Eknath (1533–1599) was a great saint, and Marathi poet. He was born in a village at Uttarakhand. He was born to a Brahmin family, and since his parents were died at his younger age, he was brought up by his grandfather. He was the disciple of the learned scholar Sri Janardhan Swami, who was a staunch devotee of Guru Dattatreya.
He was against caste discrimination. Once he had eaten his meal in the house of a lower caste person, even when he was opposed by the people. According to him, all people are equal before Lord Vittal, and he worried about the sufferings of the lower caste people, and prayed to Lord Vittal for their welfare. He was well known for his spirituality and for safeguarding the Sanatana Dharma. He was highly talented in Hindu scriptures and he was a master in all forms of art and a great scholar. Eknath has re-written the Ramayana in his own style which is called as Bhavarth Ramayan. He has written the epic in a simplified form, in order to understand it even by the common people.He was the author of Eknathi Bhagavata which features the childhood miracles performed by Lord Krishna, and describes the kindness shown by Lord Krishna towards his devotees.
Some of his wonderful songs on Lord Panduranga are as follows:-
I bow my head before my beloved Panduranga, and I offer my humble salutation to him, who is the true Brahman, and who gives immense happiness to those who worships him sincerely. He would come to the homes of all of his true devotees, and would reveal his true form to them, by considering them as his most beloved devotee Pundarika.
I bow my head before my beloved Panduranga, and I offer my humble salutation to him, who has the characteristics of a supreme god. He contains a shining face, and he appears in the colour of the blue clouds. He is the lovely consort of Ma Rukmani, and both of them are always worshipped by their devotees. He is the one who is having enough powers to grant salvation to us.
I bow my head before my beloved Paanduranga, and I offer my humble salutation to him. He is the one, who removes our sins, diseases and our all sorts of problems in our life and would give great spiritual satisfaction in our life.
I bow my head before my beloved Panduranga, and I offer my humble salutation to him. Though I don’t have sufficient wealth to offer precious ornaments to my Lord, but, however, in my imagination, I have already offered nice clothes and rich garments to him, and I have seen his divine form also.
I bow my head before my beloved Panduranga, and I offer my humble salutation to him. He is the one who adorns the precious kaustubha Gem on his body, and he is a soft, gentle and a wonderful protector of the world.
He can be easily found in the souls of the noble sages, saints and the Bhagavathas like Prahalada and Dhruva.
I bow my head before my beloved Panduranga, and I offer my humble salutation to him.He is called as Kamala Kannan, since his eyes looks like the beautiful lotus flowers, and his divine beauty can be compared with the beauty of the full moon.
I bow my head before my beloved Panduranga, and I offer my humble salutation to him. He contains a crown on his head, which is filled up with full of precious gems, and he wears beautiful peacock feathers and flower garlands, and he has been offered delicious sweets as Holy Prasad to him by his devotees.
I bow my head before my beloved Panduranga, and I offer my humble salutation to him. He gives a peaceful and prosperous life to the pious ones, and would give punishments to the wicked ones, in order to correct them.He can be easily approached by anyone, who contains sincere bhakti on him.
I bow my head before my beloved Paanduranga, and I offer my humble salutation to him. He shows kindness on his devotees and removes the stress of those who seek refuge under him. He is the lord of the lords, and the king of the kings.He is known by various names, and he is my beloved Vithal Mahaprabhu. He cannot be defeated by anyone, and there is no end for him. Those who take shelter under his holy feet would realise the true happiness, and thereafter, there is no birth and death for them.
“JAI SRI PANDURANGAYA NAMAHA”
WRITTEN BY
R.HARISHANKAR