• On Navaratri, this is the seventh 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 Vennabai. She can be considered as the first female Swami of the Samarth Sampraday.

To read article 1 on Mahdambha , To read article 2 on Muktabai , To read about Janabai , To read article 4 on Soyrabai , To read article 5 on Kanhopatra , To read article 6 on Bahinbai 

Sant Vennabai was one of the legendary sants of the Ramdasi, or Samarth Sampraday, who lived in 17th-century Maharashtra. Similar to men, the Samarth Sampraday regarded that women not only had spiritual authority but also could initiate disciples and become a spiritual, religious leader or swami. Vennabai can be considered to be the first female Swami of the Samarth Sampraday.

Vennabai was born into a Brahmin family belonging to the Deshpandes in Kolhapur. She got married at ten and soon became a widow. As a child, she was reclusive and quiet. It was customary for widows to look after household work, chant the name of God, and immerse in bhakti. It was her mother-in-law who encouraged her to read books, particularly Bhavarth-Ramayan of Sant Eknath.

The legend goes like this: once Samarth Ramdas came to Kolhapur and, during his routine practice of Bhiksha, saw young Vennabai reading Eknathi Bhagvat. He asked her if she could understand the message of the scripture. Vennabai responded with a series of 25 questions, exploring the spiritual message of Bhagvat. Ramdas was pleased to listen to these questions as they indicated Vennabai’s spiritual quest. And he responded to all those questions, resulting in an answer that is now widely known abhnag. In another visit to Kolhapur, Samarth Ramdas gave Anugraha, or a sacred message, to Vennabai.

However, the initiation of a young widow in the Ramdasi Sampraday did not go well with her parents and in-laws. Rumors began to spread, accusing Venaabai and the families for allowing widowed Brahmin girl to be a monk. Vennabai’s parents and in-laws made numerous attempts to discourage her and convince her to return home, due to the numerous taunts and accusations they faced. People’s constant taunts and accusations, along with her social ostracism, eventually led to her parents poisoning her. 

However, it is believed that, with the blessings of Samarth Ramdas, Vennabai survived. He firmly told her parents that, having given poison to Venna, they should consider her dead, and that she is now is the daughter of Shri Ram. Samarth Ramdas encouraged Venna to deliver discourses and perform kirtan.

After this episode, Vennabai resolved to always be with Samarth Ramdas, leaving her parents forever. She joined other Ramdasis. Vennabsi is believed to have performed her first Ram kirtan at the Chafal Math.

She travelled from village to village and performed Kirtans. Vennabai attracted large crowds for her kirtan. Her melodious voice, her spiritual understanding, and her straightforward messaging were the strengths of her kirtan. Her Seeta Swayamvar aakhyan was particularly well-known. Her abhangs and her sermons reached a large number of people, especially the village women. Women could relate better since her abhangs spoke not of lofty philosophies but about the daily aspirations and struggles of every householder. Vennabai had a huge number of disciples - men and women.

Vennaswami served as the chief manager, or Mathadheepati, of one of the Maths established by Samarth Ramdas in Miraj. Scholars claim that Samarth Ramdas established the Miraj Math in 1655, and within a few years, Vennaswami assumed responsibility for the Math. The Sampradayik records document that Vennaswami managed Miraj Math for over two decades.

In the 17th century, it was unimaginable for society to accept a woman, and that too, a widow as Mathadheepati. In fact, even today, we rarely see women at the helm of affairs in places of worship. In contemporary terms, she served as the Chief Executive Officer of the Miraj Math. Having established the systems at the Miraj Math, and serving there for more than twenty years, she returned to Sajjangad.

Vennabai’s spiritual depth was such that when people posed questions to Samarth Ramdas, often he would guide them to her. After returning to Sajjangad, she started getting more aloof and silent, fully dedicated to serving her Guru. Feeling the weight of her body, she asked Samarth Ramdas, “When will she go to Vaikunta?” Samarth responded, “What is the hurry?” The legend goes that on one occasion, Ekadashi Ramdas asked her to perform kirtan at Seetaswayamvar, which she readily did. It was one of the most ecstatic kirtan performances by Vennaswami. Samarth Ramdas, himself, was present in the audience. 

But before starting, she asked her disciples to prepare a funeral pyre, shocking everyone. Following the kirtan, she gave her Veena to Samarth Ramdas, bowed down, and breathed her last at the feet of her Guru. Even today, one can see Vennaswami’s samadhi at Sajjangad.

Vennaswami was not merely a devotee and sant within Maharashtrian spiritual tradition; she was a religious and spiritual leader at a time when women were rarely seen in leadership positions, especially in the religious sphere. Let’s pay tribute to Vennaswami by invoking the following mantra:

या देवी सर्वभूतेषु  बुद्धिरूपेण संस्थिता ।
नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमो नमः ॥

To that goddess, who in all beings is reflected as intellect, salutations to her, salutations to her, salutations to her, salutations again and again.

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

References

1. Ajgaonkar, J. R. Maharashtra Sant Kaviyatri. Mumbai: Bharat Gaurav Granthmala, 1939.

2. Chidgopkar, Alaka. Madhyayugin Marathi Sant Kaviyatrinchi Kavyadhara. Pune: Snehvadhan Prakashan, 2023.

3. Dev, Ganesh Shankar, eds. “Samarathshishya Vennabai”, Ramdas aani Ramdasi, vol. 56, Dhule, 1956. 

4. Dev, S. S., eds. “Ramdasi Samshodhan”, vol. 1 & 2. Dhule: Samarth Vagdevata Mandir. 

5. Ganorkar, Prabha. Marathiteel Streeyanchi Kavita. Mumbai: Lokvandmay Prakashan, 2015.

6. Swami Venna. Shree Samarth Shishya Vennaswamikrit Sphut Kavye. Miraj: Shri Vennaswami Math, 2017.

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