Sant Kanhopathra

Pranams at the lotus feet of Sant Kanhopathra!

Chapter – 3

Kanhopathra was not willing to pick up the traditions of the courtesan as a profession, so she has the only choice left to marry somebody and lead an ordinary life.  She did not find her choice; she wanted her groom more attractive than her with good character, and loving.   But that was something which impossible to happen, she was the loveliest woman like celestial Apsara.

There are two legends about Kanhopathra’s journey to the path of spirituality.   One is that there was a female servant Hausa who was the care-taker of Kanhopathra cultivated the essence of devotion in Kanhopathra.  The other legend describes, once it was Ashada Shuklapaksha Ekadashi, a group of Varkari saints was conducting a pilgrimage to the famous shrine of Panduranga.  These huge numbers of devotees walking several miles by foot from their hometown took rest in Mangalweda.   They continued singing and praising Lord Panduranga in the whole night, it enthused the devotion and love for Panduranga in Kanhopathra, the reverberating sounds of musical instruments which she was used to singing and dance with did not bring any happiness all these years were surprisingly sounded nectar to her ears, the whole atmosphere was mesmerizing with the devotion to Lord Panduranga brought her in a state of supreme bliss.  She left home in the dark, joined with the group of Varkari saints, she had a conversation about Lord Vittobha with them, they briefed Lord Vittobha excels the loveliness of Goddess Mahalakshmi who is the epitome of beauty.  Kanhopathra enquired, will Lord Panduranga accept her as she was born in the family of a courtesan.  They said if Panduranga accepts Kubja, Ajamila, and devotees belong to untouchables, he would definitely accept her as his devotee.  It inspired her to conduct a journey in search of Panduranga who resides in the Srikshethram.  That night, she joined with the Varkari saints singing and praising the glories of Lord Panduranga.   She marvelously sang and danced, praising the Leela/pastimes of Lord,  Kanhopathra soaked in tears singing the separation of Lord Krishna from his beloved Radharani,  she spent the whole night in this way and returned home to get permission from her mother to leave to Pandharpur.  The mother and daughter argued for hours, finally, she sneaked out of the home in the darkness.  She joined with the Varkari saints and walked several miles by foot singing in praise of Lord and arrived in the shrine.   She has envisioned the unparalleled beauty of Lord Panduranga, she found all those virtues she  was seeking in her groom; she wedded Panduranga as her husband and spent the rest of the days in Pandharpur.  She spent her days sung in praise of glories of Lord Vittobha, she merrily danced before him, she cleaned the shrine and she has completely withdrawn herself from the worldly matters and lived a life of an ascetic.   She sang and danced before Panduranga in a state of ecstasy.  The people of Pandharpur praised her intense devotion and virtues, thus she had earned huge respect among the people.

Sant Kanhopathra

Pranams at the lotus feet of Sant Kanhopathra!

Chapter – 2

As Shyamabai was too old to perform the task of a courtesan, it was the responsibility of Kanhopathra to perform music in front of the visitors in the house. She understood her mother wanted her to continue as a courtesan, she performed music and dances in front of the rich and wealthy men of the village, but she did not find pleasure or peace in it.   Her home reverberated with the sounds of various musical instruments and music, but she did not find any happiness. She received an abundance of praise, valuable gifts and contributions from the men who visited her home.  That too does not make her happy.    Shyamabai took all efforts to keep Kanhopathra in the family profession of a courtesan, but her mind was with Lord Vittala.  She was not willing to sell flesh for money and follow the footsteps of her mother.  It was believed that Kanhopathra was born to a rich man Sadhashiva MalaGujar in Mangalweda, but there was no clear evidence of her birth details.  Kanhopathra grown to a beautiful young lady, her beauty is often compared to celestial Apsaras.  She was well-trained in music and dance from the early years of childhood, she became a talented singer and dancer, in fact, she was one of the finest dancer and singer of that period.

As a courtesan, it was a part of their responsibility to visits rulers and emperors who present them with huge wealth, precious ornaments and valuable gifts.  But Kanhopathra did not follow any of these norms of a courtesan life,  she was a woman of moral values and devotion to Lord Vittobha.  Many rich and respectable men crowded in her place to listen to her music, and Sadhashiva Malagujar was also one among them.  Kanhopathra had to face molestation from Sadhashiva Malagujar, although Shyamabai took all the efforts to convince him to spare Kanhopathra who is supposed to be his daughter.  But none of these worked for long, Sadhashiva continued to trouble the mother and daughter, her wealth started deteriorating, Shyamabai had to offer her daughter to Sadhashiva.  But Kanhopathra who had strong will power and devotion and faith upon  Lord Panduranga made her way out of all these troubles.

Sant Kanhopathra

Pranams at the lotus feet of Sant Kanhopathra!

Chapter – 1

Sant Kanhopathra was a Marathi poet who lived during the 15^th century; she was a staunch a devotee of Lord Panduranga.  She has written several verses known an Abhang sung in praise of the glories of Lord Panduranaga.  Kanhopathra's birthplace was Mangalweda, there was not much information about her father.  She was born to Shyamabai who was a courtesan by profession.   The little girl Kanhopathra was introduced to music and dance at a small age, with the hope that she might become one of the finest dancers and earn more money in the future.  She was innocently picked up all those art forms taught to her with serenity and love for Lord Panduranga.  Kanhopathra's devotion to Lord Vittobha was intense, her profession as a singer did not bring much respect or security in the society, she believed that Lord Vittobha is the only protector.   Kanhopathra had to follow the same profession as a singer as she was born to the daughter of a rich courtesan Shyamabai.  She was supremely gorgeous with an attractive appearance.  The rich and respected men of Mangalweda used to throng in her place to listen to her melodious voice.  As she was born in the family courtesan, Kanopathra had to go through the humiliation and vulgar comments of the men used to visit her house, it often hurt her pride.  As years passed, Kanhopathra thoroughly understood which are the sinful act and pious deed.    Shyamabai dearly wanted to send her daughter married off to a respectable family, so that she will be protected from the wicked eyes of the rich men in the village.  Kanhopathra lived in a palatial house and served by a number of maids.  Shyamabai wanted her daughter to get all those comforts throughout her life and most importantly respect from society.  Those days, courtesans were considered as mistresses of rich men,  always be in the association of high-class men of the society, they were considered as low, and have no respect in the society, men crowds in her place for physical comforts.  The children born to these courtesans were treated as illegitimate, boys find their ways out of the family, girls remain within the family and continue the traditions of a courtesan.  These courtesans inherit huge wealth and extravagant lifestyles, but their personal life in the society was of little importance, they were refused to marry in a respectable family and live a life of ordinary people.   Usually, a girl from the family of a courtesan won’t be accepted as a daughter-in-law in any of the respected families, they were not treated with respect in society.