Mukundraj

Marathi literature scholars generally regard Mukundraj (Devanagari: मुकुंदराज), who lived probably during 1128 - 1200 (and thus died about 75 years before the birth of Dnyaneshwar), as the first poet—indeed the first writer—in Marathi. But Vinayak Laxman Bhave has demolished the myth that Mukundraj might have been the very first Marathi writer ever.

Scholars do not have unanimity among them about the place where Mukundraj mostly lived. He was probably born at Pavni in Bhandara district. There is a samadhi (समाधी) of Mukundraj at Ambajogai in the Beed district of Maharashtra Marathwada.

Mukundraj was a Nath Panthi (नाथपंथी) follower of Advaita (अद्वैत) philosophy of Adya Shankaracharya (आद्य शंकराचार्य).

He wrote the religious compositions Vivek Sindhu (विवेकसिंधु), probably in 1188, and Paramamrut (परमामृत).