Enrapturing devotional songs of Saint Janabai depicting intense devotion unto God !

Saint Janabai – A tall and an ideal example of humbleness !

She was born in Gangakhed in Parbhani District. Later She came to Damashet Shimpi, the father of Saint Namdev at Pandharpur. Ever since She became a part of their family. She would call herself ‘servant of Namya’ (Namdev)’. Janabai who sacrificed Her entire life at the Holy feet of Shri Vitthal served day and night at the home of Saint Namdev, forgetting Her body consciousness. She performed every action (karma) for God. She would serve with such intense devotion unto Deity Vitthal that Deity Vitthal Himself would appear there and help Her to complete the task.

Once there was terrible fight between Janabai and Her neighbour over cowdung cakes because both had kept them for drying in the sun close to each other. A member of the Village Panchayat came there to resolve their fight. He asked both how they would identify their cakes of cowdung. Upon this Janabai said, “The cake which emits the sound of chant ‘Vitthal’ is mine”. Accordingly the Panchayat member held every cowdung cake to his ear. Those belonging to Janabai were truly emitting the chant of ‘Vitthal’. This example gives us an idea of what should be the caliber of the chanting that we perform.

Incidents in the life of Janabai with
respect to ‘experiencing past deeds to expiate them’

Once Saint Janabai was serving her husband a meal. No sooner did he eat the first morsel than he started beating her up mercilessly asking why the vegetable was insipid. Sobbing in front of Deity Vitthal she asked, “Vitthal when you are here why should Your devotee have to endure this ?”

After Deity Vitthal placed His hand on Her head Jani remembered Her past birth.

This was what She saw -‘In a past birth She was a princess. She was offering grass to a cow which it was refusing to eat. The princess then whipped the cow with a stick. Despite her whipping the cow badly it still refused to eat.’

When Vitthal removed His hand from Her head She regained Her senses.

God then said, “Jani no one can escape accumulated destiny and the fruit of an action. You have to expiate it only by experiencing it to get yourself out of this ocean of life. You are a devotee in this birth. So all your accumulated destiny will be expiated in this birth and you will them merge into My feet in a state of continual bliss”.

Inference : If you have not been getting the fruit of performing good actions then you will get the fitting answer from this story of Jani. But do not stop performing good actions, because that itself must be purpose of your life… !

Tukaram Maharaj says,

You are everything – the saviour, the destroyer and the up-lifter.

Reference : Website

Saint Namdev was the Guru of Saint Janabai. Hence she has named the composition of Her devotional songs she has written as ‘Dasi Jani (servitor Jani)’, ‘Namyachi dasi (servitor of Namdev)’ and ‘Jani Namyachi (Namdev’s Jani)’. She has composed several devotional songs which depict Her thoughts of the state of a servitor, Her inferior caste and Her womanhood. Her considering Vitthal as Her parent, sometimes Her friend or Her relative and Her conversing with Him are seen in Her wholeheartedly composed devotional songs.

Around 350 devotional songs on the birth, childhood Divine pranks of Krushna and the life of Prahlad of Saint Janabai have been printed in the Holy text ‘Sakal Sant Gatha’. The story of Harishchandra too has been written by Her.

झाडलोट करी जनी । केर भरी चक्रपाणी ॥१॥
पाटी घेऊनियां शिरीं । नेऊनियां टाकी दुरी ॥२॥

ऐसा भक्तिसी भुलला । नीच कामें करुं लागला ॥३॥
जनी म्हणे विठोबाला । काय उतराई होऊं तुला ॥४॥

Implied meaning : Though devotee Jana does the sweeping, Shrikrushna is the one who collects the dust. Carrying the dust in a basket on His head He disposes it off. Shrihari who is yearning for devotees has begun doing even base tasks for His devotees. Janabai asks Vithoba how can I repay you ?

(This composition depicts God’s yearning for spiritual emotion.)

वामसव्य दोहींकडे । देखूं कृष्णाचें रूपडें ॥१॥
चराचरी जें जें दिसे । तें तें अविद्याची नासे ॥२॥

माझें नाठवे मीपण । तेथें कैंचे दुजेपण ॥३॥
सर्वांठायीं पूर्ण कळा । दासी जनी पाहे डोळां ॥४॥

Implied meaning : I see forms of Krushna on both sides, to My right and left. I can feel God in all creation – living and non-living. Hence no science, that is ignorance vanishes.  I forget my ‘I’ness. How will there be duality then ? Servitor (of Saint Namdev) Jani, sees Shrikrushna, the master of all arts in each and everyone.

Jani says ‘Come O Vitthal, I will never leave You till I am alive’

This is the very room which is where a testimony to the highest level of devotion and spiritual emotion where the conversation between devotee Janabai with Deity Vitthal took place. Shown in the picture is a depiction of Deity Vitthal covering her with a rug.

Pots for storing curd sanctified by the touch of Saint Janabai. Let us offer obeisance to these pots saturated with devotion unto God.

Pleased with Her spiritual emotion God would mill flour with Her

This is the very mill with which Deity Vitthal would help Janabai to make flour

This is the very stone stove used by Saint Janabai to bake bhakri (Indian bread) for Deity Vitthal. Let us offer obeisance charged with spiritual emotion to this which stands testimony to Her intense devotion.

At Shrikshetra Gopalpur near Pandharpur the home of Saint Namdev sanctified by the presence of Saints Namdev and Janabai

Let us take darshan (vision) with spiritual emotion, of these objects which are unmatched examples of devotion, and pray with surrender so that devotion unto God within us increases !

Source : Dainik Sanatan Prabhat