Gangasati was a medieval saint poet of
bhakti tradition of western India who composed several devotional songs in
Gujarati language
Gujarati ( ; , ) is an Indo-Aryan language native to the Indian state of Gujarat and spoken predominantly by the Gujarati people. Gujarati is descended from Old Western Rājasthāni, Old Gujarati (). In India, it is one of the 22 Languages with ...
.
Biography
No authentic information regarding her life is available as her songs and life story were chiefly transmitted by oral traditions. According to traditional accounts, she was born in Sarvaiya(kshatriya Yadav clan of southern Saurashtra) Rajput family in
Saurashtra
Saurashtra, Sourashtra, or variants may refer to:
** Kathiawar, also called Saurashtra Peninsula, a peninsula in western India
** Saurashtra (state), alias United State of Kathiawar, a former Indian state, merged into Bombay State and since its d ...
district Bhavnagar, taluka jesar village Rajpara
Gujarat
Gujarat () is a States of India, state along the Western India, western coast of India. Its coastline of about is the longest in the country, most of which lies on the Kathiawar peninsula. Gujarat is the List of states and union territories ...
state of India circa 12th to 14th century. She married Kahalsang Gohil or Kalubha Gohil of Samdhiala village near present-day
Bhavnagar
Bhavnagar is a city and the headquarters of Bhavnagar district in the Indian state of Gujarat. It was founded in 1723 by Bhavsinhji Gohil. It was the capital of Bhavnagar State, which was a princely state before it was merged into the Dominion ...
. He was a follower of ''Nijiya'' tradition of
Bhakti Movement
The Bhakti movement was a significant religious movement in medieval Hinduism that sought to bring religious reforms to all strata of society by adopting the method of Bhakti, devotion to achieve salvation. Originating in Tamilakam during 6t ...
. The couple was religious and their home became centre of devotional activities which was small to house number of
sadhu
''Sadhu'' (, IAST: ' (male), ''sādhvī'' or ''sādhvīne'' (female), also spelled ''saddhu'') is a religious ascetic, mendicant or any holy person in Hinduism and Jainism who has renounced the worldly life. They are sometimes alternatively ...
s (ascetics) and people visiting. They moved to farm and built a hut where they continued their religious activities. According to traditional account, to prove his spiritual powers, Kalubha once resurrected a cow but later he regretted and decided to take ''
samadhi
Statue of a meditating Rishikesh.html" ;"title="Shiva, Rishikesh">Shiva, Rishikesh
''Samādhi'' (Pali and ), in Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, Sikhism, is a state of meditative consciousness. In many Indian religious traditions, the cultivati ...
'' and end his life. Gangasati urged him to let her take ''samadhi'' too but he refused and instructed her to wait until she had perfected Panbai in path of devotion. She agreed and composed devotional songs,
bhajan
Bhajan is an Indian term for any devotional song with a religious theme or spiritual ideas, specifically among Dharmic religions, in any language. The term bhajanam (Sanskrit: भजनम्) means ''reverence'' and originates from the root w ...
s, one per day for fifty two days to teach Panbai, the path of devotion. She took ''samadhi'' thereafter.
''Bhajan''s
She composed these bhajans each with a theme and spiritual teaching like importance and grace of
Guru
Guru ( ; International Alphabet of Sanskrit Transliteration, IAST: ''guru'') is a Sanskrit term for a "mentor, guide, expert, or master" of certain knowledge or field. In pan-Indian religions, Indian traditions, a guru is more than a teacher: tr ...
, life of devotee, nature and words of ''Bhakti''. They are composed as they are instructed to Panbai. Notably these bhajans do not mention any traditional Hindu deity but god in general, without any form or attributes. They reflect different aspects of way of spiritual attainment. Her bhajans are still popular in Saurashtra and are traditionally sung by devotional singers.
Popular culture
In 1979, a film ''Gangasati'', directed by Dinesh Rawal, based on traditional account of her life was produced in
Gujarati.
Further reading
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See also
*
List of Gujarati-language writers
The following is an alphabetical list of Gujarati writers who has contributed in Gujarati literature; presenting an overview of notable authors, journalists, novelists, playwrights, poets and screenwriters who have released literary works in the Gu ...
References
External links
*
Bhajans of Gangasati{{authority control
People from Gujarat
Gujarati-language poets
Hindu poets
Bhakti movement
Indian women poets
Date of birth unknown
Date of death unknown
Cultural history of Gujarat