Adi
Shankara or Shankara, was an early 8th century Indian philosopher and theologian who consolidated the doctrine of Advaita Vedanta. He is credited with
unifying and establishing the main currents of thought in Hinduism. He is the greatest Vishwakarma
Brahmin ever born.
He was born
in Kalady, Kerala in the 778AD and in his short life span of 32 years, his
accomplishments seem a marvel even today, with our modern conveyances and other
facilities. At the tender age of eight, burning with the desire for Liberation,
he left home in search of his Guru. Govinda
Bhagavatpada was his Guru.
During his
travels across the length and breadth of India, he established four maths
(ashrams) to unify the scattered and diverse groups of Sannyasis. He selected
four of his senior most disciples to head each of these maths. Each of these
maths was assigned the task of maintaining and preserving for posterity, one of
the four Vedas
Adi
Shankara's works are the foundation of Advaita Vedanta school of Hinduism, and
his doctrine, states Sengaku Mayeda, "has been the source from which the
main currents of modern Indian thought are derived".Over 300 texts are
attributed to his name, including commentaries (Bhāṣya), original
philosophical expositions (Prakaraṇa grantha) and poetry (Stotra).
However most of these are not authentic works of Adi Shankara and are likely to
be works of his admirers or scholars whose name was also Shankaracharya.Piantelli
has published a complete list of works attributed to Adi Sankara, along with
issues of authenticity for most.
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Changdev Maharaj
Changdev
Maharaj (also commonly referenced in ancient texts as Changa Deva, Changadeva,
or simply Changa) was a mystical yogi
turned saint who is believed to have lived in the village of Vateshwar along
the banks of the Tapti River for
1,400 years.[1] Per popular belief, Changdev
Maharaj achieved Bhuta Siddhi (control over the classical elements)
based on his yogic powers and used these powers to perform various supernatural
acts. Even though Changdev Maharaj himself is believed to have had held godly
status and followers, his current following is mostly amongst Varkaris due to his association with Dnyaneshwar and
Muktai, the sister of Dnyaneshwar, is believed to be the
spiritual guide of Changdev Maharaj. As the legend goes, once Muktai and her
brothers were sitting in the ashram when Changdev
happened to pass by. Muktai was of course fully clad, but she appeared to
Changdev as unclad and at once he turned away. Muktai then told him that he was
not perfect as he still had a complex of sex and shame, and did not see God in
every being. These words of Muktai had great effect on him and he eradicated
this weakness through intense sadhana. Changdev
wished to make Dnyanadev his guru, but Dnyanadev said that Muktai was the right
spiritual guru instead of himself. From this point on, Changdev took Muktai as
his spiritual guide, and many references to Muktai can be found in the Abhangs that he wrote.
Temples
dedicated to Changdev are today mostly found in the state of Maharashtra.
References to his yogic and Tantric acts can be found in various literate
related to yogic and Tantric streams as well as Buddhist folklore. The word
Changa itself means good, and is also the name of a particular Shiva Jyotirlinga
and the deity Bhairava.
In
the present day, the village of Changdev 20 kilometers
away from Muktainagar District Jalgaon which is located where River Purna joins
river Tapi, where Changdev Maharaj is believed to have lived for 1,400 years,
houses an old temple dedicated to him. It is believed that the temple is about
3,000 years old. It is currently an ASI protected monument.[5]
The
present day Puntamba,
a village along the banks of the Godavari
River in Maharashtra, is believed to be the 14th and
final resting place for Changdev Maharaj. The village has a mid-17th-century
temple which houses the samadhi of Changdev Maharaj.
Famous
arti on Vishwakarma written by Changadeva.
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Changdev Maharaj
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Visoba Khechara.
Visoba
Khechara (unknown - 1309 CE), spelled also as Visoba Khechar or Visoba Khecar,
was the yogi-guru of the Varkari
poet-saint Namdev
(c.1270-1350) of Maharashtra, India. Visoba was a disciple of the Varkari
poet-saint Jñāneśvar (c. 1275-1296). He had linkages with the Varkari
tradition as well as the Nath tradition of Maharashtra. He preached the omnipresence of
God and thus denounced idol-worship. Though a staunch Shaiva,
Visoba has composed verses in praise of the god Vithoba,
the patron deity of the Varkari faith. He has also composed Shatsthala where
there is mention of Vishwakarma & his sons.
Once,
when Jñāneśvar's sister Muktabai went to get some earthenware from the potter, Visoba
struck her angrily and disallowed the potter to sell her his pans.
Disheartened, Muktabai returned home and told the tale to Jñāneśvar. The text
says he heated his back by his yogic powers and Muktai baked the food on his
back. Astonished by seeing this miracle, Visoba repented and asked for
forgiveness from Jñāneśvar. Initially, Jñāneśvar calls Visoba "a
mule", which gave him the name "Visoba Khechara".Visoba had
refused to acknowledge Jñāneśvar and Muktabai, but after knowing their
spiritual greatness he became their disciple.
He
died in Barshi on Shravana Shuddha Ekadashi, the 11th lunar day in the
fortnight of the waxing moon in the Hindu month Shravana, in 1309.
