Sant Dnyaneshwar: Life, Teachings, Miracles and Jeevan Samadhi

Sant Dnyaneshwar Maharaj (1275–1296 CE), also known lovingly as Dnyanoba Mauli, is one of India’s most luminous saints. A poet, yogi, philosopher, and visionary, he transformed the spiritual landscape of Maharashtra in just 21 years of life. His commentary on the Bhagavad Gita, known as the Dnyaneshwari, remains one of the greatest treasures of Indian spiritual literature. Through deep compassion and clarity, he made spiritual wisdom accessible to the common man, inspiring millions across generations.

This FAQ-style article answers all major questions about Sant Dnyaneshwar.

1. Who was Sant Dnyaneshwar?

Sant Dnyaneshwar was a 13th-century Varkari saint who brought together devotion (bhakti), knowledge (jnana), and yogic realization in a harmonious way. He was a prodigy who, while still a teenager, authored the Dnyaneshwari—one of the most profound commentaries on the Bhagavad Gita. His life and teachings form the foundation of the Varkari Sampradaya, which continues to thrive today.

2. What was the background of his birth?

Dnyaneshwar was born in Apegaon to Vithoba and Rukmini. His father had briefly become a monk and returned to family life, due to which the family faced severe social excommunication. This rejection shaped young Dnyaneshwar’s compassionate outlook toward all beings and fueled his mission of spiritual equality.

3. Who were Sant Dnyaneshwar’s siblings?

He had three saintly siblings:

  • Nivruttinath – His guru and elder brother
  • Sopan – A gentle saint known for devotional works
  • Muktabai – A spiritually gifted mystic and one of Maharashtra’s greatest women saints

All four siblings are respected as divinely inspired.

4. What is the Dnyaneshwari and why is it so revered?

The Dnyaneshwari, also known as the Bhavarth Deepika, is Sant Dnyaneshwar’s poetic commentary on the Bhagavad Gita written in Marathi. Composed at age 16, it makes the Gita’s complex philosophy easily understandable. Its importance lies in:

  • Bringing Sanskrit wisdom to common people
  • Explaining deep spiritual truths with simple imagery
  • Combining devotion, philosophy, and practical life guidance
  • Being one of Marathi literature’s greatest works

The Dnyaneshwari continues to be recited and studied across Maharashtra.

5. What is the Amrutanubhav?

Amrutanubhav, meaning “Experience of Nectar,” is Dnyaneshwar’s original philosophical work. Given by Nivruttinath as a divine instruction, it discusses:

  • The nature of consciousness
  • Non-dual spiritual realization
  • The unity of the individual soul with the cosmic Self

It is considered a masterpiece of Advaita philosophy expressed through poetry.

6. Was Sant Dnyaneshwar a yogi?

Yes. Sant Dnyaneshwar was not only a poet-saint but a yogic master. He had deep mastery over:

  • Ashtanga yoga
  • Inner stillness
  • Expansion of consciousness
  • Pranic control

Traditional accounts describe him as living in a constant state of divine awareness.

7. Are any miracles attributed to him?

Many miraculous events are associated with Sant Dnyaneshwar, often symbolic of his spiritual radiance. Popular accounts include:

  • Making a buffalo recite Vedic hymns
  • Reviving a dead boy
  • Moving the Siddhabet wall with a gesture
  • Performing yogic feats effortlessly

These stories reflect the reverence people had for his spiritual power.

8. What is his connection with the Varkari tradition?

Sant Dnyaneshwar is one of the early architects of the Varkari Sampradaya, a devotional movement dedicated to Vithoba of Pandharpur.
The tradition emphasises:

  • Simple devotion
  • Singing abhangas
  • Daily remembrance of God
  • Love for all beings
  • Equality beyond caste and religion

The famous Wari pilgrimage is deeply connected to his legacy.

9. Why did Dnyaneshwar face rejection in his early life?

Because of the controversy around his father returning from sannyasa, the entire family was outcast. The children were denied sacred rites, including the thread ceremony. This injustice sparked Dnyaneshwar’s commitment to spreading spiritual equality and compassion.

10. When and why did Sant Dnyaneshwar take Jeevan Samadhi?

Sant Dnyaneshwar took Jeevan Samadhi at age 21 in Alandi, with the permission of his guru Nivruttinath.
Reasons given include:

  • He felt his mission of spreading spiritual wisdom was complete
  • He wished to merge into the eternal consciousness
  • His yogic mastery allowed him to exit the body consciously

This was not death in a normal sense—it was a yogic transition.

11. What is Jeevan Samadhi?

Jeevan Samadhi means consciously entering samadhi while alive, withdrawing life energy at will.
It signifies:

  • Mastery of mind
  • Mastery of prana
  • Liberation during life (jivanmukti)
  • Full absorption in the Divine

Sant Dnyaneshwar’s samadhi is considered eternally “alive,” a source of spiritual energy.

12. Where is Sant Dnyaneshwar’s Samadhi located?

His samadhi is located at the Alandi Siddhabet, near Pune.
It is a major pilgrimage centre where countless devotees gather for prayer, meditation, and the annual Palkhi procession.

13. What values did Sant Dnyaneshwar teach?

His teachings stressed:

  • Love for God
  • Seeing divinity in all beings
  • Simplicity
  • Humility
  • Compassion
  • Purity of heart
  • Inner discipline
  • Living a spiritually centred life

He emphasized that spiritual wisdom is meaningful only when lived through love and service.

14. How is Sant Dnyaneshwar remembered today?

Sant Dnyaneshwar continues to inspire:

  • Devotees through his abhangas
  • Scholars through his philosophical depth
  • Yogis through his meditative mastery
  • Society through his message of equality and devotion

The Varkari movement keeps his teachings alive through bhajans, pilgrimages, and community service.

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