सांगितलें काम करावें कवित्व । वाउगें निमित्त बोलों नये ।। प्रमाणाची संख्या सांगे शत कोटी । उरले ते शेवटीं लावी तुका||
Meaning: The task assigned must be accomplished, and one must not boast about being the cause. The number stated is a hundred crore; what remains, in the end, should be attributed to Tuka.
He states the number to be a hundred crore, and in the end, attributes it to Tuka. As expressed by great saints like Tukaram Maharaj, the concept of writing a hundred crore Abhanga’s was envisioned by Saint Namdev, truly a priceless gem of Marathi heritage.
About Literature and Social Life
In the literary and societal life of India, saints across different eras have instilled new consciousness, modernity, purity, and straightforward commentary on social life. In Maharashtra’s saint tradition, the works of Saint Dnyaneshwar, his contemporary Namdev, Eknath, Tukaram, and Saint Ramdas in literature and social life are unparalleled. Their writings continue to guide Maharashtra even after centuries. It would not be an exaggeration to term them as the life-force. It is believed that in ancient times, Valmiki composed a hundred crore Ramayana’s. A similar idea might have inspired them. However, accomplishing such a feat by one person in today’s Kali Yuga is impossible, hence their families also contributed to this task, and it is said that together they completed compositions totaling 96 crores. But the literature available to us today is significantly less in comparison.
Debate on Birth Place
Like many legends, it’s said that Saint Namdev was born in a shell, a story narrated by the Hagiographer Mahipati in ‘Bhaktavijay’. However, since Namdev himself has clearly stated in one of his Abhanga’s that he was born from a womb, there’s no need for further discussion on this matter. Forgetting bodily consciousness and holding a vina in one hand, he chose the path of abhang kirtan to communicate with God. His knowledge added moisture to dry devotion. He used poetry as a medium of expression. The language of his poetic compositions was rich yet simple and straightforward.
There is consensus that he was born around the year 1192. There are various opinions and references regarding his birthplace. Some say it was Pandharpur, while others believe it was Narsi-Bamani, but there is no consensus on the location because there are two or three places with the same name. However, references to Pandharpur are found in the abhangs of Janabai and Saint Eknath, suggesting that Namdev’s family had settled in Pandharpur before his birth.
Narsi-Bamani, known by this dual name, is a famous village in the original Parbhani. Nearby, on the banks of the Kayadhu/Kayad river, there is a samadhi believed to be his, and the site of his house is shown. The village where he received spiritual guidance from Visoba Khechar is Naganath’s Avande, close to Narsi, suggesting that this Narsi might indeed be his ancestral home.
Worshiped by Hindu and Sikh’s
Saint Namdev’s uniqueness lies in spreading the Bhagwat Dharma beyond Maharashtra’s borders, chanting “I dance in the colors of kirtan, I light the lamp of wisdom in the world” in Gujarat, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, Bihar, and other states. His influence is evident. The Sikh’s Adi Granth, ‘Granth Sahiba,’ includes 61 verses in Namdev’s name. His Hindi compositions are also available. Known as ‘Sant Namdev ki Gurubani,’ these are part of the daily recitations of Sikhs. Namdev holds Jnaneshwar in high esteem. It is believed he visited Jnaneshwar around 1214 when he was about 20-22 years old. Muktabai commented on his pride in devotion. Later, abandoning his blind and saguna devotion, he turned to the Bhagavata tradition under Jnaneshwar’s influence and sought blessings by considering Visoba Khechar as his guru.
Preaching of Namadeva:
“You alone are my fast, you alone are my pilgrimage. You are the Dharma, wealth, desire, O God”
From Gurubani, Namdev teaches, “The Lord is the purest of the pure; only through doubt could there be another. One Universal Creator God. By The Grace Of The True Guru: I am not celibate, nor truthful, nor scholarly. I was born foolish and ignorant into this world. Prays Naam Dayv, I have taken to the Sanctuary of the Lord, and the Lord is my only strength.” This essence of devotion and surrender is echoed in his verses across the Guru Granth Sahib, illuminating the path of righteousness and the beauty of unconditional love.
Holding such a fervent devotion to Vithoba of Pandharpur, Namdev spent his last days in Pandharpur and left his body there at the age of 80. The ‘Namdev Payari’ at the entrance of Sri Panduranga’s temple in Pandharpur is recognized as his samadhi.