Jnaneshvara

(1275–1296)

   poet-saint

   Jnaneshvara was a Vaishnavite (see VAISHNAVISM) poet-saint from Maharashtra, who wrote hymns of praise to VITHOBA and RUKMINI, the Maha-rashtran forms of KRISHNA and RADHA who are worshipped at Pandharpur. He is most famous for his commentary on the BHAGAVAD GITA writ-ten in old Marathi, a beloved and revered text in Maharashtra. It is said that Jnaneshvara died at the age of 22, at Alandi on the Krishna River. This is now an important pilgrimage site; his shrine is visited there at the time of the poet’s death in November.

   Further reading: P. V. Bobde, trans., Garland of Divine Flowers: Selected Devotional Lyrics of Saint Jnanesvara (Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass, 1987); Manu Subedar, trans., Gita, the Mother: Commentary by Dhyaneshwar Maharaj (New Delhi: Kalyani, 1972).