Teaching
Swami Ramdas taught constant remembrance of God through repeating the divine name, above all the mantra 'Om Sri Ram Jai Ram Jai Jai Ram', together with surrender to the will of God and seeing God in all beings. Anandashram, which he founded, offers this as the path of Nama, Dhyana and Seva: the divine name, meditation and service. 3, 4, 5, 10
Who it is for
For people drawn to devotion and the repetition of a divine name, and for readers who want a first-hand account of a life given to God; Anandashram is open to people of any faith, creed or caste.
Life and places
- Born Vittal Rao on 10 April 1884 at Hosdurg, Kanhangad, in North Kerala, he trained in textile manufacture in Bombay, worked as a spinning master in a cotton mill and from 1917 was in business in Mangalore. 8
- His father gave him the Ram mantra; in 1922 he left Mangalore to wander through India as a sannyasi, and at Tiruvannamalai he visited Ramana Maharshi. 1, 2, 8
- In 1928 Mother Krishnabai met him and became his foremost disciple; in 1931 they founded Anandashram near Kanhangad. 3, 6
- In 1954 he travelled round the world with Mother Krishnabai and Swami Satchidananda, a journey told in World Is God; he died in 1963, and Mother Krishnabai led the ashram until her death in 1989. 2, 6, 14
Where to start
- Begin with In Quest of God, his own account of his first year as a wandering monk after 1922, free as an e-book from Anandashram. 7, 8, 11
- Thus Speaks Ramdas is a short selection of sayings from his letters, also free as an e-book from Anandashram. 7, 10, 13
- In the Vision of God continues his story up to the founding of Anandashram in 1931. 9, 12
Public context
Works
-
In Quest of God
Book · 1925 · Anandashram
His own account, written in English in the third person as "Ramdas", of his first year as a wandering monk after leaving Mangalore in 1922: his initiation with the Ram mantra, his renunciation and his pilgrimage across India, including his visit to Ramana Maharshi.
-
In the Vision of God
Book · 1935 · Anandashram
The continuation of In Quest of God: his account of his years of wandering after his first year, up to the founding of Anandashram in 1931, with many conversations with people he met.
-
Thus Speaks Ramdas
Book · Anandashram
A short collection of numbered sayings of his, selected from his letters according to the publisher, on the aim of life, aspiration, the divine name, the guru, renunciation, work, service, surrender, grace and love.
-
World Is God
Book · 1955 · Anandashram
His account of his world tour from June 1954 to January 1955 with Mother Krishnabai and Swami Satchidananda.
The short summaries are ours.
In their own words
Short passages in the words of Swami Ramdas (Papa Ramdas), each with its source. Where the quoted text is not in the language of this page, a translation follows and says whose it is.
-
To wake up from this illusion of forms is to realise at once the Unity or Love of Ram. Love of Ram means Love of all beings, all creatures, all things in this world; because Ram is in all and all is in Ram, and Ram is all in all.
In Quest of God · Prefatory text 'O Ram, the Truth – the Love – the Goal of Human Perfection', p. 10 of the Anandashram e-book · drive.google.com -
Repeat the one name ‘Ram’ at all times of the day and at nights when you are awake. You may be sure that you will not feel lonely or miserable as long as you are uttering that glorious name.
In Quest of God · Chapter XXII, 'Ram, the Friend of the Poor', p. 62 of the Anandashram e-book · drive.google.com -
Know in the first place that the God you seek is within yourself. He is the life and soul of the universe and to attain Him is the supreme purpose of life. Evil and sorrow are due to your belief that you are separate from this universal Truth. The ego has set up this wall of separation.
In the Vision of God · Chapter XII, section (iii) 'The Supreme Purpose of Life', p. 98 of the Anandashram e-book · drive.google.com -
After the repetition of the Mantra for some time, your mind will become still. In this stillness you will realise the Divine dwelling within you, and His presence will be felt thereafter at all times.
Thus Speaks Ramdas · Section 'Namasmaran', saying 16 (page 6 of the Anandashram e-book, eleventh edition) · drive.google.com
Documented teaching relationships
-
Personal encounter with Ramana Maharshi
Anandashram says Swami Ramdas visited Ramana Maharshi at his ashram at the foot of the hill in Tiruvannamalai, asked for his blessing and received it through Ramana's gaze.
Stated by an institution · anandashram.org
-
Personal teacher of Yogi Ramsuratkumar
The Yogi Ramsuratkumar Ashram says Yogi Ramsuratkumar came to Anandashram in 1952, where Papa Ramdas initiated him with the Ram mantra; Yogi Ramsuratkumar called Ramdas his master.
Stated by an institution · yogiramsuratkumarashram.org
-
Personal teacher of Swami Satchidananda (Anandashram)
Anandashram says Swami Satchidananda met Swami Ramdas at the age of thirty, served him and Mother Krishnabai for the rest of their lives and took sannyas at Ramdas's request; after Mother Krishnabai's death in 1989 he ran the ashram.
Stated by an institution · anandashram.org
-
Personal encounter with Anandamayi Ma
According to the website of Anandamayi Ma's devotees, quoting 'Didi's Diary', Anandamayi Ma and Swami Ramdas met in Trivandrum on 21 November 1952, as she came back from the Temple of Sri Padmanabhan and he was on his way to it, and he visited her later that day; the page also quotes Ramdas's own account of a meeting with her from Swami Satchidananda's The Gospel of Swami Ramdas.
Biographical tradition · anandamayi.org
Teaching relationships are documented statements. They confer no trust and do not attest realisation.
Sources
- Pujya Papa Swami Ramdas Biography on the website of Anandashram, the ashram he founded; devotional. accessed 12 Oct 2026
- Anandashram timeline Timeline on the website of Anandashram. accessed 12 Oct 2026
- About Anandashram Page of Anandashram, the ashram he founded; quotes his inaugural address of 1931. accessed 18 Oct 2026
- Anandashram: FAQs Questions and answers on the website of Anandashram about its practice. accessed 18 Oct 2026
- Chanting of the Divine Name Page of Anandashram on chanting the divine name; quotes his words. accessed 18 Oct 2026
- Pujya Mataji Krishnabai Biography of Mother Krishnabai on the website of Anandashram; devotional. accessed 18 Oct 2026
- Anandashram: eBooks Anandashram's page of free e-books; it links one Google Drive folder per language. accessed 18 Oct 2026
- In Quest of God (e-book) His own account of his first year as a wandering monk; e-book edition of Anandashram with its introduction. accessed 18 Oct 2026
- In the Vision of God (e-book) His own account of the years up to the founding of Anandashram; e-book edition of Anandashram. accessed 18 Oct 2026
- Thus Speaks Ramdas (e-book) Sayings of his selected from his letters; e-book of the eleventh edition (2014) of Anandashram. accessed 18 Oct 2026
- In Quest of God (Anandashram bookstore) Book page of the publisher, Anandashram. accessed 18 Oct 2026
- In the Vision of God (Anandashram bookstore) Book page of the publisher, Anandashram. accessed 18 Oct 2026
- Thus Speaks Ramdas (Anandashram bookstore) Book page of the publisher, Anandashram. accessed 18 Oct 2026
- World Is God (Anandashram bookstore) Book page of the publisher, Anandashram. accessed 18 Oct 2026
Compiled by us from the sources listed. Last checked 18 Oct 2026.