Ramachandra Dattatrya Ranade
# Ramachandra Dattatrya Ranade

Ramchandra Dattatray Ranade (1886–1957) was an Indian scholar-philosopher-saint of Karnataka and Maharashtra.

## Biography

He was born on 3 July 1886 in Jamakhandi, in Bagalkot District of Karnataka. After completing his schooling he studied at Deccan College, Pune. In the year 1914 he passed M.A. with full honours and for a very brief period joined the teaching staff of Fergusson College, Pune. He taught at Willindon College, Sangli, on a regular basis before being invited to join Allahabad University as Head of Department of Philosophy where he rose to be the Vice-Chancellor. After retirement in 1946 he lived in an ashrama in a small village, Nimbal, on border of Maharashtra and Karnataka, near Vijaypura ( Bijapur) where he died on 6 June 1957.

## Philosophy

According to Shri Gurudev Ramchandra Dattatray Ranade, the three main approaches in arriving at the solution to the problem of the Ultimate Reality have traditionally been the theological, the cosmological and the psychological approaches. The cosmological approach involves looking outward, to the world; the psychological approach meaning looking inside or to the Self; and the theological approach is looking upward or to God. Descartes takes the first and starts with the argument that the Self is the primary reality, self-consciousness the primary fact of existence, and introspection the start of the real philosophical process. According to him, we can arrive at the conception of God only through the Self because it is God who is the cause of the Self and thus, we should regard God as more perfect than the Self. Spinoza on the other hand, believed that God is the be-all and the end-all of all things, the alpha and the omega of existence. From God philosophy starts, and in God philosophy ends. The manner of approach of the Upanishadic philosophers to the problem of ultimate reality was neither the Cartesian nor Spinozistic. The Upanishadic philosophers regarded the Self as the ultimate existence and subordinated the world and God to the Self. The Self to them, is more real than either the world or God. It is only ultimately that they identify the Self with God, and thus bridge over the gulf that exists between the theological and psychological approaches to reality. They take the cosmological approach to start with, but they find that this cannot give them the solution of the ultimate reality. So, Upanishadic thinkers go back and start over by taking the psychological approach and here again, they cannot find the solution to the ultimate reality. They therefore perform yet another experiment by taking the theological approach. They find that this too is lacking in finding the solution. They give yet another try to the psychological approach, and come up with the solution to the problem of the ultimate reality. Thus, the Upanishadic thinkers follow a cosmo-theo-psychological approach. A study of the mukhya Upanishads shows that the Upanishadic thinkers progressively build on each other's ideas. They go back and forth and refute improbable approaches before arriving at the solution of the ultimate reality.

## Works

He was a good orator who was also a good writer. His monumental work that made him famous, A Constructive Survey of Upanishadic Philosophy, was published by Oriental Books Agency, Pune, in 1926 under the patronage of Sir Parashuramarao Bhausaheb, Raja of Jamkhandi. He also wrote Pathway to God in Hindi and Marathi and Ramdasvacanamrut, which is based on the scriptures of Samarth Ramdas. As an eminent scholar of the Upanishads who had specialised in Greek philosophy, Shri Gurudev Ramchandra Dattatray Ranade emphasised the centrality of the psychological approach as opposed to the theological approach for the proper understanding of the Ultimate Reality. His works also include Pathway to God in Kannada literature. The Bhagavadgita as Philosophy of God Realisation. Evolution of my own thought. Ekanath Vachanamrut. Sant Vachanamrut.

## Inchegiri Sampradaya

Shri Gurudev Ramchandra Dattatray Ranade belonged to the Inchegeri Sampradaya.

Shri Chandra Bhanu Pathak was disciple of Gurudev Ranade, who carried forward his lineage in northern part of India. He was a renowned, loving, affectionate guru among his disciples who stayed in Bikaner, Rajasthan. Raj Kamal Vyas, who is disciple of Shri Chandra Bhanu pathak has translated Gurudev Ranade Literature in Hindi from Marathi and English as well. The lineage is being carried forward by Shri KhinwSingh ji Shekhawat (aka Shri Yogkshem shekhawat) among his and disciples of Shri Chandra Bhanu Pathak.

vteInchegeri Sampradaya :

Rishi Dattatreya

Navnath, the nine founders of the Nath Sampradaya,

Gahininath, the 5th Navnath

Revananath, the 7th or 8th Navnath, also known as Kada Siddha

Siddhagiri Math c.q. Kaneri Math (est. 7th or 14th century; Lingayat Parampara c.q. Kaadasiddheshwar Parampara

Nivruttinath, Dnyaneshwar's brother

Dnyaneshwar (1275–1296) also known as Sant Jñāneshwar or Jñanadeva and as Kadasiddha or Kad-Siddheshwar Maharaj

Different accounts:

Kadasiddha, also called "Almighty "Kadsiddeshwar", who appeared as a vision to Sri Gurulingajangam Maharaj

or

The 22nd or 24th Shri Samarth Muppin Kaadsiddheswar Maharaj, who initiated Sri Gurulingajangam Maharaj

or

"The 25th generation of the kadsiddha at siddhagiri had then initiated Guruling jangam maharaj of nimbargi."

