Sant Tukaram composed Abhanga poetry, a Marathi genre of literature which is metrical

(traditionally the ovi meter), simple, direct, and it fuses folk stories with deeper spiritual themes.[19]
I could not lie anymore,
so I started to call my dog "God".

First he looked confused,

then he started smiling, then he even danced.

I kept at it, now he doesn't even bite,

I am wondering if this might work on people.

— Sant Tukaram, Translated by Daniel Ladinsky[20]

Authenticity[edit]
Numerous inconsistent manuscripts of Tukaram Gatha are known, and scholars doubt that most of
the poems attributed to Tukaram are authentic.[21] Of all manuscripts so far discovered, four are most
studied and labelled as: the Dehu MS, the Kadusa MS, the Talegeon MS and the Pandharpur
MS.[24] Of these, the Dehu MS is most referred to because Indian tradition asserts that it is based on
the writing of Tukaram's son Mahadeva, but there is no historical evidence that this is true.[24]
The first compilation of Tukaram poems were published, in modern format, by Indu Prakash
publishers in 1869, subsidized by the British colonial government's Bombay Presidency.[24] The 1869
edition noted, "some of the [as received] manuscripts on which the compilation relied, had been
'corrected', 'further corrected' and 'arranged'."[24] This doctoring and rewriting over about 200 years,
after Tukaram's death, has raised questions whether modern compilation of Tukaram's poems
faithfully represent what Tukaram actually thought and said, and the historicity of the document. The
known manuscripts are jumbled, randomly scattered collections, without chronological sequence,
and each contain some poems that are not found in all other known manuscripts.[25]

Philosophy and practices[edit]

Early 20th-century scholars on Tukaram considered his teachings to be Vedanta-based but lacking a
systematic theme. Edwards wrote,
Tukaram is never systematic in his psychology, his theology, or his theodicy. He oscillates between
a Dvaitist[Vedanta] and an Advaitist view of God and the world, leaning now to a pantheistic scheme
of things, now to a distinctly Providential, and he does not harmonize them. He says little about
cosmogony, and according to him, God realizes Himself in the devotion of His worshippers.
Likewise, faith is essential to their realization of Him: 'It is our faith that makes thee a god', he says
boldly to his Vithoba.

— JF Edwards (1921), Encyclopædia of Religion and Ethics, Volume 12[26]

Late 20th-century scholarship of Tukaram, and translations of his Abhanga poem, affirm his
pantheistic Vedantic view.[27]Tukaram's Abhanga 2877, as translated by Ranade states, for example,
"The Vedanta has said that the whole universe is filled by God. All sciences have proclaimed that
God has filled the whole world. The Puranas have unmistakably taught the universal immanence of
God. The saints have told us that the world is filled by God. Tuka indeed is playing in the world
uncontaminated by it like the Sun which stands absolutely transcendent".[27]

Scholars note the often discussed controversy, particularly among Marathi people, whether Tukaram
subscribed to the monistic Vedanta philosophy of Adi Shankara.[28][29] Bhandarkar notes that Abhanga
300, 1992 and 2482 attributed to Tukaram are in style and philosophy of Adi Shankara:[28]
When salt is dissolved in water, what is it that remains distinct?
I have thus become one in joy with thee [Vithoba, God] and have lost myself in thee.
When fire and camphor are brought together, is there any black remnant left?
Tuka says, thou and I are one light.

