Insult of Samarth Ramdas Swami as ‘Langotwala,’ and denial of His Role as Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s Guru
‘ATM Guru’ YouTube channel host’s objectionable statements
Pune – In a video titled “Shivajiraje and Ramdas, a Major Court Verdict” on the YouTube channel ‘ATM Guru,’ Ashish Magar made controversial remarks about Samarth Ramdas Swami, referring to him in a derogatory manner as ‘Langotwala’ (a disparaging term implying someone wearing a loincloth). Citing a 2008 petition related to allegations of disrespect toward Shivaji Maharaj, Magar claimed, “There is no concrete evidence to prove that Samarth Ramdas Swami was Shivaji Maharaj’s guru or that the two ever met.” Magar further stated in the video, “The portrayal of Samarth Ramdas Swami and Shivaji Maharaj together is merely a ploy to tarnish Shivaji Maharaj’s legacy and diminish his greatness.”
Presenter on ‘ATM Guru’ YouTube Channel ridicules Samarth Ramdas Swami, calls him ‘Langotvala’, claims he wasn’t Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s Guru.#Denigration #Maharashtra pic.twitter.com/z9Zt1J8ejg
— Sanatan Prabhat (@SanatanPrabhat) November 18, 2024
The comments section under the video was flooded with viewers criticising Magar and urging him to refrain from disrespecting Samarth Ramdas Swami.
Video in Marathi language
What is the matter ?
In 2008, during a procession organised by Samarth Prashala for the Dasnavmi festival in Ahmednagar, a live tableau depicted Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj bowing at the feet of Samarth Ramdas Swami. This representation sparked objections from Sambhaji Brigade members, particularly Sanjiv Bhor, who is now the founder-president of the Shivprahar organisation.
Following Bhor’s complaint, a case was registered at Kotwali Police Station against two trustees of the Samarth Vidya Prasarak Mandal and the school’s principal, alleging disrespect toward Shivaji Maharaj for showing him bowing before Ramdas Swami.
During the legal proceedings, an individual named Salunke argued in Court that there was no objective evidence to support the claim that Samarth Ramdas Swami was Shivaji Maharaj’s guru. After arguments from both sides, the Sambhajinagar Bench of the Mumbai High Court dismissed the petition, citing insufficient evidence. Drawing on this case, Ashish Magar made his controversial statements, reiterating that “Samarth Ramdas Swami was not Shivaji Maharaj’s guru, nor did they ever meet.”
Evidence supporting the guru-disciple relationship
1. In a letter addressed to Ramdas Swami, Shivaji Maharaj wrote, ‘श्रीसदगुरुवर्य सकळतीर्थरुप श्रीकैवल्यधाम श्रीमहाराज श्रीस्वामी स्वामींचे सेवेसी चरणरज सिवाजी राजे मस्तक ठेऊनी विज्ञापनाजे’ (I bow my head in reverence to the sacred feet of my Guru, Shri Samarth Swami, who is equivalent to all holy pilgrimage sites.) In 1678, Shivaji Maharaj gifted 33 villages as an offering to Ramdas Swami, documented in an official charter. Recently, historian Sanket Kulkarni discovered a photozincographic copy of this document in London.
2. The guru-disciple relation between national Saint Shri Samarth Ramdas Swami and Shivaji Maharaj is widely revered and documented in Indian history. Relevant artefacts are preserved by the Archaeological Survey of India and at the Shri Samarth Vagdevata Temple in Dhule.