Sant Janabai

Pranams at the lotus feet of Janabai!

Chapter - 4

It was believed that Lord Vittal writes down her composition while she sang praising the glories of Lord Panduranga. These poems are famously known as Abhang which is the essence of pure devotion and selfless love of Janabai,   Vittal much loved her beautiful verses and found it essential to spread those marvelous verses across the world to cultivate selfless love, compassion, and devotion among the people.  Thus the Lord of Universe persistently served his staunch devotee Janabai.

One day Janabai was cooking Roti, Vittal approached her with hunger, she served him with Roti and butter.  Vittala had a stomach full of Roti, later he slept in the rustic cottage of Janabai, she was surprised watching the humbleness of supreme Lord, she covered him with a decent blanket available.  The next morning people arrived in the shrine of Panduranga and saw the idol with no precious ornaments, there was only a blanket on the idol that was covered by Janabai on the previous night.  The priests assembled in the shrine realized that it was the blanket owned by Janabai, she must have entered the temple in the night and taken away the jewels of Panduranga.  The priests gathered in the cottage of Janabai, they blamed her that she had taken away the ornaments of Vittala.  The priests conducted a thorough search in the cottage and found the jewels on the mattress where Panduranga slept on the previous night.  The whole household was mistaken it has Janabai stolen the ornaments of Vittal,  The priests took her hand to the Village Panchayath to impose punishment upon her.  Namdev and Dhamsheth felt miserable, finally, the verdict was announced, Janabai was taken fastened with rope by the priests, they took her out of the village to impose death punishment.  As soon as they reached near the pole it transformed into Vittal, the rope fastened in the hands of Janabai was released its own and fell down.  The people assembled were shocked and cried out in guilt, they praised the devotion of Sant Janabai.

Sant Janabai has written three hundred and forty Abhang which replete the selfless love for Panduranga, it was compiled with the works of Sant Namdev.   She has composed many legends from scriptures, and life stories of great saints of her time Saint Gnaneshwar, Sant Kabir Das, Sant Chokhamela, Sant Goroba, Sant Sopankaka etc.. Her poems are heart touching, in simple Marathi language which reveals her innocence, devotion,  and playfulness.  She addressed herself as 'Namayachi Dasi ' humble servant of Namdev.  Janabai's Abhangs are very popular and widely sung in Maharashtra.  In the year 1350, she left her mortal coil at the main entrance of the shrine of Panduranga,  the day Sant Namdev attained the lotus feet of Panduranga.  Sant Janabai continues to live in the hearts of devotees of Panduranga through her glorious poems/Abhang.

Sant Janabai

Pranams at the lotus feet of Janabai!

Chapter - 3

Once Gonabai wife of Dhamseth noticed Jana was talking to someone while grinding the flour, she rushed to see whom Jana was conversing with but she could not see anyone, she threatened Jana to reveal the name of the person with whom she was talking all day long, Jana was speechless, instantly Gonabai found the lotus feet of Panduranga before the grinding stone, she was stunned watching  the devotion of the young Jana.

Gonabai and her daughter-in-law used to admire her dedication to household chores, sometimes they used to baffle at her speed of work in the household activities like grinding flour, filling waters, making Rotis etc.. They have always remembered her as the daughter of Vittal who was born in the low caste.  Namdev advises his mother and wife to respect Jana as the favorite soul of Vittala, never disrespect her as she was born in the lower caste.

Once Jana was returning from collecting water, she found a lady of the village picking cow dung patties, they both had an argument and it continued for long saying that she had stolen the cow dung patties prepared by Jana. While she was seriously arguing for the cow dung patties, there arrived Sant Gnandev and Kabir Das Maharaj to visit the house of Namdev.  Kabir Das Maharaj told Namdev " Gnandev mentioned about young Jana who is a staunch devotee of Lord Panduranga working in your house, she is not an ordinary woman, Lord Panduranga is doing all her work, we have come all the way from Kashi to meet that divine soul who is the beloved daughter of Lord Panduranga."  Gnandev Maharaj asked, " Where is Jana?" Namdev's mother said, " She must have gone for picking woods or cow dung patties." Namdev brought Gnandev and Sant Kabir Das to the place where  Jana was arguing with a woman on cow dung patties.  Sant Kabir Das spoke" Jana are you arguing for a cow dung patty like an ordinary woman?" Janabai said, " she has stolen the cow dung patties prepared by me."  Sant Kabirdas said " how can we find out which is yours and hers? It has become difficult now."  Janabai said with a smile " No, it is not at all difficult, kindly check all the patties by keeping close to your ears, I have made patties while reciting Vittal Nama, therefore you could listen to the Vittal Nama from my patties."  Sant Kabir das picked each patty and he could listen to Vittal Nama from the patties made by Jana.  Sant Kabir Das was mesmerized at the devotion of her, he was deeply moved at the devotion of Jana to Lord Panduranga and said, " Jana, kindly sanctify me keeping your hands on my head, you are divine soul beloved of Lord Panduranga".  She replied with humility " Kabirdha, Lord Panduranga is the father of all, he listens to me,  my preceptor is Namdev who is beloved of Panduranga, hence I am a Dasi of Namdev /Namayachi Dasi who is the staunch devotee of Lord Vittal."  

