Swami Rama Tirtha | |
|---|---|
 Swami Rama Tirtha | |
| Personal life | |
| Born | (1873-10-22)22 October 1873 |
| Died | 17 October 1906(1906-10-17) (aged 32) |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Known for | PreachingVedanta in theUnited States |
| Religious life | |
| Religion | Hinduism |
| Philosophy | Advaita Vedanta |
| Religious career | |
Disciples | |
| Part ofa series on | |
| Hindu philosophy | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Orthodox | |
| Heterodox | |
Sub-schools | |
| |
Swami Rama Tirtha (pronunciationⓘ 22 October 1873 – 17 October 1906[1]), also known asRam Soami, was an Indian teacher of theHindu philosophy ofVedanta. He was among the first notable teachers of Hinduism to lecture in theUnited States, travelling there in 1902, preceded bySwami Vivekananda in 1893 and followed byParamahansa Yogananda in 1920.[2][3] During his American tours Swami Rama Tirtha spoke frequently on the concept of "practical Vedanta"[4] and education of Indian youth.[5] He proposed bringing young Indians to American universities and helped establish scholarships for Indian students.[6]
Rama Tirtha was born in aGosvami Brahmin family[7][8] to Pandit Hiranand Goswami on 22 October 1873 (Deepawali Vikram Samvat 1930) in thevillage of Muraliwala in theGujranwala District ofPunjab, Pakistan.[1] His mother died when he was a few days old and he was raised by his elder brother Gossain Gurudas. After receiving a master's degree in mathematics fromThe Government College of Lahore, he became professor of mathematics atForman Christian College,Lahore.
A chance meeting withSwami Vivekananda in 1897 in Lahore, inspired his later decision to take up the life of asannyasi. Having become well known for his speeches onKrishna andAdvaita Vedanta he became aswami in 1899 on the day ofDeepawali,[1] leaving his wife, his children and his professorial chair.
"As a sannyasi, he neither touched any money nor carried any luggage with him. In spite of it he went round the world."[9] A trip toJapan to teach Hinduism was sponsored by Maharaja Kirtishah Bahadur of Tehri. From there he travelled to theUnited States of America in 1902, where he spent two years lecturing on Hinduism, other religions, and his philosophy of "practical Vedanta".[4] He frequently spoke about the iniquities emanating from thecaste system in India and the importance of education of women and of the poor, stating that "neglecting the education of women and children and the labouring classes is like cutting down the branches that are supporting us – nay, it is like striking a death-blow to the roots of the tree of nationality."[citation needed] Arguing that India needed educated young people, not missionaries, he began an organization to aid Indian students in American universities[5] and helped to establish a number of scholarships for Indian students.[10]
Healways referred to himself in the third person, which is a common spiritual practice inHinduism in order to detach oneself from Ego.[11]
Although upon his return to India in 1904 large audiences initially attended his lectures, he completely withdrew from public life in 1906 and moved to the foothills of theHimalaya, where he prepared to write a book giving a systematic presentation of practical Vedanta. Tirtha died on 17 October 1906 (Deepawali Vikram Samvat 1963), and the book was never finished.
Many believe he did not die but gave up his body to the riverGanges.[1]
A significant prediction made by Swami Rama Tirtha for future India is quoted inShiv R. Jhawar's book,Building a Noble World.[12] Rama Tirtha predicted: “AfterJapan,China will rise and gain prosperity and strength. After China, the sun of prosperity and learning will again smile at India.”[13]
Punjabi Indian nationalistBhagat Singh uses Tirtha as an example of the great contributions Punjab had made to the Indian nationalist movement in his essay "The Problem of Punjab's Language and Script". The lack of memorials to Tirtha is given by Singh as an example of the lack of respect for Punjab's contributions to the movement.[14]
Indian RevolutionaryPandit Ram Prasad Bismil depicted the character of Swami Rama Tirtha in the poemYuva Sannyasi.[1]
Two of his disciples, S. Puran Singh and Narayana Swami, wrote biographies. Puran Singh'sThe Story of Swami Rama: The Poet Monk of the Punjab[11] appeared in 1924 and was published inEnglish as well as inHindi. Narayana Swami's untitled account was published in 1935 as a part of Rama Tirtha's collected works.[4]
A further account of his life was written by Hari Prasad Shastri and published with poems by Swami Rama Tirtha translated by H P Shastri as 'Scientist and Mahatma' in 1955.[15]
Paramahansa Yogananda translated many of Rama Tirtha's poems fromBengali intoEnglish and put some of them to music:[16] one, entitled "Marching Light", appeared in Yogananda's bookCosmic Chants, as "Swami Rama Tirtha's Song".[17]
The Swami Rama Tirtha Mission Ashram is located at Kotal Gaon Rajpura, nearDehra Dun inUttarakhand,India.
One of three campuses ofHemwati Nandan Bahuguna Garhwal University, situated at Badshahi Thaul, New Tehri, is known as the Swami Rama Tirtha Parisar (SRTC).
His sister's sonH. W. L. Poonja became a noted Advaita teacher inLucknow, whileHemant Goswami, his great-grandson, is a social activist based inChandigarh.