— Tukaram Gatha, 2482, Translated by RG Bhandarkar[28]

However, scholars also note that other Abhangas attributed to Tukaram criticize monism, and favor
dualistic Vedanta philosophy of the Indian philosophers Madhvacharya and Ramanuja.[28] In Abhanga
1471, according to Bhandarkar's translation, Tukaram says, "When monism is expounded without
faith and love, the expounder as well as the hearer are troubled and afflicted. He who calls himself
Brahma and goes on in his usual way, should not be spoken to and is a buffoon. The shameless one
who speaks heresy in opposition to the Vedas is an object of scorn among holy men."[28]
The controversy about Tukaram's true philosophical positions has been complicated by questions of
authenticity of poems attributed to him, discovery of manuscripts with vastly different number of his
Abhang poems, and that Tukaram did not write the poems himself, they were written down much
later, by others from memory.[30]
Tukaram denounced mechanical rites, rituals, sacrifices, vows and instead encouraged direct form
of bhakti (devotion).[28][31]
Kirtan[edit]
Tukaram encouraged kirtan as a music imbued, community-oriented group singing and dancing form
of bhakti.[5] He considered kirtan not just a means to learn about Bhakti, but Bhakti itself.[5] The
greatest merit in kirtan, according to Tukaram, is it being not only a spiritual path for the devotee, it
helps create a spiritual path for others.[32]
Social reforms[edit]
Tukaram accepted disciples and devotees without discriminating gender. One of his celebrated
devotees was Bahina Bai, a Brahmin woman, who faced anger and abuse of her husband when she
chose Bhakti marga and Tukaram as her guru.[33]
Tukaram taught, states Ranade,[34] that "pride of caste never made any man holy", "the Vedas and
Shastras have said that for the service of God, castes do not matter", "castes do not matter, it is
God's name that matters", and "an outcast who loves the Name of God is verily a Brahmin; in him
have tranquility, forbearance, compassion and courage made their home".[34]However, early 20th
century scholars questioned whether Tukaram himself observed caste when his daughters from his
second wife married men of their own caste.[35] Fraser and Edwards, in their 1921 review of Tukaram,
stated that this is not necessarily so, because people in the West too generally prefer relatives to
marry those of their own economic and social strata.[35]
David Lorenzen states that the acceptance, efforts and reform role of Tukaram in the Varakari-
sampraday follows the diverse caste and gender distributions found in Bhakti movements across
India.[36] Tukaram, of Shudra varna, was one of the nine non-Brahmins, of the twenty one considered
saints in Varakari-sampraday tradition.[36] The rest include ten Brahmins and two whose caste origins
are unknown.[36] Of the twenty one, four women are celebrated as sants, born in two Brahmin and
two non-Brahmin families. Tukaram's effort at social reforms within Varakari-sampraday must be
viewed in this historical context and as part of the overall movement, states Lorenzen.[36]

Legacy[edit]
Gatha temple in Dehu, near Pune Maharashtra, is one of two local temples that mark the legacy of Tukaram.
His poetry is carved on its wall.[37]

Tukaram was a devotee of Vitthala or Vithoba, an avatar of God Vishnu, synchronous

with Krishna but with regional style and features.[13] Tukaram's literary works, along with those of
sants Dnyandev, Namdev and Eknath, states Mohan Lal, are credited to have
propelled Varkari tradition into pan-Indian Bhakti literature.[38]
According to Richard Eaton, from early 14th-century when Maharashtra region came under the rule
of the Islamic Delhi Sultanate, down to the 17th-century, the legacy of Tukaram and his poet-
predecessors, "gave voice to a deep-rooted collective identity among Marathi-speakers".[39] Dilip
Chitre summarizes the legacy of Tukaram and Bhakti poets, during this period of Hindu-Muslim
wars, as transforming "language of shared religion, and religion a shared language. It is they who
helped to bind the Marathas together against the Mughals on the basis not of any religious ideology
but of a territorial cultural identity".[40]
Mahatma Gandhi, in early 20th century, while under arrest in Yerwada Central Jail by the British
colonial government for his non-violent movement, read and translated Tukaram's poetry along
with Upanishads, Bhagavad Gita and poems by other Bhakti movement poet-saints.[41]
Saintliness is not to be purchased in shops,
nor is it to be had for wandering, nor in cupboards, nor in deserts, nor in forests.
It is not obtainable for a heap of riches. It is not in the heavens above, nor in the entrails of the earth
below.
Tuka says: It is a life's bargain, and if you will not give your life to possess it, better be silent.

