Spiritual Development
For the next twelve years, Ramdas devoted himself to studying Hindu religious books, to meditation, and to prayers in a place named Takli, near Nashik on the banks of the Nandini River. At the of age 12 as soon as he ran away from his home he took the name "Ramdas", meaning "servant of Lord Ram," an incarnation of God.
Ramdas practised physical yoga exercises as well as meditation. The Surya Namaskara or Sun Salutation was his favourite as it involves every part of the body. It is said that he would do 1,200 Sun Salutations every day, believing that no spirituality could be attained if the physical body was not strong.
In addition to his veneration of Ram, Ramdas worshipped Ram's divinely strong servant Lord Hanuman. He established 11 temples of Hanuman in Maharashtra and promoted physical exercise to develop a healthy society.
Read more about this topic: Samarth Ramdas
Famous quotes containing the words spiritual and/or development:
“As we refine, our checks become finer. If we rise to spiritual culture, the antagonism takes a spiritual form.”
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (18031882)
“There are two things which cannot be attacked in front: ignorance and narrow-mindedness. They can only be shaken by the simple development of the contrary qualities. They will not bear discussion.”
—John Emerich Edward Dalberg, 1st Baron Acton (18341902)