Advaitacentrum

Jnandev or Jnaneshwhar was born and died in Alandi, Maharashtra towards the end of the thirteenth century. His commentary on the Bhagavad Gita, the Jnanesvari (completed in 1290), was the first important work of Marathi literature. Jnandev was also the author of a mystical poem, the Anubhavamrt, and a shorter poem called the Cangdevpasasti. To him are also attributed a number of songs in the varkari style, and others giving expression to the doctrines of the nath yogis. It is a matter of schlorly debate whether the author of the Jnanesvari, who is said to have died at the age of 21, was actually the creator of all these works. The work of Jnandev is represented here by extracts from the Anubhavamrt. This work, commonly but incorrectly called the Amrtanubhav is composed of eight hundered stanzas that set forth a non-dual  shaivite philosophy.  The title means "Immortal Experience" or "The nectar of experience.  The peom is clearly infused with  Jnandev’s own experiental insight.

She is her lover's body:
Her lover is the grace of her being:
They feast upon each other
Blended together:

As wind is always with its motion,
As gold is always with it's glow, 
So are Shivez and Shakti
A totality:

Touch to the hand:
Image to the eye:
Sweetness to the tongue:
Is that One:....

But the instant the senses

Connect with the object,

Their contact becomes

Their being one:…

Here motive ceases:

Yet one does not turn away:

Everything is turned

Into Self-experience:

Unity becomes

A playground of duality:

The more the differentiation

The greater the fusion!

The Self’s savouring of the senses

Surpasses Absolute Bliss:

God and devotee blend

In that home of Bhakti:…

If he desires to create

A faithful devotee to serve Him:

God alone has to become

That devotee:

To recite his own names:

To meditatie upon himself:

To have unflinching faith:

There is God alone:…

Wherever one goes

It is Shiva’s pilgrimage:

And going to Shiva is

Not going anywhere:

Walking and sitting

Both become one:

In this place

Wonder does not cease:

Whatever one sees

And whatever its form:

One celebrates

Seeing Shiva:…

O Shiva my Lord! O Almighty one!

You have made one the sole ruler

Of this realm

Of absolute bliss!

You have electrified awareness:

You have put the unconscious to sleep:

One has oneself become

Your miracle:

From: Indian Religions, A historical reader of spiritual expression and experience, Edited by Peter Heehs, New York University Press, New York 2002

(J.C.)