Rama Tirtha
| Swami Rama Tirtha | |
|---|---|
 Swami Ram Tirtha (in sitting posture) |
|
| Born | October 22, 1873 Village Muraliwala, Gujranwala District, Punjab British India |
| Died | October 27, 1906 (aged 33) Tehri United Province British India |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Known for | Preacher of Vedanta |
Swami Rama Tirtha (Hindi: स्वामी रामतीर्थ October 22, 1873 – 27 October 1906[1]), also known as Swami Ram, was an Indian teacher of the Hindu philosophy of Vedanta. He was among the first notable teachers of Hinduism to lecture in the United States, traveling there in 1902. He was preceded by Swami Vivekananda in 1893, and followed by Paramahansa Yogananda in 1920.[2][3] During his American tours Swami Rama Tirtha spoke frequently on the concept of 'practical Vedanta'[4] and on education of Indian youth.[5] He proposed bringing young Indians to American universities, and helped establish several scholarships for Indian students.[6]
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[edit] Biography
Rama Tirtha was born to Pandit Hiranand Goswami on the day of Deepawali vikram samvat 1930 (22 October 1873) in the village Muraliwala of Gujranwala District, in Punjab (now in Pakistan).[7] When he was a few days old his mother died, and he was raised by his elder brother Gossain Gurudas. After receiving his Masters degree in Mathematics from Government College of Lahore, he became a Professor of Mathematics at Forman Christian College in Lahore. A chance meeting with Swami Vivekananda in 1897 in Lahore, inspired his later decision to take up the life of a sannyasi.[8]
In the late 19th century, he became well known in Punjab for his speeches to Krishna and later through lectures and essays on Advaita Vedanta. He eventually entered the monastic Swami Order in 1899 on the day of Deepawali,[9] leaving his personal life as a Professor as well as his wife, and children. Maharaja Kirtishah Bahadur of Tehri sponsored a trip to Swami Rama Tirtha for Japan to teach Hinduism. From Japan, he traveled in 1902 to the United States of America, where he spent two years lecturing on the essence of Hinduism and other religions, and a philosophy he called "practical Vedanta."[4]
He frequently spoke about the inequities of the caste system in India, and the importance of education for women and the poor, stating that, "Neglecting the education of women and children and the labouring classes is like cutting down the branches that are supporting us, nay, it is like striking a death-blow to the roots of the tree of nationality."[8] Arguing that India needed educated young people—and not missionaries—he began an organization to aid Indian students in American universities.[5] To solve the problem of poverty in India, he suggested bringing young Indians to the U.S. for higher education, and helped to establish a number of scholarships for Indian students during his tour of America.[10]
Upon his return to India in 1904, he was received with great acclaim. Large audience thronged to his lectures. In 1906, weary of the adoration, he completely withdrew from public life, and moved to the foothills of the Himalaya. There he prepared to write a book giving a systematic presentation on practical Vedanta, which was never finished. He died on the day of Deepawali, vikram samvat 1963, accordingly the date was 27 October 1906. Actually speaking, he did not die but took a jala-samaadhi (en.water-drowning) in the sacred river Ganges at Tehri. Not some, but most of the people believe that he gave up his body to the mother river Ganges.[11] A rare co-incidence was that he was born on Deepawali, took Sannyasa on Deepawali, and left the world on Deepawali. A rare photo of Swami Rama Tirtha just before his departure is given here on the left hand side. It was published in an Indian Hindi magazine 'Prabha' between 1920-30.
[edit] Literal appreciation
Indian Revolutionary Pandit Ram Prasad Bismil had depicted the character of Swami Rama Tirtha in a beautiful poem titled Yuva Sannyasi. This poem was published in his book Man Ki Lahar in the year 1920.[12] Some of the heart touching lines are reproduced hereunder:
"वृद्ध पिता-माता की ममता,बिन ब्याही कन्या का भार;शिक्षाहीन सुतोंकी ममता,पतिव्रता पत्नी का प्यार.
सन्मित्रों की प्रीति और,कालेज वालों का निर्मल प्रेम;त्याग सभी अनुराग किया,उसने विराग में योगक्षेम.
प्राणनाथ बालक-सुत-दुहिता,यूँ कहती प्यारी छोड़ी;हाय! वत्स वृद्धा के धन,यूँ रोती महतारी छोड़ी.
चिर-सहचरी रियाजी छोड़ी,रम्यतटी रावी छोड़ी.शिखा-सूत्र के साथ हाय!उन बोली पंजाबी छोड़ी."
#युवा-सन्यासी (मन की लहर से)
"Left old parents and, unmarried daughter left alone; Left sons uneducated, and spouce left alone.
Left lovable alma-mater, and left family away; Left all sobbing behind him, and went so far away.
Left charming better-half he, left river pious Ravi;
Left curled beautyful hair, and language Punjabi."
#Young Monk (English Version of the above poem by Krant M. L. Verma)
[edit] Legacy
Two of his closest disciples- S. Puran Singh and Narayana Swami, wrote the biographies of Rama Tirtha. Puran Singh's The Story of Swami Rama: The Poet Monk of the Punjab[13] appeared in 1924 and was published in English as well as in Hindi. Narayana Swami's untitled account was published in 1935 as a part of Rama Tirtha's collected works.[14] His sister's son H. W. L. Poonja, was a disciple of Ramana Maharishi, and later became a noted Advaita teacher on his own. He was known as Papaji amongst his disciples, and was based in Lucknow.
