SantMuktabai was born in Apegaon, Maharashtra, in 1279. She was a saint and poet from Maharashtra, known as “Muktai.” Her parents were Rukminibai and Vitthalpant. SantNivruttinath, SantDnyaneshwar, and SantSopandev were her elder brothers. In fact, Nivrutti, Dnyandev, Sopandev, and Mukta were born as incarnations of renunciation, knowledge, devotion, and liberation, respectively. The divinity blessed Rukmini and Vitthalpant with parenthood, but after dedicating this divinity to the world, the father had to leave the world. Nivruttinath and his siblings were taunted as “ascetic children” from a young age, but these four siblings continued to worship Brahmavidya despite all hardships.
Vitthalpant and Rukminibai, hoping that their children would live happily after their departure, accepted the decision of death penance given by the cruel society and gave up their bodies. After the death of their parents, the delicate responsibility of being the homemaker of this unique family fell on Muktabai. She took on this responsibility and managed it skillfully. She became like a mother to her brothers. Thus, Muktai matured, becoming serious and wise at a young age.
On one occasion, Muktabai wanted to make sweet bread (pav) for her brothers. She went to the village to get an earthen plate baked by the potter. A village head named Visoba, who was very cruel to children, scolded her and ordered the village potters to refuse her request. When she returned home, she was crying in sadness. Dnyaneshwar asked her to prepare the dough. Then he bent down, touched the floor with his hands, heated his back red-hot, and asked SantMuktabai to bake the bread on it. She did so and happily served the bread to her brothers.
Amazed and astonished, Visoba secretly watched this miracle from the window and realized the extraordinary power of these children. He ran inside the hut, picked up pieces of the bread as offerings, and SantMuktabai said, “Hey, mule (donkey), turn back!” These words completely changed his heart. He fell at their feet, weeping and asking for forgiveness. When he asked to be accepted as their disciple, Nivrutti requested SantMuktabai to initiate him. After that, Visoba left the village to spend the rest of his life in deep meditation and practice. He attained self-realization and became the guru of SantNamdev.
Similarly, SantMuktabai was responsible for removing the veil of ignorance from SantNamdev’s mind. When they met Namdev in Pandharpur, Nivrutti, Dnyaneshwar, and Sopandev humbly greeted him. Namdev was filled with pride as everyone in Pandharpur considered him a great saint. SantMuktabai, out of great compassion for this true devotee, wanted to remove his shortsightedness by giving him a cosmic vision. Thus, unlike her brothers, she did not bow at his feet but requested Gora Kumbhar (a potter saint) to test the pots. Gora Kumbhar understood and began to strike Nivrutti, Dnyandev, Sopandev, and other saints on the head with his testing stick.
They all remained calm and serene, and Gora Kumbhar declared them fully baked. When he struck Namdev on the head, Namdev yelled at him, and Gora Kumbhar declared him half-baked. Angry at this insult, Namdev ran to the temple to Lord Vitthal. The Lord told him that he was right because he saw God only in Lord Vitthal, not as the omnipresent creative presence. He was asked to go to VisobaKhechar, and through his practical teachings, Namdev became fully enlightened.
Muktabai remained unmarried throughout her life. She was a realized woman and the guru of Changdev. One day, while Muktabai was sitting in the ashram with her brothers, Changdev was passing by. Muktabai was properly dressed, but Changdev felt as if she was completely naked. He turned and walked the other way. Muktabai told him that he had not yet attained the state of perfection, as he still had feelings of gender difference and shame. Moreover, he was unable to see God in every being. Thus, Muktabai explained the meaning of ‘pashashti’ to Yogi Changdev. With Muktabai’s grace, Changdev attained self-realization, and his 1400 years of life were blessed. “At the age of eight, Muktai became the spiritual guru of 1400-year-old Changdev.”
Death of SantMuktabai
After SantDnyandev took Samadhi, her elder brother Nivruttinath set out on a pilgrimage with Muktabai. When they came near the Tapiriver, a sudden lightning struck. SantMuktabai disappeared in the fierce current of lightning (12 May 1297). Muktabai’s Samadhi is located in Kothali, Jalgaon district. She received invaluable education and, through intense meditation, overcame this weakness.
