- Eknath
Eknāth (1533-1599) was a prominent Marāthi religious poet in the
Hindu tradition inIndia .Eknath was born and lived most of his life in "Paithan" in Mahārāshtra,
India .He was aKulkarni of that Village. Eknath's family name is almost unknown. In accord with a tradition in India of assigning the epithet "sant" (संत) to persons regarded as thoroughly saintly, Eknath is commonly known in Maharashtra as "Sant Eknath (संत एकनाथ)".At age 25, he married "Girijābāi", and the couple had three children.
Eknath was well-versed in
Sanskrit ,Arabic ,Persian ,Urdu , andHindi languages besidesMarathi .Brotherhood concepts
Saint
Eknath is believed to first person in Middle-ageMaharastra who have abolished concept of Untouchability by his actions. He saved the life of aMahar child flowing in flood water ofGodavari . He also behaved very politely and gently with untouchable people. His well described poems advocate soft corner and equal treatment among all living beings even with animals.His one poem is famous in Marathi literature like- जे जे भेटे भुत, ते ते मानिजे भगवंत.He also started activities related to reading of Dyaneshweari which was sidelined due to Islamic invasion.Religious Writings
For his spiritual development in his youth, Eknath had accepted the discipleship of a
Guru named "Janārdan Swāmi". At the suggestion of this Guru, Eknath wrote as his first composition a Marathi commentary in verse form named "Chatushloki Bhāgwat" based on certain four verses ("shlok: श्लोक") in Sanskrit Bhāgwat. The elaborate commentary consisted of 1,036 "owees" ("ओव्या").About 230 years before the birth of Eknath,
Dnyaneshwar had written an important commentary in verse form ("ओव्या") in Marathi named "Bhāwārth-Deepikā", (popularly known as Dnyāneshwari) on Sanskrit Bhagawad Geetā. After elaborate research, Eknath meticulously prepared an authentic edition of "Dnyaneshwari".Almost all of Eknath's writings were in verse form in Marathi.
Eknath wrote a scholarly and lucid commentary, "Eknāthi Bhāgawat", on the Eleventh Canto of Sanskrit Bhāgawat Purāna. The commentary involved 18,800 "owees".
His worte the first 25,000 "owees" of his another major work, "Bhāwārtha-Rāmāyana". A disciple of his had added 15,000 "owees" to complete this work.
Eknath wrote "Rukmini Swayamwar" comprising 1,711 "owees"; it was based on 144 "shlok" from "Bhagawat Purana". His work, "Hastāmalak", compised 764 "owees", and it was based on a 14-shlok Sanskrit hymn with the same name by Shankarāchārya.
He further wrote "Shukāshtak" (447 "owees"), "Swātma-Sukha" (510 "owees"), "Ānanda-Lahari" (154 "owees"), Chiranjeewa-Pad" (42 "owees"), "Geetā-Sār", and "Prahlād-Wijaya".
Eknath introduced a new form of
Marathi religious songs called "Bhārood" ("भारूडे"), writing 300 of them. He wrote 300 religious songs in the "Abhang" form ("अभंग").In his adult life, Eknath gave many lucid religious public discourses ("कीर्तने").
Eknath initiated in Maharashtra a movement called "Wāsudewa Sansthā". It involves house-to-house visitations by individuals known as "Wāsudewa", who, standing in front of people's houses, spread religious messages through "bhajan" chants ("भजने").
ee also
*
Vasudeva
*Bhagavatism External links
* [http://www.namdeoshimpisamaj.org/Saint_Namdeo_Maharaj/Default.htm Saint Namdeo Maharaj]
* [http://www.geocities.com/profvk/gohitvip/52eknath.html Gems of Superlative Devotion]
* [http://www.hindupedia.com/en/index.php?title=Sant_Eknath Sant Eknath]
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.
