Author: Meera S Sashital
Publication: The Free Press Journal
Date: July 7, 2002
Jnanadev or Jnaneshwar (Lord of
Jnana or knowledge) was the son of a saint turned householder. He had two
brothers and a sister, Nivritti, Sopana and Mukta-bai. They were the offspring
of Vithalpanth, a saintly man whose father was the village accountant called
Govinda-panth. Jnandev was one of the greatest saints of Maharashtra.
Vithalpanth was a scholar in Sanskrit
and was fond of visiting holy places. In his heart he had always yearned
for taking Sanyas and attain self-realisation, but he was obliged to marry
Rukmabai daughter of giridharpanth of Alandi. However, disgusted with worldly
life, be renounces the-world and at Varanasi takes Sanyas from Sripad Yati
(Ramananda Swami). When Rukmabai heard this she was full of grief and fervently
prayed that he may return.
Once Sripad Yati, the Guru of Vithalpanth
happened to visit Alandi. Rukmabai had his darshan and asked for his blessings.
The Yati blessed her saying she will have many children. Rukmabai wept
bitterly and narrated to him her woes. The Yati guessed and returning to
Varanasi advised Vithalpant to go back to Grihastha Ashram and live with
his wife. Vithalpant obeyed his Guru, but the orthodox Brahmins of Alandi
ostracized him and his wife because they said it was against the scriptures
to return to householder's life having once taken up sanyas.
To Vithalpant and Rukmabai were
born four children, Nivritti in 1273 A.D., Jnandev in 1275 A.D., Sopan
in 1277 A.D., and, Muktabai in 1279 A. D. Nivritti is regarded as an incarnation
of Siva, Jnandev of Hari, Sopan of Brahma and Muktabai of Saraswati. Once
the parents went to Tryambakeshwar near Nasik and as they were wandering
round the Brahmagiri mountain, they see a tiger. Vithalpanth rushes away
with his children but misses out on Nivrittinath. Nivrittinath luckily
meets Jnaninath in a cave himself initiated by him. He earns from his Guru
the mysteries of Yoga and spiritual knowledge. Soon he returns home and
rejoins his family.
Since Vithalpanth and his family
were treated as outcasts by the Brahmins, they were put to great hardships
and were humiliated. When .the time came for performing the thread ceremony
of their sons, the Brahmins refused to perform it. They opined that the
children of a Sanyasin were not allowed by the scriptures to have thread
ceremony. The only prayaschitta for Vithalpanth and his wife was to give
up their lives in the Triveni of Prayag. Vithalpanth and his wife sacrifice
their lives hoping that at least then the Brahmins out of pity for their
children would perform their thread ceremony. Jnandev wanting to fulfill
his father's wish approaches the Brahmins of Alandi. Out of pity they request
the children to bring an authority letter (Certificate of Shuddi) from
the Brahmins of Paithan which was regarded as a great orthodox centre.
The boys accordingly go to Paithan
and meet the Brahmins. They recite the Vedas also but they were stopped.
The Brahmins said they were not entitled to recite the Vedas as their father
had returned to Grihastha Ashram after being a Sanyasin. To this Jnanadev
replies that anybody could recite the Vedas, why even a buffalo can Jnanadev
lovingly stroked the buffalo and lo, the buffalo continued to recite the
Vedas from the point where Jnanadev was asked to stop. The Brahmins were
struck with wonder and admitted the greatness of the boys. Recognizing
their spiritual learning they give them the required certificate of purification.
It is evident that Nivrittinatha
initiated Jnana-dev. Jnanadev by his spiritual powers had performed many
miracles. It seems in the absence, of frying pan or vessel, Muktabai used,
to cook on Jnanadev's back. Again, once a Brahmin had to perform the anniversary
of his father. When the Brahmin priests did not turn up, Jnanadev brought
the Pitris themselves to earth from the heaven.
Another remarkable miracle he performed
was during his meeting with Chang Dev. Chang Dev was a famous saint who
by his yogic Powers had attained Bhuta Siddhi or complete control over
all living beings. He was very proud of his yogic powers and used to travel
on a tiger with a serpent as a whip. Chang Dev was curious to see Jnanadev,
so he riding on a 'tiger with serpent as whip, leading a large troupe of
his disciples, started on his journey. Jnandev and his brothers saw him
coming pompously; so to give him proper respect they ask the wall on which
they were seated to move and take them quickly to welcome him. Chang Dev
was wonder-struck at this miracle, that is, seeing them coming on an inanimate
wall through the air and was humbled. Chang Dev immediately got down and
prostrated before Jnanadev and accepted him as his Guru.
Jnanadev by his spiritual powers
cured Sacchidananda Baba from a dangerous illness at Nevase. Sacchidananda
Baba in gratitude became a very willing amanuensis for the writing of Jnanadev's
famous Jnaneshwari. It seems a pillar is still stands in Nevase where they
wrote the Jnaneshwari. Jnanadev wrote Jnaneshwari, the commentary on Gita,
when he was only thirteen.
His commentary on the Gita is considered
as one of the best. Later, Jnanadev was elected as the President by the
Sanskrit Pundits in Varanasi. Nivritti, the Guru of Jnanadev, also asked
him to write a treatise on his spiritual experiences which is known as
amritanubhava and contain the highest experiences of his in 800 couplets.
Jnanadev with his brothers and sister
visited places of pilgrimage from North to South including Rameshwaram
and Madurai. It was at Phndharpur that Jnandev and Namdev became spiritual
friends. It seems this meeting filled Jnanadev with inspiration for the
Pandhari Sampradaya of which he became the first apostle. Those who follow
this 'Wari' systems Pandharpur on Ashadh Ekadashi (June-July) and Kartik
Ekadashi (October-November) days every year. They make it a point to visit
at least once annually.
Jnanadev had a vast following of
disciples but prominent among the followers were Namdev, Jani, Narahari,
Chakhamela, Sena and Gorakumbhar.
Jnanadev soon expressed his wish
to enter into Sanjivani Samadhi or Samadhi while alive. At the young age
of twenty-two the gave up his physical body at Alandi on the 13th day of
the dark half of the Kartik month. It is said Jnanadev sat performing kirtan
and meditating on God, and passed away in that state. Nivrittinatha then
placed a slab on the Samadhi of Jnanadev which is still to be seen before
the temple of Siddheshvara in Alandi.
