Poetry Chaikhana
Sacred Poetry from Around the World

Yoga / Hindu : Advaita / Non-Dualist

13th Century

India
(Indian Subcontinent)

Jnanadev

Timeline (1275 - 1296)

Poems by Jnanadev
Books - Links

Jnanadev, Jnanadev poetry, Yoga / Hindu, Yoga / Hindu poetry, Advaita / Non-Dualist poetry, poetry, poetry

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Also known as Jnaneshwar or Jnandev or Jnanadeva.

Jnanadev lived in the Maharashtra region of India.

Jnanadev's father initially left his wife to become a sadhu ascetic, but when his guru discovered that he had a wife, the guru insisted he abandon the renunciate life and return to his marriage. This entire drama was shocking to orthodox authorities and the family was generally shunned.

The couple had four children together, named Nivrutti (renunciation), Jnana (knowledge), Sopan (stairway), and Mukta (liberation). Jnanadev's sister, Muktabai, was a great poet and saint in her own right.

When the children were all very young, their parents died and the children had to survive by begging. Yet from this family a spiritual vision of the greatest depth emerged.

Though his life was extremely short, he composed four great works: the Jnanesvari, (a translation of the Bhagavad Gita into Marathi, along with a commentary that is still devoutly studied today for its wisdom and insight), the Amritanubhava, the Abhangs, (spiritual songs and poetry), and the Changadeva Pasashti (a story of conversion from hatha yoga to a more deeply philosophical approach to God).

He was a strong influence and inspiration for other poet-saints in the region who followed, such as Namdev and Janabai.

Traditionally Jnanadev is said to have felt he had completed his purpose in life and left the body in conscious mahasamadhi (the final spiritual union of a saint at death), exiting life at the young age of 22, having already been acknowledged as a great saint and poet.

Poems by Jnanadev

	Knowledge and Ignorance (from Amritanubhav)
	The Refutation of Knowledge (from Amritanubhav)
	The Union of Shiva and Shakti (from Amritanubhav)

Recommended Books

	Amritanubhava, by Jnanadev / Translated by Ramchandra Bhagwat Amazon.com
	Jnaneshvar: The Life and Works of the Celebrated Thirteenth Century Indian Mystic-Poet, Translated by Swami Abhyayananda Amazon.com
	Jnaneshwar: The Guru's Guru, by R. D. Ranade Amazon.com
	Jnaneshwar's Gita: A Rendering of the Jnaneshwari, Translated by Swami Kripananda Amazon.com
	Jnaneshwari, by Jnanadev / Translated by Ramchandra Bhagwat Amazon.com
	The Nectar of Self-Awareness, by Jnaneshwar / Translated by Swami Abhyayananda Amazon.com

Related Links:

	Nondualility.com: Jnaneshwar: Amritanubhav http://www.nonduality.com/jnan.htm An extended excerpt from Jnaneshwar's poem Amritanubhav (The Nectar of Mystical Experience)
	Jnanadeva, Spiritual Teacher http://www.geocities.com/ganesha_gate/jnanesh.html An extended exploration of the life and philosophy of Jnanadev.

Please support the Poetry Chaikhana, as well as the authors and publishers of sacred poetry, by purchasing some of the recommended books through the links on this site. Thank you!

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Jnanadev

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