Saint Muktabai Temple

The Samadhi temple of Sant Muktabai stands gracefully near the sacred confluence of the Tapi and Purna rivers at Muktainagar in the Jalgaon district.
Sant Muktabai was a deeply revered and highly respected saint-poetess of the Varkari sect in Maharashtra. She was the youngest sister of Sant Nivruttinath, Sant Dnyaneshwar, and Sant Sopandev. At a very tender age, all four siblings endured immense persecution from the orthodox society of that era. Despite this, Muktabai faced these adversities with profound courage and attained extraordinary spiritual maturity and self-realization during her childhood.
Her poetic compositions, known as ‘Tatiche Abhang‘ (The Verses of the Door), are considered a milestone in Marathi literature. The line “Yogi pavan manacha, sahe aparadh janacha” (A yogi of pure heart forgives the transgressions of the world) from these verses remains immortal. Through these verses, she beautifully guided her elder brother, Dnyandev (and consequently, the entire world), on how a saint must overlook the bitter words of the world and remain ever-forgiving.
In 1297 AD, while she was on the banks of the Tapi River with her eldest brother, Sant Nivruttinath, a violent storm erupted accompanied by flashes of lightning. It is a firm belief within the Varkari sect that Muktabai vanished (attained spiritual dissolution) into that brilliant flash of lightning. She was a mere 18 to 19 years old at the time of this mystical event.
Today, the grand Samadhi temple is situated at this sacred site. This temple is one of the prominent pilgrimage centers of the Varkari sect. Every year, a grand fair is held here during the Ashadhi and Kartiki Ekadashi festivals, as well as on the anniversary of her vanishing. The palanquin (palkhi) procession of Sant Muktabai, journeys from Muktainagar to Pandharpur every year and is considered one of the most honored processions in the annual Varkari pilgrimage.

How to Reach