Nath was born in the Rigvedi Ashwalaayana Bramhin family of Saint Bhanudas. As his parents died when Nath was a child, his grandparents looked after him. From the early childhood Nath was inclined towards the devotion of god. When he came to know that because of the blessings of Guru, one can meet God. Thus, at the age of 12, he followed the guidelines of Akashwani and reached the Devgiri (Daulatabad). There devotee of Datta, Janardan Swami was working as the castellan. When Natha saw him, he accepted Janardan Swami as his Sadguru and Nath offered his services to him. Looking at the services of Nath, Swami also accepted him as his disciple (shishya). Every Thursday. Swami used to meditate in a cave at the peak of the fort. One day, when Swami was in meditation, invaders attacked. Nath thought that it would disturb the meditation of his guru, thus he took a sword and rode on a horse. Fought the war and defeated the enemy. Swami comprehended that Nath through his ardent devotion, is qualified to take Darshana of Dattatraya, thus, at the mountain of Shulibhanjan, Swami provided first darshan of Dattatrya to Nath. After this, Nath completed his pilgrimage and reached Paithan.
As per the orders of Sadguru, Nath stayed at Paithan and entered the Grahasthashrama. Nath’s wife, Girjabai was very vigilant/alert and her nature was very chaste. They had three children Goda, Haripandit and Ganga, The life and Paramartha of Nath began to flourish. He thought that people must understand the knowledge in Sanskrit, and thus he started telling it in Marathi. He had to endure the opposition of many. But he hardly cared for this. And for the welfare of people Nath through his literature like Bharuda in the language of the people took people to Parmartha. He performed many tasks through his literature and behavior for the welfare of the people.
He told time and again that women and down-trodden also have the right to chant the name of God. Because of such statements, the people of Paithan tried to harass him in many ways, but Nath hardly hated them. Through his behavior he preached peace and devotion.
He has written many texts. Seeing the devotion of Nath, Bhagwan Shri Krishna offered his services to Nath for 36 years under the names Shrikhandya, Keshava and Vithal. Bhagwan Dattatraya worked as the doorkeeper of Nath. In Nathwada, Kirtan and discources were held daily.
Since Nath was rich in all saints, he used to donate handful of sugar to all the visitors. The idea behind this was that at least because of the desire of sugar, people would listen something good.
Everyone wants to go to God, but God wanted to come to Nath. An idol of Vijayi Panduranga made by the money-lender told him that she wants to take the services from Nath. That lender brought the idol to Paithan. Nath experienced the cognition and accepted that idol. Nath has written that Shri Ramchandra himself has asked and followed him to write Bhavartha Ramayana.
One day Nath died like a layperson. People started saying that Nath went as usual, so what is the difference between him and us? Nath got up and sat on the bier and said he will go some other time. After few days, Nath selected Falgun Vadya Shashti for his Jalasamadhi (Water Tomb) (1533-1599). In the presence of thousands of devotees, Natha performed the last kirtan on LakshmiTirtha. At Krishanakamalteerth, he went deep in water. When the water reached his naval, he unified his atma (soul) in Brhamanda. Haripandit offered fire to his body. The next day at the same place, at hot ash, Tulsi and Pimpal tree sprouted. At that place Haripandit put (Sthapana/established) the charan Padukas. Every year almost five to seven lakh devotees come to Paithan for Eknathashasthi festival. Even today, Nath provides peace, devotion and wealth to the devotees who take Darshana with devotion. It is customary for a newlywed couple to visit Nath Samadhi once in a while. Many have experienced that their domestic life and Paramatha will be as happy as it was of Nath.
Krishnakamalteerthi Charan Nathanche | Udhari Jagache Kalidosh || ShriNiloba.