In the religious life of Maratha ruler Shivaji, who is regarded as his spiritual guide or religious guru, providing inspiration and counsel?

Introduction / Context:
Shivaji, the founder of the Maratha kingdom, is remembered not only for his military and administrative achievements but also for his deep religious faith. A spiritual guide or guru played an important role in his life, shaping his values and providing counsel. This question asks you to identify that religious guru, a well known detail in the history of medieval Deccan and Maratha studies.

Given Data / Assumptions:
• The focus is on Shivaji religious guru. • The options list four prominent saints and spiritual figures from Maharashtra: Ram Das, Tukaram, Jnaneshwar and Eknath. • We assume familiarity with their traditional association with different rulers and time periods.

Concept / Approach:
Samarth Ramdas, often referred to simply as Ram Das in exam options, was a seventeenth century saint and spiritual teacher in Maharashtra. He is known for his devotional works, including the Dasbodh, and for emphasising strength, self discipline and devotion to Rama. Historical accounts and Marathi tradition regard him as the spiritual guide of Shivaji. He is believed to have offered Shivaji counsel, blessings and a religious framework that combined devotion with courage and duty. The other saints listed were great Bhakti figures but did not play the same personal guru role for Shivaji.

Step-by-Step Solution:
1. Recall that Shivaji lived in the seventeenth century and that his period matches the lifetime of Samarth Ramdas. 2. Recognise that Ramdas writings and teachings emphasised both devotion and fortitude, fitting well with Shivaji warrior ethos. 3. Traditional stories often depict Shivaji visiting Ramdas, receiving spiritual guidance and seeing him as his guru. 4. Tukaram was also a seventeenth century saint, centred at Dehu, but he is primarily associated with devotional poetry to Vitthala and not specifically as Shivaji personal guru. 5. Jnaneshwar and Eknath lived earlier, in the thirteenth and sixteenth centuries respectively, making them chronologically less likely to be Shivaji direct spiritual guides. 6. Therefore, Ram Das is the correct answer.

Verification / Alternative check:
Biographical sketches of Shivaji and histories of the Maratha movement often mention his strong religious connection with Samarth Ramdas. They note that Ramdas teachings of duty, courage and devotion influenced Shivaji outlook. In contrast, while Shivaji respected other saints, there is no widespread tradition that declares them as his official guru. This consistent pattern in historical and devotional literature confirms Ram Das as the correct choice.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Tukaram: A major Varkari saint known for abhang devotional poetry, but not typically described as Shivaji personal religious guru. Jnaneshwar: A thirteenth century saint and author of the Jnaneshwari, greatly respected but separated from Shivaji by several centuries. Eknath: A sixteenth century saint who revived the Bhakti tradition in Maharashtra, yet he predates Shivaji adulthood and is not traditionally identified as his personal guru.

Common Pitfalls:
Students may confuse the many saint poet names in Maharashtra and assume that the most famous devotional poet, such as Tukaram, must have been Shivaji guru. To avoid this, it is helpful to remember the simple pairing: Shivaji with Samarth Ramdas, and Varkari devotional singing main association with Tukaram. Chronology also helps, since Jnaneshwar and Eknath belong to earlier centuries.

Final Answer:
The religious guru of Shivaji was the saint Ram Das, also known as Samarth Ramdas.