Tukaram - Life History

Tukaram Maharaj was a 17th-century poet-saint of the Bhakti campaign of Maharashtra. He was also a member of the Samnadhikari, individual Warkari religious community. Tukaram is known for his abhanga and devotional poems and has also sung many spiritual songs about devotion to God in his community, which are called kirtan in the local language. His poems were dedicated to Vitthal and Vithoba.

Early life :

        Tukaram was born in 1520 in a village called Dehu under Pune district; Happened in the year 1598. There is a difference of opinion among scholars regarding his date of birth and considering from all points of view, it seems valid to be born in 1520. Vitthal's worship was going on in his family from Vishwambhar Baba, the eighth man of the past. All the people of his clan used to visit Pandharpur regularly (Vari). Due to being the moneylender of Dehu village, his family was considered prestigious there.

  His childhood was spent with great care under the supervision of mother Kankai and father Baheba (Bolhoba), but when he was almost 18 years old, his parents died and at the same time due to the severe famine in the country, his first wife and young child died. He died in agony due to hunger. These tales of calamities are false. Saint Tukaram was a big landowner and savkar in those days, these lies, these writings are false. His second wife Jija Bai was very sarcastic. He became detached from worldly pleasures. With the thought of peace to the mind, Tukaram would go to the hill named Bhavnath near the village of Dehu every day and spend the day in remembrance of Lord Vitthal.

      His family belonged to the Kunbi community. Tukaram's family had their own business of retailing and lending money, as well as farming and trading. His father was a devotee of Vithoba, considered an incarnation of Lord Vishnu in Hinduism. Sant Tukaram's first wife was Rakhamma Bai and they also had a son Santu. Whereas both his sons and both wives died of starvation in the famine of 1630-1932.

        The greatest impact of his death and the spreading poverty fell on Tukaram, who later went on to meditate on the Sahyadri mountain range of Maharashtra and before leaving, he wrote, "He has to discuss with himself." After this Tukaram remarried and his second wife's name was Avalai Jija Bai. But after that he spent most of his time in worship, devotion, community kirtan and abhang poems.

        How did a common man become a saint playing worldly, as well as taking birth in any caste or religion, self-development can be achieved on the strength of fervent devotion and virtue. This belief was to be built in the mind of the common man, Sant Tukaram i.e. Tukoba, who fulfills his life in a meaningful harmony with his thoughts, his conduct and his speech, gives this inspiration to the common man, how he should always live. There was a time in his life when he was disappointed after being defeated by the mishaps in the first half of his life.

He had lost faith in life. In such a situation, he was in great need of some support, there was no temporal support from anyone. So he entrusted all his burden on Paduranga and started his spiritual practice, while his guru was none at that time. By maintaining the tradition of devotion, Namdev created the abhanga of devotion. Tukaram may have said about giving up attachment to worldliness, but don't do worldliness, never said that. To be honest, none of the saints ever talked about giving up worldliness. On the contrary, Saint Namdev, Eknath performed worldly duties in a systematic manner.

      This is a story from the life of Saint Tukaram. When he lived in Maharashtra, Shivaji Maharaj gifted him valuable things, which included diamonds, pearls, gold and many clothes. But Sant Tukaram sent back all the valuable things and said - "O Maharaj! All these are useless for me, for me there is no difference between gold and clay, since this God has given me His darshan, I have automatically become the master of the three worlds. I'll give back all this useless stuff." When this message reached Maharaj Shivaji, then Maharaj Shivaji's mind got disturbed to meet such a perfect saint and he left to meet him at the same time.

        Tukaram was becoming detached from worldly pleasures. His second wife 'Jijabai' was the daughter of a wealthy family and was of a very gruff nature. Tukaram was very sad after the death of his first wife and son. Now the dreadful period of deprivation and trouble had begun. Tukaram's mind was devoted to singing hymns to Vitthal, due to which his second wife used to taunt day and night. Tukaram used to be so engrossed that once he was going to transport someone's goods in a bullock cart. On reaching, he saw that the sacks loaded in the car had disappeared on the way. Similarly, while returning after recovering money, listening to a sad story of a poor Brahmin, gave him all the money.

