Swami Ramananda’s 14th-century revolution didn’t just reform devotion — it shattered the caste barriers of medieval India. This talk traces the lineage of the Ramananda Sampradaya, whose disciples included a Kshatriya king (Swami Peepa), a Vaishya trader (Dhannajat), a Shudra cobbler (Swami Ravidas), and a Muslim weaver (Swami Kabirdas).
The speaker explores the theological depth of the Ram Shadakshara Mantra tradition, tracing its origin from Shri Ramachandra through Hanuman, Brahma, and the lineage of acharyas to Ramananda. The talk reveals how Tulsidasji’s equal reverence for both Rama and Shiva reflects the sampradaya’s inclusive, syncretic spiritual vision.

About the Speaker:
Vishay Pandey is a disciple of Padmavibhushana Swami Ramabhadracharya, researcher in IKS in IIT Kanpur has been contributing in remodification of Valmiki Ramayana on IIT Kanpur website. He is also working on the integration of Valmiki Ramayana commentaries and digitisation and translation of Avadhi manuscripts related to Sri Ramananda Sampradaya.