Ramdas swami was born in a Deshastha Rugvedi Brāhman family to Suryāji and Rānu Bāi Thosar in Jāmb in Jālna District of Maharashtra on Ram Navami, 1530 according to "Shāliwāhan Shak" calendar. His given name was Nārāyan. He was devotee of God “Ram” and that’s why he named as Ramdas (At age 24, he named as Rāmdās.)

Since his childhood, Ramdas had an inclination toward metaphysical contemplation and religiosity. When he was eight, his father died; and at his age 12, his mother arranged his marriage to her brother's daughter. However, he wanted to pursue a monasitc life, and so just as the wedding cermony was proceeding, he ran away before the marriage vows were exchanged.

For the next twelve years, Ramdas devoted himself to study of Hindu religious books, meditation, and prayers in a place named Panchawati-near Nāshik - on the banks of Godāwari river.

Ramdas swami was a gifted composer. He produced considerable lucid and effective literature in verse form in Marathi.

Shivaji and Ramdas swami first met in 1674, Ramdas swami accepting Shivaji then as his spiritual guru. Shivaji made available to Ramdas swami a fort named Parali Fort to establish his permanent monastery there. The fort was subsequently renamed as “Sajjangad”

Ramdas's ways were very peculiar. He appeared to the outside world as a mad man. He had a small bow. He used to have, by his side, a large number of stones with which he pelted every object he saw. To men really interested in his teachings, he gave the Mantra Sri Ram Jaya Ram Jaya Jaya Ram.

Ramdas had eleven hundred disciples, of whom three hundred were women. The women disciples were also expert preachers and were virtuous. Ramdas sent his disciples to all parts of India to spread the Hindu religion. His disciples and Mutts in the North directly or indirectly helped Shivaji and his work. Ramdas's organisation in the South, round about Thanjavur, helped Shivaji's son Rajaram to go to Jinji and carry on the Twenty Years' War with Aurangazeb. When Ramdas visited Thanjavur, Venkoji, who was the step-brother of Shivaji, became his disciple. Ramdas appointed Bhimaswami, his direct disciple, as the Mahant of the Thanjavur Mutt.