Dnyaneshwar

Sant Dnyaneshwar, also known as Jñāneśvara, Jñānadeva, Dnyandev, or Mauli, was a prominent 13th-century Indian Marathi saint, poet, philosopher, and yogi belonging to the Nath and Varkari traditions. Born in 1275 in Apegaon, Maharashtra, he passed away at the young age of 21 in 1296, taking 'sanjeevan samadhi' in Alandi. In his short life, Dnyaneshwar authored significant works such as 'Dnyaneshwari' (a commentary on the Bhagavad Gita) and 'Amrutanubhav'. These works are considered foundational texts in Marathi literature and are among the oldest surviving literary works in the Marathi language. Dnyaneshwar's philosophy integrated Advaita Vedanta with a strong emphasis on Yoga and devotion (Bhakti) towards Vithoba, an incarnation of Vishnu. His teachings and legacy profoundly influenced later saint-poets like Eknath and Tukaram, and he is recognized as one of the key figures in establishing the Varkari Bhakti movement, which centered on devotion to Vithoba and Krishna in Maharashtra. His writings emphasized spiritual egalitarianism and the use of vernacular Marathi to make philosophical concepts accessible to the common people, challenging the linguistic and social hegemony of Sanskrit.