Sant Janabai

Pranams at the lotus feet of Janabai!

Chapter - 2

The childless Dhamseth arrived in the temple and found little Jana weeping before the idol of Lord Panduranga.  He pacified her not to cry and said: "Panduranga is the mother and father of all the living beings, he will take care of everyone, therefore no need to get frightened." Jana said " Where do I live? who will take care of me?  I have no one here."  Dhamseth said " You come with me to my house, stay with us like our daughter.  I will treat you like the gift of Panduranga."  Thus Dhamseth brought Janabai in his home,  from that day onwards she started living with them, she has become a member of the house immediately, she took care of all the household work, and became a great help for Dhamseth's wife in all household chores.

It was believed that Jana was assisted in her household work by Panduranga, she relentlessly sang praising the glories of Lord and performs all the tasks, Panduranga amiably listens to her and followed all the instructions of Jana.  She found immense pleasure in the association of Lord Panduranga who followed her sincerely in all her household activities such as preparing cow dung patties, grinding flour, washing dishes, bringing woods and straws.  She was never left alone, she was always followed by Panduranga.  As years passed Jana was grown up to a beautiful young maiden, she knows no one other than Panduranga who relentlessly accompanied her in all the household chores.   Her heart was overflowed with the devotion and love for Panduranga, she performed all the household activities with singing melodious songs praising the Lord Panduranga, she spends her days conversing with Panduranga who appears before her while doing household chores.  

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.

The great Saint of Maharashtra - Sant Eknath Maharaj

Pranams at the lotus feet of Eknath Maharaj!

Chapter – 12

Sri Kshethra Pandarpur is one of the famous shrines of Lord Sri Panduranga located on the river banks of Chandrabhaga, in Sholapur District, Maharashtra.  Sant Jyaneshwar, Sant Namdev, and Tukaram were staunch devotees of Lord Vittobha.  Sri Krishna Rai, stepbrother of King Veer Narasimha undertook the regime after the demise of his brother, he was a righteous and wise ruler, and he built many shrines and re-built the dilapidated shrines.  During his regime, the idol of Lord Vittobha was taken from its place to the Kingdom of Vijayanagara.   People of Pandarpur were distressed when the idol of Vittobha was removed from its place, later it was brought back to Pandarpur with the great effort of Bhanudas who was a staunch devotee of Vittobha.  Bhanudas was always remembered in the history for his braveness to bring back the idol of Lord Panduranga into the shrine of Srikshethra.  Chakrapani, who was the son of Bhanudas was a great scholar and a saintly person took good care of Eknath after the death of his parents Suryanarayana and Rukmini.

Sant Eknath announced the day of his Mahasamdhi, he has chosen the auspicious day of Shashti in the month of Phalgun, the day Swami Janardan was born, the day Swami Janardan had attained the Dharshan of Swami Dhaththathreya,  the day he had given Deeksha to Sant Eknath and attained Samadhi.  The devotees were shattered at the announcement of Mahasamadhi of Sant Eknath,  the people from lower caste were broken hearted.  The scholar of Paitan was anxious, there was Eknath Maharaj to guide them through the righteous path, Maharaj consoled them that the pious and devoted people never get stranded in the world of  Samsara, the supreme Lord will guide them through the blameless path.     He arrived on the river banks of Godavari with his devotees and disciple; he conducted meditation and gave lectures on scriptures.  His final nectar-like advice was the recitation of glories of Lord and Namasankeerthana only can bring liberation from the repeated births in this era of Kali, there is no other source for Moksha.  It was in the year 1521, on a Phalgun Shashti day Namasankeerthana was in progress on the river banks of Godavari, there were devotees and villagers assembled in large number, Sant Eknath moved to the waters of the Godavari as if a child seeking shelter on its mother’s lap and attained Mahasamadhi.

