{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2018}} {{Use Indian English|date=August 2018}} '''Vaman Pandit''' (born '''Vaman Tanaji Sesha'''; 1608–1695) was a Marathi scholar and poet of India.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=89ZdDwAAQBAJ&pg=PT72|title=आधुनिक मराठी साहित्यातील परतत्त्वबोध / Adhunik Marathi Sahityatil Paratatwa Bodh|author=Dr. Sumati Risabuda|publisher=Ramakrishna Math|access-date=30 May 2018|page=72|isbn=9789388071994|date=30 May 2018}}</ref> Vaman Pandit from the house of Sesha was a great poet whose poetry made quite an impact on the whole Maharashtra. Vaman Pandit's narrative poem have been very popular with masses and the Kirtankars. His main contribution lies in the fact that he has given a sound metaphysical foundation to the concept of Bhakti.{{Sfn|Lal|1992|p=4487}}
==Early life== Vaman Pandit was born into Deshastha Rigvedi Brahmin (DRB) family of Madhva Sampradaya{{Sfn|Sharma|2000|p=535}} in Dharwad, Karnataka in a prominent Sesha family of poets and scholars.<ref>{{cite book|title=Lokrajya, Volume 41|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=AektajOwk9oC|publisher=Directorate-General of Information and Public Relations|page=18|year=1985|quote=Waman Pandit from the house of Sheha was a great poet whose poetry made quite an impact on the whole Maharashtra.}}</ref> The family who hailed from Nanded had moved to Dharwad but still maintain roots in Nanded. Vaman Pandit was a follower of Madhvacharya a prominent Vaishnava philosopher.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vC0JAAAAQAAJ&pg=RA1-PA5|title=The Theistis Annual|publisher=Calcutta Central Press Company|page=5|year=1875}}</ref> He migrated to Kashi for a significant period of his life. Vaman Pandit regards the Saguna brahman ( Personal God) as superior to the Nirguna Brahman (Impersonal God). He considers Lord Krishna as Saguna Brahman incarnate.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nrR9D_ydGwoC&pg=PA466|title=Encyclopedic dictionary of Marathi literature|author=Jaquir Iqbal|publisher=Global Vision Publishing House|access-date=1 October 2009|page=466|isbn=9788182202214|date=October 2009}}</ref>
==Literary works== His most significant work, the ''Yatharthadipika'' is a commentary on the Bhagavadgita. His book ''Nigamasara'' (1673) describes in detail the ''Vargavi Varuni Vidya'' (Vedanta). His other work includes ''Samashloki Gita'', ''Karmatatva'', ''Bhaminivilasa'', ''Radhavilasa'', ''Rasakrida'', ''Ahalyoddhara'', ''Vanasudha'', ''Venusudha'', ''Gajendramoksha'' and ''Sita Svayamvara''. The captivating style and religious instruction of his work have made them popular with all sections of readers. In 1695 after death, a Samadhi site is built on the banks of Warana River in Koregaon village of Sangali district. He has employed metres, figures of speech and other techniques of Sanskrit poetry in his works.<ref>Majumdar, R.C. (ed.)(2007). ''The Mughul Empire'', Mumbai:Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, {{Listed Invalid ISBN|81-7276-407-1}}, p.583</ref>
He was noted for his mastery of 'shlok' form: 'सुश्लोक वामनाचा'. And also for his mastery over long rhymes: 'यमक्या वामन'.
==References== {{Reflist}}
==Bibliography== *{{cite book|title=Encyclopaedia of Indian Literature: Sasay to Zorgot|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KnPoYxrRfc0C|first=Mohan|last=Lal|publisher=Sahitya Akademi|year=1992|isbn = 9788126012213}} * {{cite book|title = A History of the Dvaita School of Vedānta and Its Literature, Vol 1. 3rd Edition|first = B. N. Krishnamurti| last = Sharma| publisher=Motilal Banarsidass (2008 Reprint) |isbn = 978-8120815759| year= 2000 }} *Kusumawati Deshpande and M.V.Rajadhyaksha, ''A history of Marathi literature'' (New Delhi: Sahitya Akademi, 1988), pp31–33 *S.G.Kanhere, ‘Waman Pandit - scholar and Marathi poet’ ''Bulletin of the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London'' v4, 1926, pp305–314
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Vaman Pandit}} Category:1608 births Category:1695 deaths Category:Marathi-language poets Category:Writers from Maharashtra Category:People from Satara (city)