• On the occasion of Navaratri, this is the first 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 Mahdamba, a poet and sant who was a devotee of Shri Chakradhar Swami, founder of the Mahanubhav Sampraday.

The festival of Navaratri commences on October 3 in 2024. It is predominantly commemorated nationwide as Shakti Upasana. It is a celebration of shakti, or the feminine tattva, inherent in all beings. Navaratri provides an occasion to honour women, femininity, and the importance of womanhood within society.

As contemporary feminist movements are redefining the fundamentals of feminism and their objectives, I take this opportunity to contemplate on women sants from the thirteenth to seventeenth century in the Marathi-speaking region.

Although numerous female sants from various sampradays lived during this period, I have chosen nine of them for Navratri. I plan to put together a brief feature outlining their life. The objective is to acquaint young people about these women sants, rather than providing a critical biographical, academic work.

Mala 1: Mahdamba, Mahadaisa or Rupabai (1228 – 1303)

Rupai, or Rupabai, was the birth name of Mahdamba, who is also referred to as Mahadaisa. She was one of the preeminent adherents and devotees of Shri Chakradhar Swami who was the founder and proponent of the Mahanubhav Sampraday.

The Mahanubhav Sampraday is a Vaishnav Sampraday that originated in thirteenth-century Maharashtra and has significantly impacted the religious, spiritual, social, and cultural landscape for several centuries. The doctrines of Chakradhar Swami and, consequently, the Mahanubhav Sampraday were remarkably progressive for their era. They fiercely condemned caste and gender-based hierarchies and orthodoxies.

Mahadamba was initiated into the sampraday or received 'anugraha' from Chakradhar Swami. Mahadaisa devoted her life to disseminating her guru's teachings throughout the Marathi-speaking region via her compositions and discourses. There are discrepancies concerning the precise date of her birth and death.

According to the Mahanubhava tradition, Mahadaisa is thought to have lived between 1228 and 1303. In the Mahanubhav literature, Mahadaisa is referred to as Mhatari, which literally translates to ‘old woman’. Consequently, Mahadaisa is presumed to have been at least 70 to 80 years old at the time of her demise.

According to customs of that era, Rupai or Mahadaisa married at a young age but soon became a widow. Nagdevacharya, another important individual in the Mahanubhava sect, was her cousin. Following her husband's demise, Mahadaisa resided with Nagdevacharya. Shortly thereafter, she embraced the path of Chakradhar Swami and became a devoted follower. In accordance with his directives, she remained at Govinda Prabhu’s Math in Riddhipur.

Mahdamba, also known as Mahdaisa, was the first poet in the Marathi literary sphere. She composed marriage songs referred to as Dhavale. Dhavale are the additional songs performed during the wedding ceremony. These songs depict the complete cycle of marriage and convey profound spiritual message concerning the illusion of worldly existence.

The primary focus of Dhavale was Rukmini Swayamvar, as illustrated in the Bhagavat Mahapuran. Dhavale’s inspiration originated from Govinda Prabhu, who encouraged Mahadaisa to sing a song about Rukmini Swayamvar. At his behest, Mahdaisa commenced singing, resulting in the spontaneous creation of poetry termed Dhavale. Mahadaisa’s Dhavale poetry commences with the narrative of Rukminiharan, followed by the account of Rukmini Swayamvar. 

Mahadaisa’s literary spontaneity is apparent in the latter half of this composition, which consists of sixty-five stanzas. Dhavale illustrate how the affectionate devotional intimacy engenders a remarkable allure, even in the simple, uncomplicated dialect. The language of Mahadamba’s Dhavale is straightforward, clear, and lucid. 

It would not be an exaggeration to say that Mahadaisa was both the inaugural Marathi poet and the first narrative poet in the Marathi language.

In addition to Dhavale, Mahadaisa had authored Matruki Rakminiswayamvar which consists of 109 stanzas. This composition is distinguished by the fact that each verse commences with the Marathi vowels A, Aa, E, Ee, and so forth. She endeavours to arrange the initials in each line sequentially, the kind of poetry form employed by later Pundits. Another work ascribed to Mahadaisa is titled Garbhakand ovya. This concise text is profoundly spiritual.

Mahadaisa occupies a unique position in the Marathi literary and spiritual realms. Additionally, her contribution to the composition of Leelacharitra by Chakradhar Swami is significant. Numerous sections of Leelacharitra comprise Chakradhar Swami’s replies to Mahadamba’s probing enquiries and fervent curiosity. Mahadaisa dedicated her entire life to the dissemination of Mahanubhava Sampraday through her discourses and writings. 

Chakradhar Swami extolled Mahadamba with the words Mhatari Jidnyasak: Mhatari Churchak: Mhatari Yeth Kahi Pusatchi Ase, meaning, “this elderly woman (Mahadaisa) is profoundly inquisitive, engages in discourse, and persistently poses questions.” Nagdevacharya remarked, Mhatari Mazi Pritidaksh: Dharmarakshak ki Ga:, translated to, “My venerable lady (Mahadaisa) is affectionate and vigilant; she is the protector of dharma.” 

Mahadaisa has secured an enduring position not only within the Mahanubhava pantheon but also in the Marathi literary sphere and the genre of Maharashtra’s sants. 

Will end with this slokha.

या देवी सर्वभूतेषु शक्ति-रूपेण संस्थिता।

नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमो नमः॥

Translated as 6.1: To that Devi Who in All Beings is Called Vishnumaya,
6.2: Salutations to Her, Salutations to Her, Salutations to Her, Salutations again and again. Source   To hear above Devi Mantra

The opinions expressed in this series are personal. 

Author is Associate Professor, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi

References

1. Bhagwat, Vidyut. 'Man-Woman Relations in the Writings of the Saint Poetesses” New Quest, 1990: pp 223-32.

2. Feldhaus, Anne. "Pilgrimage and Remembrance: Biography and Geography in the Mahānubhāv Tradition." Connected Places: Region, Pilgrimage, and Geographical Imagination in India. New York: Palgrave Macmillan US, 2003. 185-210.

3. Irlekar, Suhasini. Mahadambeche Dhavale. Pune: Snehvardhan Prakashan, 2012.

4. Kolte, V. B. (ed). Leela Charitra. Bombay: Maharashtra Rajya Sahitya Sanskriti Mandal, 1982.

5. Sardar, G. B. The Saint Poets of Maharashtra: Their Impact on Society. New Delhi: Orient Longman, 1969

6. Tulpule, S. G. Classical Marathi Literature from the Beginning to AD 1818. Wiesbaden: Otto Harassowitz, 1979.

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