or

"Juangam Maharaj" c.q. "a yogi [at Siddhagiri] who gave [Nimabargi Maharaj] a mantra and told him to meditate regularly on it"

1

Nimbargi Maharaj (1789–1875) also known as Guru Lingam-Jangam Maharaj

23rd Shri Samarth Muppin Kaadsiddheswar Maharaj

2

Shri Bhausaheb Maharaj Umdikar (1843 Umdi – 1914 Inchgiri)

24th Shri Samarth Muppin Kaadsiddheswar Maharaj

3

Shri Amburao Maharaj of Jigjivani

(1857 Jigajevani – 1933 Inchgiri)

Shivalingavva Akka (1867–1930)

Girimalleshwar Maharaj

Sri Siddharameshwar Maharaj (1875–1936)

25th Shri Samarth Muppin Kaadsiddheswar Maharaj

4

Shri Gurudev Ranade of Nimbal (1886–1957)

Balkrishna Maharaj

Shri Aujekar Laxman Maharaj

Madhavananda Prabhuji (d. 25th May, 1980)

Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj (1897–1981)

Sri Ranjit Maharaj (1913–2000)

Sri Ganapatrao Maharaj Kannur (1909–2004)

Shri Vilasanand Maharaj (1909–1993)

Shri Ranachhodray Maharaj, Baitkhol Karwar

26th Shri Muppin Kaadsiddheshwar Maharaj (1905–2001)

Student of Sri Siddharameshwar Maharaj

5

Shri Gurudev Chandra Bhanu Pathak

Bhausaheb Maharaj (Nandeshwar)

Shri Nagnath Alli Maharaj

Maurice Frydman

Ramesh Balsekar

Gautam Sachdeva

Ramakant Maharaj

Alexander Smit

Douwe Tiemersma

Robert Powell

Timothy Conway

Jean Dunn

Mark McCloskey

"Sailor" Bob Adamson

Stephen Wolinksky

Mark West

David Hargrove

27th head: Adrushya Kadsiddheshwar Swamiji

Jagadguru Ramanandacharya Shree Swami Narendracharyaji Maharaj

Notes for table

Notes

↑ Frydman 1987↑ Boucher↑ Frydman 1987↑ Dnyaneshwar↑ Frydman 1987↑ Frydman 1987↑ Boucher↑ Kada Siddha (website Ranade Maharaj↑ Kada Siddha (website Ranade Maharaj)↑ Siddhagiri Math↑ Siddhagiri Math (website Shri Kshetra Siddhagiri Math, Kaneri)↑ Siddhagiri Math (Gramjivan Museum)↑ Kaadsiddheshwar Maharaj (website Kaadsiddheshwar Maharaj)↑ Kaadsiddheshwar Maharaj Parampara↑ Dnyaneshwar↑ Nisargadatta Maharaj Disciples↑ Nisargadatta Maharaj Disciples↑ Frydman 1987↑ Boucher↑ Frydman 1987↑ Ranjit Maharaj Timeline↑ Ranjit Maharaj Timeline↑ Siddhagiri Math (website siddhagirimath.org)↑ Siddhagiri Math (website siddhagirimath.org)↑ Kada Siddha (website Balkrushna Maharaj)↑ Boucher↑ Boucher↑ Nimbargi Maharj (website Ranade Maharaj↑ Frydman 1987↑ Boucher↑ Bhausaheb Maharaj (website Ganapatrao Maharj)↑ Bhausaheb Maharaj (website Ranade Maharaj)↑ Amburao Maharaj (website Ranade Maharaj)↑ Frydman 1987↑ Shivalingavva Akka (website Ranade Maharaj)↑ Frydman 1987↑ Girimalleshwar Maharaj (website Balkrushnamauli Maharaj)↑ Boucher↑ Frydman 1987↑ Amburao Maharaj Maharj (website Ranade Maharaj)↑ Ranade Maharaj (website Ranade Maharaj)↑ Boucher↑ Frydman 1987↑ Ranade Maharj (website Bridge-India)↑ Balkrishna Maharaj (website Balkrishna Maharaj)↑ Nagnath Alli Maharaj (website)↑ Madhavananda Prabhuji (website gurusfeet.com)↑ Boucher↑ Boucher↑ Ranjit Maharaj (website Ranjit Maharaj)↑ Ranjit Maharaj Interview↑ Ranjit Maharaj Satsang↑ Bhausaheb Maharaj (website Ganapatrao Maharaj)↑ Kaadsiddheshwar Maharaj (website Kaadsiddheshwar Maharaj)↑ Ranjit Maharaj (website Angelfire)↑ Bhausaheb Maharaj (Nandeshwar) (website Balkrishna Maharaj)↑ Nagnath Alli Maharaj (website Nagnath Alli Maharaj)↑ Nisargadatta Maharaj Disciples↑ Nisargadatta Maharaj Disciples↑ Gautam Sachdeva↑ Ramakant Maharj (website Ramakant Maharaj)↑ Nisargadatta Maharaj Disciples↑ Nisargadatta Maharaj Disciples↑ Nisargadatta Maharaj Disciples↑ Nisargadatta Maharaj Disciples↑ Nisargadatta Maharaj Disciples↑ Jean Dunn (website Ed Muzika)↑ Jean Dunn (website Ngeton)↑ Nisargadatta Maharaj Disciples↑ Nisargadatta Maharaj Disciples↑ Sailor Bob Adamson (website Sailor Bob Adamson)↑ Nisargadatta Maharaj Disciples↑ Nisargadatta Maharaj Disciples↑ Nisargadatta Maharaj Disciples↑ Siddhagiri Math – History (website siddhagirimath.org↑ Narendracharyaji Maharaj (website Narendracharyaji Maharaj)

