• On the occasion of Navaratri, this is the second 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 Muktbai, who was the first female sant and guru in the Varkari tradition.  

To read article 1 on Mahdambha

Muktai, also known as Muktabai, was the preeminent female sant of the Varkari tradition. She was the youngest of the four siblings: Nivrutti, Dnyandev (or Dnyaneshwar), Sopan, and Muktabai. All four are highly revered not only within the Varkari Sampraday but also throughout the Marathi-speaking region. The Varkari Sampraday is a prominent Vaishnav bhakti tradition in Maharashtra. Although Muktai and her brothers are regarded as the founders of the Varkari Sampraday and Bhagvat dharm, substantial evidence indicates that their spiritual lineage originated from the Nath Sampraday.

As with many sants, there is a divergence of opinion concerning the precise period during which Muktai lived. R. D. Ranade, a prominent scholar of the Varkari Sampraday, inferences that Muktabai was born in AD 1279 and died in AD 1297, likely in her late teens. Her parents had been ostracised from society, and Nivrutti, Dnyandev, Sopan, and Mukati were regarded as ‘children of ascetic’ or ‘sanyashachi pora.’ 

From a young age, they faced significant social persecution due to their father’s infraction of societal norms by returning to his wife and assuming the role of a householder after having formally renounced worldly life. Nevertheless, their father bestowed upon them the wisdom of the Vedas, Upanishads, and Bhagavad-Gita. Nivrutti, Muktai’s eldest brother, is regarded as her guru and also mentored Dnyanadev and Sopan in their spiritual journeys. 

During her brief life, Mukati composed approximately forty abhangs, rich in spiritual and philosophical content. Her spiritual merit (adhikar) is apparent not only in her compositions but also in the notable episodes from her life.

One of the episodes illustrates Muktai’s pivotal role in humbling the esteemed devotee of Viththal, sant Namdev. Mahipati’s narrative indicates that Sant Gora Kumbhar resolves to honour all sants and extend invitations to his home. Dnyandev urges Gora, the eldest among those present, to "evaluate" the gathered sants and distinguish the “baked” from the “unbaked”. 

Consequently, Gora employs his potter’s paddle to strike the heads of the sants in attendance. All the sants comply except Namdev. Namdev, a fervent devotee of Viththal, had developed arrogance of his devotion, believing himself to be the greatest devotee, and was enraged at being subjected to such an undignified “test.” When he objects, Muktabai pokes fun at him and questions the authenticity of his devotion. Stung by the challenge, Namdev hastens to Vitthal, who instructs him to seek his guru, thereby enhancing his spiritual awareness. 

Muktabai’s spiritual eminence is reaffirmed in her interaction with the yogi Changdev. Changdev had grown arrogant about his miraculous abilities, yet recognised the futility of his achievements upon encountering these young yogis. The three brothers urge Muktai to bless Changdev. Muktai, accordingly, bestows upon him the supreme spiritual knowledge and becomes his Guru. 

Consequently, Muktai becomes the first woman of the Varkari sampraday to be a Guru to an elderly man. The tradition of Muktabai as a guru is corroborated by the poems of Changdev, in which he consistently acknowledges his indebtedness to her and praises her profound spiritual wisdom.

In a pivotal episode of Maharashtra’s spiritual tradition, Muktai consoles her enraged elder brother Dnyaneshwar, who, incensed by orthodoxy, had confined himself to his hut. Muktai evokes his sanctity and implores him to unlock the door. Her counsel to Dnyandev is recognised as ‘Tatiche Abhanga’ (The Song of the Door) and is among her most celebrated works. This series contains a total of twelve abhangs. Muktai says:

योगी पावन मनाचा साही अपराध जनाचा ।

विश्व रागे झाले वन्ही संती सुखे व्हावे पाणी ॥

शब्दशस्त्रे झाले क्लेश संती मानावा उपदेश ।

विश्वपट ब्रह्म दोरा ताटी उघडा ज्ञानेश्वरा ॥

It translates: “A sant possesses a pure mind and pardons the transgressions of others. If the world is inflamed with frustration, a sant should remain composed and tranquil like water. When individuals are harmed by verbal assaults, sants ought to regard such comments as advice. This universe is a singular fabric interwoven with the single thread of Brahman; therefore, kindly open the door, O Dnyaneshwar!”

The accounts concerning her demise are diverse. Some accounts assert that she attained Sanjivan samadhi; however, the prevailing belief is that she vanished in a flash of lightning. The temple devoted to Muktai is situated in Mehun, Jalgaon District, and the area is currently referred to as Muktainagar.

Muktai was a spiritual teacher in her own right. As a woman, a teenager, and an excommunicated individual, she ascended to the pinnacle of santhood, becoming the first acknowledged female guru beyond the domestic realm in the Varkari tradition. Muktabai is revered as the manifestation of ādīmāyā, the fundamental force of the universe.

True to her name, Muktai embodies the essence of liberation.

या देवी सर्वभूतेषु मुक्तिरूपेण संस्थिता।

नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमो नमः॥

The goddess who is situated in the form of liberation in all beings, 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. Bhawalkar, Tara. The Song of the Soul and Women’s Freedom. Pune: Srividya Prakashan, 1994.

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

3. Modak, Ketaki. Kadkodini Veej Nimali TYhayinche Thayi: Sant Muktabai, Vyakti aani Vangmany. Pune: Mahesh Modak, 2010.

4. Shevde, Indumati. The Women Poet-Saints. Mumbai: Popular Prakashan, 1989.

5. Sinha, Jayita. " An ant swallowed the sun": women mystics in medieval Maharashtra and medieval England. Diss. 2015.

6. Ranade R. D. _Mysticism in India: Poet-Saints of Maharashtra. Albany: SUNY  Press, 1983. 

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

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