sant dnyaneshwar
suhas joshi
Dnyaneshwar
| Sant Dnyaneshwar | |
|---|---|
 |
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| Born | 1275 AD Apegaon, Maharashtra, India |
| Titles/honours | Sant in Marathi, meaning "Saint" |
| Guru | Nivruttinath |
| Philosophy | Varkari, Hinduism |
| Literary works | Abhanga poetry, Dnyaneshwari, Amrutanubhav, Haripath, Changdev Paasashti |
Sant Dnyāneshwar (or Sant Jñāneshwar) (Marathi: संत ज्ञानेश्वर) (1275–1296) is also known as Jñanadeva (Marathi: ज्ञानदेव).[1][2]
He was a 13th century Maharashtrian Hindu saint (Sant - a title by which he is often referred), poet, philosopher and yogi of the Nath tradition whose works Bhavartha Deepika (a commentary on Bhagavad Gita, popularly known as "Dnyaneshwari"), and Amrutanubhav are considered to be milestones in Marathi literature.
Contents |
Traditional history
According to Nath tradition Sant Dnyaneshwar [1] was the second of the four children of Vitthal Govind Kulkarni and Rukmini, a pious couple from Apegaon near Paithan on the banks of the river Godavari. Vitthal had studied Vedas and set out on pilgrimages at a young age. In Alandi, about 30 km from Pune, Sidhopant, a local Yajurveda brahmin, was very much impressed with him and Vitthal married his daughter Rukmini.
After some time, getting permission from Rukmini, Vitthal went to Kashi(Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh, India), where he met Ramananda Swami and requested to be initiated into sannyas, lying about his marriage. But Ramananda Swami later went to Alandi and, convinced that his student Vitthal was the husband of Rukmini, he returned to Kashi and ordered Vitthal to return home to his family. The couple was excommunicated from the brahmin caste as Vitthal had broken with sannyas, the last of the four ashrams. Four children were born to them; Nivrutti in 1273, Dnyandev (Dnyaneshwar) in 1275, Sopan in 1277 and daughter Mukta in 1279. According to some scholars their birth years are 1268, 1271, 1274, 1277 respectively. It is believed that later Vitthal and Rukmini ended their lives by jumping into the waters at Prayag where the river Ganges meets Yamuna hoping that their children would be accepted into the society after their death.
The couple set out on a pilgrimage with their children to Tryambakeshwar, near Nashik, where their elder son Nivrutti (at the age of 10) was initiated in to the Nath tradition by Gahininath. The paternal great grandfather of Dnyaneshwar had been initiated into the Nath cult by Goraksha Nath (Gorakh Nath). The orphaned children grew up on alms. They approached the Brahmin community of Paithan to accept them but the Brahmins refused. According to the disputed "Shuddhi Patra" the children were purified by the Brahmins on condition of observing celibacy. Their argument with the Brahmins earned the children fame and respect due to their righteousness, virtue, intelligence, knowledge and politeness. Dnyaneshwar became the student of Nivruttinath along with his younger siblings Sopan and Mukta at the age of 8. He learnt and mastered the philosophy and various techniques of kundalini yoga.
Writings
The child moved to Nevasa, a village in Ahmednagar district, where Dnyaneshwar began his literary work when Nivruttinath instructed him to write a commentary on Bhagavad Gita. The Dnyaneshwari or Bhavartha Deepika was written down by Sacchidananandbaba from discourses by Dnyaneshwar. By the time the commentary was complete Dnyaneshwar was only 15 years old.
Considered a masterpieces of Marathi literature, the Dnyaneshwari's 18 chapters are composed in a metre called "ovi". Dnyaneshwar liberated the "divine knowledge" locked in the Sanskrit language to bring that knowledge into Prakrit (Marathi) and made it available to the common man. He was confident that he would write in marathi in as good or better manner than Sanskrit.
