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Samarth Ramdas and Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj

Facts for Prelims (FFP)

Source: IE

 Context: The NCP has demanded an “unconditional apology” from a religious leader (Jaggi Vasudev) for making the claim that Saint Samarth Ramdas was Maratha ruler Chhatrapati Shivaji’s guru.

 

Who was Samarth Ramdas/Sant Ramdas?

  • Samarth Ramdas (1608 – 1681) was a Hindu saint, philosopher, poet, writer and spiritual master.
  • A devotee of Lord Ram and Hanuman, he has influenced Hindu nationalist thinkers across the years like Lokmanya Tilak, KB Hedgewar and VD Savarkar.
  • His Maruti Stotra is still commonly recited by school children as well as wrestlers akharas across Maharashtra.

 

Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj

  • Shivaji Bhonsale I (1630-1680), popularly known as Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, was a Maratha ruler from the Bhonsle clan.
  • From the declining Adilshahi sultanate of Bijapur, Shivaji carved out his own independent kingdom, laying the foundation of the Maratha Empire.
  • At Raigad Fort in 1674, he was formally crowned Chhatrapati (Emperor) of his empire.

 

What do historians say?

  • Shivaji Maharaj and Samarath Ramdas were
  • Shivaji Maharaj gave donations to temples of Samarth Ramdas as well as other people and religions.
  • There is no historical evidence to verify the fact that Samarth Ramdas was the guru of Chhatrapati Shivaji.
  • This may be done for the maintenance of Brahmanical supremacy.