Sant Sri Namdev 

Pranams at the lotus feet of Sri Namdev Maharaj!

Chapter - 6

One day Namadeva entered in the shrine of Lord Shiva, he found a stranger in ragged clothes sleeping close to the Linga keeping his two legs on top of the Linga.  Namadeva was shocked to see this, he was furious and asked the stranger to remove his legs from the idol.  The stranger asked his whereabouts, Namadeva introduced himself as an ardent devotee of Lord Panduranga, the stranger said even the beggars utter the name of Lord for receiving alms, so there is nothing superior in this.  Namdev was angrily told the man to keep his legs down from the Linga, he refused to do so, instead, he revealed his pitiful state and has no strength to move his leg an inch,  he asked Namadeva to remove his leg from the Linga.   Namdev removed his leg from the Linga and prepared to keep on the floor, soon there appeared another Linga, in this way wherever he placed his leg there appeared Linga, Namdev was mystified.  Soon the stranger assumed the form of Vishoba Khecchar who was his preceptor.   Namdev reverentially prostrated before him.  He advised Namdeva that his Abangs are most powerful, he is beloved of Panduranga who consume offerings from his hand, he has to leave Pandharpur and take a journey all through the sacred lands of India and spread Namasankeerthana.  He blessed Namadeva that the people who intend to get Dharshan of Lord Panduranga would prostrate before him before they proceed for the Dharshan of the Lord, later it had become true.  At the instruction of his preceptor, Namadeva conducted a journey to Punjab to spread Namasankeerthana and inspired multitudes of people to engage in the selfless service to Lord and recite his glories.    Namadeva enthused people with his lectures and glorious verses of Abhang.  His nectar-like speeches about the significance of Namasankeerthana was " The utterance of sacred names of Lord would provide liberation from worldly existence, ultimately worshiper would reside in the abode of Sri Vaikundham.  The miseries of worldly existence can be fought with the weapon of Namasmaran.  Therefore, let everyone ride on the ferry of Namasankeerthan and cross the unfathomable ocean of worldly existence."

In the year 1350, at the age of eighty Sant Sri Namdev Maharaj attained the lotus feet of Panduranga.  After his demise, he assumed as a stepping stone in the shrine of Pandharpur so that he would stay in constant touch of the feet of innumerable saints and devotees of Lord.  Sri Namdev Maharaj composed 125 glorious poems praising Lord Vittala, which was known as Abhang and sixty-one of the verses are included in the holy Guru Granth Sahib as Namdevji Ki Mukhbani.  He lived twenty years in a village called Ghuman in Gurdaspur district in Punjab, in the early fifties he returned to Pandharpur and continued spiritual service till his demise.

Sant Sri Namdev 

Pranams at the lotus feet of Sri Namdev Maharaj!

Chapter - 5

Once Namdev took newly woven clothes for sale to market, on the way he took rest under a tree, he looked around to feed animals, but he did not find any,   there he found a big sized rock and assumed it is as Vittala.   He adorned the rock with all the clothes he has brought for sale, with an agreement that the next time when he visits the market the rock should pay money for the clothes.  Namadeva returned home without money or clothes, his father was worried about his way of dealing with customers and selling clothes without receiving money.  The next time Namadeva returned to the same place where he adorned the rock with the clothes, he found there were no clothes on it, he was so upset, he conversed with the rock that he has to pay money to Dhamshet for the clothes he had adorned on the rock, otherwise, he would take the rock home and it should give a proper answer to Dhamshet.  He rolled the rock all the way from its place to his home, he started speaking to it, the villagers assembled were mocked and laughed at him.  Soon his parents arrived, Namdeva introduced the rock as his customer who received huge loads of clothing from him.  His father got very angry, and his mother was too worried " Namadeva, does anyone make a trade with a rock?" Are you mad?" his father was furious beat the rock with his stick, soon the stick turned into gold.  The people assembled were so greedy crowded around the rock, one person said " This rock you have picked up from my place, so I should take it back. I will pay the money for the clothes you have adorned it." finally, Namdev received the money for his clothes, the person who bought the rock lamented over his foolishness without knowing the fact that it was Namadeva's intense devotion paid its fruits.

Sant Sri Namdev 

Pranams at the lotus feet of Sri Namdev Maharaj!

Chapter - 4

 As years passed Namdev grown up to an adult, he continued the practice of feeding Vittala singing praising the glories.  His parents were too old, his father was too ill to continue the family business, Namdev decided to take up the work of his father.  His father was a merchant used to carry woven clothes to market, his father was too happy to hear the decision of Namadeva.  Thus he spends his day taking clothes to market singing praise of Lord Panduranga.  His fame spread all over the village,  Janabai who was working in the house of Namadeva was one of the closest associates of him, she gained all those priceless devotion to Panduranga from Namdev,  but some of the scholars  were jealous of his firm devotion and fame.  Namadeva carry meal with him while visiting the market, but he finds it difficult to consume the meal without offering to Lord Panduranga, so he will feed all those creatures around him, he was too considerate  found the presence of his beloved Lord Panduranga in all those living and non-living things.

Once Namdev carried a good load of clothes to market for sale, and he returned home with empty-handed.  He had neither clothes nor money, his father was worried about his trading techniques, as usual, his mother was supportive of Namadev.  His parents were happy to note that Namdev involved in the ordinary way of living other than the worship of Lord Vittala.  Namdev's lectures were soul-stirring,  invites a large crowd to listen to those nectars like speeches.  " The Supreme Lord is the creator and protector as well.  He is the ocean of mercy, he is the giver, he does not ask for anything other than selfless service, we should always remember the Lord who has given us the life of a human.  He is all-pervading, he is too compassionate assumes any form the way we envision, he is attainable to virtuous and righteous people who have true love towards the supreme Lord.  Whoever recites his name and worship him would be blessed with his perpetual presence, whoever finds the taste of remembering the names of supreme Lord, could not live without it.  It is not easy to cross the ocean of worldly existence, therefore we have to use the ferry of Namasankeerthan to cross this unfathomable ocean of worldly existence.  In this Kali era Namasmaran is the easiest way to approach the Lord, which could provide supreme bliss and serenity to the worshiper."  The lectures and Namasankeerthana of Namdev Maharaj inspired villagers to walk through the path of devotion, they found immense joy and peace in the recitation of sacred names.

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.