    Mother Kankai passed away a year after her father's death. A mountain of sorrows fell on Tukaram ji. What had the mother not done for the beloved? After that at the age of eighteen, the wife of the eldest brother Savji (Bhavaj) passed away. Already there was no attention of Savji in the household. After the death of his wife, he left home and went on pilgrimage. Those who went, never came back. Four members of the family had to bear his separation. Where there was no shortage, there was a lack of loved ones, one by one. Tukaram ji kept patience. They did not lose heart. Despite indifference, despair, at the age of 20, he started trying to do household chores with success.

        But even this was not acceptable to Kaal. In the same year the conditions took an unfavorable form. There was a great famine in the Deccan. There was a great famine time of 1629 AD, it rained late. When it happened, the crop got washed away in excessive rain. There was a ray of hope left in the minds of the people. But in 1630 AD there was no rain at all. There was havoc all around. Grain prices skyrocketed. In the absence of green grass, many animals died. Food shortage caused the death of hundreds of people. Rich families started licking the soil. Still the cycle of plight did not end. In 1631 AD, natural objections crossed their climax. Nothing was spared from the grip of heavy rains and floods. Famine and the wrath of nature had to be faced for three consecutive years.

Context :      

        When Tukaram distributed everything he had among the poor, one day there was a ruckus in the house. Wife said- "Why are you sitting, there is sugarcane in the field, bring a bundle. Today's day will pass." When Tukaram took a bundle of sugarcane from the field and went home, the beggars fell behind on the way. Tukaram went on giving one sugarcane to everyone, when he went home, only one sugarcane was left, seeing which the hungry wife got furious.

        By snatching the sugarcane from Tukaram, she started killing him, when the cane broke, her anger subsided. The calm Tukaram laughed and said, "Sugarcane has become two pieces. One you suck, one I will suck." Seeing the infinite ocean of forgiveness and love in front of the fierce wilderness of anger, tears welled up in the eyes of the wife. Tukaram asked her tears and peeled all the sugarcane and fed them.

Hindi post:

• Khelo Aapne Ramhi Saat / Sant Tukaram

• Trino Hum Karvon Salam / Sant Tukaram

• Ram kahe tyake paghoon lagoon / Sant Tukaram

• The name of my Ram is taken again and again / Sant Tukaram

• Ram Kaho Jeevana Phal So Hi / Sant Tukaram

• Kahe Rowe Agle Mara / Sant Tukaram

• Aap tere tyaki kon braai / Sant Tukaram

• Who will go to that ghat in the world / Sant Tukaram

• Why forget property / Sant Tukaram

• Why did you die repeatedly?

Signatures:

• Tuka Bastar Bichara Kya Kare Re / Sant Tukaram

• Sitting in the mind of the greedy / Saint Tukaram

• If you get your mind, everyone will get it / Sant Tukaram

• Tell your friends / Sant Tukaram

• Sant Panhaiya Lev Khada / Sant Tukaram

Compositions:

1I forgot home. Goras Bechan Aaye Haat 1॥

Kanha Re Manmohan Lal. See everyone Bisroon Gopal Dhru.॥

Where are you going to see your feet? If you see then all the Vohin circle 2॥

I am tired, brother. Bhaga Re Sab Manka Dhoka 3॥

2 Don't go haribin jihira. Kabki Thadi See Raha 1॥

Have I lost my red crown? Did Mohipasiti plum planted Dhru.॥

Some friend should go green. Bar hi daru on her body 2॥

When can I see your Lord? I should not go back 3॥

3 Please decoy Nandaji. shame on us 1॥

Fire, come Devji Kanha. I left home ohhhhhhhhhhhhhh Dhru.॥

How can they do well? Khasam Ego Dadula 2॥

Tuka Lord Parvali is green.

Unbroken:

Tama bhajya te bad jikir te kare.

Head cut off ur kute tahaan all scared 1॥

Tahaan one tu hi taha one tu only.

Tahaan ek tu hi re baba we don't have you Dhru.॥

Have a look, don't forget what you want to do.

I could not catch the truth and cried falsely 2॥

Whom to tell who took my seven senses.

Nahi melo mili jeevana jhuta kiya naas 3॥

Listen brother how is it? Yes, so be it.

Baat Khana Alla to say only once 4॥

Well done. Look at your profit

Say you can only sleep. Haak alla a 5॥