Rambhadracharya facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Rambhadracharya |
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Jagadguru Rambhadracharya delivering a sermon on 25 October 2009 in Moradabad, Uttar Pradesh, India
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| Birth Date | 14 January 1950 Sachipuram earlier known as Shandikhurd, Jaunpur district, Uttar Pradesh, India |
| Birth name | Giridhar Mishra |
| Guru/teacher |
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| Philosophy | Vishishtadvaita Vedanta |
Jagadguru Rambhadracharya (born Giridhar Mishra on January 14, 1950) is a famous Indian spiritual leader and teacher. He is also a brilliant scholar who knows many languages, writes poems and books, and shares stories about Hindu traditions. He lives in Chitrakoot, India. Since 1988, he has held the important title of 'Jagadguru Ramanandacharya'.
Rambhadracharya is the founder and head of Tulsi Peeth. This is a religious and social service center in Chitrakoot. It is named after the great saint Tulsidas. He also started and leads the Jagadguru Rambhadracharya Handicapped University in Chitrakoot. This university is special because it only teaches students with four types of disabilities.
Rambhadracharya has been blind since he was two months old. He did not go to a regular school until he was seventeen. He has never used Braille or other tools to learn or write. Instead, he learns by listening and creates his works by speaking them out loud.
He can speak 22 languages! He is also a very quick poet and writer in languages like Sanskrit, Hindi, and Awadhi. He has written over 240 books and 50 papers. These include epic poems and important commentaries on famous Hindu texts. People see him as one of the top experts on Tulsidas in India. He also tells stories from the Ramayana and the Bhagavata. His storytelling events are shown on TV channels in India and other countries.
Contents
Birth and Early Life
Jagadguru Rambhadracharya was born into a Saryupareen Brahmin family. His parents were Pandit Shri Rajdev Mishra and Shrimati Shachidevi Mishra. He was born in Shandikhurd village, in the Jaunpur district of Uttar Pradesh, India. The date was January 14, 1950, which was also the day of Makara Sankranti.
His great-aunt named him Giridhar. She was a follower of Mirabai, a famous saint. Mirabai used the name Giridhar for the god Krishna in her songs.
Losing Eyesight and Childhood Stories
Loss of Eyesight
Giridhar lost his eyesight when he was just two months old. On March 24, 1950, his eyes got infected with trachoma. There was no good medical help in his village. So, he was taken to an old woman who was known for treating eye problems. She put a special paste on his eyes. This caused his eyes to bleed, and he lost his sight.
His family took him to a hospital in Lucknow. His eyes were treated for 21 days, but his sight could not be brought back. They tried many different types of medicine, but nothing worked. Rambhadracharya has been blind ever since. He learns by listening and dictates his writings to others.
Childhood Accident
In June 1953, when Giridhar was a child, he went to a monkey show. The monkey started to touch the children, and they all ran away. Giridhar fell into a small, dry well. He was stuck there for some time until a teenage girl rescued him.
His grandfather told him that he was saved because he had learned a special line from the Ramcharitmanas that very morning. The line was about how those who sing about Rama will never fall into the well of birth and death. Giridhar felt confident that Rama would save him. From that day on, he recites this verse every time he eats or drinks.
First Poem
Giridhar's first teacher was his paternal grandfather. His father worked in Bombay. In the afternoons, his grandfather would tell him stories from Hindu epics like the Ramayana and Mahabharata.
When he was only three years old, Giridhar wrote his first poem. It was in the Awadhi language. He recited it to his grandfather. The poem was about Krishna's foster mother, Yashoda, arguing with a milkmaid for hurting Krishna.
Learning Gita and Ramcharitmanas
At age five, Giridhar memorized the entire Bhagavad Gita. This book has about 700 verses. He learned it in just 15 days with help from a neighbor. On Janmashtami in 1955, he recited the whole Bhagavad Gita. Years later, in 2007, he released the first Braille version of this scripture.
When Giridhar 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. On Rama Navami in 1957, he recited the whole epic while fasting. Later, Giridhar went on to memorize many other important Hindu texts and works of literature.
Sacred Thread Ceremony
Giridhar's Upanayana (sacred thread ceremony) happened on June 24, 1968. On this day, he received the Gayatri Mantra. He was also initiated into the mantra of Rama by a spiritual teacher from Ayodhya.
Because he had learned the Bhagavad Gita and Ramcharitmanas so well when he was young, Giridhar started attending storytelling events. The third time he went, he gave a talk on Ramcharitmanas himself. Many famous storytellers praised his presentation.
Family Discrimination
When Giridhar was eleven, his family stopped him from joining a wedding procession. They thought his presence would bring bad luck. This event deeply affected Giridhar. In his autobiography, he writes about how he was once seen as unlucky, but now he is invited to open big events. He believes this change is all due to God's grace.
