Eknath(1533-1599) was a prominent Marathi sant, scholar, and religious poet of the Varkari sampradaya. In the development of Marathi literature, Eknath is seen as a bridge between his predecessors—Dnyaneshwar and Namdev—and the later Tukaram and Ramdas.
Birth :1533
Birth Place : Taluka : Paithan , Aurangabad District in Maharashtra.
Father’s Name : Suryanarayan
Mother’s name : Rukmini
Spouse(s) : Girija
Children : Godavari Ganga and Hari
Death : 1599
Eknath lived during the last three-quarters of the sixteenth-century CE. Legend also says that he was born to a Marathi Deshastha Rigvedi Brahmin family that worshiped Ekvira as their family deity at Paithan, that his parents died while he was young and that he was then raised by his grandfather, Bhanudas, a sant also revered by the Varkari sect.[2] Some sources say that Bhanudas was his great-grandfather. It is possible, but not certain, that Eknath’s guru, Janardan, was a Sufi.[4]Janardan Swami was a devotee of dattatreya.
Eknath was a Rigvedi Deshastha Brahmin, a follower of the Ashvalayana Sutra. His Gotra was Vishvamitra.
His family deity was Ekaveera (or Renuka). His family lived at Paithan.
Sant Eknath’s Son Hari, Gained Popularity then and was called as Hari Pandit. .
After Eknath took Samadhi Hari Pandith started taking Nathas Paduka every year for Pandharpur for aspiration.
He wrote a variation of the Bhagavata Purana which is known as the Eknathi Bhagavata, and a variation of the Ramayana which is known as the Bhavarth Ramayan. Eknath wrote Rukmini Swayamwar Hastamalak, which was comprised 764 owees and based on a 14-shlok Sanskrit hymn with the same name by Shankaracharya.
His other works were the Shukashtak (447 owees), the Swatma-Sukha (510 owees), the Ananda-Lahari (154 owees), the Chiranjeewa-Pad (42 owees), the Geeta-Sar, and the Prahlad-Wijaya. He introduced a new form of Marathi religious song called Bharood, writing 300 of them.
He Wrote a book Rukminiswayamvar which gained Fame in that century ,till date.
Nath was born after 250 years after the Saint Dnyaneshwar. There was a very unfavorable situation. Yavana had a kingdom. Meanwhile, the Hindu kingdom of Vijayanagar was submerged. The entire society was devoid of duty. There was an atmosphere of ignorance about Swadharma, Swarajt, Swarajya. There was a lot of emphasis on ritualism, activity. Women were spread throughout the day. Atrocities against religion were happening. In such a difficult time, Eknath started reforming the society. Saying ‘Open Door Open’ tto the Goddess Jagdamba, Nath called public awareness with the help of Bharud, Jogwa, Gavalani and Gondhal. Saint Eknath was a saintly(sant Kavi), Pant Kavi and Tant Kavi. Ranjan and illuminated the degenerate society, he brought the way back to the road, Maharashtra’s youth was aware of it. He mentions himself as a ‘Janardan’, a janardani is his name palm. He wrote many compositions, unbroken, elegant sparks. His book ‘Eknathi Bhagwat’ is popular.
Eknath Died on 25th Feb 1599. This day of phalgun vaidya Shasthi is Known as Eknath Shasthi.