Jnanadeva heard about Namadeva and came to Pandaripuram. Namadeva was elated to see Jnanadeva, who was also known as Jnanesvar and wrote a commentary for Bhagavatgita in Marathi, which is called Jnanesvari and became a reputable work. He and his siblings,Nivrtthi deva, Sopana deva and Mukthaabai were all reputed devotees of Panduranga. Nama deva honoured him duly and gave him food . Then Janandeva told Namdeva that he came only to take Namdeva along with him for theertha yathra. Namadeva was shocked at the idea he had to leave Panduranga . He said,
"pandareechaavaasa chandhrabhaage snaana
aaNeeka dharsana vitobhaa che
Living in Pandaripur, to bathe in Chandrabaga river,and to have darsan of Vittala
he chi gado maja janmajanmaantharee
I wish to have this only in all the lives to come,
maagaNem sreehari naaheem thujhe
the nama of Sree hari on my tongue,
mugeem naama sadhaa santhaanche dharsana
the joy of seeing saintly persons,
janee janaardhana aisaa bhaava
To see all as the Lord only,
naamaamaNe thujhe nithya mahaadhvaaree
to stand at thedoorof His temple
keerthana kajareem sapremaache
singing about Him with love."
Then jnanadeva said that he had not the heart to separate Namadeva from Panduranga but he very much wanted to enjoy the company of him and hence wished to teke him along. He suggested that they can go to the temple and ask Panduranga' s permission. How much must have been the greatness of the devotees of Panduranga by which they were able to talk to Him in person!
Both went to the temple and jnanadeva expressed his wish to the Lord. Panduranga laughed and said,
" It is strange that you who has a heart pure as a crystal feel some unrest and wish to go to Theertha yathra! This is like the Moon wishing to get coolness or the Sun wishing for heat!"
Jnanadeva replied,
"Oh Lord what you say may be true because you know me better than myself. But I have started feeling that bhakthi is much more powerful than jnana to attain your lotus feet and want to share the joy of bhakthi which is in abundance with Namadeva. Please grace me with your permission to take him along."
Then Panduranga turned to Namadeva and said with a smile,
My dear, you may go with Jnanadeva as he is eager to enjoy your company. Wherever you go, remember me only and return soon."
Panduranga told Jnanadeva that Namadeva was very dear to Him even more than Rukmini and asked jnanadeva to take good care of him. What kind of love the Lord has for His devotees! This brings to mind the scene when Lakshman was unconscious in battle field Rama said that he could even live without Sita but could not live without Lakshmana.
Namadeva left with Jnanadeva reluctantly, often turning back to see Panduranga and cried out loudly that he had to leave Panduranga. Jnandeva told him that Pandsuranga is all pervading and is everywhere including in the heart . Namadeva replesd that he did not have the jnana to see the Lord without form and for him Panduranga is everything.
He said,
Janmo janmee aamheem bahupuNyakeledhevahaam yaa vittalem krpaakelee
Jamoni samsaareem jaalom dhyaachaadhaasa
Maajaa tho viSvaasa paandurangeem
"Panduranga vittala has enslaved me as a result of merits acquired in countless janmas. I am His slave and have staunch faith in Him."
aneka dhaivathaam nethe maaje chittha godagaathaam geetha vitobhaache
"My mind goes only to Vittala without resorting to anyone else."
bharamarasuvaaseem madhaavaree maasee
thaisEm yaa dhevaasee maaje mana
"As a bee goes to a flower and a honey bee falls into honey, my mind goes to Panduranga "
naamaamhaNe maaja pandareese nyaare
hata soni dhyaare vitobaasee
" Let me sing only His name and think only of Him."
Jnandeva marveled at this devotion and asked him how he got it?
Namadeva replied that it was like a father asking a question to his child with the sole purpose of the enjoyment of hearing to speak.
Then jnandeva praised him saying that there has been no devotee superior to him anywhere.
They both went to Hastinapura where many were awaiting them having heard about both. From there they both went to Kasi where they met Kabir. They proceeded to Gaya, Prayag and came to Marvar where they experienced water scarcity. Feeling thirsty they came across a well the water of which was right at the bottom and there was no rope or vessel to draw water. Jnanadeva went down through his yogic power and drank water and told Namadeva that he would make the water come up using his yogic power. Namadeva said that if God wills it would come up and at that moment water rose to the top and Jnanadeva was astonished at the power of Bhakthi.
Then they went to a place called Naganath where the siva temple was very famous. Namadeva and Jnandeva had the darsan of Lord Siva and started to sing bhajans there. A great crowd gathered around and all were doing namasankeerthan and the priests of the temple could not go in for their daily worship. They shouted at the singers and told them that they could go Pandaripur if they want to sing and dance and Lord Siva would not like them to do it there. The people protested and the priests edging their way through them told them not to crowd in front but go to the back side of the temple and carry on ther bajans there. Namdeva and Jnanadeva though pained at not being able to have the darsan of Lord Siva from the entrance went to the back in order to make way for the devotees to go in,since they could not stop their namasankeerthan. But miracle happened. The temple itself turned round and they were happy to have the darsan as they wished.When the priests came out they were surprised to see the bajan going on in front and when they enquired about it they came to know the truth, Their pride quelled they bowed down to the saints and asked to be forgiven for their ignorance.
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