Amrutanubhav, written some time after, is difficult and finds fewer readers[citation needed]. Containing 10 chapters and 806 ovi, the basis of this book is non dualism (advaita siddhanta). The seventh and biggest chapter (295 ovi) is the most important. Apart from Dnyaneshwari and Amrutanubhav works like Changdev Paasashti (a collection of 65 ovi addressed to an allegedly 1400 years old yogi named Changdev Maharaj), Haripath and around 1000 "abhanga" (authorship of many is disputed due to differences in writing style) are attributed to Dnyaneshwar.
Siblings
Nivruttinath was the elder brother of Dnyaneshwar. Nivrutti was an authority on philosophy of the Nath sect. Gahininath, one of the nine Nath gurus, accepted Nivrutti as his disciple and initiated him into the Nath sect, instructing him to propagate devotion to Krishna. Dnyaneshwar accepted his elder brother as his own guru. After the early Samadhi of Dnyaneshwar, Nivrutti travelled with his sister Mukta on a pilgrimage along the Tapi river where they were caught in a thunderstorm and Mukta was swept away. Nivrutti took to salvation (Samadhi) at Tryambakeshwar. Around 375 abhangas are attributed to him but, the authorship of many of them is disputed due to difference in writing style and philosophy.
Sopandev was a younger brother Sopandev attained ‘samadhi' at Saswad near Pune. He wrote a book "Sopandevi" based on the Bhagvadgita's Marathi interpretation along with 50 or so abhangas. Muktabai was the youngest of the siblings, Muktai or Muktabai was known for her simple and straightforward expression of thoughts. She could be considered as one of the first poetesses in Marathi along with Mahadamba. There are around 40 abhangas attributed to her. She accepted Yogi Changdev as her disciple.
Varkari Movement
ज्ञानदेव राचीला पाया तुका झालासी कळस DNYANDEVE RACHILA PAYA TUKA ZALASI KALAS. Dnyaneshwar build/ started Bhakti moment temple in Maharashtra and Tukaram put this bhakti moment to its peak level.
Dnyaneshwar introduced the Varkari Movement (or Vitthala Sampradaya) of Pandharpur (founder of the Varkari movement). The Varkaris soon considered him their teacher and spiritual leader, who initiated his contemporaries associated with the Dvaita (dualism) school of the bhakti movement into Advaita (non-dualism).[citation needed] He strongly advocated ज्ञानयुक्त भक्ती dnyana yukta bhakti (devotion guided by knowledge).
Every Year Around 3 Laks of Devotees Travel from Alandi to Phandharpur in month of June–July (Month Ashad in Hindu calendar). Varkari covers this journey by walk in 18 days, distance Travel from Alandi to Phandharpur is around 228 kilometers. Varkari travel along with Padukas (footwear) of Guru Dnyaneshwar in palkhi (palanquin).
For year 2012 the Palakhi was scheduled on Jun 11 from Alandi.
Samadhi
After having composed Amrutanubhava, Dnyaneshwar made a pilgrimage to northern India with Namdev and other saints. After completing this pilgrimage he expressed his intention to enter into a state of Samadhi because he felt that the mission of his life was complete. It is widely propagated that at the age of 21 on 13th day of the second half of Kartik in Shaka 1218,[3] Dnyaneshwar entered into a permanent state of Sanjeevan Samadhi [2] at Alandi in Maharashtra, India.[4]
An account of this incident is described by the contemporary Saint Namdev in a set of Abhangas named as Samadheeche Abhanga (translation: Abhangas of Samadhi).
Miracles
Stories recounted in many holy books of the Bhagawata Sampradaya sect about Dnyaneshwar’s life are full of miracles, such as the baking of bread (mānde, or roti in Hindi) on his heated back, and his making a wall move.This was because he was yogi who followed the yogic methods of Nath Sampradaya.
Pasayadan
Dnyaneshwar wrote the Pasayadan which is a prayer for the well being of the people. Pasaydan is included at the end of the Dynaneshwari.Sant Dnyaneshwar completed his work on Shrimad Bhagavad Gita called as Dnyaneshwari which has 9000 Ovis(Shlokas). Pasayadan is an 9 shloka work composed and included at end of Dnyaneshwari's 18 Chapter. Pasayadan describes essence of this 9000 shlokas.
