Sena Nhavi


Sena Nhavi, also known as Sain Sena,Sena, is a Hindu saint-poet of the Varkari sect dedicated to the god Vithoba.in Marathi

Life

Sena was a barber, a "caste" and worked in the service of the king of Bandhavgarh. He gave up his profession and created devotional abhangas in praise of the god Vithoba.
The Bhaktavijaya of Mahipati, a hagiographical work on Hindu saints, devotes a chapter to the life of Sena Nhavi. It narrates how Vithoba came to the aid of Sena Nhavi. Sena Nhavi was a pious barber who worshipped Vishnu daily in the morning. He was born into a low caste due to sins in a previous birth. Once, the Muslim king of Bandhavgarh called Sena to his service. The court official came with the message to Sena's house; however Sena was busy at his daily worship and instructed his wife to inform the messenger that he was not at home. This was repeated five times. A neighbour reported to the king that Sena was at home worshiping, which infuriated the king. He ordered Sena to be arrested for not coming to the palace despite royal orders and that he be bound in chains and be thrown into the river. Vithoba-Krishna went to the palace in the form of Sena to serve the king. While "Sena" massaged the king's head with oil, the king saw the reflection of the four-armed Krishna in a cup of oil, but when he looked up he saw "Sena". The perplexed king fainted. When he woke up, he requested "Sena" to wait on peril of death. However, "Sena" asked permission to go to his home once. The king rewarded "Sena" with a bag of gold coins, which "Sena" placed in his bag of equipment. Vithoba left the bag back at Sena's house and disappeared. The king lost all his senses and pined for Sena. The court official hurriedly came to fetch Sena, who felt that king had called him as he was angry with Sena.
Sena arrived at the court, when the king stood up and greeted up. The king rushed towards Sena, caught Sena's feet and requested him to show his four-armed form. The king brought the bowl of oil and looked at the reflection of Sena in the oil, but could see the four-armed divine form that he had experienced. The surprised Sena explained to the king that he had seen Sena's patron god, Krishna himself. The king thanked Sena as he had seen Krishna due to association with Sena. When Sena found the gold coins in his bag of equipment, he distributed the coins to the Brahmins, the priest caste. The tale ends by stating that the Muslim king turned into a devotee of Krishna and Sena Nhavi was "pleased" as his Lord, Vishnu was pleased.
Two of Sena's abhangas say that he died at midday on the 12th lunar day of the dark fortnight of the Hindu month of Shravana.

Teachings in abhangas

जातां पंढरीस सुख वाटे जीवा।
आनंदे केशवा भेटतांचि॥१॥
या सुखाची उपमा नाहीं त्रिभुवनीं।
पाहिली शोधोनी अवघी तीर्थे॥२॥
ऐसा नामघोष ऐसे पताकांचे भार।
ऐसे वैष्णव दिगंबर दावा कोठें॥३॥
ऐसी चंद्रभागा ऐसा पुंडलीक।
ऐसा वेणुनादीं कान्हा दावा॥४॥
ऐसा विटेवरी उभा कटेवरी कर।
ऐसें पाहतां निर्धार नाही कोठें॥५॥
सेना ह्मणे खूण सांगितली संती।
या परती विश्रांती न मिळे जीवा॥६॥
There are many abhangs written by Sena Nhavi. He says in an abhanga that those who keep the company of evil-doers live in hell. The wicked should be kicked and disgraced. In another abhanga, he calls himself a sinner, who was tamed by passion and anger, who did not keep company with the righteous and did not meditate on God. He surrenders to God and implores him to be his saviour and rescue him from the sinful life. In another abhanga, he sings how fortunate he is to have received the grace of the Lord, who with compassion pardoned his sins. Sena detested practising austerities like inhaling smoke or meditating amidst fire, in a forest or on a mountain. He warned that someone can be a victim of deception in the forest, citing how the sage Vibhandaka was deluded by a maiden in the forest.. Like other Varkari saints, he advocates the chanting of God's name. Sena says that God's grace is beyond discrimination of caste or quality. Sena also refers to his profession as a barber in an abhanga. He sang that we are skilled in the "art of shaving" and support the four caste-system. They show the "mirror of discrimination", use the "pinches of dispassion", massage the head with the "water of tranquillity", cut the "hair of egotism" and the "nails of passion". An abanga in the Shrisakalsantagatha, a collection of abhangas from various saints, is dedicated to the god Shiva of the Trimbakeshwar Shiva Temple.

Remembrance

A hagiography to Sena appears in the abhangas of the 14th century Varkari saint-poet Janabai. In one of his abhangas, the Varkari saint-poet Tukaram uses the example of Sena Nhavi and other saints who were low in the caste hierarchy to illustrate that caste is irrelevant when compared to devotion and merit. Sena was also described as a "model of devotion" by the 15th century north-Indian saint Ravidas, which suggests that he was widely known even outside Maharashtra. A temple dedicated to the saint also exists in Hubli.

Shri Sant Sena Hari Mandir in Hubli

"Shri Sant Sena Hari Mandir" located in JC Nagar Hubli, was estd by Late.Shri Hari.Bhakt.Parayan Abaji N Chatpalli in 1958. It is believed that Shri H B P Abaji Narsingh Chatpalli was enlightened & blessed by Sant Shriomani Sena Maharaj. In 1960's he visited Bandavgarh the birthplace of “Shri Sant Sena Maharaj” which is 180 km from Jabalpur. He travelled by train till Umeria station & as there was convince he travelled the distance by walk approximately 40 km in thick forest. As he walked along with one of the attendant provide by Shri Venkatram Ethiraj, Father-In-Law Shri Vithalrao, who were at service in Railway at Katni Junction. As he walked through the thick forest he lost the way to the Samadhi of Shri Sant Sena Maharaj in thick forest were wild animals dwells specially Tigers. Suddenly he was approached by an old Sadhu who enquired him the purpose of coming to Bandavgarh forest all alone with 1 attendant. He narrated him the purpose of his visit & his eagerness to see the Samadhi of his Guru. The old sadhu asked Abaji to follow him in the thick forest & as they were approaching the Samadhi, the old sadhu visibility was becoming lessor-n-lessor to Abaji. As they came near the Samadhi the old sadhu had disappeared from the sight. Shri Abaji Chatpalli was shock & surprised. Within few steps he was near the Samadhi place of Sena Maharaj. Shri Abaji searched the old Sadhu everywhere but was not able to trace him. It is same place were nowadays Sen jayanthi his celebrated every year. Sant Sena Maharaj Idol is Installed.It called as Sant Sena Maharaj "Chabutra".
Shri Abaji Narsingh Chatpalli brought the idol of Sant Sena from Jaipur,Rajasthan & installed in his house in the Year 1958. Daily pooja and every Saturday bhajan is performed. As per Hindu panchang on every Shravan Vadh Dwadashi maharaj's punyathiti Utsav is celebrated. Sena maharaj Milk Abhishek is performed followed by Bhajan, kirtan & Bhandra. Large number of devotees with great devotion participate in the Utsav.
Sant Sena Maharaj Punyatithi is annually held on the Shravan Krishna Paksha Dwadasi – the 12th day during waning phase of moon as per traditional Hindu lunar calendar followed in Maharashtra.
Shri Sant sena Maharaj Mandir Also in Ved road Surat Founder was Shri Chhabulal Dulaji Thakre