Neela Bhagwat

Neela Bhagwat is a familiar name for lovers of Hindustani music the world over. As a front-ranking exponent of the Gwalior style of singing, she has upheld the aesthetic principles of traditional music. As an innovative performer, she has combined the purity of raga with the folk idiom of medieval saint poets like Kabir, Shajo and Meera. These as well as her other innovations relating the traditional form to the contemporary concerns have brought her critical acclaim in India as well as Europe.

The prized pupil of revered gurus like Pandit Sharaadchandra Arolkar and Pandit Jal Balaporia, she has performed on major concert platforms, cut CDs, released audio albums and performed over global television channels like Star Plus and Music Asia.

Poet’s Note

We are privileged to present the insights of musician Neela Bhagwat who has spent decades singing the abhangas of the medieval Marathi bhakti poets.

She writes, “It is difficult to get much information on women saints of the medieval period. Their abhangs speak for their minds and hearts. That is how it is.” She offers this map of their genealogy and mystical wanderings. Their differences, pain, the trajectory of their transcendence.

13th century Maharashtra saw the beautifully philosophical poetry of SAINT DNYANESHWAR. Many common people from the ‘low’ castes were inspired to speak about their suffering in the form of the ABHANGA.

CHOKHA MELA and his entire family was one among them. SOYARABAI, wife of Chokha Mela, follows her husband in the arguments and questioning against the caste system. What is special about her is the ability to put forth contradictions and absurdities in life.

NIRMALA is a sister of Chokha Mela. Her expression is intense and strong. Devotion to Vitthala liberates her from the shackles of life.

KANHOPATRA (14th century) was born in the family of a sex worker. She liberated herself from the humiliating conditions of a sex worker with her devotion to Vitthala. Like all women saints she looks upon Vitthala as the closest friend and poses questions to him.

BAHINABAI (17th century) was married off at the age of three to a thirty year old man. One can imagine how miserable her life must have been. She wished to free herself from the tyranny of marriage. She sought a solution by becoming a disciple of SAINT TUKARAM. However, she had to go through painful struggle to acquire Tukaram’s discipleship. Her poetry is an expression of this struggle.

RAJAI, the wife of SAINT NAMDEV gives voice to her protests against the husband who neglected the family due to his devotion to Vitthala. She sounds like a modern-day woman unafraid of giving vent to her grievances against the husband.

GONAI. The mother of Sant Namdev fails to understand her son ‘s devotion since he behaves like a mad person, completely neglecting his family.

JANABAI. An abandoned child at six years, Janabai lived in Saint Namdev’s house. Her status appears like a maid servant. She grinds the grain, sweeps the huge house. She expresses the drudgery in her life using very strong words. She has none but Vitthala to speak to about the misery she was going through. He too does not pay enough attention to her, She speaks almost like a working class woman of today –with nothing to lose. Her outspoken words of sensual love for Vitthala and the anger because of frustration, is remarkably vigorous.

MUKTABAI. The youngest sister of Dnyaneshwar is emotionally mature and philosophically sound, and profound. She seems to consider the goal of spiritual salvation above all social ills. Brilliant Muktabai becomes emotional only to get Dnyaneshwar out of his frustration caused by social injustice.

BHAGU. Madhura Bhakti gives ample room to the devotee to relate to God in each one’s own way. Bhagu feels like an infant infatuated with kind Vitthala, caring and mothering him.

VATSARA and Bhagu are rather unknown as women saints. Their total devotion to Vitthala is an indication of how the Bhakti movement reached the ‘low’ castes and showed them the path of freedom from suffering in the caste-ridden society.

Hear Neela Bhagwat singing Kabir