Bhakti Yoga and Sri Ramadasu

LIBERATION AND BHAKTI YOGA:

We all seek happiness. It is in our nature (Rajas; Raga meaning attachment) to develop
attachment to material things and other living beings1. The happiness associated is limited and
attachment is the source of sorrow and worries. We can achieve everlasting happiness by
focusing on the imperishable.

Liberation, our ultimate goal, frees us from the bondages of karma and puts an end to the cycle
of birth and death. A liberated soul becomes one with the divine and enjoys everlasting bliss.
Bhakti yoga is one of the three paths to attain liberation mentioned in Bhagavad-Gita. It simply
means - Yoga (union with God) through Bhakti (love of God). With Bhakti- sincere and
unconditional love/ worship towards the divine, one’s soul gets liberated.

In order to develop Bhakti, we need to 1) understand the glory of the God and 2) remember God
at all times1.

THE GLORY OF GOD:

God is the universal father, friend and teacher. Nothing is of higher level than him in any aspect.
We are all insignificant when compared to him and we must surrender ourselves completely to
him; as he is our only savior. He takes forms of Avataras to restore Dharma whenever necessary.

God is the source, creator and destroyer of everything. The entire universe is manifest (lower
aspect/ Nature) and un-manifest (higher aspect/ consciousness) forms of God. Just like a string
that runs through beads in a necklace, the un-manifest form runs through the manifest forms1.
Like an ocean containing waves; God contains the Nature in himself1. An ocean bed (higher
aspect of God) is stable and undisturbed while supporting the mobile and ever-changing ocean
surface (lower aspect of God) 1.

REMEMBRANCE OF GOD AT ALL TIMES:

Our Samskaras, uncontrolled senses and mind run after Maya distract us from the ultimate truth
and cause sorrow. Most of us are Sadhakas (with Apara Bhakti). A Siddhi (with Para Bhakti) is
at ease in maintaining focus on God. Reading scriptures for example that describe the glory of
God helps us purify our mind and develop devotion.

Bhakti can be of various expressions (bhava) - Shanta, Dasya, Vatsalya, Sakhya, and
Madhurya2. There are nine practices to inculcate the above bhava- Shravana, Kirtana, Smarana,
Padasevana, Archana, Vandana, Dasya, Sakhya, Atmanivedana3
One can pray to any deity of one’s choice. In any way, God accepts the worship and one reaps
what one prays for according to the Laws of Nature.

IMPORTANCE OF JNANI:

Devotees could be praying for: a relief from troubles (Arta); rewards in this life/ hereafter
(Artharthi); the ultimate truth (Jignasi); for liberation (Jnani).Of these, Jnani (a realized soul) is
in a higher spiritual level. God treats a Jnani as one with himself. Despite knowing oneness with
the Supreme, a Jnani continues to be a sincere devotee to seek liberation.
BRIEF LIFE HISTORY OF RAMADASU:

Bhakta Ramadasu or Bhadrachala Ramadasu or Kancharla Gopanna was born in Nelakondapalli,

Telangana in the 17th century. As a child, he inculcated interest in spirituality from his Brahmin
family. He was appointed as a Tahsildar (collector) with the help of his uncles4.

According to Ramayana, Rama, Seetha and Lakshmana have stayed in Bhadrachalam, a small
and beautiful village on the bank of river Godavari, for some time during Vanavas. Gopanna,
who had an intense love for Rama (Bhakti; hence the name Bhakta Ramadasu), was saddened by
the condition of the neglected Rama temple in Bhadrachalam that was a part of his region. He
decided to reconstruct the temple by collecting funds from the citizens; the amount which
became insufficient as the temple was nearing completion. Ramadasu apparently added some
money from the collected land revenues without informing the Nawab, due to which, he was
fired and put in prison4.

After twelve years of imprisonment, Lord Rama and Lakshmana appeared in disguise to the
Nawab and paid back the borrowed money (to this day the related coins can be seen to portray
Hanuman and Sri Rama Pattabhishekam). The Nawab soon freed Ramadasu from prison and let
him continue his duties towards Rama5.

At some point after his release from prison, Ramadasu had the Divine Darshan, and was offered
to go to Godhead. He humbly rejected it to remain here, in this world, and continue his Rama
Bhakti4. Ramadasu lived for 68 years5 and some believe that, as the only soul that rejected
liberation, his soul resides in Bhadrachalam even to this day4.

RAMDASU’S BHAKTI:

During the twelve years in prison and after his release, Ramadasu wrote several poems and
Kirtanas that are dedicated to Rama.

In one kiratana, Ramadasu describes Rama as- the one who has lotus like appearance, the best
and the most praised ruler of the Suryavanshis, the one who is full of mercy, the savior of people
who take refuge in him, the one who establishes Dharma in the form of avataras, and the
fulfiller of the wishes of those who are his intense devotees. He says that Lord Rama is the sun
and the moon, the rivers and the oceans, and all living beings: the entire creation and the
essential forces of creation. Even inside our heart there is a soul, which is Rama indeed6.

Praising the lord, Ramadasu declares that, there is not a thing that is superior to meditating on
Rama and singing in his praise. He says that the Lord’s name- Rama, is sweeter than any fruit or
flower; the sweetness of his name is beyond the description of our words6.
During the 12 years in prison, Ramadasu couldn’t understand why he was receiving severe
punishment and what sin he had committed; he had no interest in material things- all he was
trying to do was construct a temple; and why the divine grace on him was not even the size of a
grain of sand. In his Kirtanas, he repeatedly pleaded Rama, the kind savior of all, to forgive him
and rescue him with his grace.

Ramadasu wrote 108 poems called Dasharathi Shathakam. In one, he asks us all to discover the
weapons within ourselves by putting our five senses under control6. In another one, he explains a
path to achieve the absolute. Just like a lotus leaf that is untouched by the mud that it is
surrounded by, one can remain untouched by the disturbances around him/her, and by focusing
on the Lord and one can eventually achieve the absolute6.

It is evident that, Ramadasu had a very intense love towards Rama to a point that he preferred
Rama Bhakti over liberation. Ramadasu truly understood the glory of God and constantly
focused his mind on the divine. Ramadasu was a realized soul and a Siddhi. His Bhakti bhava
comes under Dasya-one who is a faithful servant to the divine2. Through his poems and
Kirtanas, he indicated Atmanivedana- total surrender to the Supreme Being3.

2 https://www.artofliving.org/in-en/bhakti-yoga-what-bhakti-yoga

3 https://www.yogabasics.com/learn/bhakti-yoga-the-yoga-of-devotion/

1 Bhagavad-Gita with sadhana vakhya , Sri S.Subba Rao, M.A

4 wiki ramadasu

5 http://www.bhadrachalarama.org/bhaktaramadasu.html

6 http://sahitya-akademi.gov.in/publications/pdf/ramadasu_english.pdf