Nivrttinath

(1268–1294?) Elder brother of Jnaneshvar,
the first great poet-saint of the Varkari
Panth, a religious community centered
around the worship of the Hindu god
Vithoba at his temple at Pandharpur in
the modern state of Maharashtra.
Nivrttinath is traditionally named as
Jnaneshvar’s religious teacher (guru),
although his younger brother became
more influential. According to tradition, Nivrttinath’s guru, Gainanath,
was a direct disciple of Gorakhnath,
the celebrated ascetic. This relationship is indicated in the Jnaneshvari, in
which Jnaneshvar describes himself as
a pupil in Gorakhnath’s line. For further information see George Weston
Briggs, Gorakhnath and the Kanphata
Yogis, 1973.