| Poet – Sainthood among the Marathas has by no means been confined to men, but the women saints have existed under a handicap. According to traditional stories the wives of many of the men – saints quite equalled their husbands, in piety and goodness, their very aid giving glory to their husbands, but they have modestly stood in the background, and even their names are hardly remembered. Many of them to may have been true poets, for poetry is natural to Indian women, but their words were not recorded. His words were recorded and she is known only as the wife of the eminent saint. But there have been notable exceptions to this rule.1 During the life – time of Shivaji three such exceptions may be mentioned, Bahinabai, Venubai and Bayabai. But among the Ramdasis there were others whose works are now lost and their names as well. |