Eknath

Sant Eknath, also known as Eknath Maharaj, was a Marathi saint-poet associated with the Bhakti movement in the region of Maharashtra, India. He is a key figure in the Varkari tradition and is closely linked with the pilgrimage center of Pandharpur, home of the deity Vithoba. The exact dates of his life are uncertain, but he is believed to have flourished in the latter half of the 16th century, with traditional estimates often placing him around the 1530s to 1600s.

Eknath’s works are written in Marathi and are notable for their accessibility and emphasis on devotion, ethics, and social inclusiveness. He produced numerous abhangas (devotional hymns) and contributed to important prose and verse literature. His major scripture-like works include the Eknathi Bhagavata, a Marathi translation and exposition of portions of the Bhagavata Purana, and the Bhavartha Ramayana, a Marathi adaptation of the Ramayana that highlights moral and devotional themes. These texts advocate a bhakti path that is intelligible to lay devotees and that seeks to transcend rigid scholastic barriers.

Tradition holds that Eknath promoted an inclusive form of devotion, encouraging participation in temple worship and spiritual practice beyond caste boundaries. He is regarded as an important link in the lineage of Marathi saint-poets that includes Namdev and Tukaram, and his devotional and literary contributions influenced later poets and reformers within the Maharashtra bhakti milieu. His legacy persists in Marathi religious poetry and in the continued use of his works in devotional practice.