Samarpan (Marathi, Paperback, GOKHALE MANJUSHRII)

Kanhopatra was a 15th century Marathi Saint- Poet, Venerated by the Varkari sect of Hinduism. She is a daughter of a rich prostitute and courtesan named Shama, who lived in the town of Mangalwedha, near Pandharpur the sight of Vithoba's Chief temple. Shama was uncertain about the identify of Kanhopatra's father, but suspected that it was the town's head-man Sadashiva Malagujar. Kanhopatra spent her childhood in the Palatial house of her mother, served by several maids, but becasue of her mother's profession Kanhopatra's social status was demeaningly low. Kanhopatra was trained in dance and song from early childhood so that she could join her mother's profession. Her beauty was compared to the apsara. As in age of fifteen Kanhopatra was forced into the courteasan's life, though she detested. One day the Varkari pilgrims who passed Kanhopatra's house of their way to the temple of Vithoba in Pandharpur. She asked a passing Varkari about Vithoba. The Varkari said that Vithoba is generous wise, beautiful and perfect. His glory is beyond and his beauty surpasses that of any God, Kanhopatra further asked if Vithoba would accept her as a devotee. The Varkari assured her that Vithoba would accept her as he accepted the maid Kabja. the sinful King Ajamela and the untouchable saint Chokhamela and Janabai. This assurance strengthened her resolve to go to Pandhapur. Kanhopatra immediately leaves for Pandharpur. singing the praises of Vithoba with the Varkari Pilgrims. In this period she composed ovi and abhangas poems dedicated to Vithoba. During the same time hearing tales of Kanhopatra's beauty the Badshah of Bidar. ordered her to be his concubine, when she refused the king sent his men to get her by force. Kanhopatra took refuges in the Vithoba temple. The soldiers of the King besieged the temple and threatened to destory it if she was not handed over to them. Kanhopatra requested a last meeting with Vithoba before being taken. Rather than becoming a concubine of the badshah of Bidar she chose to surrender to the Vithoba. She dies in the central shrine of Vithoba. She is the only person whose samadhi is within the percinets of the tample. Kanhopatra wrote Marathi ovi and abhangas poetry telling of her devotion to Vithoba and her strugle to balance her piety with her profession. She is the only female Varkari Saint to have attained sainthood based solely on her devotion without the support of any gury or Varkari tradition.