862463, pages 405-407</ref> Ramananda was known for composing his works and discussing spiritual themes in vernacular [[Hindi]], stating that this makes knowledge accessible to the masses.<ref name=william>William Pinch (1996), Peasants and Monks in British India, University of California Press, ISBN 978-0520200616, pages 53-89</ref> == Biography == Little is known with certainty about the life of Ramananda, including year of birth and death, as well as the place of birth.<ref name=lochtefeld/><ref name=mcgregor51>Enzo Turbiani (Editor: RS McGregor, 1992), Devotional Literature in South Asia, Cambridge University Press, ISBN 978-0521413114, page 51</ref> His biography has been derived from mentions of him in secondary literature and inconsistent hagiographies.<ref name=schomer/><ref name=william/><ref name=julia/> The most accepted version holds that Ramananda was born in a [[Brahmin]] family,<ref>Max Arthur Macauliffe (2013 Reprint), The Sikh Religion: Its Gurus, Sacred Writings and Authors, Volume 6, Cambridge University Press, ISBN 978-1108055482, pages 100-101</ref> about mid 14th-century, and died about mid 15th-century.<ref>Charlotte Vaudeville (1974), Kabir, Vol. 1, Oxford University Press, ISBN 978-0198265269, pages 110-117</ref><ref>Selva Raj and William Harman (2007), Dealing with Deities: The Ritual Vow in South Asia, State University of New York Press, ISBN 978-0791467084, pages 165-185</ref><ref name=nirmaldass>Nirmal Dass (2000), Songs of the Saints from the Adi Granth, State University of New York Press, ISBN 978-0791446843, page 160-164</ref> There are two competing theories for his place of birth.<ref name=mcgregor51/> One version, based on ''[[Agastya Samhita|Agastya-samhita]]'',<ref>Antonio Rigopoulos (1993), The Life And Teachings Of Sai Baba Of Shirdi, State University of New York Press, ISBN 978-0791412671, page 34</ref> states that he was born in ''Prayag'', a place now known as [[Allahabad]], to Sushila and Punyasadan. Another version states that he was born in south India, and settled in the holy city of [[Varanasi]] to launch the [[Bhakti movement]] already established in southern regions of India.<ref name=lochtefeld/><ref name=larsonvair/><ref name=karen>Karen Pechelis (2014), The Embodiment of Bhakti, Oxford University Press, ISBN 978-0195351903, page 36</ref> According to the medieval era ''Bhaktamala'' text by Nabhadas, Ramananda studied under ''Raghavananda'', a ''guru'' (teacher) in [[Vedanta]]-based Vatakalai (northern, Rama-avatar) school of Vaishnavism.<ref name=karen/> Other scholars state that Ramananda's education started in [[Adi Shankara]]'s Advaita Vedanta school, before he met ''Raghavananda'' and began his studies in [[Ramanuja]]'s Vishishtadvaita Vedanta school.<ref>Edmour J Babineau (2008), Love of God and Social Duty in the Rāmcaritmānas, Motilal Banarsidass, ISBN 978-8120823990, pages 65-66</ref> ==Literary works== Ramananda is credited as the author of many devotional poems, but like most Bhakti movement poets, whether he actually was the author of these poems is unclear. Two treatises in Hindi, ''Gyan-lila'' and ''Yog-cintamani'' are also attributed to Ramanand, as are the Sanskrit works ''Vaisnava Mata Bhajabhaskara'' and ''Ramarcana paddhati''.<ref name=mcgregor51/> However, poems found in the original and well-preserved manuscripts of [[Sikhism]] and handwritten ''Nagari-pracarini Sabha'' are considered authentic and highlight the ''Nirguna'' (attributeless god) stream of thought in Ramananda.<ref name=mcgregor51/> == Philosophy == Ramananda developed his philosophy and devotional themes inspired by the south Indian [[Vedanta]] philosopher [[Ramanuja]], however evidence also suggests that Ramananda was influenced by [[Nath]]panthi ascetics of the [[Yoga (philosophy)|Yoga]] school of Hindu philosophy.