Narahari Sonar
Narahari
Sonar or Narhari Sonar (literally Narahari the goldsmith, a name often used in
English sources) is a 13th-century Hindu poet-saint of the Varkari
sect and goldsmith (sonar) from Maharashtra,
India. His hagiography speaks about his transition from a staunch Shaiva
(devotee of the god Shiva)
to a Vithoba-worshipping
Varkari after a miracle that makes him realize that Vithoba and Shiva are one
and the same.
Narahari
lived in Devagiri
(currently known as Daulatabad), before moving to Pandharpur. A staunch Shaiva,
he was influenced by the Varkari saint Dnyaneshwar
(1275–1296) and others to become the devotee of Vithoba. He died in 1313 (Shaka 1235).
Shree Sant Bhojling Kaka
Bhojling
Kaka accepted parenthood of Great Saint Shree Dnyaneshwar and his other brothers after their mother and
father.
He
belonged to royal family. During Dnyaneshwar time there was a city called Panchalpur
near Shani shignapur. His family were ruling here. Later king Paithan started
trouble his family & they lost their hold on the city. Later he came in contact with Vithalpant
father of Shree Dnyaneshwar & became his family member & became
Kaka(uncle) of Dnyaneshwar & his other brother & sister. After the
death of Vithalpant he accepted their parenthood. He is the only person who
took direct diksha from Dnyaneshwar
Shrine
of Shree Sant Bhojling Kaka is there beside the Shrine of Shree Sant
Dnyaneshwar Maharaj in Shree Kshetra Alandi in Pune district.
Tuka Brahmanada swami.
A
great yogi during Shivaji time. His original name was Tuka kammar. He did gold idol of goddess Jagadamba a family deity of Shivaji & presently is
with king of Satara.
RAVURI BHARADWAJA
Rāvūri Bharadvāja (1927 – 18
October 2013) was a Jnanpith award winning Telugu
novelist, short-story writer, poet and critic.[2]
He wrote 37 collections of short stories, seventeen novels, four play-lets,
and five radio plays.
He also contributed profusely to children's literature. Paakudu Raallu,
a graphic account of life behind the screen in film industry,
is considered his magnum opus. Jeevana Samaram is another of his popular
works.
He
could not study beyond class 7 but earned fame through his short stories,
poetry and critical reviews. He had done several odd jobs but later worked in
weeklies and also in All India Radio.
He
received honorary doctorates, a Central Sahitya Akademi award and ultimately
the Jnanpith award. He was only the third Telugu writer to be honoured with the
country's highest literary award. He was awarded the 48th Jnanpith award for
the year 2012 which was announced on 17 April 2013 for his contribution to
Telugu literature through many notable works.
Ravuri
died in Hyderabad on October 18, 2013
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| RAVURI BHARADWAJA |
S. M. Pandit.
Dr.
S. M. Pandit (Sambanand Monappa Pandit, 25 March 1916 – 30 March 1993) was one
of the most popular and much sought-after painters of his times
Born
on 25 March 1916, in Gulbarga district of Karnataka state, Pandit became a
student of Shankar Rao Alandkar who was also a Sir. J. J. School of Arts
product. Subsequently he took his diploma from the Madras School of Art. He
came to Mumbai in 1935 and joined Nootan Kala Mandir for further studies under
the guidance of Shri G S Dandavathimath and appeared for his Diploma at Sir.
J.J. School of Arts where he was taught by renowned teachers like Shri K.B
Chudekar.
Needless
to say, recognition and rewards came in ample measure to Pandit. In his own
time, he was recognised as the foremost artist in the Genre by many of his
contemporaries[7] and continues to influence
artists even to the present day.[8] He was awarded a medal at the
International exhibition in Toronto in 1946 for one of his cover designs. The
exhibition of his mythological and portrait paintings in 1978 at the Ravi
Shankar Hall and the Indian High Commission in London and Manchester won him
popular appreciation and critical acclaim. He was also elected a Fellow of the
Royal Society of Arts, London (F.R.S.A.).
Pandit
was the founder member of the Commercial Artists guild, Mumbai. He was a
recipient of the Gold Medal of the Royal Academy in London and was also
conferred the State Lalit Kala Academy Award in 1983, and the Rajyotsava Award
in 1984. He was conferred the D.Litt. from Gulbarga University, Karnataka in
1986.
He
passed away on 30th March 1993.
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S. M. Pandit.
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Narayan Laxman Sonavadekar,
He was from Akeri Sawantwadi Sindhudurga
district. He was a professor of sculpture at Mumbai’s Sir JJ School of Arts.
Over the years that he ran the studio, till his death in 2002, the studio
garnered quite a reputation for making sculptures of freedom fighters,
politicians and Hindu deities, including the famous sculpture of Swami
Vivekananda at Rock Memorial in Kanyakumari.
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Narayan Laxman Sonavadekar,
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| Sonavadekar with statue of Shivaji installed at Farmagudi Goa. |
Late shri Vaman Zo,
He
was great artist from Vishwakarma Brahmin Community of Goa. Surname Zo is given by the Portuguese. He was
excellent ivory carver for which he was felicitated by Portuguese as well Govt
of Goa.
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| Vaman Zo, |
