Swami Ramdas

Born in 1884 at Kerala to Sri Balakrishna Rao and Lalita Bai, Swami Ramdas was not precisely like other Swamis who at early age spontaneously embrace the worldly pursuit and devout to God. His father noticing this strange outlook had initiated him to recite the Ram mantra and assured that he would find peace and harmony in due time. The Ram mantra itself completely took hold of the young mind and he renounced his samsaric life to search for a deeper meaning of God as a wandering and mendicant monk.

As he wandered in quest of God, he came to Srirangam. He then offered his white cloths to the sacred Chuvery River and donned the sannyasin robes and from then it was a new spiritual birth for him. The mantra that his father gave him to recite was always on his lip and soul. It was the only thing that was always with him as he wandered into the world. He assumed his name as Ramdas from Vittal Rao, which he believed was prompted by Lord Ram himself.

He traveled far and wide with the name of the lord in his lip. As he journeyed, he came to Tiruvannamalai and met Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi and offered prayers for his grace. When he met Sri Ramana who had spend at a cave in Arunachala, a holy mountain for 22 years, he felt a thrilling experience like a leaf quivering in the breeze. Taking his blessing he took solace on the holy mountain constantly chanting his mantra about a month. When he came out of solace all he could see and feel was only his beloved Ram.