Majhe Maher Pandhari — Sant Eknath Abhanga
Sant Eknath's Majhe Maher Pandhari: Pandharpur as a daughter's beloved maternal home, with Vitthal and Rakhumai as parents and Pundalik as brother.
Verses
My sweet maternal home is the holy city of Pandharpur, resting gracefully upon the sacred banks of the Bhima river!
Verse 1
Lord Vitthal Himself is my loving father, and Mother Rakhumai is my tender, compassionate mother!
Verse 2
Pundalik, the great devotee, is my own brother — how can I ever fully describe his true and pure glory!
Verse 3
My sister is the sacred river Chandrabhaga, who washes away every sin!
Verse 4
Surrendering completely at the holy feet of his Guru Janardana, Eka (Eknath) says: my heart is ever filled with sweet, longing memories of this maternal home of Pandhari!
Verse 5
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 Eknath (1533–1599) was a saint-scholar of Paithan in Maharashtra and a disciple of Janardan Swami, the teacher his signature 'Eka Janardani' names. He prepared a corrected edition of Dnyaneshwar's Dnyaneshwari, wrote the Eknathi Bhagavata in Marathi, and composed many abhangas and bharudas. In 'Majhe Maher Pandhari' he sees Pandharpur as a married woman sees her mother's home, a place of unconditional love. In the Warkari pilgrimage (wari), the walk to Pandharpur is felt as a daughter returning home. The abhanga was later made widely known by the singing of Pandit Bhimsen Joshi.
About this Text
Composed by: Sant Eknath
Did You Know?
The concept of maher
In Maharashtra the maher is a married woman's childhood home, where she is welcomed with affection and no demands. That makes it a tender image of God's grace, and Pandharpur becomes the soul's true home.
Parents and brother
Verses 2 and 3 name Vitthal and Rakhumai as father and mother and the devotee Pundalik as brother, so the whole assembly of Vitthal's devotees becomes one family. The stanza on Pundalik calls Vitthal an ocean of grace (kripasindhu).
Signature and editions
Verse 4 closes with 'Eka Janardani', the poet's signature naming his teacher. In the Sant Eknath Gatha scan on archive.org the same abhanga carries an extra line calling the Chandrabhaga river his sister, a reminder that printed editions differ.
Bhimsen Joshi's rendition
The recording by Bharat Ratna Pandit Bhimsen Joshi is among the best-known renditions of this abhanga, carrying it to listeners far beyond the Warkari community.
Vitthal
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