Samartha Ramdas was the most dynamic among the saints of Maharashtra. He was born in Jamb on Ramnavami day to devout Brahmin parents. He was named Narayan and was a precocious child, committing the Vedas to memory at a very young age. He ran away from his own marriage celebrations when the Brahmin priests uttered the words 'saavdhaan'(be alert). He was a Rama Bhakta and is stated to have repeated the 13 lettered mantra of Rama 13 crores of times. He undertook a pilgrimage to all the holy places and traveled for twelve years. He was the spiritual guru of Chatrapati Shivaji and lived in Fort Sajjangad. He performed kirtans, turning people to the Bhakti marga. He has written extensively, his 'Dasbodh' is a monumental work consisting of 7752 verses divided into twenty chapters. 'ManacheSloka' which has 205 verses addressed to the mind. Apart from these, portions of the Ramayana and Abhangs and Shlokas