Sant Dnyaneshwar's greatness and sufferings

Sant Dnyaneshwar faced immense trials and tribulations throughout His life. Born to a family ostracised by society, He and His siblings were shunned because Their father had broken monastic vows. He was born a Divine soul. Since such divine souls are transparent by nature from birth, their intellect has the capacity to soar toward the universal intellect, while their mind tends to move inwards, that is, toward the universal mind. It is due to this that Sant Dnyaneshwar remained steadfast in His spiritual pursuit, composing the Dnyaneshwari, a commentary on the Bhagavad Gita which made the Knowledge accessible to all.

With Sant Dnyaneshwar being such an evolved being, the question arises – why did He face hardships?

Such divine souls that assume an incarnate form by birth do not have any sufferings arising from personal destiny. So all the trials and tribulations He and His siblings faced were not their personal destiny. The hardship They faced since birth was due to collective destiny (samashti prarabdha).

— A scholar (Pen name of Sadguru (Mrs.) Anjali Gadgil)

Sant Dnyaneshwar – an embodiment of Advaita

The religious scholars of the holy town of Alandi asked Dnyaneshwar Maharaj and his siblings to obtain a certificate of spiritual purification from the religious council of Paithan, as a prerequisite for regaining acceptance into the orthodox religious order. Accordingly, the siblings traveled to Paithan, where they had to undergo several spiritual examinations before the learned assembly.

During the conference, a fisherman named Wakoba happened to pass by the venue, leading his buffalo named Genoba. One of the scholars present asked Shri Dnyandev (Sant Dnyaneshwar Maharaj), “Is your soul and the soul of that buffalo the same?”

Shri Dnyandev calmly replied, “Indeed, that soul is none other than mine.”

To test the truth of his statement, the scholars asked Him to prove it. Shri Dnyandev then placed His hand gently upon the head of the buffalo and commanded it to recite verses from the Vedas. Immediately, the buffalo began to utter the first verse of the Rigveda: “oṃ agnimīḻe purohitaṃ yajñasya devamṛtvijam । hoetāraṃ ratnadhātamam ॥” (I praise Agni, the high priest of the sacrifice, the divine officiating priest, the bestower of treasures.)

Amazed by this divine miracle, the assembly recognised the spiritual greatness of Shri Dnyandev and presented Him with the certificate of spiritual purity. From that day onwards, the buffalo Genoba was regarded as the first disciple of Sant Dnyaneshwar.

The life of such Divine souls embodies the philosophy of Advaita (non-duality); Their actions and style of guidance reflect the divine action rooted in Brahman, therefore, their teachings are as authoritative as the very words of Brahman.