A commemorative postage stamp on Jnaneshwar, a 13^th century Marathi saint-poet, authored Dnyaneshwari, the first book to translate Bhagavad Gita from Sanskrit to Marathi language :

Issued by India

Issued on Mar 5, 1997

Design : The commemorative postage stamp in honour of Saint Dnyaneshwar, has been designed by I.S.P. Nashik, on the basis of artwork provided by Shree Dnyaneshwar Maharaj Sansthan Committee.
FDC : Dnyaneshwar Maharaj Sansthan Committee
Cancellation : Smt. Alka Sharma

Type : First Day Cover

Colour : Multicolour

Denomination : 500 Paise

Overall size : 3.91 x 2.90 Cms.

Printing size : 3.91 x 2.90 Cms.

Perforation : 13 x 13

Paper : un w/m Adhesive Gravure Coated Stamp Paper

Stamps Printed : 0.4 Million

Number per issue sheet : 35

Printing Process : Photogravure

Printer : India Security Press, Nasik

Name : Dnyandeo Vitthalpant Kulkarni

Born on 1275 CE at Apegaon, Sevuna Samrajyam
[now Paithan Taluka, Aurangabad, Maharashtra, India]

Died on 1296 CE at Alandi, Sevuna Samrajyam
[now Khed Taluka, Pune District, Maharastra, India]

About : 

• Saint Dnyaneshwar, the saint-poet lived during the 13^th century AD and belonged to the great line of the Nathas, who like the Alrvars in Tamil Nadu and the Siddhas in the Lingayats of Karnataka, laid the foundation of mysticism in Maharashtra. He wrote the ‘Dnyaneshwari‘ (a commentary in simple Marathi on the Bhagwad Geeta) containing 9033 stanzas at the age of 15 years. Through this outstanding work he interpreted the philosophy of the Geeta, in the popular language of common people and sought to reform society. He preached an ideology of looking towards welfare of entire mankind, irrespective of caste, creed, nation and race. He advocated discarding rituals and preached that the ideology of life is Bhakti or the realization of divine love in this very life. The philosophy of Saint Dnyaneshwar is the foundation on which the Bhakti Cult movement of Maharashtra rests. He advocated ‘Chidvilasvad‘ or ‘Sphoortivad‘ – the doctrine that “this whole world is illuminated with His light. One’s work or profession itself became an act of worship, under the influence of this doctrine, among all castes and creeds elevating the lives of the downtrodden and the outcastes.
• Though his interpretation of Geeta is his most famous work he is also credited with a number of other works, such as “AMRUTANUBHAV“, “CHANGDEV PASASHTI“, “BHANGAS“, “HARIPATH“. All his classical works have been translated into various international languages including English, French and Spanish.
• Text : Dnyaneshwar Maharaj Sansthan Committee.

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