Swami Swarupdas

Swami Swarupadas (1801–1863) was a Dadupanthi saint-poet, religious teacher, and reformer in Rajasthan and Malwa. He taught the famous poet and historian, Suryamall Misran and was also the guru of the rulers of Ratlam, Sailana and Sitamau States and was referred to as Annadata. He authored 12 major texts about philosophy, devotion, ethics; out of which his best known work is Pandava Yashendu Chandrika. His birth name was Shankardan. His father's name was Mishridanji and uncle's name was Paramanandji. The village of their ancestors, Kharoda, was located in the Umarkot district of the Dhat region (Sindh). His father and uncle both lived in Kharoda. It is said that once, Muslim raiders looted the village of Kharoda and inflicted a lot of suffering, due to which Mishridanji and Paramanandji decided to leave and migrated to Badli, a town in Ajmer region of Rajasthan. Paramanandji was a celibate, scholar, poet, and devotee of God. Dulhesingh, the Thakur of Badli, honored Paramanandji and persuaded both brothers to settle in Badli. Shankardan (Swarupdasji) was born here in Badli. They initially intended to migrate to settle in their clan brothers' village near Badli, Daulatgadh. Paramanandji had even visited Daulatgadh, perhaps to adopt a son from his Detha clan brothers. Swami Swarupdasji prophesied that every third generation of his descendants would produce a saint and a poet, even if they were illiterate. This blessing is believed to continue today. So far, Sarjudasji and Sundardasji have become saints in the lineage of Swamiji. Currently, Sant Manohardasji is a saint.