Introduction

This is a translation of the Maharashtra Saint-Poet Sant Jnaneshwara's Haripaath. It is a rendering in verse of the Marathi mystical poetry, which enjoys the status of daily prayer offering in the Warkari sect in Maharashtra. Sant Jnaneshwara (1275-1296) is credited to have brought about a confluence of Adwait philosophy, Nath spirituality and the Bhakti or devotional movement. This confluence continues for the last 7 centuries unbroken in the form of the Warkari sect. But his appeal transcends the bounds of the sects through his commentary on the Gita, Jnaneshwari.

Haripaath is a short collection of 27 verses enjoying its unique status. It is recited daily by all warkaris, many of whom are illiterate, but united in their single-pointed devotion alongside very erudite devotees. The simplicity and the directness of the message of Haripaath conceals within itself many layers of meanings accessible only to the mystical initiate.

It is believed that Haripaath was revealed to Sant Eknath (circa 1540) almost 300 years after the samadhi of Sant Jnaneshwara. The latter appeared in Eknath's dream and exhorted him to purge the Jnaneshwari of all interpolations made by other commentators. Eknath came to Alandi, the resting place of Jnaneshwara, to undertake the correction. During his stay at Alandi, Eknath received a revelation in the form of Haripaath, which he transcribed for own and others' use. It is this Haripaath that is in currency for the last over 400 years.

I first read out translations of some verses to my friend Dr Balaji who suggested that I do the same for the entire collection. After reading the prose one, my friend Sandeep Apte suggested that I do the rendering in verse form. I completed it in Oct 2003 and printed it in a pocketbook form. I am happy to be able to put it out on the web for world readership.