Eknath, also known as Saint Eknath, was an Indian Hindu saint, philosopher, and poet. He was a key character in the varkari culture and a devotee of the Hindu deity Krishna. Eknath is frequently regarded as a spiritual heir to Dnyaneshwar and Namdev, two important Marathi saints. Eknath is thought to have lived around the latter three-quarters of the sixteenth century.
Eknath (1533 – 1599)
- He was born in Paithan, present-day Maharashtra, into a Deshastha Rigvedi Brahmin household of Vishwamitra gotra to Suryanarayan and Rukminibai and was a disciple of the Asvalayana Sutra.
- Saint Eknath was well-known for His spiritual prowess as well as His enormous efforts to awaken people and protect Dharma.
- Saint Eknath wrote various hymns and works on Bhakti and Spirituality, including the well-known Eknathi Bhagwat, the spiritual substance of the Bhagavad Geeta, and his magnum opus, Bhavarth Ramayan.
- He was a scholar of Varkari sampradaya and Vaishnavism, a Hindu sect distinguished by devotion to God Vishnu and his incarnations (avatars).
- He is credited with enriching Marathi literature and translating several Sanskrit books into Marathi.
- He also attempted to move the emphasis of Marathi literature from spiritual to narrative composition, and he invented Bharood, a new style of Marathi devotional song.
- He was a family man who emphasized that staying in monasteries or retiring from society is not required for leading a religious life.
- He was well-known for reconciling disputes between domestic tasks and religious responsibilities.
- He was a follower of the Saguna religion.
- Eknath was initiated by his guru, Janardana, a Dattatreya follower. He was a one-of-a-kind synthesis of Vedanta and Sufism.
- He was a well-known gurubhakta who published under the pen name “Eka-janardana.”
- He composed the Bhavartha Ramayana, as well as numerous abhangas and bharudas (short poems having two meanings, one secular and one spiritual).