First Peethadhish
P. P. Shri Janardan Swami Maharaj
(1505 – 1576)
Shri Janardan Swami was born in the Deshpande lineage at Chalisgaon, Maharashtra, on Phalguna Krishna Shashthi in Shaka 1426 (1505 CE). He is believed to be an incarnation of Lord Dattatreya.
Before fully embracing spiritual life, Swamiji served as the fort commander (Killedar) of Daulatabad Fort for 41 years, fulfilling his worldly responsibilities under the divine command of Lord Dattatreya. Deeply inclined towards spirituality, he would regularly meditate in the Goraksha cave on the fort and visit Shulbhanjan Mountain every Thursday for spiritual practice.
In Shaka 1457 (1535 CE), he had a divine vision of Lord Dattatreya, receiving his blessings and instructions for his future spiritual mission. Swamiji undertook pilgrimages and intense penance at several sacred sites associated with the Dattatreya tradition, including Audumbar, Narsobawadi, and Ankalkhop. It is said that Sri Narasimha Saraswati Swami himself appeared before him and guided him in his spiritual austerities.
Lord Dattatreya bestowed upon him his divine essence and inspired him to establish Shri Nath Peeth. As a mark of this sacred mission, he was also given symbolic spiritual emblems: a staff, a sacred necklace (Kantha), a Rudraksha mala, and a cloth bag (Zoli), along with the directive to revive the Peeth associated with Sage Atri’s householder tradition. These sacred relics are still preserved at Shri Devnath Math today.
Swamiji was a prolific spiritual writer, composing numerous Abhangas (devotional verses) and scriptures. His notable work, Bhavgeeta, is based on Vedantic principles. Among his prominent disciples were Shantibrahma Eknath (Paithan), Jani Janardan (Beed), and Rama Janardan, along with twelve other key figures who carried forward his teachings.
On Margashirsha Vadya Ekadashi in Shaka 1497 (1576 CE), Shri Janardan Swami attained Yogic Samadhi in the Goraksha cave at Devgiri Fort, merging into divine consciousness.