Pasayadana (Shlokas 1794 ta o 1802)
आता विश्वात्मकें देवें । येणे वाग्यज्ञें तोषावें । तोषोनिं मज ज्ञावे । पसायदान हें ॥1॥
May the Self of the universe be pleased with this sacrifice of words and bestow His grace on me.
जें खळांची व्यंकटी सांडो । तया सत्कर्मी- रती वाढो । भूतां परस्परे पडो । मैत्र जीवाचें ॥2॥
May the sinners commit evil deeds no longer , may their desire for righteous deeds be increased, and may all beings live in harmony with each-other.
दुरितांचे तिमिर जावो । विश्व स्वधर्म सूर्यें पाहो । जो जे वांच्छिल तो तें लाहो । प्राणिजात ॥3॥
May the darkness of sin disappear, and the world see the rising of the sun of righteousness(nature of self), and may the desires of all creatures be satisfied.
वर्षत सकळ मंगळी । ईश्वरनिष्ठांची मांदियाळी । अनवरत भूमंडळी । भेटतु भूतां ॥4॥
May everyone keep the company of saints devoted to God, who will shower their blessings on them.
चलां कल्पतरूंचे आरव । चेतना चिंतामणींचें गाव । बोलते जे अर्णव । पीयूषाचे ॥5॥
Saints are walking gardens filled with wish-fulfilling trees, and they are living villages of wish-fulfilling gems. Their words are like oceans of nectar.
चंद्र्मे जे अलांछ्न । मार्तंड जे तापहीन । ते सर्वांही सदा सज्जन । सोयरे होतु ॥6॥
They are moons without blemish and suns without heat. May these saints be the friends of all people.
किंबहुना सर्व सुखी । पूर्ण होऊनि तिन्हीं लोकी । भजिजो आदिपुरुखी । अखंडित ॥7॥
May everyone in all the worlds be filled with joy, and may worship God forever.
आणि ग्रंथोपजीविये । विशेषीं लोकीं इयें । दृष्टादृष्ट विजयें । होआवे जी ।|8॥
May all those for whom this book is,their very life be blessed with success in this world and the next.
येथ म्हणे श्री विश्वेशराओ । हा होईल दान पसावो । येणें वरें ज्ञानदेवो । सुखिया जाला ॥9॥
Then,Nivruttinath ,the great Master(hence the god)said that this blessing will be granted. This brought great joy to Dnyaneshwar.
Complete Dnyaneshwari is available at http://sanskritdocuments.org/marathi/ Complete information about Dnyaneshwar's palkhi (palanquin) is available at http://warisantanchi.com/english
Notes
- ^ Rinehart 2004, p. 259.
- ^ Mokashi & Engblom 1987, p. 39.
- ^ "Sant Dnyaneshwar". hindupedia.com.
- ^ Dr. S. D. Parchure, M. A. Ph. D.. "Saint Dnyaneshwar". saileelas.org.
References
- Mokashi, Digambar Balkrishna; Engblom, Philip C (1987), Palkhi, an Indian pilgrimage, SUNY Press, ISBN 978-0-88706-462-3
- Rinehart, Robin (2004), Contemporary Hinduism: ritual, culture, and practice, ABC-CLIO, ISBN 978-1-57607-905-8
- Dnyaneshwari: Swarup, Tatvadnyan ani Kavya, Majestic Book Stall, 1980
- Ranade, R.D (1982)), Mysticism in Maharashtra: Indian mysticism, Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass, ISBN 81-208-0575-5
- Bahirat, B.P (1956), The Philosophy of Jnanadeva, Mumbai: Popular Prakashan, ISBN 81-7154-737-0
- Bobde (translator), P.V (1987), Garland of Divine Flowers: selected devotional lyrics of Saint Jnanesvara, Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass, ISBN 81-208-0390-6
External links
- Extracts from Amritanubhav
- Biography of Dnyaneshwar by V.V. Shirvaikar
- Lata Mangeshkar's rendering of some of Sri Jñāneshwar's abhangas
- Bhakti movement
- Sant Dnaneshwar on Hindupedia, the online Hindu Encyclopedia
- Pasayadan in Marathi
- Samadhi of Sant Dnyaneshwar
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