Bhaktavijaya: Stories of Indian Saints
by Justin E. Abbott | 1933 | 306,590 words
This is the English translation of Bhaktavijaya which is a Marathi poem written by Mahipati in 40,000 lines. The text documents the legends of Indian saints from various backgrounds and extensively covers figures like Ekanath, Tukaram, and Ramadasa, highlighting their contributions to scholarship, philosophy, poetry, and social reform. The Bhaktavi...
55.5: Ganeshnath as a Spiritual Guru
36. In accordance with his resolve the king gave away in charity the bedstead to a Brahman. Such is the glory of the company of saints that even Brahmadev and others do not know.
37. Ganeshnath’s state of life was like this: He was completely ascetic in relation to the three states of human life [referring either to waking, dreaming and sound sleep; or to infancy, youth and age]. He did not live in the town but roamed about in a forest.
38. As he performed his kirtans in his own country many pious people came to listen. Every day he gave the mystic mantra to anyone who might wish it.
39. As the disciple felt his hand on his head, his inclination for the earthly life left him. He gave up all family affairs and wandered about from forest to forest.
40. If the disciple was a very bad man, a reviler, or a designing one, as soon as Ganeshnath touched his head the complete spirit of asceticism came to him.
41. In this way a year passed and he had three hundred and sixty disciples. They wore clouts (i.e., were celibates), were strictly ascetic, and had full spiritual knowledge.
42. The people of different towns discussed them differently. Some said, ‘Those who receive his mystic mantra, their attachment to worldly affairs at once disappears, and they follow their Sadguru.’
43. Some said, ‘He is a horrible sorcerer;’ or, ‘He practises witchcraft;’ or ‘He is a great adept in spiritual knowledge;’
44. or ‘He is Pandurang [Panduranga] Himself;’ or ‘He is an outright hypocrite;’ or ‘His company destroys the earthly life;’
45. or ‘Let no one go to visit him;’ or ‘What is in one’s Fate is sure to happen;’
46. or ‘Let us see him and give him a piece of advice; he has spoiled the lives of many and has spread destruction in many families.’
47. Saying these things they went to visit Ganeshnath one day and saw him deeply engaged in meditation under the shade of a mango tree.
48. As he finished his mental worship Ganeshnath looked around to see if there was anyone who wished to be his disciple so that he could place his hand on his head.