<ref name=lochtefeld/> Antonio Rigopoulos states Ramananda's teachings were "an attempt towards a synthesis between [[Advaita]] Vedanta and Vaishnava bhakti".<ref name=antonio264>Antonio Rigopoulos (1993), The Life And Teachings Of Sai Baba Of Shirdi, State University of New York Press, ISBN 978-0791412671, page 264</ref> He adds that the same link can be found in the 15th-century text of ''Adhyatma Ramayana'', but there is no historical proof that Ramananda's teachings inspired that text.<ref name=antonio264/> Shastri has proposed the theory that Ramananda's complex theological schooling in two distinct Hindu philosophies explains why he accepted both ''Saguna Brahman'' and ''Nirguna Brahman'', or god with attributes and god without attributes respectively. Shastri suggests his theory offers an explanation why Ramananda's disciples co-developed ''saguna'' and ''nirguna'' as the two parallel currents in the [[Bhakti movement]].<ref name=edmour67>Edmour J Babineau (2008), Love of God and Social Duty in the Rāmcaritmānas, Motilal Banarsidass, ISBN 978-8120823990, pages 66-67</ref> However, this theory lacks historical evidence and has not gained wide acceptance by scholars.<ref name=edmour67/> The Ramananda literature that is considered authentic, states Enzo Turbiani, suggest a milestone development in metaphysical principles of the Bhakti movement.<ref name=enzo52>Enzo Turbiani (Editor: RS McGregor, 1992), Devotional Literature in South Asia, Cambridge University Press, ISBN 978-0521413114, pages 52-54</ref> Ramananda asserts that austerity and penances through asceticism are meaningless, if an individual does not realize ''Hari'' (Vishnu) as their inner self. He criticizes fasting and rituals, stating that the mechanics are not important, and that these are useless if the individual does not take the opportunity to reflect and introspect on the nature of [[Brahman]] (supreme being).<ref name=enzo52/> Ramananda states that rote reading of a sacred text is of no benefit, if the person fails to understand what the text is trying to communicate.<ref name=enzo52/> == Legacy == Ramananda is often honored as the founder of ''Sant-parampara'' (literally, the tradition of bhakti [[Sant (religion)|sant]]s) in north India.<ref>Antonio Rigopoulos (1993), The Life And Teachings Of Sai Baba Of Shirdi, State University of New York Press, ISBN 978-0791412671, page 37</ref> His efforts, in a time when Ganges river plains of north India was under Islamic rule, helped revive and refocus Hindus to a personalized, direct devotional form of Rama worship, his liberalism and focus on the devotee's commitment rather than birth or gender set a precedent that attracted people to spirituality from various walks of life, and his use of vernacular language instead of Sanskrit for spiritual ideas made sharing and reflection easier for the masses.<ref>Edmour J Babineau (2008), Love of God and Social Duty in the Rāmcaritmānas, Motilal Banarsidass, ISBN 978-8120823990, pages 65-68</ref> === Twelve disciples of Jagadguru Ramanandacharya === Twelve influential disciples of Ramananda included 10 men and 2 women poet-[[Sant (religion)|sant]]s. According to [[Bhaktamal]], these were:<ref>Rekha Pande (2014), Divine Sounds from the Heart—Singing Unfettered in their Own Voices, Cambridge Scholars, ISBN 978-1443825252, page 77</ref> Men scholars: # Anantananda # Sursurananda # [[Sukhanand]] # [[Naraharidāsa]] # Bhavanand # [[Bhagat Pipa]] # [[Kabir]] # Sen # [[Bhagat Dhanna|Dhanna]] # [[Ravidas]] Women scholars: # Sursuri # Padyawati Postmodern scholars have questioned some of the above guru-disciple lineage while others have supported this lineage with historical evidence.