Sant Namdev (c. 1270 – 1350)
BACKGROUND
Born to a family of tailors (shimpi), devoted to Vitthal from childhood. He grew close to Dnyaneshwar and travelled with him on pilgrimages. A wandering bhakta, he took the devotion of Pandharpur far beyond Maharashtra.
PLACE OF BIRTH
Narsi Bamani, Hingoli district, Maharashtra. His family later moved to Pandharpur.
KEY CONTRIBUTIONS
Hundreds of Marathi abhangs of tender, intimate devotion
Hindi padas that travelled north; about 60 of his hymns are in the Guru Granth Sahib
Spent years in Punjab (Ghuman), spreading Vitthal bhakti and the Name
Taught that devotion rises above caste and ritual
PLACE OF SAMADHI
Pandharpur, at the first step (Namdev Payari) of the Vitthal temple. A shrine at Ghuman, Punjab, also honours him.
Comments