Sant Eknath: The Varkari Saint-Scholar of Paithan

Sant Eknath, also called Eknath Maharaj and known to devotees as Nath Maharaj, is a sixteenth-century Marathi saint-scholar of the Varkari tradition who lived at Paithan on the Godavari river in Maharashtra. A devotee of Vitthal of Pandharpur, he is remembered for the Eknathi Bhagwat, a Marathi commentary on the Bhagavata Purana, for his devotional songs called bharuds and abhangas, and for a gentle but firm message of human equality. Many details of his life come from tradition, but his place in the Bhakti movement of Maharashtra is secure.

Key Takeaways

• Sant Eknath is a sixteenth-century Varkari saint-scholar who lived at Paithan on the Godavari river in Maharashtra.
• He is a devotee of Vitthal, the deity of Pandharpur, and belongs to the Varkari tradition of pilgrimage and song.
• His major works include the Eknathi Bhagwat, the Bhavartha Ramayana, the Rukmini Swayamvar and many bharuds and abhangas.
• He is traditionally credited with preparing a corrected text of the Dnyaneshwari, the Marathi commentary on the Bhagavad Gita.
• His teaching combined devotion, learning, service and respect for people of every background.

The sections below explain the life, works, teachings and continuing legacy in more detail.

Quick Facts

Who Was Sant Eknath?

Sant Eknath was a Marathi saint, scholar and poet of the Varkari tradition who is honoured as one of the great figures of medieval Maharashtra. He combined deep learning in Sanskrit texts with a warm devotion to Vitthal and a gift for writing in the language of the people.

He lived as a householder and not as a renunciant, which is an important part of his example. He worked, served guests, raised a family and kept up his devotion, showing that the spiritual life could be lived in the middle of ordinary duties. Many stories about him are tradition, but his writings and his enduring memory in Paithan give a clear picture of a gentle, learned and socially thoughtful saint.

What Do the Names Eknath and Nath Maharaj Mean?

The name Eknath is made of two parts, eka, meaning one, and natha, meaning lord, and it is often understood as the one Lord, a name that points to the single divine reality. Devotees also use Eknath Maharaj and the affectionate Nath Maharaj.

The honorific Sant indicates a recognised saint of the Varkari tradition. In his own verses he used a signature that names him as a servant of his teacher, a habit common among Marathi saints who honoured the guru. The name Eknath should not be confused with other persons of similar names. Keeping the forms in mind helps readers find the same saint in Marathi books, temple notices and modern articles.

When and Where Did Sant Eknath Live?

Sant Eknath lived in the sixteenth century and spent his life at Paithan, an ancient town on the Godavari river in Maharashtra. The exact dates are given differently in various accounts, so it is wise to place him in the sixteenth century in general terms.

Paithan was known in early history as Pratishthana and was an important city in the age of the Satavahana dynasty. In later centuries it remained a centre of learning, trade and devotion, and it is also known for its fine woven silk sarees called Paithani. The Godavari, a river sacred to many Hindus, flows beside the town and forms part of its devotional setting. This rich background shaped the world in which Eknath taught and wrote.

What Was Eknath's Family and Early Life Like?

Tradition says that Eknath came from a family of devotees in Paithan and that he lost his parents at a young age and was raised by his grandparent. His family is linked with Bhanudas, a respected saint of the earlier Varkari tradition who is said to have been his ancestor.

Accounts describe a thoughtful boy with a strong inclination towards prayer, learning and the company of holy people. These stories form part of the sacred biography handed down by followers, and details differ from one telling to another. They are best read as tradition. The picture that emerges is that of a young man whose family heritage of devotion and whose own seeking prepared him to meet his teacher.

Who Was Janardan Swami, the Guru of Eknath?

Janardan Swami was the guru of Sant Eknath, and tradition associates him with the fort area of Devgiri, also known as Daulatabad, where he served as a respected official and spiritual teacher. Eknath honours him in his writings as the source of his knowledge and devotion.

The teacher is said to have guided the young Eknath in the worship of Dattatreya as well as in scripture and discipline. The guru is a central figure in Indian devotional life, and Eknath often ends his poems by naming Janardan as the one who inspired them. Because many accounts of their relationship are tradition, careful writers stress the respect and gratitude that Eknath expressed rather than specific events.

