Tukaram

Tukaram was a prominent 17th-century Hindu saint from the Maharashtra state of India.

He was a key figure in the Warkari Sampradaya, a religious tradition. Tukaram was a devoted follower of the god Vithoba, who is a form of Vishnu. He is most famous for composing devotional poetry known as abhanga. These poems are written in the Marathi language. His work remains deeply popular throughout Maharashtra today.

Tukaram's spiritual life involved several specific practices and methods of worship. He spent much of his later life engaged in devotional worship and community kirtans. Kirtan is a form of bhakti, or devotion, that uses group singing and dancing. Tukaram believed that kirtan was not just a way to learn about faith. He viewed the act of kirtan as being the devotion itself. He taught that kirtan helps create a spiritual path for other people as well. This community-oriented approach helped spread his religious ideas widely.

His poetry, the abhanga, has a very distinct structure and style. These verses are metrical and typically use the ovi meter. The language is simple, direct, and uses the vernacular Marathi. This style differs from earlier poets like Dnyaneshwar or Namdev. While those predecessors used a very graceful style, Tukaram used a folksy style. He often fused folk stories with deep spiritual themes. His work is known for an informal sense of rapturous abandon. He sometimes wrote about himself with great humility. In one poem, he described himself as a confused and lost person.

Scholars study various aspects of Tukaram's complex religious philosophy. His teachings are often linked to Vedanta, a major school of Hindu thought. Some researchers describe his view as pantheistic Vedantic. This means he believed the entire universe is filled by God. However, there is a long-standing debate among Marathi scholars. They wonder if he followed the monistic Vedanta of Adi Shankara. Monism is the idea that all reality is one. Other abhangas suggest he favored dualistic Vedanta. This view is associated with philosophers like Madhvacharya and Ramanuja. In one poem, he even criticized those who practice monism without faith or love.

Throughout his life, Tukaram worked toward significant social reforms. He used his poetry to point out social injustices and the caste hierarchy. He also criticized the misconduct of certain religious leaders. Tukaram taught that the pride of caste does not make a person holy. He believed that for the service of God, caste does not matter. He accepted disciples regardless of their gender. One of his famous followers was a Brahmin woman named Bahina Bai. This caused tension, as she faced abuse from her husband for her choices. Despite these challenges, his message of equality reached many people.

Tukaram faced significant opposition from certain members of society. One major detractor was Mambaji Gosavi, who ran a monastic establishment in Dehu. Mambaji became jealous of Tukaram's growing popularity among villagers. At one point, Mambaji even attacked Tukaram with a thorn stick. He used abusive language and blamed Tukaram for losing traditional values. Mambaji felt Tukaram's reformist ideas challenged the dominant Brahmanical orthodoxy. Interestingly, Mambaji eventually became one of Tukaram's devotees after facing personal humiliation. Historians generally agree that Tukaram died in the year 1650.

The legacy of Tukaram is preserved in a large collection called the Abhanga Gatha. This compilation was likely created between 1632 and 1650. It is believed to contain approximately 4,500 abhangas. These poems cover a wide range of human emotions and life experiences. Some of the poems are autobiographical. They often discuss the conflict between Pravritti and Nivritti. Pravritti is the passion for life, family, and business. Nivritti is the desire to renounce everything for individual liberation, or moksha.

Researchers have also studied the history and authenticity of his written works. The first modern publication of his poems appeared in 1869. This edition was subsidized by the British colonial government. Some scholars worry about the accuracy of modern compilations. They note that manuscripts were often corrected or rearranged over 200 years. This makes it difficult to know exactly what Tukaram said. Still, many people have translated his work into many languages. These include English, French, and others. His influence even extended to political history. Some accounts claim he met Shivaji, the founder of the Maratha Empire. Some legends even say he helped save Shivaji's life from Mughal forces.