Formal Education
Schooling Begins
Even though Giridhar had no formal schooling until he was seventeen, he had learned many books by listening. His family wanted him to become a storyteller, but Giridhar wanted to study more. His father looked into schools for blind students in Varanasi. However, Giridhar's mother did not want to send him there, saying blind children were not treated well.
On July 7, 1967, Giridhar joined the Adarsh Gaurishankar Sanskrit College. He studied Sanskrit grammar, Hindi, English, Math, History, and Geography. He calls this day the start of his "Golden Journey." Since he could memorize things by hearing them once, he never used Braille. In just three months, he had mastered a whole Sanskrit grammar book. He was always at the top of his class and passed his higher secondary Sanskrit exam with high marks.
First Sanskrit Poem
At college, Giridhar learned about Sanskrit poetry. The very next day, he wrote his first Sanskrit poem. It was a prayer asking God to protect him from sorrow and the troubles of the world.
University Studies
In 1971, Giridhar went to Sampurnanand Sanskrit University in Varanasi to study Sanskrit grammar. He finished his Bachelor of Arts degree in 1974 at the top of his class. Then, he started his Master of Arts degree there.
While studying for his master's, he went to New Delhi for national competitions. He won five out of eight gold medals in different subjects like grammar and philosophy. Indira Gandhi, who was the Prime Minister then, gave him the medals. She was so impressed that she offered to pay for his eye treatment in the United States. But Giridhar politely refused, saying that only God Rama was worth seeing in this world.
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, which was a very rare achievement.
Doctorate Degrees
After his master's, Giridhar started his PhD in Sanskrit grammar. He finished his PhD on October 14, 1981. His thesis was about grammar in the Adhyatma Ramayana. He wrote this entire thesis in just thirteen days!
The University Grants Commission offered him a job as head of the grammar department. But Giridhar did not accept. He decided to dedicate his life to serving religion, society, and people with disabilities.
On May 9, 1997, Rambhadracharya received another high degree, a DLitt. He earned it for his 2000-page Sanskrit work explaining each rule of Panini's grammar. The President of India, K. R. Narayanan, presented him with this degree.
Later Life and Work
Becoming a Renouncer
In 1976, Giridhar gave a talk on Ramcharitmanas to a spiritual leader named Swami Karpatri. Swami Karpatri advised him not to marry and to become a lifelong celibate. He also told him to join a sect that worships Vishnu or Rama.
So, on November 19, 1983, Giridhar took the vows of a renouncer in the Ramananda Sampradaya. From then on, he was known as Rambhadradas.
Six-Month Fasts
In 1979, Rambhadradas observed a special six-month fast called Payovrata in Chitrakoot. During this fast, he only ate milk and fruits. He did this based on a verse by Tulsidas, which says that chanting Rama's name while on this diet brings good fortune.
He observed his second Payovrata in 1983. This fast has become a regular part of his life. During his sixth Payovrata in 2002, he wrote a Sanskrit epic poem. He continues to observe these fasts, with his ninth one being in 2010–2011.
Tulsi Peeth Foundation
In 1987, Rambhadradas founded a religious and social service organization called Tulsi Peeth (The Seat of Tulsi) in Chitrakoot. This place is special because, according to the Ramayana, Rama spent twelve years of his exile there.
As the founder, he was given the title Śrīcitrakūṭatulasīpīṭhādhīśvara, meaning 'the Lord of the Tulsi Peeth at Chitrakoot'. At Tulsi Peeth, he built a temple dedicated to Rama and Sita, known as Kanch Mandir ("glass temple").
Becoming Jagadguru Ramanandacharya
Rambhadradas was chosen for the important position of Jagadguru Ramanandacharya by a group of scholars in Varanasi on June 24, 1988. On February 3, 1989, at the Kumbh Mela in Allahabad, this appointment was fully supported by other spiritual leaders and saints.
On August 1, 1995, he was officially given the title in Ayodhya. After this, he became known as Jagadguru Ramanandacharya Swami Rambhadracharya.
Role in Ayodhya Case
In July 2003, Rambhadracharya gave his testimony as an expert witness in a major court case about the Ram Janmabhoomi Babri Masjid dispute. This was at the Allahabad High Court.
In his statement, he used ancient Hindu scriptures like the Ramayana to describe Ayodhya as a holy city and the birthplace of Rama. He also quoted verses from Tulsidas's works that he believed were important to the case. He explained the history of the Ramananda sect and Tulsidas's writings. He also described the boundaries of the birthplace as mentioned in ancient texts, which matched the disputed area.
Knowing Many Languages
Rambhadracharya is a scholar of 14 languages and can speak 22 languages in total. These include Sanskrit, Hindi, English, French, and many Indian regional languages. He writes poems and literary works in many of these languages. He also gives his storytelling programs in different languages like Hindi, Bhojpuri, and Gujarati.
Institutes for Disabled People
On August 23, 1996, Rambhadracharya started the Tulsi School for the Blind in Chitrakoot. Then, on September 27, 2001, he founded the Jagadguru Rambhadracharya Handicapped University in Chitrakoot. This is the first university in the world created only for students with disabilities.
