Who is traditionally regarded as the spiritual guru and guide of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj?

Introduction / Context:
This question belongs to the history of the Maratha Empire and the Bhakti movement in Maharashtra. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, the founder of the Maratha kingdom, was inspired by several saint-poets and spiritual leaders. Knowing which saint is specifically regarded as his guru helps you connect political history with religious and cultural developments of 17th-century western India.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The question asks who was Shivaji Maharaj's guru.
• The options include Sant Eknath, Sant Tukaram, Sant Dnyaneshwar and Samarth Ramdas.
• All listed individuals are important saints in Maharashtra's devotional tradition.
• We assume the widely accepted traditional association between Shivaji and his main spiritual mentor.

Concept / Approach:
Samarth Ramdas is traditionally regarded as the spiritual guru and guide of Shivaji Maharaj. A prolific saint and philosopher, he emphasised devotion to Lord Rama and Hanuman, as well as physical strength and social duty. According to popular accounts, Ramdas encouraged Shivaji in his mission to establish a just and dharmic rule and blessed him for his campaigns. While other saints like Tukaram and Dnyaneshwar deeply influenced Marathi religious thought, the specific guru-disciple relationship with Shivaji is primarily linked to Samarth Ramdas.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Identify the context: 17th-century Maharashtra, the rise of Shivaji and parallel Bhakti movements.Step 2: Recall that Samarth Ramdas is often portrayed in historical and popular literature as Shivaji's spiritual guide and supporter.Step 3: Note that Sant Dnyaneshwar lived in the 13th century, much earlier than Shivaji, so he could not have been his contemporary guru.Step 4: Recognise that Sant Eknath and Sant Tukaram were highly revered Bhakti saints, but traditional narratives do not primarily describe them as Shivaji's personal gurus.Step 5: Given the chronological and traditional evidence, choose Samarth Ramdas as the correct answer.

Verification / Alternative check:
Most standard textbooks on Maratha history, as well as biographies of Shivaji Maharaj, mention Samarth Ramdas as his spiritual mentor. Stories about the meeting between Shivaji and Ramdas, as well as the saint's letters and teachings, are frequently cited. Marathi literature and folk traditions also preserve this association, making it a well-established fact for exam purposes that Ramdas is remembered as Shivaji's guru.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Sant Eknath: An important 16th-century saint and poet, but not conventionally presented as Shivaji's personal guru.Sant Tukaram: A 17th-century Varkari saint whose abhangas inspired many, including possibly Shivaji, but he is not the one most commonly termed Shivaji's guru.Sant Dnyaneshwar: A 13th-century saint and philosopher, far earlier than Shivaji's time, so he could not have directly guided Shivaji.

Common Pitfalls:
Because several saints are associated with Maharashtra and the Bhakti movement, students sometimes confuse their timelines and roles. The names Tukaram and Dnyaneshwar are very famous, so some candidates choose them without considering chronology or the specific guru-disciple tradition. To avoid this, remember the key pairing: Shivaji Maharaj – Samarth Ramdas as spiritual guru and supporter, a fact often directly asked in examinations.

Final Answer:
Samarth Ramdas is traditionally regarded as the spiritual guru of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.