Rambhadracharya facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Rambhadracharya |
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Rambhadracharya in 2009
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| Birth Date | 14 January 1950 Sachipuram earlier known as Shandikhurd, Jaunpur district, Uttar Pradesh, India |
| Birth name | Giridhar Mishra |
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| Philosophy | Vishishtadvaita Vedanta |
Jagadguru Ramanandacharya Swami Rambhadracharya (born Giridhar Mishra on 14 January 1950) is a respected Hindu spiritual leader from India. He is also a great scholar, poet, and author. He is known for his deep knowledge of Sanskrit and his ability to speak many languages. Since 1988, he has held the important title of Jagadguru Ramanandacharya.
Rambhadracharya started and leads Tulsi Peeth, a religious and social service center in Chitrakoot. He also founded the Jagadguru Rambhadracharya Handicapped University in Chitrakoot. This special university offers courses only for students with disabilities. Rambhadracharya has been blind since he was two months old. He did not have formal schooling until he was seventeen. He has never used Braille or other aids to learn or write his works.
He can speak 22 languages and writes poetry and books in many of them. He has written over 240 books and 50 papers. These include epic poems and commentaries on important Hindu texts. He is considered one of the top experts on the poet Tulsidas in India. He also tells stories from the Ramayana and the Bhagavata. His storytelling events are shown on TV channels. He is also a leader in the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP), a Hindu organization.
Contents
Early Life and Childhood
Rambhadracharya was born as Giridhar Mishra on 14 January 1950. His parents were Rajdev Mishra and Shachidevi Mishra. They lived in Shandikhurd village in the Jaunpur district, Uttar Pradesh, India. His great-aunt named him Giridhar. She was a follower of the saint Mirabai, who used the name Giridhar for the god Krishna.
Losing His Eyesight
Giridhar lost his eyesight when he was just two months old. On 24 March 1950, his eyes got infected. His family tried to get him help from a local woman. She applied a paste to his eyes, but it caused bleeding. His sight could not be saved, even after treatment at a hospital in Lucknow. He has been blind ever since. He learns by listening and creates his works by telling them to others.
A Childhood Accident
In June 1953, when Giridhar was three, he went to a monkey show. The monkey scared the children, and Giridhar fell into a dry well. A teenage girl rescued him. His grandfather told him that his life was saved because he had learned a special verse from the Ramcharitmanas that morning. This verse talks about how those who sing about Rama will not fall into the "well of birth and death." Giridhar believed Rama saved him from the well. Since then, he recites this verse every time he eats or drinks.
His First Poem
Giridhar's first teacher was his paternal grandfather. His grandfather would tell him stories from Hindu epics like the Ramayana and Mahabharata. When he was three, Giridhar wrote his first poem in the Awadhi dialect. It was about Krishna's foster mother, Yashoda, arguing with a milkmaid.
Learning Holy Books by Heart
At age five, Giridhar memorized the entire Bhagavad Gita in just 15 days. It has 700 verses. He recited it all on Janmashtami in 1955. Later, in 2007, he released the first Braille version of the Bhagavad Gita.
When he was seven, he memorized the entire Ramcharitmanas by Tulsidas. This epic has about 10,900 verses. He learned it in 60 days with his grandfather's help. He recited it all on Rama Navami in 1957. Later, he memorized the Vedas, Upanishads, and many other important Sanskrit and Indian literary works.
Sacred Thread Ceremony
Giridhar's Upanayana (sacred thread ceremony) happened on 24 June 1968. On this day, he received the Gayatri Mantra and was initiated into the mantra of Rama. He started giving Katha (storytelling) programs. His storytelling on Ramcharitmanas became very popular.
Family Discrimination
When Giridhar was eleven, his family did not let him join a wedding procession. They thought his presence would bring bad luck. This made a strong impression on him. He later wrote that he was once seen as unlucky, but now he is invited to open big events. He believes this shows God's grace.
Formal Education and Achievements
Even though he was blind and had no formal schooling until 17, Giridhar learned a lot by listening. His family wanted him to be a storyteller, but he wanted to study more. On 7 July 1967, he joined the Adarsh Gaurishankar Sanskrit College. He studied Sanskrit grammar, Hindi, English, Math, History, and Geography. He called this day the start of his "Golden Journey." He learned by listening and never used Braille. In three months, he mastered a Sanskrit grammar book. He was always at the top of his class.
First Sanskrit Poem
At college, Giridhar learned about Sanskrit poetry. The next day, he wrote his first Sanskrit poem. It was a prayer asking God to protect him from sorrow and delusion.
