Bhalchandra Pandharinath Bahirat

Bhalchandra Pandharinath Bahirat, 5 September 190414 October 1998) was a philosopher and educationist who studied the Marathi literature of Jñāneśvar and other sants of Maharashtra. He was awarded an honorary Doctor of Letters from Pune University in 1991.

Lifework summary Several books written by Bhalchandra Pandharinath Bahirat such as The Philosophy of Jnanadeva, Amritanubhava, The philosophy of Jnanadeva as gleaned from the Amrtanubhava and The Philosophy of Jnanadeva are referenced by students, scholars and common people studying saint literature. Apart from Hindu philosophy, he also studied western philosophy and its social and economic impact on communities. His work on The Philosophy of Jnanadeva was presented in 20th World Congress of Philosophy, 1998.

He was affiliated to educational as well as musical institutions and gave lectures in number of colleges, at common gatherings on philosophy and saint culture of Maharashtra. Number of universities appointed him as an examiner for PhD students. He expressed philosophical views as an editor of Marathi magazine Prembodh (Devagarnai:प्रेमबॊध) for eighteen years from 1936 to 1954 which are referenced by international books, such as Who Invented Hinduism: Essays on Religion in History, By David N. Lorenzen. Along with Vinayak Damodar Savarkar, he promoted liberalism of Vithoba Temple, Pandharpur to allow access for common people through conferences and his writings in local news paper Pandhari Sandesh published in 1939. He was the president of Maharashtra State Vishwa Hindu Parishad, Pandharpur Research Society and Saint Wangmay Mandal.

Accolades 1991 – Awarded Doctor of Letters (D. Litt.) by Pune University Evaluator for PhDThesis submitted to Pune, Mumbai, Nagpur and Shivaji Universities Treasurer – Maharashtra Sangeet Vidyalaya, Pandharpur, India

Books written Philosophy of Jnanadeva (1954) - The philosophy of Jnanadeva as gleaned from the Amrtanubhava (1998) - The Philosophy of Jnanadeva, 2nd edition (5 February 1998) Jnanadeva: The Life and Works of Jnanadeva (Saint Heritage of India) (2006) Varkari Sampraday: Uday va Vikas (1988)

Edited works Sakal Sant Gatha Muktshwara's Ovi Ramayan Rashtra-Bhashya on Amritanubhava by Hariharendra Swami Jyotsna Tika of Amritanubhava by Shri Bhaiyyakaka Kibe

Marathi writings Sant Vanicha Amrit Kalash Bhakticha Kalpvruksha Nathancha Prasad Varakari Sampradaya Uday and Vikas Bhakti Sadhana

Thesis Sakalsantagatha (1952) Mukteshwarkrit Ovi Ramayan: (1952) 3 Editions Amrutanubhav – Rashtrabhashya (1952) Santavanicha Amrutkalash (1955) Bhaktimarg Deepika (1958) Bhakticha Kalpavruksha (1956) Nathancha Prasad (1957) Varkari Sampraday : Udaya ani Vikas (1972), (1988) Bhakti Sadhana (1981) Amrutanubhav – Jyotsna Tika (1996)