Life of Sant Gyaneshwar !! Part III !!

Jai Sriman Narayana !!


Jaya Jaya Sankara Hara Hara Sankara !!

Rukmini gave birth to four children.  The four virtous children were Nivriti Dev – An incarnation of Lord Shiva, Gyaneshwar – An incarnation of Lord Vishnu, Sopandev – An incarnation of Lord Brahma and Muktha Bai – An incarnation of Goddess Sakthi respectively.  At this age of Kali,   as true to the aphorism

‘यदा यदा हि धर्मस्या, ग्लानिर्भवति भारत । अभ्युत्थानम् अधर्मस्या, तदात्मानं सृजाम्यहम् ।।

The Supreme Lord (Paramathma) incarnated on the Earth, inorder to save  ‘Jeevathma’ from the clutches of material bondages.  Later, the righteous children of Sant Vittobha spreaded the glories of Nama Bhakthi is the only means of salvation to the world at large.

Although Vittobha returned to his family life with the holy instruction of his Guru, his mind was not free from the thought that he had committed a sin by depriving Sanyasasrama.  He continued chanting and spreading the glories of Lord and receiving alms as way of life.  The people of the village had very little respect towards Vittobha; Some times he had to return home empty handed.   Rukmini had to face the hungry and desperate faces of the children.  The children were amazingly amicable and handled the situation of poverty at home very well.  They make her believe that they are fine with the situations and in turn calm their mother.  The boy children – Nivriti Dev, Gyaneshwar and Sopan Dev were 6, 5 and 4 years respectively.  Vittal Panth realized the need to perform ‘Upanayanam’ (Sacred thread ceremony) for their children and approached the Vedic scholars in his village.  The scholars were looked at Vittal Panth in a sarcastic way and ignored his request.  They criticized and humiliated him for the kind of life he had lived all these years.  Vittal panth requested the Vedic scholars not to punish his children for his mistake and his children are already thorough with the Veda, Sastras, Puranas and Upanishads.  He was ready to do any kind of sacrifice to accept his children as Brahmin by the society.  The Vedic scholars poured harsh words on him saying that he always would be treated as ‘Shudra’ (outcasted one) for the offense he had committed.  Vittal Panth’s first mistake was leaving his young and beautiful wife behind and accepted Sanyasasrama.  The second one was discarded the same and led a life of Grahastha.  Vittal Panth with tears on his eyes prayed the Vedic scholars not to punish his children for his mistake.  He whole heartedly revealed his willingness to undergo any punishments as prescribed in the scriptures.   Vedic scholars thoroughly analaysed the situation and the final verdict was declared.  Vittal Panth should sacrifice his life at the holy river.  That was the one and only consensus for the sin he had committed in his life. 

Vittal Panth was ready to follow the final verdict of the Vedic scholars and informed Rukmini about the awful news.  Rukmini was shaken, with tears rolling down she requested Vittobha for the permission to follow him.  She convinced Vittobha that she was also equally responsible for the sin, she also deserved to be punished and the children are hers too.  Though Vittobha was worried about leaving the small children behind and their living without parents etc.. But Rukmini’s nectar like speech about the Supreme Lord – the knower of All, her sermonize about the ‘Paramathma’ – ‘Brahmam’ – her true knowledge about the living beings are just an instrument in the hands of the Creator and her solid faith in Supreme Lord were made Vittal Panth composed.  On that night Rukmini put her children to sleep heavy heartedly. With the tears brimming over her cheeks and the excruciating pain of separation made her vulnerable once again. Vittobha placed the sacred scriptures which he was used to carry everywhere near the bed side of the children.   That night they abandoned their four small children at the mercy of Lord Panduranga and left home.  Vittal Panth walked out with holding hands of Rukmini, they arrived at the banks of Holy River and gave up their lives.

Jaya Jaya Sankara Hara Hara Sankara !!

Jai Sriman Narayana !!