Women Sants of Maharashtra JANABAI 1270 to 1350

  • On the occasion of Navaratri, this is the third in a series of nine articles on Women Sants, of Marathi-speaking areas, between the 13-17 centuries. This is a brief feature on the life of Janabai, poetess and sant, who belonged to the Varkari tradition.  

To read article 1 on Mahdambha , To read article 2 on Muktabai

Sant Janabai is a highly esteemed and significant figure of the Varkari Sampraday in Maharashtra. A 13th-14th century poetess and sant, she is renowned for her devotional works dedicated to Vithoba (Vitthala). Although born into a lower caste and encountering various social barriers, Sant Janabai’s life and writings embody the principles of love, humility, and steadfast devotion to God. Her compositions exemplify the spiritual egalitarianism and social equity promoted by the Bhakti tradition.

Janabai was born circa 1270 CE in the village of Gangakhed, located in the present-day Parbhani district of Maharashtra, to a Shudra family. Following the early loss of her mother, her father relocated her to Pandharpur, where she subsequently worked as a maid in the household of Sant Namdev. Pandharpur transformed into both her residence and the spiritual epicentre of her devotion. While there is no definitive historical evidence regarding Janabai’s death, certain sources indicate 1350 as the year of her demise. 

She authored approximately 350 abhangs and frequently employed the signature “Namayachi Jani.” Viththala, or Vithoba, the principal deity of the Varkari Sampraday, is reported to have helped with her quotidian responsibilities. 

What is a abhang? It is a type of a devotional composition with a particular metre.

In her abhang compositions, she perceives Vitthal as her mother, Vithai; as her father, Vithoba; as her companion, sakha; and also as her co-serving maid. In her poems, Vithoba is portrayed as a close companion, mentor, and confidant rather than a remote deity.

Her abhangs are characterised by their simplicity and profundity. Written in Marathi, her poetry embodies the fundamental principles of Bhakti—total submission to the divine, repudiation of ritualistic customs, and a focus on personal encounters with God. Her Abhangs often depict her quotidian tasks, such as grinding grain, collecting water, or sweeping floors, and elevate these commonplace activities into acts of veneration: 

“I clean the floor and wash the dishes,

I mill the grain and perform all the chores, 

In each action, I perceive the Vithoba, 

And serve him with joy and affection.” 

A key component of Janabai’s compositions is the makeup of the female psyche. Likewise, shaped by her context, her abhangs are imbued with dasya Bhakti. Nonetheless, on multiple occasions, she also summons Viththala and confronts him. 

Janabai’s life exemplifies the treatment of low-caste women by orthodox society. Janabai was charged with the theft of the gold necklace embellishing Viththala and was sentenced to death. However, her pure devotion to Viththala rescued her from this charge. Janabai seemed to operate strictly within the societal norms of class, caste, and gender prevalent during her time. 

Her poetry confronts the adversities encountered by women and the marginalised, and denouncing the caste-based discrimination prevalent in society. She depicted God as a benevolent and egalitarian being who cares for all individuals irrespective of caste, gender, or social status. She writes:

स्त्री जन्म म्हणवुनी न व्हावे उदास

साधुसंतां ऐसे केले मज //१//

संतांचे घरची दासी मी अंकली

विठोबाने दिली प्रेमकळा //२//

विदुर सात्त्विक माझिये कुळीचा

अंगिकार त्याचा केला देवे //३//

न विचारितां कुळ गणिका उद्धरली

नामें सरती केली तिहीं लोकीं //४//

ऋषींची कुळे उच्चारिली जेणें/

रौरवी तेणें वस्ती केली//५//

नामयाची जनी भक्ति ते सादर /

माझें ते साचार विटेवरी//६//

In this abhanga, Janabai states that she is instructed by sants not to feel disappointed due to her female birth. I serve as the maidservant in the household of sants (such as Namdev) and I have received love directly from Vitthala himself. Vidura, who was accepted by the Lord Himself, is from the same (servile) kul or clan to which I belong. The Lord also liberated the courtesan irrespective of her lineage, and she is revered in this universe. The Lord did not see her kul, but solely her unwavering devotion. Certain sages hailed from such lowly kuls that even the slightest reference to their clan would result in damnation. However, God visited their residences and dwelled there. What uncertainty exists regarding the redemption of Namaya's Jani, who is engaged in devotional to Viththala?

The life and oeuvre of Sant Janabai illustrate the capacity of devotion to surpass social constraints. Her poetry expresses themes of love, humility, and faith. Her abhangs operate as constant reminders of hope and have fostered confidence among the bhaktas, especially women who have been restricted to the domestic realm for a long time. Janabai's life exemplifies that through dedicated and steadfast commitment to everyday chores, one can attain santhood.

Let us pay tribute to her by invoking the following mantra:

या देवी सर्वभूतेषु श्रद्धारूपेण संस्थिता।

नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमो नमः॥

Meaning: The goddess who resides in all in the form of faith or devotion, I bow down to you again and again.

Author is Associate Professor, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi. The opinions expressed in this series are personal. 

References

1. Bhingarkar D.B. Sant kavaitrī Janabai. Charitra, Kavya, Kamgiri. Mumbai: Majestik Prakashan, 1989.

2. Irlekar, Suhasini. Sant Janabai. Mumabi: Maharashtra Rajya Sahitya aani Sanskruti Mandal, 2002.

3. Mahipati. Bhaktavijay. Trans. Justin E. Abbott and N.R. Godbole. 1933. Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass, 1999.

4. Novetzke, Christian Lee. History, Bhakti, and Public Memory. Nāmdev in Religious and Secular Traditions. Ranikhet: Permanent Black, 2009.

5. Tulpule, Shankar Gopal. Classical Marathi Literature: From the Beginning to A.D. 1818. Otto Harrassowitz Verlag, 1979. 

6. Vanita, Ruth. “Three Women Sants of Maharashtra: Muktabai, Janabai, Bahinabai.” Manushi 50-51-52 (1989) 46-61.

To read all articles by author

How is Durga Puja celebrated across India

How is Dussehra celebrated across India

Women Gurus in Hinduism

Women Saints of Maharashtra and their impact on society 

Also read

1. Sant Dyneshwar – Pioneer of the Bhakti Movement

2. Pandharpur Wari is spiritual democracy

Receive Site Updates