Jagadguru Rambhadracharya
On January 21, famous Bollywood actress Kangana Ranaut visited the ashram of spiritual guru and guide Sri Guru Rambhadracharya and took part in the yagna organised by him. Ranaut wrote on her Instagram ‘Come my Ram. Today I met the most revered Shri Rambhadracharya, and took his blessings. Participated in the Shastravat Collective Hanuman Ji Yagna organised by him. Everyone is Rammayi in welcoming Shri Ram in Ayodhya Dham. Tomorrow, the king of Ayodhya is coming home after a long exile.’
Here we share some information about Guru Rambhadracharya and his life.
(Image: KanganaRanaut/Instagram)
Deposition on behalf of Ram Lalla
In 2003, Guru Ramabhadracharya served as an expert witness in the Allahabad High Court, defending Lord Ram as he was posed as an infant, or Ram Lalla. The case regarding Ayodhya's disputed site was the one in order. Citing Hindu scriptures and Tulasidasa's works, Guru ji refuted the opposition’s claims, ultimately influencing the 2010 verdict in favour of Lord Ram. The decision was a victory for millions of Hindus, affirming Guru ji’s testimony.
As mentioned on the website, ‘In his affidavit, he cited the ancient Hindu scriptures (Vālmīki’s Rāmāyaṇa, Rāmatāpanīya Upaniṣad, Skanda Purāṇa, Yajurveda, Atharvaveda, et cetera) describing Ayodhyā as a city holy to Hindus and the birthplace of Rāma. He cited verses from two works of Tulasīdāsa – eight verses from the Dohā Śataka which describe the destruction of a temple and construction of mosque at the disputed site in 1528 CE, and one verse from Kavitāvalī which mentions the disputed site.’
(Image: Jagadguru Rambhadracharya/Website)
Early life of Guru Rambhadracharya
Guru Rambhadracharya was born as Giridhar Mishra, in the small village of Shandikhurd, in Uttar Pradesh, India. He is widely respected as a spiritual leader, philosopher and scholar. His spiritual journey commenced in his early years and he showed remarkable talent in both academics and religious studies. With a strong grasp of Sanskrit scriptures, he quickly earned acclaim as a knowledgeable scholar of Vedic literature.
According to his website, ‘He took birth in the wee hours of the Makara Saṅkrānti day of January 14, 1950.’
(Image: Jagadguru Rambhadracharya/Website)
Guru Rambhadracharya’s education
Guru ji’s early education began at home under his grandfather, Pandit Suryabali Mishra. By the age of 5 he had memorised the entire Bhagavad Gita in Sanskrit, and by 8, he mastered Ramacharitamanasa. Later, he extensively learned the Vedas, Upanishads, Bhagavata Purana, and Tulsidasa's works.
Guru ji also received several gold medals and accolades for his education and learning. He is known far and wide as well as respected by many for the feats he achieved and how he did not let blindness hinder him from excelling in ‘vidya’.
(Image: Jagadguru Rambhadracharya/Website)
Guru Rambhadracharya is a PhD and DLitt.
His website also mentions that ‘Working with Paṇḍita Rāmaprasāda Tripāṭhī, he completed his doctoral Vidyāvāridhi degree (PhD) in 1981 from Sampūrṇānanda Saṃskṛta Viśvavidyālaya with the Saṃskṛta dissertation titled Adhyātmarāmāyaṇe Apāṇinīyaprayogānāṃ Vimarśaḥ, a deliberation on non-Paninian usages in the Adhyātma Rāmāyaṇ. Later in 1997 he was awarded the post-doctoral Vācaspati degree (DLitt) by the same university for the Saṃskṛta dissertation Aṣṭādhyāyyāḥ Pratisūtraṃ Śābdabodhasamīkṣaṇam, in which he explained the grammar of Aṣṭādhyāyī in lucid verses.’
(Image: KanganaRanaut/Instagram)
Guru ji’s blindness
It is said that Guru Rambhadracharya lost his eyesight at the tender age of merely two months. He was diagnosed with Trachoma and the unavailability of modern medicine in his village led to the condition worsening. After a point, he lost his full eyesight but that did not stop him from reading some of the most holy texts in Hinduism and also authoring many books. He is a PhD and a DLitt., a feat not everyone can accomplish.
It is also said that although Late PM Shri Indira Gandhi offered to pay for his treatment in the US, Guruji politely declined the same.
(Image: Jagadguru Rambhadracharya/Website)
A school for the differently-abled
Guru Ramabhadracharya, having experienced society's challenges himself, established a unique educational institution. He founded a primary and secondary school for differently-abled children, eventually creating the Jagadguru Rambhadracharya Handicapped University in Chitrakoot in 2002. Serving as the lifelong chancellor, Guru ji oversees the university's daily operations. The institution provides affordable graduate and post-graduate courses in various subjects, supporting visually impaired, hearing impaired and mobility-impaired students as per the Disability Act of the Government of India, 1995.
(Image: Jagadguru Rambhadracharya/Website)
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