Tukaram
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Sant Tukaram (तुकाराम), respectfully referred to as Shri Tukaram, and colloquially referred to as "Tuka" (तुका) was a seventeenth century Marathi poet sant of India, with a very great stature in the Bhakti movement of Maharashtra. The days of his life are contentious with scholars assigning various dates to his birth. The four most popular options are 1568, 1577 1608 and 1598 AD, so we do have a wide choice. There is lesser dispute that he died in 1650 AD.
He was born in Dehu, very close to modern Pune city in Maharashtra. His father was a small trader or peddler and he was barely literate all his life. His family were successful grain sellers but the priestly class considered him lowborn.
He is considered one of the favourite saints of Maharashtra especially the Varkari sampradaya (community).
Tukaram was a devotee of Vitthal, the supreme God in Vaishnavism.
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[edit] His Life
During his life, he had two wives. The first, Rakhumabai, died of starvation during a severe famine. Tukaram felt ashamed and embarrassed by his lack of ability to get enough food to save his wife's life. His second wife was younger than the first. Her name was Jijabai (also called Avali), and she constantly nagged Tukaram and complained about his inability to hold a job and properly support his family. She began to consider God her enemy, and made Tukaram's home life miserable. He also had three sons, named Santu or Mahadev, Vithoba and Narayana. Narayana was considerably younger than Mahadev and Vithoba, and was a great bhakta like his father.
Despite these personal tragedies, he never lost the love towards Krishna. His songs were the spontaneous expression of devotion through singing and dancing of kirtans in honor of Krishna. However, Tukaram faced many problems in his own spiritual quest. Other than the personal tragedies, he appeared to be filled with frustration and doubt. One day, when he was prepared to commit suicide, he experienced the Divine. From that moment on, his life changed. His philosophy was simple and effective 'Sit silently and repeat the name of the Lord as you remember Him. That alone is enough for realization.' He constantly emphasised that ethics and orthodox religion like the study of Vedas were just formalities and the real use of religion is in realization of the Divine through Love.
He used to write a particular verse form called the abhanga, a run on couplet with three and a half feet with the first three rhyming. In the use of this poetic device he was unrivalled, and others have practically left it alone after him in tacit acknowledgment there is nothing more that can be done with it. As was the tradition, he also used to add his signature Tuka Mhane (तुका म्हणे) or "Tuka Says" at the end of each verse.
Typical of the Varkari sampradaya where samaj seva (service to the community) and hari sankirtan (group worship through music) was the Way, Tukaram made it his call to work for group enlightenment rather than just for himself.
[edit] Basic Tenets of His Message
- Make God the Center of your life. Walk the Path of Love. Serve mankind and thus see God in all.
- Cast away one's clothes of traditions that one has inherited for often those can bind you from growing in Love of God.
- He did not favour elaborate rituals, displays of asceticism and preoccupation with austerities. He would say - even dogs come in saffron colour and bears have matted fur. If living in caves is being spiritual then rats who inhabit caves must be doing sadhana.
- He was opposed to the acquiring of siddhis as these were obstructions to authentic sadhana.
- Faith in Providence was crucial to sadhana. He believed that He who facilitates the milk from the breast for the infant and the One who permits the bursting of foliage from the branches will certainly take care of me.
- Most important of all was the Privilege of being a Bhakta and to exercise in life, nama japa. He would say that even God does not know the value of His Name. Even God is not aware of the power of His Name. How can He be? The lotus cannot smell its own fragrance, only the bee can. The cow knows not the sweetness of its milk, only the calf can. The oyster knows not the value of its pearl, only the jeweler can.
Tukaram's final day is well documented by eye witness accounts. He informed his wife early in the day about going to Vaikuntha (the Divine Abode). His wife laughed at him. He went up the hillock and waited for Vithoba. By that time, news had spread around Dehu and people had gathered around the hillock, waiting for the Divine event. As per eye witness accounts, a large vehicle emerged from the skies and Vithoba emerged from the flying plane. Eyewitnesses rushed to Tukaram's home and informed his wife that Tukaram was on his way to 'Vaikuntha' - the Abode of God. His wife ran toward the hills, only to see him take off in the Viman (Flying plane). To this day, devotees gather at the hillock and sing his praises.