What Is the Varkari Tradition?

The Varkari tradition is a devotional movement of Maharashtra whose followers undertake regular pilgrimages, called wari, to Pandharpur to worship Vitthal, also known as Vithoba. The word varkari means one who performs the wari, and the tradition is marked by song, simplicity and equality.

Its great saints include Dnyaneshwar, Namdev, Tukaram, Janabai and Eknath, each of whom contributed songs and teaching in Marathi. The Varkaris sing abhangas, carry a tulsi garland and gather in large processions on pilgrimage. The movement welcomes people from all communities. Eknath holds an honoured place within it as a scholar who made learned works available in Marathi and who linked the saints of earlier generations with those who followed.

Why Is Vitthal of Pandharpur Important to Eknath?

Vitthal, the deity of Pandharpur, is the object of Eknath’s devotion, as for all Varkaris, and he is regarded as a form of Vishnu and Krishna standing on a brick with hands on hips. Eknath’s songs praise Vitthal as a loving and approachable Lord.

Pandharpur, on the Bhima river, is the centre of Varkari pilgrimage and a major sacred town of Maharashtra. Eknath is also remembered in Paithan, but his devotion points to Pandharpur. For readers who wish to understand how Vishnu is worshipped in many forms, the guide on Vaishnavism gives a useful background. Vitthal stands at the heart of the devotional world that Eknath shared with generations of saints.

What Is the Eknathi Bhagwat?

The Eknathi Bhagwat is Eknath’s major work, a long commentary in Marathi on the eleventh skandha of the Bhagavata Purana, which contains the teaching of Krishna to his friend Uddhava. It is considered one of the great classics of Marathi devotional literature.

The commentary is written in the ovi metre, which is also used in the Dnyaneshwari, and it explains the Sanskrit text in clear Marathi with examples from daily life. Eknath did not simply translate but also expanded and illustrated the ideas. The book teaches devotion, detachment, right action and the nature of the Self. Its aim was to bring learning to those who did not know Sanskrit, and it remains widely read and recited among Marathi devotees.

What Other Works Did Eknath Write?

Besides the Eknathi Bhagwat, Eknath is credited with the Bhavartha Ramayana, a Marathi retelling of the Ramayana, and the Rukmini Swayamvar, a poem on the marriage of Krishna and Rukmini. He also composed many abhangas and short devotional poems.

His best-known popular compositions are the bharuds, which are folk-style poems with a dramatic and often humorous voice that teach spiritual lessons through everyday scenes. Authorship of every piece attributed to him cannot be verified, and the Bhavartha Ramayana is said to have been completed by a later hand in some traditions. These works show a poet who moved easily between scholarly and popular forms.

What Are Bharuds?

Bharuds are a form of Marathi devotional folk poetry associated with Eknath, in which familiar characters and situations are used to teach spiritual truths. They are often performed with energy and humour in the style of a popular entertainment.

Eknath used figures such as the wandering mendicant, the dancer, the villager and the hawker to speak of the soul, the world and God. Because the verses use ordinary images and local speech, they reach audiences who would not read philosophical commentary. Bharuds are still sung by devotional groups and performed in kirtan, the Marathi tradition of storytelling with song. They show that Eknath understood how teaching can be carried by laughter as well as by solemn study.

What Was Eknath's Role in Preserving the Dnyaneshwari?

Tradition credits Eknath with preparing a corrected and reliable text of the Dnyaneshwari, the great Marathi commentary on the Bhagavad Gita by Dnyaneshwar, after finding that copies had become mixed with errors over time. This work is considered an important service to Marathi literature.

Accounts describe his care in comparing manuscripts and his deep respect for the earlier saint, whom he honoured as a spiritual ancestor. Scholars generally accept that his recension had an important influence on later copies, though details of the process are part of tradition and differ in telling. The effort shows how Eknath valued the continuity of the Varkari heritage and how he took responsibility for guarding it for future generations.

What Message of Equality Is Linked to Eknath?

Eknath is remembered for a message of equality, and many stories, told as tradition, show him treating people of every community with kindness and sharing meals and respect without regard to birth. These accounts reflect the values he expressed in his writings.

