Damaji

Damaji, also known as Damaji Pant (Damajipant - Pant indicates ministership or high scholarship), Sant Damaji and Bhakta Damaji, was a 15th-century Marathi saint (sant) or bhakta ("devotee"), venerated by the Varkari sect of Hinduism. He was the Kamavisdar (main revenue official) of Mangalvedha under the Bahamani king of Bidar.

An evil Brahmin muzumdar (deputy revenue collector) shot off a letter to the sultan in Bidar informing him of the plunder of the royal grain. The sultan was enraged as to how Damaji had distributed away the grain without prior notice or permission. He sent soldiers to recover money for the grain from Damaji or bring Damaji to Bidar for decapitation if he failed to pay.

Receiving the royal summons, Damaji left for Bidar to visit the sultan, only requesting the soldiers for a halt in Pandharpur. He visited Vithoba's temple and worships the god. He admits to Vithoba that he had done the sultan wrong in distributing his grain, but that he felt to remorse for the good deed. He also mentioned that his life had already been completed anyhow, by worshipping Vitthala, and that he was now ready to face the consequences of his actions, even if shameful the consequences may be.

The famine of 1460 is called "Damaji Pant's famine" in the Deccan region, as it is believed to the famine when Damaji distributed the grain. The famine was a result of failure of the monsoon and widespread across Western India. Others relate Damaji to the Durga Devi famine (1396–1408) or the famine from 1468 to 1475.

Remembrance Apart from being formally included in the list of Sants (saints) in the Bhaktavijaya, the abhangas of Eknath and Tukaram accord him sainthood and mention him with other saints. Eknath's abhanga praises Vithoba who came a Mahar to rescue Damaji.

Besides naming the 1460 famine on him, his contributions were also alluded to in the Great Famine of 1876–78. Mr. Grant, the collector of Solapur, was called Damaji Pant for his efforts to remedy the famine.

A temple in his honour stands in his home town at Mangalvedha.