Sant Gnaneshwar Maharaj

Pranams at the lotus feet of Sant Gnaneshwar Maharaj!

Chapter - 2

Vittal Pant and Rukmini returned to their village Alandi, this couple had to face many hardships while they were in the village, Vittal Panth was not welcomed by the villagers as he was returned from Sanyasa  to Grihasthashrama.  In due course of time, Rukmini gave birth to four children Nivriththinath,  Gnaneshwar, Sopan Dev and  Mukthabhai.

This couple was suffering from extreme poverty, Vittal Panth had to feed the children on alms, the village people refused to give alms, the Bhramins disgraced him and refused to give any alms, the people of  lower caste are willing to offer alms but the Brahmins discouraged them.  Vittal Panth and his family had to starve, children were tired of hunger and thirst, they forgot to play and enjoy like any other children of their age.  Vittal Panth felt that he is responsible for the miseries in the family; if he had proceeded with Sanyasashrama none of this would have happened.

Once, Nivriththinath had a dream in that he had the Dharshan of Yogi Geheninath who was the disciple of Yogi Gorakhnath Maharaj.  The little boy Nivritththinath was mystified to meet the Yogi Gehninath in his dream, he described Gorakhnath Maharaj was the disciple of Mathsyendhranath who was the devoted disciple of Lord Mahadeva.  Nivriththinath was surprised why he was invited to meet Geheninath in his dreams, Yogi Geheninath replied: “ Vathsa, it is the command of my preceptor to give you Dheeksha according to Nathpankthi Sampradaya.”  Nivriththinath replied “ Maharaj, my parents are devotees of Lord Vishnu.” Nivriththinath received Deeksha from Geheninath in his dreams and attained highest of the knowledge of Bhramam which has no specific form.  Later, Nivriththinath described the beautiful dream he had to his siblings who were equally in a state of awe.  Years passed in utter poverty,  but the couple did not leave their courage, Vittal Panth taught his children scriptures and Bhagavad Gita.