One well-known story says that he gave water from the Godavari, meant for a pilgrimage, to a thirsty donkey, teaching that compassion for a living being is itself the worship of God. Such stories are tradition and not documented history, but they match the themes of his verse. His message is spiritual and ethical, calling on devotees to see the divine in all and to practise service over pride.

How Is Eknath Remembered at Paithan?

Eknath is remembered at Paithan through his samadhi, the shrine on the bank of the Godavari, and through the annual Nath Shashthi festival, when devotees gather in large numbers. The festival draws Varkaris and visitors who come to pay respects and to take part in the singing and recitation.

The shrine and the family house associated with him are places of quiet devotion and pilgrimage. Paithan is part of the wider tradition of sacred travel described in the guide to pilgrimage in India, in which rivers, towns and saints combine to create holy places. For many Maharashtrian families a visit to Paithan is an act of reverence for the saint who made scripture speak in everyday Marathi.

How Does Eknath Compare With Other Varkari Saints?

Eknath differs from other Varkari saints in his role as a scholar-householder who edited, commented and retold great texts, while saints such as Tukaram and Namdev are known mainly for abhangas. Dnyaneshwar, the earliest of the group, is remembered for his commentary on the Gita.

Together they form a chain of voices with distinct gifts. Dnyaneshwar offers deep philosophy, Namdev loving song, Eknath learned and humorous teaching, and Tukaram direct and often fiery verse. This variety is one of the strengths of the Varkari tradition. Seeing them side by side helps readers understand how a single devotional movement can produce a wide literature of philosophy, folk art and social reflection.

What Do His Teachings Offer Today?

The teachings of Eknath offer a model of balanced life in which devotion, learning, work and kindness belong together, and they speak to modern readers as much as to his own time. He teaches that a spiritual life does not require leaving the world.

His emphasis on patience, humility and respect for all people remains relevant, and his readiness to use the common language to explain high ideas has inspired teachers and writers. Careful readers will honour the context of his time and will treat the legends as tradition. Taken together, his words and example give a gentle, practical and humane view of religion that continues to appeal to devotees and students of Marathi culture.

Sant Eknath Today

Sant Eknath today is remembered as one of the most learned and humane saints of the Varkari tradition, honoured at Paithan, in the wari to Pandharpur and in the continuing recitation of the Eknathi Bhagwat. His works remain part of Marathi religious and literary life.

Through his scholarship he preserved the heritage of earlier saints, and through his bharuds he brought spiritual teaching to ordinary people. Many details of his life are tradition, yet the writings and the memory of devotees give a consistent portrait of a gentle, thoughtful and compassionate teacher. His legacy stands as a reminder that learning and devotion can work together in service of the whole community.

Sources & Further Reading

• Ministry of Culture, Government of India (indiaculture.gov.in).
• Sahitya Akademi general references on Marathi devotional literature.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who was Sant Eknath?

Sant Eknath was a sixteenth-century Varkari saint, scholar and poet of Paithan in Maharashtra, devoted to Vitthal of Pandharpur. He is best known for the Eknathi Bhagwat and his bharuds.

What is the Eknathi Bhagwat?

The Eknathi Bhagwat is Eknath’s Marathi commentary on the eleventh skandha of the Bhagavata Purana. It explains devotion, detachment and the nature of the Self in clear language for ordinary readers.

What are bharuds?

Bharuds are Marathi devotional folk poems, closely associated with Eknath, that teach spiritual lessons through everyday characters and scenes. They are often humorous and are performed in kirtan.

Where is Sant Eknath remembered?

Sant Eknath is remembered at Paithan on the Godavari river in Maharashtra, where his samadhi stands. The annual Nath Shashthi festival draws devotees to the town.

Who was the guru of Eknath?

Eknath’s guru was Janardan Swami, whom tradition associates with the Devgiri, or Daulatabad, area. Eknath honours him in the closing lines of many of his poems.

What is the Varkari tradition?

The Varkari tradition is a devotional movement of Maharashtra whose followers make a regular pilgrimage called the wari to Pandharpur to worship Vitthal. Its saints include Dnyaneshwar, Namdev, Tukaram and Eknath.