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You leave your greatness behind you by Janabai (1298 - 1350?) Timeline English version by Sarah Sellergren Original Language Marathi Yoga / Hindu : Vaishnava (Krishna/Rama) 14th Century Jani has had enough of samsara, but how will I repay my debt? You leave your greatness behind you to grind and pound with me. O Lord you become a woman washing me and my soiled clothes, proudly you carry the water and gather dung with your own two hands. O Lord, I want a place at your feet, says Jani, Namdev's dasi.      -- from Images of Women in Maharashtrian Literature and Religion, Edited by Anne Feldhaus Amazon.com   / Photo by magnusfranklin /	Themes   Water         Recommended Books Images of Women in Maharashtrian Literature and Religion, Edited by Anne Feldhaus Women Saints in World Religions, Edited by Arvind Sharma Women Writing in India: 600 BC to the Present: Volume 1, Edited by Susie Tharu / Edited by K. Lalita
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Commentary by Ivan M. Granger

Janabai starts off this poem by proclaiming that she "has had enough of samsara," the world of suffering and illusion. But how can she purify herself of karma -- "but how will I repay my debt?" She begins with a daunting image of God and karma, God as a sort of king who mercilessly collects karmic debts.

But then the vision shifts to something more intimate. God leaves his "greatness" behind and, like Janabai herself, takes on the humble role of a servant "to grind and pound" and wash. These are traditionally a woman's duties so God has "become a woman," a loving mother rather than a stern father.

But what is being washed here is Janabai herself and her "soiled clothes," her awareness. She implies that God's grinding and pounding is being done with her, but also upon her -- the purifying work of karma finally being paid. In the divine process of spiritual purification, God takes on the humble role of washerwoman, content to "carry the water" of divine energy that purifies, and not above gathering the dung of the material world which is burned for purifying fires.

This is not a vision of God in might and majesty, not a God kept hidden in temples and obscure rituals, and not an aloof debt-collector. Janabai's God is, like herself, a servant-woman, a God who works side-by-side with her in the daily chores, a God who serves even the lowest servant. Janabai identifies herself as Namdev's dasi or servant, and she is made holy by worshipping a servant God. By recognizing the Divine as being similar to herself, she also recognizes that she, even in her humble state, is similar to the Divine.

Ivan M. Granger's original poetry, stories and commentaries are Copyright © 2002 - 2011 by Ivan M. Granger.
All other material is copyrighted by the respective authors, translators and/or publishers.