DASBODH

Dasbodh is a Granth religious text written by the 16^th Century Maharashtrian Saint Ramdas. Ramdas Swami was the Guru of Chattrapati Shivaji Maharaj the Maratha Emperor who ruled during the 16^th Century. Ramdas Swami ran away from the marriage pandal when he was 11 years old and he became a sanyasin. In his early days he stayed in Nashik where he did tapa. He then roamed the length and breadth of the country. He then settled at Sajjan Gadh, a fortress given to him by Shivaji Maharaj.

He wrote Dasbodh at Shivthar Ghal. Shivthar Gadh is a cave in the Sahyadri hills near the Fort of Raigadh the capital of the Maratha Empire.

Granth Dasbodh comprises of 20 Dashakas or Chapters. Each Dashak has 10 Samas or sections.

Ramdas Swamy whilst writing Dasbodh has taken reference from the Upanishads, Vedas, Geeta and many more Hindu Religious texts. Dasbodh covers extensively a large number of topics ranging from how a householder should behave to various methods of worship. He has discussed about the three gunas, Rajoguna, Tamoguna and Sttvaguna. He has also described the behaviour of foolish men, wise men, etc.

He has enumerated the benefit that mankind will derive by studying this granth and how it will help all sections of the society such as the householder, the sanyasin and the rulers.

One must not only read Dasbodh regularly for spiritual growth, but one must study it regularly to attain perfect mental and physical health.