University Studies
In 1971, Giridhar went to Sampurnanand Sanskrit University in Varanasi to study Sanskrit grammar. He was the top student in his Bachelor of Arts exams in 1974. Then he started his Master of Arts degree. While studying, he won five gold medals in national competitions. He won in grammar, philosophy, and Sanskrit word games. Indira Gandhi, who was Prime Minister then, gave him the medals. She offered to send him to the United States for eye treatment, but he politely declined. He said he only wanted to see Rama.
In 1976, Giridhar again topped his Master's exams, winning seven gold medals. He was declared a master of all subjects taught at the university.
Doctorate Degrees
After his master's, Giridhar pursued his PhD in Sanskrit grammar. He finished his PhD in 1981. His thesis was about grammar in the Adhyatma Ramayana. He wrote it in just thirteen days. The university offered him a job as head of the grammar department, but he chose to dedicate his life to religion and helping disabled people.
In 1997, he received another advanced degree, a DLitt, from the same university. This was for his 2000-page Sanskrit work explaining each rule of Panini's grammar. K. R. Narayanan, then President of India, presented him with this degree.
Later Life and Work
Becoming a Renouncer
In 1976, Giridhar met a spiritual leader who advised him to remain unmarried and become a renouncer. On 19 November 1983, he took vows to become a vairagi (renouncer) in the Ramanandi sect. He then became known as Rambhadradas.
Special Fasts
Rambhadradas started observing a special six-month fast called Payovrata in 1979. During this fast, he only eats milk and fruits. He has done this fast nine times, with the latest one being in 2010–2011. During his sixth Payovrata in 2002, he wrote the Sanskrit epic Śrībhārgavarāghavīyam.
Founding Tulsi Peeth
In 1987, Rambhadradas founded Tulsi Peeth in Chitrakoot. This place is important because Rama spent part of his exile there. As the founder, he received the title Śrīcitrakūṭatulasīpīṭhādhīśvara. He also built a temple for Rama and Sita there, known as Kanch Mandir (Glass Temple).
Becoming Jagadguru Ramanandacharya
On 24 June 1988, Rambhadradas was chosen as the Jagadguru Ramanandacharya by scholars in Varanasi. This appointment was supported by many religious leaders. On 1 August 1995, he was officially given the title in Ayodhya. After this, he became known as Jagadguru Ramanandacharya Swami Rambhadracharya.
Role in Ayodhya Case
In 2003, Rambhadracharya gave evidence as an expert in religious matters for the Ayodhya dispute case. He spoke about ancient Hindu scriptures that describe Ayodhya as a holy city and Rama's birthplace. He also mentioned verses from Tulsidas's works that he believed were important to the dispute.
Speaking Many Languages
Rambhadracharya is a scholar of 14 languages and can speak 22 languages. These include Sanskrit, Hindi, English, French, and many Indian regional languages. He writes poems and books in several languages and gives his storytelling programs in Hindi, Bhojpuri, and Gujarati.
Institutes for Disabled People
Rambhadracharya has a strong commitment to helping disabled people. On 23 August 1996, he started the Tulsi School for the Blind in Chitrakoot. On 27 September 2001, he founded the Jagadguru Rambhadracharya Handicapped University. This was the first university in the world created only for students with disabilities. He is the lifelong chancellor of this university.
The university offers many degrees, including in Sanskrit, Hindi, Music, Computer Science, and Law. It accepts students with visual, hearing, mobility, and mental impairments. Rambhadracharya also founded an organization called Jagadguru Rambhadracharya Viklang Seva Sangh. This group works to raise awareness and help disabled children get a good education. He also runs a hospital in Gujarat.
Critical Edition of Ramcharitmanas
Rambhadracharya created a special edition of the Ramcharitmanas, a very popular Hindu epic. This edition, called the Tulsi Peeth edition, was published in 2005. He used older manuscripts to make sure the text was as accurate as possible. There were some differences in spelling and grammar compared to other versions.
Security Concerns
In November 2007, Rambhadracharya received a threat letter. His security was increased, and an investigation was launched. In November 2014, he received another threat.
Participation in Yatra
On 25 August 2013, Rambhadracharya planned to join the 84-kosi yatra, a religious journey, in Ayodhya. The government had banned this journey for safety reasons. He was put under house arrest but was later released by a court order. After this, the Uttar Pradesh government gave him Y-category security due to reported threats.
Literary Works
Rambhadracharya has written over 250 books and 50 papers. He has also released many audio and video recordings.
Poetry and Plays
He has written many poems and plays in Hindi and Sanskrit. Some of his notable works include:
- (1994) Arundhatī – A Hindi epic poem.
- (1997) Aṣṭādhyāyyāḥ Pratisūtraṃ Śābdabodhasamīkṣaṇam – A Sanskrit commentary in verse on the rules of Sanskrit grammar.
- (2002) Śrībhārgavarāghavīyam – A Sanskrit epic poem. He won the 2004 Sahitya Akademi Award for Sanskrit for this work.