<ref name="McLeod 1987 page 54"/><ref name=julia/> === Largest ascetic community in India: Ramanandi Sampraday === Ramananda is the founder of the eponymous Ramanandi Sampraday (Shri Ramavat or Shri Sampraday). This is the largest [[sannyasa|ascetic]] community in India, and their members are known as ''Ramanandis'', ''Vairagis'' or ''Bairagis''.<ref name=larsonvair/><ref>Ramdas Lamb (2008), Theory and Practice of Yoga (Editor: Knut A Jacobsen), Motilal Banarsidass, ISBN 978-8120832329, pages 317-330</ref> They are known for their self-imposed highly disciplined, austere, structured and simple lifestyle.<ref name=selva/> Richard Burghart acknowledges that Ramananda is revered as the founder in the Ramanandi Sampraday's tradition, but adds that historical evidence about its origin is meager and India's largest monastic community may have gathered strength a few centuries after Ramananda's death.<ref>Richard Burghart (1978), [http://www.jstor.org/stable/481036 The Founding of the Ramanandi Sect], Ethnohistory, Vol. 25, No. 2, pages 121-139</ref> ===Social reforms=== Ramananda was an influential social reformer of Northern India. His championed the pursuit of knowledge and direct devotional spirituality, and did not discriminate based on birth family, gender or religion.<ref name=larsonvair/> {{Quote| Don’t ask a [[sadhu]] his caste, ask him about knowledge instead. |Ramananda, 14th century|<ref>Antoinette Elizabeth DeNapoli (2014), Real Sadhus Sing to God, Oxford University Press, ISBN 978-0199940035, page 124</ref>}} === Swami Ramanand poem === One poem of Swami Ramanand poem, originally written in Hindi, is a response to an invitation to go to a temple,<ref name=maxqna/> and the answer states there is no need to visit a temple because God is within a person, all pervasive in everything and everyone.<ref name=nirmaldass/> {{Quote| <poem> Where should I go? I am happy at home. My heart will not go with me, My mind has become crippled. One day, a desire welled up in my mind, I ground up sandalwood, along with several fragrant oils. I went to the temple, to worship Him there, Then my Guru showed me [[Brahman]] [Ultimate Reality, God], within my heart. Wherever I go, I find only water and stones, But Brahman is in everything. I have searched through all the Vedas and the Puranas, You go there, only if Brahman were not here. I am a sacrifice to You, O True Guru. You have dispelled all my confusion and doubt. Ramanand's Lord is the all-pervading Brahman, The word of the Guru ends millions of [[karma]]. </poem> |Ramananda in Raag Basant|[[Adi Granth]] 1995<ref name=nirmaldass/><ref name=maxqna>Max Arthur Macauliffe (2013 Reprint), The Sikh Religion: Its Gurus, Sacred Writings and Authors, Volume 6, Cambridge University Press, ISBN 978-1108055482, pages 105-106</ref>}} ==See also== *[[Bhakti movement]] *[[Sant Mat]] == References == {{reflist|30em}} ==Further reading== * JS Hawley (2015), A Storm of Songs: India and the Idea of the Bhakti Movement, Harvard University Press, Chapter 3 * William Pinch (1996), Peasants and Monks in British India, University of California Press * David Lorenzen (1995), Bhakti Religion in North India: Community Identity and Political Action, State University of New York Press * Richard Burghard (1978), The Founding of the Ramanandi Sect, London: London School of Economics and Political Science ==External links== * [http://www.kamat.com/indica/faiths/bhakti/ramanand.htm Saint Ramananda] Jyotsna Kamat (2008) * [http://www.jstor.org/stable/23340362 Kanakadasa: The Golden Servant], Basavaraj Naikar (2007), Indian Literature, Vol. 51, No. 5, pages 88–100 {{Hindudharma}} {{Writers of Guru Granth Sahib}} [[Category:Indian Hindu religious leaders]] [[Category:Sikh Bhagats]] [[Category:Vaishnava saints]] [[Category:1400 births]] [[Category:1470 deaths]] [[Category:Sant Mat]] [[Category:Medieval Hindu religious leaders]] [[Category:People from Varanasi]]'