Sant Janabai

Pranams at the lotus feet of Janabai!

Chapter - 1

Sant Janabai was lived during the 13th century, she has written several religious Marathi poems praising the glories of Lord Vittala, she was known as the disciple of Sant Namadeva.    It was in the year 1258 Jana Bai was born in a lower-class couple Dhama and Karundha, in Gangakhed, a village located on the river banks of Godavari, Maharashtra.  Her parents were pious and staunch devotees of Lord Vittala.  During the birth of Janabai  his father could listen to a divine voice " You will have a girl child with an intense devotion to Lord Vittala,  keep her the name 'Jana Bai', she will liberate your entire clan and spread the devotion.  She will remain in the association of Namdeva, an ardent devotee  brought up by a pious  couple in Pandharpur, she will be famously known as the disciple of Namadeva in the future." 

Although Jana was born in a poor family, her devotion to Lord Vittala was boundless.  Her mother died in the early years of her childhood.  she was taken to Pandharpur by her father to have the Dharshan of Lord Panduranga just before his death.   They have joined with a group of people leaving to Pandharpur from their village,  sung praising the glories of Lord all through their way to Pandharpur and arrived in the famous shrine of Vittobha.  Jana was not willing to move away from the shrine.  Suddenly his father could hear a divine voice "You need not worry about Jana, she is my daughter, she is destined to live in Pandharpur, therefore leaves her with me."  His father  heavy heartedly left Jana in Pandharpur, thinking that it is the wish of Panduranga, sincerely prayed for her goodness and returned to his village.