- (2004) Bhṛṅgadūtam – A Sanskrit poem in the messenger-poem style.
- (2008) Śrīsītārāmakelikaumudī – A Hindi poem.
- (2009) Śrīsītārāmasuprabhātam – A Sanskrit morning prayer poem.
- (2010) Aṣṭāvakra – A Hindi epic poem.
- (2011) Gītarāmāyaṇam – A Sanskrit lyrical epic poem.
Prose Works
Rambhadracharya has written many prose works, including commentaries on important Hindu scriptures.
Sanskrit Commentaries
He wrote Sanskrit commentaries called Śrīrāghavakṛpābhāṣyam on the Prasthanatrayi scriptures. These include the Brahma Sutra, the Bhagavad Gita, and eleven Upanishads. These commentaries were released in 1998. He also wrote a Sanskrit commentary on the Narada Bhakti Sutra in 1991. He brought back the tradition of writing Sanskrit commentaries on these scriptures after almost 500 years.
Other Prose Works
He has written many other prose works, often based on his discourses. These include:
- (1983) Mahavīrī – A Hindi commentary on the Hanuman Chalisa.
- (1985) Śrīgītātātparya – A Hindi commentary on the Bhagavad Gita.
- (2005) Bhāvārthabodhinī – A Hindi commentary on the Ramcharitmanas.
Audio and Video
Rambhadracharya has also released audio and video recordings of his devotional hymns and discourses. These include:
- (2001) Bhajana Sarayū – An audio CD with Hindi devotional hymns about Rama.
- (2001) Bhajana Yamunā – An audio CD with Hindi devotional hymns about Krishna.
- (2009) Sundara Kāṇḍa – A DVD with a musical performance and commentary on a section of the Ramcharitmanas.
Literary Style
Scholars praise Rambhadracharya's writing style. They say his literature is like many rivers flowing at once. He is known for his excellent poetry and his skill with language. He can even compose poetry on the spot during conversations with other Sanskrit scholars. He uses long, descriptive sentences in his speeches that are full of poetic beauty. Experts compare his command over Sanskrit to ancient poets.
His epic poem Śrībhārgavarāghavīyam is noted for its poetic excellence and variety of meters. His work Bhṛṅgadūtam introduces new ways of using Sanskrit poetry. His play Śrīrāghavābhyudayam includes songs, and Gītarāmāyaṇam is an epic poem written in a song-like style. Kubjāpatram is special because it brings back the "letter-poem" style in Sanskrit after 2000 years, and its main character is disabled.
Rambhadracharya's Sanskrit poetry often uses rhyme. His works also show strong love for his homeland and patriotism, especially in Ājādacandraśekharacaritam, a poem about the freedom fighter Chandrashekhar Azad.
Awards and Recognition
Recognition in India
Rambhadracharya is very popular in Chitrakoot and across India. Many important leaders have praised him. Former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee called him "immensely learned." Dr. Murli Manohar Joshi admired his "intense knowledge." Nanaji Deshmukh called him "an astonishing gem of the country." Swami Ramdev considers him one of the most learned people in the world today.
He is seen as one of the greatest scholars on Tulsidas and the Ramcharitmanas. He is also a member of an important committee of saints in India. In November 2014, Prime Minister Narendra Modi nominated him for the Clean India Campaign. He also adopted five villages in Chitrakoot to help build toilets in all homes. He was a guest at the first International Yoga Day event in New Delhi.
International Recognition
In 1992, Rambhadracharya led the Indian group at the Ninth World Conference on Ramayana in Indonesia. He has traveled to countries like England, Mauritius, Singapore, and the United States to give talks on Hindu religion and peace. He is listed in the International Who's Who of Intellectuals.
Address at Millennium World Peace Summit
Rambhadracharya was one of the spiritual leaders from India at the Millennium World Peace Summit. This event was organized by the United Nations in New York City in August 2000. In his speech, he explained Sanskrit words like Bharata (India) and Hindu. He also talked about different aspects of God. He called for developed and developing nations to work together to end poverty, fight terrorism, and reduce nuclear weapons. He ended his speech by reciting a peace mantra.
Awards and Honours
Rambhadracharya has received many awards and honors. In 2015, he was given the Padma Vibhushan, which is India's second-highest civilian honor. He has been honored by many leaders and politicians, including former Presidents and Prime Ministers. Several state governments in India have also given him awards. In 2021, he received the Sahitya Akademi Fellowship. On 17 February 2024, he was named a recipient of the 58th Jnanpith Award for 2023, one of India's highest literary honors.
See also
In Spanish: Jagadguru Rambhadracharya para niños
- Timeline of Rambhadracharya
- List of Hindu gurus and saints
- List of Sahitya Akademi Award winners for Sanskrit