The great Saint of Maharashtra - Sant Eknath Maharaj

Pranams at the lotus feet of Eknath Maharaj!

Chapter – 11

One day there was  Namasankeerthana in progress in the house of Eknathji, there were crowds of devotees and neighbors, there was a person named Ranya in the crowd of devotees.  Those days people born in an outclass were considered as untouchables, therefore he felt embarrassed to be present in the crowd of Namasankeerthana, but Eknathaji advised him not to feel uncomfortable, everyone is equal before the supreme Lord, there is no one superior or inferior, there is no one good or bad.  The Universe is the creation of the Supreme Lord, it is a mixture of good and bad.  Ranya was highly impressed with the magnanimity of Maharaj, so he decided to invite Eknathji to his home.  Ranya was quite sure that Eknathji will not refuse his invitation; he is a noble person who treats everyone as equals.  One day Ranya revealed his desire after the Namasankeerthana session to Eknathji, surprisingly Eknathji readily accepted the invitation of Ranya. Soon this news was spread all over the village from the people who attended the Namasankeerthana.  People of the higher class were not happy at this, they decided to disgrace Eknathji while he visits Ranya’s house, and expel him from the caste, and both the houses were keenly observed by a group of people who found Eknathji in his home engaged in Bhajans and Keerthan, at the same time people who were guarding the house of Ranya witnessed Eknathji in his house too.  It was mystifying for the people to witness Eknathji in both places at the same time.  Later, Eknathaji replied to  his devotees  ‘ It was the amusement of Lord Panduranga, If you leave all your troubles with the Lord, he will take care of everything and perform the miracle at the toughest moments.  He does services to his ardent devotees like Lord Krishna served Arjuna as Parthasarathy in the great battlefield of Mahabharath.”

The great Saint of Maharashtra - Sant Eknath Maharaj

Pranams at the lotus feet of Eknath Maharaj!

Chapter – 10

One evening Sant Eknath’s home was crowded with the devotees for Namasankeerthan, suddenly they heard a loud noise outside the door, he came out of his cottage, and all of a sudden the recitation of Bhagavnama stopped.  When he came out of the house saw a man was trying to get up from the floor, people assembled were suspected that he must have come for stealing while doing so he must have fallen down on the ground with a loud knock.  Eknathji went near the man and gave him a hand to lift him up from the ground, and said “Oh! he is unconscious,” Eknathji brought the man and laid on the Veranda and sprinkled water on his face, soon the man regained his consciousness.  Eknathji asked “ Who are you?” where are you staying?” The man replied “ I am feeling so hungry, kindly feed me with something after that I will explain all that to you.”  Eknathji told his wife to bring a cup of  Kheer which was made to offer to Lord Panduranga.   Eknathji fed the man with his hand, he felt better after having Kheer.  He explained “ Maharaj, honestly I am a thief, my health was deteriorating day by day, so I was released from the prison thinking that I would die soon,  I was struggling to get a meal, I have heard Namasankeerthana from your house so thought of begging for a meal, but I could not make it, I was feeling tired and fell down.”  Eknathji said, “Do not worry; now you take rest, I will arrange medicines from our village physician.”  On the next day, Eknathji met the jail superintend, he elaborated the condition of the man, Jailor said “ You are a saintly and innocent person, but you should not be too considerate towards a thief, I had to release him before imposing punishment, I want to avoid ill fame to the authorities.  Eknathji returned from Jailor’s office and said to the thief “ Uddhav, if you can manage your life like a normal person, you can live in my residence. You have to assist me with the daily chores of the house, evening you should participate in Namasankeerthana, and arrangements for the people who visit home.”  Uddhav said “ Maharaj, a blind needs eyesight, what else I need, who will employ a thief in their homes?”  But one of the associates of Eknathji was not happy with the idea of keeping Uddhav at home.  Eknathji explained, “ Uddav was into the wrong company of people, so he engaged in burglary if he did not change in my company, then I cannot do anything, it is all his destiny.”  Within a short period of time, Uddhav has become transformed into a saintly man, engages in pious activities, helping Eknathji with daily chores of the house, sincerely participate in veneration and Namasankeerthana.