Sources

Boucher, Cathy (2002), The Lineage of Nine Gurus. The Navnath Sampradaya and Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj

Frydman, Maurice (1987), Navanath Sampradaya. In: I Am That. Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj, Bombay: Chetana

Websites

Amburao Maharaj (website Ranade Maharaj): Gurudev R.D. Ranade, Sadguru Shri Amburao Maharaj

Balkrishna Maharaj (website Balkrishna Maharaj): balkrushnamauli.com, Samarth Sadguru Balkrushna Maharaj

Bhausaheb Maharaj (website Ranade Maharaj): Gurudev R.D. Ranade, Sadguru Shri Bhausaheb Maharaj Umdikar

Bhausaheb Maharaj (website Ganapatrao Maharaj): ShantiKuteer Ashram, Bhausaheb Maharaj

Bhausaheb Maharaj (Nandeshwar) (website Balkrishna Maharaj): balkrushnamauli.com, Shri Bhausaheb Maharaj (Nandeshwar)

Dnyaneshwar: V. V. Shirvaikar, A brief biography of saint Dnyaneshwar (Jnanadeva)

Gautam Sachdeva: gautamsachdeva.com, About Gautam Sachdeva

Girimalleshwar Maharaj (website Balkrushnamauli Maharaj): balkrushnamauli.com, Girimalleshwar Maharaj</ref>

Jean Dunn (website Ed Muzika): Jean Dunn and Nisargadatta Maharaj

Jean Dunn (website Ngeton): Ngeton, Navnath Masters

Kaadsiddheshwar Maharaj (website Kaadsiddheshwar Maharaj): Mazad Sad Guru, Biography

Kaadsiddheshwar Maharaj Parampara: mazasadguru.com, The Kaadsiddheshwar Parampara

Kada Siddha (website Ranade Maharaj): Gurudev R.D. Ranade, Kada Siddha

Kada Siddha (website Balkrushna Maharaj): Balkrushna Maharaj, Kadsiddheshwar Maharaj

Madhavananda Prabhuji (website gurusfeet.com)Gurus Feet, Madhavananda Prabhuji

Nagnath Alli Maharaj (website Nagnath Alli Maharaj): Shri S.S. Nagnath Alli Maharaj Sansthan, About us

Narendracharyaji Maharaj (website Narendracharyaji Maharaj): A brief biography of Jagadguru Ramanandacharya Sri Swami Narendracharyaji Maharaj

Nimbargi Maharaj (website Ranade Maharaj): Gurudev R.D. Ranade, Sadguru Shri Guruling Jangam Maharaj

Nisargadatta Maharaj Commemorations pt.1: David Godman, Remembering Nisargadatta Maharaj pt.1

Nisargadatta Maharaj Disciples: Advaita Vision, Navnath Sampradaya. Disciples of Nisargadatta Maharaj

Ramakant Maharaj (website Ramakant Maharaj): Shri Ramakant Maharaj, Information

Ranade Maharaj (website Ranade Maharaj): Gurudev R.D. Ranade, Shri Gurudev R. D. Ranade

Ranade Maharaj (website Bridge-India): Bridge-India, Shri Gurudev R.D. Ranade

Ranjit Maharaj (website Ranjit Maharaj): Sadguru.com, Shri Ranjit Maharaj

Ranjit Maharaj Timeline: Sadguru.com, Shri Ranjit Maharaj History

Ranjit Maharaj Interview: InnerQuest, Ranjit interview

Ranjit Maharaj Satsang: inner-quest.org, "Final Reality has no beginning and no end."

Ranjit Maharaj (website Angelfire): Sri Ranjit Maharaj profile

Sailor Bob Adamson (website Sailor Bob Adamson): Sailor Bob Adamson website

Shivalingavva Akka (website Ranade Maharaj): gurudevranade.com, Rv. Smt.Shri.Shivalingavva Akka

Siddhagiri Math: Detailed history of Shri Nisarghadatta Maharaj

Siddhagiri Math (website Shri Kshetra Siddhagiri Math, Kaneri): Shri Kshetra Siddhagiri Math, Kaneri

Siddhagiri Math (Gramjivan Museum): Siddhagiri Gramjivan Museum Kaneri Math

Siddhagiri Math (website siddhagirimath.org): siddhagirimath.org, Siddhagiri Math – Pedigree

Siddhagiri Math – History (website siddhagirimath.org): siddhagirimath.org, Siddhagiri Math – History :

