Paramhamsa Madhavdasji - A Sadhu Always Ahead of His Time

(This article is an excerpt, translated by Smt. Minati Shah, from the Gujarati book “Manglyadham Malsar”given by Mahant Jagannathdasji, the present caretaker of Paramhamsa Madhavdasji’s ashram in Malsar).

- Minati Shah

Paramhamsa Madhavdasji

One of the biggest accomplishments of Paramhamsa Madhavdasi was the ‘Improvement of Sadhus' conference that he held in the year 1909. He believed that Sadhus are capable of bringing change in the society provided they are formally educated, have knowledge of scriptures, are detached, and have renounced everything. No individual Sadhu had done this prior to him.

In attendance were 10 to 15 thousand Sadhus, scholars, learned and respected people of society, government officers, kings and their ministers. And probably for the first time all the four heads of the Vaishnav Sadhu sect i.e. Shri Ramanuj Swami, Shri Vishu Swami, Shri Nimbarkcharya and Shri Madhavcharya. Among others who attended the session were representatives from every religion and philosophy. The four-day session was held from 24th to 27th of December 1909. It is worth knowing how he managed an event of such a magnitude at that time. This event was also covered by popular newspapers.