Sant Sri Namdev 

Pranams at the lotus feet of Sri Namdev Maharaj!

Chapter - 3

It was on a Diwali day, the whole village was in a festive mood, houses were decorated with flowers and earthen lamps, Namadeva finished early morning oil bath and attired in new clothes.  His parents enquired 'Namadeva, you had a bath and new clothes, who will give a bath and new clothes to your Vittala?" he rushed to temple to invite Vittala for an oil bath and accept new clothes.  He begged Vittala to accept his invitation,  Vittala could not refuse the request of Namadeva.  The Lord and the devotee had come into conclusion, Namadeva would stand in place of Vittala till he gets back from bathing and dressing up in new clothes.   Vittala taught him how to stand on the single brick keeping hands on the waist, without moving an inch like an idol and without blinking eyes.  Namdev agreed to follow all the conditions of Vittala and requested him to accept the invitation to his home.  Later, Namdev understood how difficult to stand on a single brick that too for several Yugas, without moving an inch, accepting all those offerings fondly offered by his ardent devotees.  It multiplied Namadevas love and devotion to Panduranga.  In this way, Namadeva spends all his childhood with Vittala, partaking meals and childhood pastimes.

Sant Sri Namdev 

Pranams at the lotus feet of Sri Namdev Maharaj!

Chapter - 2

Namadev continued to wait before the idol eyes kept closed, finally, he lost patience and said " Vittala, if you do not consume the meal I have offered I will thrash my head before you and give up my life."  Soon Lord Vittala appeared before Namadeva " Nama, I am highly pleased with your devotion, I am willing to do anything for you.  Therefore tell me what you want me to do?" Namadeva said, " Vittala, I have brought these offerings for you, you have to accept this I am not allowed to consume the meal before you accept." They together sat and shared the offerings.  At home, his mother was anxious about Namadeva who returned home late with empty plates and said: " Ma, I have fed Vittala, he was so compassionate fed me also." his mother was not willing to believe him, she said: " Namadeva, do not tell lies, people of the village may think you are crazy." Namdev said " Ma, I am n0t telling lies, it is true. I am promising on Lord Vittala, who appeared from the idol and sat with me to consume the offerings.  If you want you can witness personally when I take the offerings to the shrine tomorrow.   You can watch it secretly."  This practice has continued, Vittal happily accepts the offerings from the hands of Namadeva, his mother and the people assembled in the shrine were stunned to watch this miracle.  Lord Vittala taught the scriptures and Veda to Namadeva.

Sant Sri Namdev 

Pranams at the lotus feet of Sri Namdev Maharaj!

Chapter - 1

Sant Sri Namdev was lived during the period of 13th century, a staunch devotee of Lord Vittala, a great saint of Varkari Sampradaya.  There is no clear evidence about the birthplace or parents of Sri Namdev Maharaj.   It is believed that he was born on 26th October 1270 in Hingoli,  which is located in the northern parts of Marathwada in Maharashtra.  He was brought up by a pious childless couple, merchant Dhamsheth and his chaste wife Gona bai who were sincere devotees of Lord Panduranga, they have followed strict disciplines at home that the initial offerings should be performed to Lord Vittala.   Namdev was a studious child, like any other children in the village he was playful and interested in the singing praise of Lord Vittal.  His parents  Dhamshet and Gonai were proud of their child Namdev.  He was brought up in the home were Panduranga was worshiped as a family deity when his father goes out of the village for business purposes, it was the duty of Namadeva to perform the daily rites to Panduranga.  One day he arrived at the shrine of Panduranga with the offerings, the priest of the temple advised him to close the doors while leaving the shrine after the worship, the little Namdeva enquired why the doors should be closed, the priest compassionately explained to him that Lord Panduranga giving Dharshan to his devotees from the early morning, he receives all the offerings of them, so he needs time to relax as well.  The little Namadeva convinced that Lord Vittala needs after long days of worship.  He kept the offerings before the idol of Lord Vittala and performed the customary rite, he was anxious to note that Vittala was not consuming any of the offerings, little Namadeva began to speak " Vittala, are you on a feast? It is not Ekadashi today, if you have told me to bring something which is suitable to consume I would have brought, you have to accept my offerings I am feeling so hungry, I am not used to consuming meal before you, my father is not in town, it is my duty to feed you Vittala.  Therefore I will close my eyes and wait for you to consume the meal."

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.