Sant Gyaneshwar- Dr. Giriraj Shah

The name of Sant Gyaneshwar is on the lips of everyone in Maharashtra. He was a born Siddha. He was a Yogi of high attainments and had full control over the elements. His work ‘Gyaneshwari’ is the crest jewel of Marathi literature. The simple style, the beautiful illustrations and the apt similes have rendered the book attractive, charming and extremely useful. Gyaneshwar is to Maharashtrians what the Ramayana of Tulsidas is to the Hindi-speaking people. Though Gyandev lived for only a few years, he did wonderful work. He was a Yogi of deep spiritual experiences and a sage of Supreme Order. He boldly criticized his predecessors. He was a great social and religious reformer and laid the foundation of the great Bhakti movement in Maharashtra. He was a fine poet.

The Birth

The life history, origin and other particulars of great Saints, prophets and world teachers are all very strange and mysterious. Gyandev was born of a Sanyasini in the same manner as Lord Jesus who was born of immaculate conception as the son of a village carpenter, Kabir was the son of weaver who was found in a lake and Sankara was a poor child of Kaladi.

© `Gurus, Philosophers, Mystics, & Saints of India’ published (Edn. 2002 Vol. 1) by Diamond Pocket Books (P) Limited, X-30, Okhla Industrial Area, Phase II, New Delhi 110 020. Website: www.diamondpocketbooks.com. Reprinted with permission.

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