JNANESWAR MAHARAJ OF ALANDI 

THE FAMILY OF JNANESWARA MAHARAJ

Jnaneswar who occupied the highest seat among the saints of Maharashtra had a glorious past and an illustrious history. He was born to orthodox parents, renowned for their spiritual wealth and sublime religious culture. He was the contemporary of king Ramadeva Rao of Devagiri and was born in the saka year 1197. He was the second of the four children born to Vithalpant and Rakhumabai, the others being Nivritti - the eldest, sopan the third, and Mukta Bai - the last. They were born in the town of Alandi situated on the bank of river Indrayani. Harihara pant, the grandfather of Jnaneswar held the post of Kulakarni at Apegaon situated near Paithan, a great city famous as a cultural centre then. Vitthal pant was a great scholar, whose mastery over classics brought him many admirers. And also a woman of wealth and chastity. It so happened that he developed unquenchable thirst for yatra to holy kshetras. Leaving his town Apegaon, he toured several places like Dwaraka, Somnath etc. and came to Alandi on his way back home. By chance he came into contact with Siddhopant, a prominent Kulakarni of his day. That providential meeting ended in making him a grihasti. Siddhopant drawn by his scholarship volunteered to offer his daughter Rakhumabai to him in marriage. The young scholar was in a dilemma; for he was no match to that family of position and status. Just then he had a dream in which Lord Vithal of Pandhurpur advised him to accept the offer. 

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