Poetry Chaikhana
Sacred Poetry from Around the World

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Yoga / Hindu : Vaishnava (Krishna/Rama)

Sikh

14th Century

India
(Indian Subcontinent)

Namdev

Timeline (1270 - 1350)

Poems by Namdev
Books - Links

Namdev, Namdev poetry, Yoga / Hindu, Yoga / Hindu poetry, Vaishnava (Krishna/Rama) poetry, poetry, Sikh poetry

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Namdev was born about 1270 into a family of low-caste tailors, though as he grew he showed little interest in the family profession or in any worldly affairs. As is sometimes common in rural India, he was married as a child, at age 11. He eventually had four children. His marriage was not a happy one, however, as his wife was worldly minded, often belittling Namdev and his devotion to God, while Namdev, for his part, did little to earn much needed income for the family.

Namdev came under the influence of the bhakti poet-saint Jnanadev, who was several years his senior. Namdev became a wandering minstrel, traveling through the countryside chanting and singing songs of devotion.

In his fifties, Namdev settled down again and a group of devotees gathered around him.

It was in the household of Namdev that Janabai served as a maid, a revered poetess in her own right.

Namdev, like his mentor Jnanadev, was a devotee of the Vitthala cult. Being a pastoral sect with a distinctive bhakti (devotional) attitude, Vitthalas are often grouped under the umbrella of the Krishna cults of Vaishnava Hinduism. Many poets and saints in the bhakhti traditions, including Namdev, are revered by the later Sikh religion, as well.

Poems by Namdev

	He is the One in many
	Laughing and playing, I came to Your Temple, O Lord
	The drum with no drumhead beats;
	The thundering resonance of the Word
	Thou art the Creator, Thou alone art my friend;
	When I see His ways, I sing

Recommended Books

Hindi Padavali of Namdev, by Winand M. Callewaert / Mukund Lath

Amazon.com

Namdev, His Mind and Art: A linguistic Analysis of Namdev's Poetry, by R. N. Maurya

Amazon.com

Songs of the Saints from the Adi Granth, Translated by Nirmal Dass

Amazon.com

Related Links:

	Namdev http://www.sivanandadlshq.org/saints/namdev.htm An extended biography of Namdev written by Swami Sivananda. Also includes references to Janabai, and Jnaneshwari.
	Vitthalas (Verkari Panth) http://philtar.ucsm.ac.uk/encyclopedia/hindu/devot/vitt.html A brief overview of the Vitthala sect that Namdev addhered to.
	Sikh Bhagats: Bhagat Namdevji http://allaboutsikhs.com/bhagats/bhagatnamdev.htm An exploration of Namdev's life and philosophy from a Sikh perspective.

Please support the Poetry Chaikhana, as well as the authors and publishers of sacred poetry, by purchasing some of the recommended books through the links on this site. Thank you!

Poetry Chaikhana Sacred Poetry from Around the World

Namdev

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Poetry Chaikhana
Sacred Poetry from Around the World

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the Poetry Chaikhana