The university offers many different degrees, from bachelor's to doctorates. It teaches subjects like Sanskrit, Hindi, Music, Computer Science, and Law. Only students with visual, hearing, mobility, or mental impairments can join. The university is considered one of the top educational institutes for Information Technology in Uttar Pradesh.
Rambhadracharya also started an organization called Jagadguru Rambhadracharya Viklang Seva Sangh. Its goal is to help disabled children get a good education in rural India. He also runs a hospital in Gujarat.
Special Edition of Ramcharitmanas
The Ramcharitmanas was written by Tulsidas many centuries ago. It is a very popular book in northern India. Rambhadracharya created a special edition of the Ramcharitmanas, called the Tulsi Peeth edition. He carefully checked older manuscripts to make sure the text was accurate.
In 2009, there was a small disagreement about this edition. But the issue was resolved after Rambhadracharya expressed his regret for any trouble caused.
Security Concerns
In November 2007, Rambhadracharya received a threatening letter. Police increased his security and investigated the letter. In November 2014, he received another threat related to his university's work.
Participation in Yatra
On August 25, 2013, Rambhadracharya planned to join a religious journey called the 84-kosi yatra in Ayodhya. The government had banned this journey for safety reasons. Rambhadracharya was placed under house arrest.
However, a lawyer filed a petition, and a court ordered his release. After his release, Rambhadracharya said that the government had created misunderstandings about the journey. Two days later, the Uttar Pradesh government gave him special security because of the threats he had reported.
Works
Rambhadracharya has written over 250 books and 50 papers. Many audio and video recordings of his works have also been released.
Poetry and Plays
He has written many poems and plays in Sanskrit, Hindi, and Awadhi. 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 a major award for this in 2004.
- (2004) Bhṛṅgadūtam – A Sanskrit poem where a bee acts as a messenger.
- (2008) Śrīsītārāmakelikaumudī – A Hindi poem about Sita and Rama.
- (2010) Aṣṭāvakra – A Hindi epic poem.
- (2011) Gītarāmāyaṇam – A Sanskrit lyrical epic poem.
Prose Works
Rambhadracharya has written Sanskrit commentaries on important Hindu scriptures like the Brahma Sutra, Bhagavad Gita, and Upanishads. These commentaries were released in 1998 by Atal Bihari Vajpayee, who was Prime Minister then. He brought back the tradition of writing Sanskrit commentaries on these texts after nearly 500 years.
He has also written many other prose works, including:
- (1983) Mahavīrī – A Hindi commentary on the Hanuman Chalisa.
- (2005) Bhāvārthabodhinī – A Hindi commentary on the Ramcharitmanas.
- (2009) Satya Rāmapremī Śrīdaśaratha – A Hindi discussion on the character of Dasharatha.
Audio and Video Recordings
Rambhadracharya has also released audio and video recordings. These include:
- (2001) Bhajana Sarayū and Bhajana Yamunā – Audio CDs with devotional songs in Hindi, composed and sung by him.
- (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 being a very skilled and expressive poet. He can even compose poetry on the spot when talking to other Sanskrit scholars.
His epic poem Śrībhārgavarāghavīyam is noted for its poetic excellence and variety of meters. Another work, Bhṛṅgadūtam, has many new and unique uses of language. His play Śrīrāghavābhyudayam includes songs, and Gītarāmāyaṇam is an epic poem written in a song-like style.
Rambhadracharya's work Kubjāpatram is special because it brings back the "letter-poem" style in Sanskrit after 2000 years. It is also the first Sanskrit work where the main character has a disability.
A key feature of his Sanskrit poetry is the use of rhyme. His works also show a strong love for his homeland and patriotism, especially in his poem about Chandrashekhar Azad.
Awards and Recognition
Recognition in India
Rambhadracharya is very popular in Chitrakoot and across India. Many important leaders and scholars have praised him. Former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee called him an "immensely learned person." Nanaji Deshmukh called him "an astonishing gem of the country."
He is considered one of the greatest experts on Tulsidas and Ramcharitmanas in India. Swami Ramdev believes Rambhadracharya is one of the most learned people in the world today.
Rambhadracharya is also involved in social work. He was nominated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the Clean India Campaign in 2014. He also adopted five villages in Chitrakoot to help build toilets in all homes.
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, Singapore, and the United States to give talks on Hindu religion and peace. He is also listed in the International Who's Who of Intellectuals.
Address at 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 talked about the meaning of Bharata (India) and Hindu. He also spoke 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 with a prayer for peace.
Awards and Honours
In 2015, Rambhadracharya received the Padma Vibhushan. This is India's second-highest civilian honor. He has been honored by many leaders and state governments. In 2021, he received the Sahitya Akademi Fellowship. In February 2024, he was named a recipient of the 58th Jnanpith Award, one of India's highest literary honors.
Images for kids
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A young Giridhar Mishra in an undated photo
