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. He is described as a devotee of the god Vithoba - the patron deity of the Varkari sect. He distributed grain from the royal granaries to the people in famine. Vithoba is said to have come as an outcaste with a bag of gold to pay for the grain and rescue Damaji. The famine of 1460 is known as Damaji Pant's famine in the Deccan region in honour of Damaji's generosity in the famine.

Damaji's chief hagiographical account is found in the Bhaktavijaya by Mahipati (1715 - 1790). Damaji was the revenue official of the Muslim king (sultan/ badshah) of Bidar (see Bahmani Sultanate). He is described as "generous, wise and brave". He lived in Mangalvedhe, near Pandharpur – where the chief temple of Vithoba stands. He was in charge of the revenue of the district and the keeper of the royal grain storehouses. A great famine struck the region. A Brahmin (the priest caste) from Pandharpur comes begging for food at Damaji's house. Damaji Pant Deshpande invites him home and serves him dinner. The Brahmin breaks down seeing the food and talks about the suffering of his starving family, which he left behind at Pandharpur. Damaji promises to send food for the family too.

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