Savata Mali
Sant Savata Mali (born: 1250 CE, 1212 VS) was a prominent Marathi saint. Savata Mali (during Sant Jnaneshwar’s time from 1275 to 1296 CE) meaning “pure character” is a significant term. Savata was ambitious; the word ‘Sauvata’ means civilization, self-centeredness, and Maharaj developed in devotion to Vitthal from childhood, flowers, fruits, vegetables, etc. His marriage was a traditional business; he said in a devotional hymn, “Our caste is farming.” Maharaj married a girl named Janai from Bhand Village in Bhavarsi Rupamali, and he found a good world, with two sons, Vitthal and Nagatai. There are 25 Savata Mali hymns available. Like Nevasa’s Neviji Sonar, they also speak. In propaganda, hymns are used, etc. Narhari Sonar also used his profession’s idioms and words. At that time, Marathi hymns added new words and new similes. The hymn sung by Sant Savata Mali was written down by his collaborator Aranbhendi, a saint of the Gurva community of Kashi, as Kashibai Guru. Kashi Maharaj removed prevalent unwanted traditions and created a good society and created consciousness in society and provided equality. Sant Savata Mali sung by Abhang wrote, which shows that he had knowledge of reading and writing.
Sant Savata Mali is a saint who teaches the principle that duty and karma are the true service of God. He is considered one of the greatest and senior saints of the Varakari sect. Shri Vitthal was his supreme deity. He never went to Pandharpur. Pandurang himself came to meet him. He was a saint of karma. The palanquin of Pandurang came specially once a year. He gave an unknown combination of spirituality and devotion, self-awareness, and public assembly, duty, and virtue. He did not care about superstition, hard work, hypocrisy, and external arrogance. He praised intellect, moral thinking, virtue, fearlessness, morality, and tolerance. If they wanted to please God, there was no need for the means of penance, pilgrimages, and Vratviklya, only the need for heartfelt meditation on God.
Business Sant Savata spent the day working hard in his fields to fulfill his daily needs. Along with this, he also worshiped God and everyone also has the right to worship God. “No politics, no problems, a simple way to heaven” was their experience. They showed the way of self-improvement to every person. A person named Kashiab Guru used to write his hymn, whom he had seen as Vitthal in the vegetables of his garden.
Our breed Mali is planting in gardening
Only Vitthabai Mhaji
Garlic pepper coriander just got my Hari
In these Abhangas, Sant Savatmali says that our caste is Mali, and we grow onions, radishes, vegetables, garlic, coriander, and peppers in our fields, and we see God in them. They also want to tell them that there is no need to go to temples to see God, God is in our work. He gave an unknown combination of spiritual devotion and self-realization and public gathering and duty and virtue. He did not let anyone believe in superstitions, hard work, and hypocrisy. If they want to please God with the qualities of discretion, their thinking is that God is pleased only by meditating on or chanting the name.
There is a saying about Saint Savata Mali that Saint Savata Mali worked in his fields of grass all day long. Once Sant Jnaneshwar, Namdev, and Pandurang Kooramdas were going to meet. The village of Aranbhedi was on the way. Then Pandurang said to stop there, I will meet myself. Pandurang felt humorous, he ran towards Savata Mala and said that two thieves are chasing me, hide me somewhere.
Sant Savata had torn Panduranga’s chest from his sore and put parathas or blankets on his chest. Jnaneshwar and Namdev got tired while waiting for Panduranga and came to Savatya’s bagan. He asked where Panduranga is. Jnanadeva and Namadeva were both intelligent. Savatya’s stomach is my Panduranga. The matter was understood, and then all three came to meet Kooramdas with Savata Mali. There is an internal context in this story where Savata Mali had cut his stomach and kept Panduranga inside.
He says in one part that ‘our Maliya’s hair, let’s go farming in the field’. Everyone has the right to be dedicated to God while following their duties in worldly life. They had a real experience that ‘no politics, no trouble, name simple, Vaikuntha’s way’. They showed the way of self-improvement to the public. They only got a 45-year life. They followed the work of religious awareness and devotion faithfully as a fast. Between their personality, there is an amazing balance between coexistence and renunciation. Of them, only 37 hymns are available.
Sant Savata Mali is a saint who teaches this tendency that duty and karma are the true service of God. He is considered one of the greatest and senior saints of the Varakari sect. Shri Vitthal was his supreme deity. He never went to Pandharpur. Pandurang himself came to meet him. He was a saint of karma. The palanquin of Pandurang came specially once a year. He gave an unknown combination of spirituality and devotion, self-awareness, and public assembly, duty, and virtue. He did not care about superstition, hard work, hypocrisy, and external arrogance. He praised intellect, moral thinking, virtue, fearlessness, morality, and tolerance. If they wanted to please God, there was no need for the means of penance, pilgrimages, and Vratviklya, only the need for heartfelt meditation on God.
Sant Savata Maharaj Ashad Wady Chaturdashi, Shak 1217 (Death 12 July, 1295) was done in Endless in Arun. Today, the palanquin of Shri Vitthal of Pandharpur comes specially once a year.
