Santkrupa Jhali Imarat Phala Aali — Sant Bahinabai Abhanga
Sant Bahinabai's abhanga on the Varkari temple: Dnyaneshwar laid its foundation, Namdev extended it, Eknath raised a pillar, Tukaram became its golden crest.
Verses
By the boundless grace of the holy saints, the grand spiritual sanctuary of Bhakti has reached its glorious completion and fruition.
Verse 1
Sant Dnyaneshwar laid the unshakeable foundation stone, erecting this divine temple of spiritual awakening.
Verse 2
Sant Namdev became its humble servant and companion; through his boundless Kirtan, he expanded its walls across the lands.
Verse 3
Sant Eknath (blessed by Janardana Swami) erected the massive central pillar of moral and spiritual integrity, fortifying the sanctuary.
Verse 4
Sant Tukaram became the crowning golden pinnacle (Kalash) of this temple; now, O devotees, sing the Lord's praises with peace, ease, and unhurried joy!
Verse 5
Bahinabai proclaims: Behold, the sacred saffron flag flutters high in the heavens; the saints have illuminated and expounded the path of truth with absolute grace and clarity!
Verse 6
Worship Guidelines & Chanting Benefits (Phalashruti)
Daily or auspicious lunar days (Ekadashi, Purnima, Pradosham)
Brahma Muhurta (4:00 AM – 6:00 AM) or Evening Dusk (Sandhya)
Ghee lamp (Deepa), Incense (Dhoopa), Fresh flowers & Water offering
- Peace of mind, spiritual upliftment, and harmonious energy in the home
Background
Sant Bahinabai (c. 1628–1700) was a direct female disciple of Sant Tukaram and an enlightened mystic-poet. In 'Santkrupa Jhali', she created the ultimate spiritual metaphor that defines Maharashtra's Bhakti heritage to this day, tracing how four centuries of continuous saintly lineage created an unbreakable sanctuary of democratic devotion open to all beings. Her abhanga is printed as no. 229 in the 1926 Pune edition of the Sant Bahinabaicha Gatha.
About this Text
Composed by: Sant Bahinabai
Did You Know?
The Temple Metaphor (Imarat)
Bahinabai's architectural image of foundation, walls, pillar and crest is widely quoted as the simplest summary of how the Marathi Bhakti tradition grew.
The Four Pillars of Pandharpur
Dnyaneshwar (Philosophical Foundation), Namdev (Universal Outreach), Eknath (Moral Pillar), and Tukaram (Ecstatic Pinnacle).
The Fluttering Flag
Stanza 6 refers to the saffron flag (Bhagva Dhvaj) carried by millions of pilgrims during the annual Wari procession to Pandharpur.
Vitthal
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