Wager of Ambrosia

The Wager of Ambrosia

A Study of Jnaneshwari

R Y Deshpande

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Publisher's Note

"The first Marathi poet... at once a devotee, a Yogin and a thinker,"—this was how Sri Aurobindo spoke of Jnaneshwar in the context of Indian culture and literature. His magnum opus Bhavartha Deepika, popularly known as Jnaneshwari, was written seven hundred years ago when the Yogi-Poet was just about fifteen years of age. It is a marvellous literary work and presents the Gita in the form of a series of discourses. Jnaneshwar gave these discourses in the temple of Mhalsa at Newase on the bank of the river Pravara, in Maharashtra. In the process, he recreated in his language another magnificence that has remained unsurpassed ever since. In fact, it has acquired the status of a scripture in the vernacular. Jnaneshwari is recited regularly and revered in every Marathi household even today. The scripture has proved to be an unfailing spiritual guide to the seeker souls.

We are glad to bring to you a study of Jnaneshwari, entitled The Wager of Ambrosia, by Prof. R. Y. Deshpande. It presents the Marathi Adi Kavi's work in an entirely new way. Prof. Deshpande,— a well acclaimed poet, writer, critic and scientist,—is a professor of physics at the Sri Aurobindo International Centre of Education and also the Associate Editor of Mother India, a monthly review of culture, published by Sri Aurobindo Ashram, Pondicherry. A major part of The Wager of Ambrosia, a phrase taken from Jnaneshwari, was first serialised in the Ashram periodical during April 1997 and January 1999.

The Wager of Ambrosia is a broad appreciation of certain aspects of the great poet's commentary on the Gita. It deals with some spiritual, yogic, poetic, literary, philosophical topics and provides a distinct perspective in the light of Sri Aurobindo. Extensive use of the Marathi text as well as of the Gita adds to its value in a great way. We hope Prof. Deshpande's work will throw open the doors to fresher and rewarding studies of the Yogi-Poet's timeless creation and help our readers comprehend it in its deeper sense.