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Sant Dnyaneshwar (1275-1296) (ज्ञानेश्वर in Marathi) (also known as Jnanadeva - ज्ञानदेव or Jnaneshvar - ज्ञानेश्वर) was a 13th century rebel saint-poet in Maharashtra, west India. He was a yogi born in a socially marginalized high-caste family. He was the first noteworthy proponent of Bhagawat dharma, a sect of bhakti (devotional worship) tradition in Hinduism. Dnyaneshwar composed Bhavarthadeepika or Dnyaneshwari (ज्ञानेश्वरी), to explain sacred knowledge of the holy book Bhagavad Gita to the masses. He took sanjeevan Samadhi, a yogic path to salvation by giving up life at the young age of 21.
Childhood
Sant Dnyaneswar was born in a Deshastha Yajurvedi Brahmin family to Vitthal Pant Kulkarni and Rukmini Bai, at Apegaon in the Ahmednagar district of Maharashtra, India. He was the second of their four children. His elder brother was Nivruttinath, and younger brother was Sopandev and his sister was Muktabai.
Vitthal pant, a devoted Brahmin, had earlier left his home to attain a hermit’s life. His guru sent him back to family life. A sannyasi returning to family life was unacceptable to the establishment, and a social boycott was called on this poor family. The couple and children suffered much with the boycott, but kept on with their quest for spiritual knowledge. Unable to bear this social brunt, the couple committed what was perhaps a suicide in the deep waters of River Ganga (the Ganges) as an atonement for their actions. However, that didn’t save the children from social wrath.
Dnyneshwar and his brothers were denied basic needs like food and water. The children continued their path of spiritual knowledge. This knowledge and some uncommon experiences (see note below) from their yogic life finally gave all four children the place they deserved in the society. Sant Dnyaneshwar took sanjivan samadhi at Alandi in Pune District of Maharashtra, India.
Work
Sant Dnyaneshwar’s writing is a combination of scholarly intelligence and poetic beauty. He along with Sant Namdeo propogated the warkari tradition, that has beem alive for over 700 years.
His major works include:
- The Bhavarth Deepika/Dnyanadevi, popularly known as the Dnyaneshwari, a commentary on the Bhagavad Gita written in Marathi. Dnyaneshwari is one of the three sacred books or Prasthanatrayi of Bhagavata Dharma. (Locally called the Warkari movement.)
- Nearly a thousand Marathi devotional songs (Abhanga).
- The Amritanubhava, is the work in which he has stated his own philosophy, also called Chitvilaasavaada.
The works of Dnyaneshwar and his siblings have influenced the Marathi culture to this day. The poetry of Dnyaneshwar and Muktabai is still very popular in Maharashtra even after 700 years.
Siblings
- Nivrutti Nath: Elder brother of dnyaneshwar, Nivrutti Nath was an authority in nath sect. Dnyaneshwar accepted his elder brother as his guru. After Dnyaneshwar, Nivrutti Nath travelled with his sister on a pilgrimage along Tapi river where they were caught in a thunderstorm and Mukta lost in it without a trace. Nivrutti nath took to salvation (Samadhi) at Triambakeshwar.
- Sopan Deo: Younger brothet Sopan Deo attained ‘samadhi' at Saswad near Pune.
- Mukta bai: The youngest of the siblings, Mukta Bai (or Muktai / Muktabai) was known for her simple and straight expression of thoughts.
A note on miracles
The stories by believers in Bhagawata Sampradaya (sect) about Saint Dnyaneshwar’s life are full of miracles. These stories mentioned in many scriptures and include : baking bread (puranpoli)on his heated back, making a wall move and making a bull recite vedic hymns. Logic and rational thought have denied such miracles. But it should be noted that yogic texts describe these abilities and say they can be acquired at an advanced stage in yogic practices.
Each of these miracle stories send a powerful spirtual message. From a rational a point view, these stories must be spread by his followers to spread his spiritual messages.
External Links
1. Dnyaneshwari- common man's gita //www.hinduweb.org/home/dharma_and_philosophy/vshirvaikar Marathi writers | Bhakti movement | 1275 births | 1296 deaths | Indian philosophers | Hindu philosophers
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