Paramahansa Yogananda was a great admirer of Rama Tirth, translating many of Rama Tirtha's poems from Bengali into English and putting some of them to music.[15] One of Rama Tirtha's poems, titled "Marching Light", appeared in Yogananda's book of Hindu Chants, Cosmic Chants as "Swami Rama Tirtha's Song".[16]
'Swami Rama Tirtha Mission Ashram' is located at Kotal Gaon Rajpura, near Dehra Dun in Uttarakhand, India where his teachings are practised regularly.
One of three campus of Hemvati Nandan Bahuguna Garhwal Central University situated at Badshahi Thaul, New Tehri by the name of Swamiji as the Swami Rama Tirtha Parisar(SRTC). Hemant Goswami, the great grandson of Swami Rama Tirtha is a social activist based in Chandigarh.
[edit] Notes
- ^ Dr.'Krant'M.L.Verma Swadhinta Sangram Ke Krantikari Sahitya Ka Itihas (Vol-2) page 421
- ^ Brooks, p. 72.
- ^ Frawley, p. 3.
- ^ a b Rinehart, p. 1.
- ^ a b Bromley, p. 82.
- ^ Singh, appendix, article from Minneapolis Tribune: Would Save Countrymen: Swami Ram Plans the Redemption of the Ignorant Masses in India—American Education: He Would Have Them Come Here, as Did the Young Japanese.
- ^ Dr.'Krant'M.L.Verma Swadhinta Sangram Ke Krantikari Sahitya Ka Itihas (Vol-2) page 418
- ^ a b Khular.
- ^ Dr.'Krant'M.L.Verma Swadhinta Sangram Ke Krantikari Sahitya Ka Itihas (Vol-2) page 419
- ^ Singh, appendix, article from Minneapolis Tribune.
- ^ Dr.'Krant'M.L.Verma Swadhinta Sangram Ke Krantikari Sahitya Ka Itihas (Vol-2) page 421
- ^ Dr.'Krant'M.L.Verma Swadhinata Sangram Ke Krantikari Sahitya Ka Itihas (Vol-2) page 419
- ^ Singh, Puran (1924). The Story of Swami Rama: The Poet Monk of the Punjab. Madras: Ganesh & Co..
- ^ Rinehart, p. 2.
- ^ Satyananda, p. 20.
- ^ Yoganand, p.78
[edit] Further reading
- In Woods of God Realization: The complete works of Swami Rama Tirtha. Rama Tirtha Pratisthan. [1]
- Parables of Rama by Swami Rama Tirtha. Rama Tirtha Pratisthan. [2]
- Practical Vedanta Selected Works of Swami Rama Tirtha: Selected Works of Swami Rama Tirtha. 1978, Himalayan Institute Press. ISBN 0893890383.
- Yoga and the Supreme Bliss : Songs of Enlightenment. Swami Rama Tirtha, 1982, trans. A.Z. Alston. ISBN 0950801909.
- Life, Teachings And Writings Of Swami Rama Tirtha, by Prem Lata. Sumit Publications, ISBN 8170001587.
- Swami Rama Tirtha - A Great Mystic Poet of India. [3]
[edit] References
- Dr.'Krant' M.L.Verma Swadhinta Sangram Ke Krantikari Sahitya Ka Itihas (Set of 3 Volumes), 4760-61, IInd Floor, 23, Ansari Road, Daryaganj, New Delhi-110002, India Praveen Prakashan, 2006, ISBN 8177831224 (Set).
- Bromley, David G; Larry D. Shinn (1989). Krishna Consciousness in the West. Bucknell University Press. ISBN 083875144X.
- Brooks, Douglas Renfrew (2000). Meditation Revolution: A History and Theology of the Siddha Yoga Lineage. India: Motilal Banarsidass Publishing. ISBN 812081648X.
- Frawley, David (2000). Vedantic Meditation: Lighting the Flame of Awareness. North Atlantic Books. ISBN 1556433344.
- Khular, K. K. (November 1999). "Swami Ram Tirath:The Unfettered Thinker". India Government Ministry of External Affairs. http://hinduwisdom.info/articles_hinduism/82.htm. Retrieved 2008-03-05.
- Rinehart, Robin (1999). One Lifetime, Many Lives: The Experience of Modern Hindu Hagiography. United States: Oxford University Press. ISBN 0788505556.
- Satyananda, Swami (2006). "Yogananda Sanga", from A Collection of Biographies of 4 Kriya Yoga Gurus. iUniverse, Inc.. ISBN 978-0595386758.
- Singh, Puran (1924). The Story of Swami Rama: The Poet Monk of the Punjab. Madras: Ganesh & Co..
- Sivananda, Swami (2005). "Swami Rama Tirtha (1873-1906)". Life of Saints. Divine Life Society. http://www.dlshq.org/saints/ramatirtha.htm. Retrieved 2008-07-29.
- Yogananda, Paramahansa (1974). Cosmic Chants. Self-Realization Fellowship Publishers. ISBN 978-0876121313.
