Dr.Dhere’s thought about the Literature of saints and sages is essentially linked to the studies and explorations of culture. With such a linkage, he is able to interpret this literature in a new as well as unconventional manner.
He looks at the literature of saints as a resource for the study of Maharashtra’s culture and goes on to extrapolate the same as a true resource. So even for those who know the Literature of saints, or those who frequently discuss it on various platforms,Dr.Dhere’s analysis casts a new light on many of the lesser known or unknown facets. Most of his writings on many deities of Maharashtra as well as that on the various cultist traditions are a testimony to this fact. All his research bears the golden tinge of Literature of saints and sages His own research approach is very much influenced by this literature, and has shown them newer avenues of exploration. For example, his study of Dnyaneshwari has moulded his approach while studying the mother goddesses described in his volume ‘Lajjagauri’.
The stark difference between his writings on Dnyaneshwar and other prior writings on the same topic in Marathi, is evident in his books namely-‘Kalpadrumachiye tali’, ‘Shodha -shilpa’,Sant Sahitya ani loksahitya-kahi anubandha’ and in his edited book ‘Dnyandeo and Dyana devi’.
That Dnyaneshwar hailed from the Nath panth tradition is well known. But what were the peculiarities of Dyaneshwar’s inter relation with the sect is analyzed uniquely by Dr.Dhere offering a new insight to the readers. His distinctiveness reveals itself with his brilliant unraveling, what links the amorous metaphors and similes in Dnyaneshwari do bear with the Tantrik thoughts of Nath cult tradition. His sayings about the ‘devodevi’ in Amrutanubhav.
Dr Dhere has cast a new light on many ideas, proper nouns, and names of places.’Dharm kirtan’ and ‘Dharm nidan’,Geeta ratna prasad,,’Mahameru’,or Saint Tukaram’s word -‘Karmari’ or his real interpretation of an apparently vulgar metaphoric comparison between a oyster-pearl and a woman’s vagina in Mukteshwar’s Mahabharata are examples of such a new light.
His analysis of the reformist works of the saints through the institution of a mentor-‘Guru’ is a novel one. He has described in detail, about this tradition and also about the concept of piety with respect to a small Sanskrit volume-‘Vajrasuchakopanishad’ and its Marathi translation. His pioneering studies with respect to this volume and the social reformist movement, and initiative of saints are important.
Most of the scholar researchers before Dr.Dhere took the literature of saints as a ‘destination’ topic, while Dr.Dhere took it as a resource. He looks at it as an important tool to pursue the intricacies of folk culture, and there lies all the difference.
