Dnyaneshwari is a commentary on the Bhagavad Gita in Marathi by Saint Dnyaneshwar. It is one of the greatest commentaries on Bhagavad Gita and Saint Dnyaneshwar was only sixteen when he wrote it. Here is a look at some of the important facts of Dnyaneshwari.
Written in the 13th century, Dnyaneshwari brought the Bhagavad Gita to the common man, which until then was the monopoly of Sanskrit scholars. It is written in the verse form. Saint Dnyaneshwar has used numerous similes, day-to-day incidents and examples from nature to convey the meaning of Gita to common man. The commentary is especially noted for its discussion on Kundalini yoga.
Due to changes in the Marathi language over the last few
centuries the text is not easily understandable, but many prose translations
are available.
While writing commentary on Gita Dnyaneshwar Maharaj has used a lot of examples and similes from day to day life and from nature to make the meaning very clear to a common reader.
While writing commentary on Gita Dnyaneshwar Maharaj has used a lot of examples and similes from day to day life and from nature to make the meaning very clear to a common reader.
Dnyaneshwari in Numbers
It was composed in 1290 AD.
Saint Dnyaneshwar was only 16 when he composed the text.
Lifetime of Saint Dnyaneshwar (Jnaneshvara or Gnanadeva) (1274-1297)
He attained Samadhi at a young age of 23.
There are 9032 verse or ovis in Dnyaneshwari.
There 18 chapters in it just like the Bhagavad Gita
Important Teachings of Dnyaneshwari
- It brings Vedanta and other spiritual philosophies to common man.
- It explains the various paths a person can take for spiritual progress and ultimate liberation.
- It brought the philosophy of the Gita, until then the prerogative of Sanskrit pundits, to common man. It is written in verse form as used to be custom of those days,
- An excellent spiritual seekers guide, it discusses in detail four different paths viz. The path of Knowledge, the path of action, the path of yoga and the path of devotion to choose from depending upon the psychological make up of the seeker.
- It presents the cream of Vedanta philosophy, Sankhya philosophy, Kundalini yoga and the practice of devotion.
- While Gita is difficult to understand to a common man, Saint Dnyaneshwar has written Dnyaneshwari (Original name Bhavartha Dipika) specifically for common man and therefore the text is easy to understand.
Teaching from Dnyaneshwari
"You may think that it is not necessary to know anything about the world, but you are wrong. It is only when the knowledge of the world is complete, that the intellect closes its eyelids and remains steady like a boat, which has been moored on a bank. Highest knowledge is that, in which there remains no curiosity, which is followed by logic and which gives no room for imagination. Knowledge, which has not got this characteristic, is worldly knowledge and it is
false." (Chapter VII)