The essence of the endless Vedas is this: Seek the shelter of God and repeat His name with all thy
heart.
The result of the cogitations of all the Shastras is also the same.
Tuka says: The burden of the eighteen Puranas is also identical.

Merit consists in doing good to others, sin in doing harm to others. There is no other pair comparable
to this.
Truth is the only freedom; untruth is bondage, there is no secret like this.
God's name on one's lips is itself salvation, disregarding the name is perdition.
Companionship of the good is the only heaven, indifference is hell.
Tuka says: It is thus clear what is good and what is injurious, let people choose what they will.

— Sant Tukaram, Translated by Mahatma Gandhi[41]

Films and popular literature[edit]

Tukaram leaves for Vaikuntha, Supreme Abode of God Vishnu.

 Sant Tukaram (1936) - this movie on Tukaram was screened open-

air for a year, to packed audiences in Mumbai, and numerous rural
people would walk very long distances to see it.[42]
 Santa Tukaram (1963), in Kannada
 Sant Tukaram (1965), in Hindi
 Bhakta Tukaram (1973), in Telugu
 Tukaram (2012), in Marathi
Tukaram's life was the subject of 68th issue of Amar Chitra Katha, India's largest comic book
series.[43]

Books and translations of Sant Tukaram[edit]

The 18th-century biographer Mahipati, in his four volume compilation of the lives of many Bhakti
saints, included Tukaram. Mahipati's treatise has been translated by Justin Abbott.[13][44]
A translation of about 3,700 poems from Tukaram Gatha in English was published, in three volumes,
between 1909 and 1915, by Fraser and Marathe.[45] In 1922, Fraser and Edwards published his
biography and religious ideas incorporating some translations of Tukaram's poems,[46] and included a
comparison of Tukaram's philosophy and theology with those of Christianity.[47] Deleury, in 1956,
published a metric French translation of a selection of Tukaram's poem along with an introduction to
the religious heritage of Tukaram (Deleury spells him as Toukaram).[48]
Arun Kolatkar published, in 1966, six volumes of avant-garde translations of Tukaram
poems.[13] Ranade has published a critical biography and some selected translation.[49]
Dilip Chitre translated writings of Sant Tukaram into English in the book titled Says Tuka for which
he was awarded the Sahitya Akademi award in 1994.[50] A selection of poems of Tukaram has been
translated and published by Daniel Ladinsky.[51]
Chandrakant Kaluram Mhatre has translated selected poems of Tukaram, published as One
Hundred Poems of Tukaram.[52]
See also[edit]

 Maharashtra portal

 Hinduism portal

 Bhakti movement
 Sant Mat
 Pandharpur Wari – the largest annual pilgrimage in Maharashtra
that includes a ceremonial Palkhi of Tukaram

References[edit]
1. Jump up^ RD Ranade (1994), Tukaram, State University of New York
Press, ISBN 978-0791420928, pages 3-7
2. ^ Jump up to:a b c d e f SG Tulpule (1992), Devotional Literature in South
Asia (Editor: RS McGregor), Cambridge University Press, ISBN 978-
0521413114, page 148
3. ^ Jump up to:a b RD Ranade (1994), Tukaram, State University of New
York Press, ISBN 978-0791420928, pages 1-2
4. ^ Jump up to:a b c d e f g h i j Mohan Lal (1993), Encyclopedia of Indian
Literature: Sasay to Zorgot, Sahitya Akademi, South Asia Books, ISBN
978-9993154228, pages 4403-4404
5. ^ Jump up to:a b c d Anna Schultz (2012), Singing a Hindu Nation: Marathi
Devotional Performance and Nationalism, Oxford University
Press, ISBN 978-0199730834, page 26
6. Jump up^ Maxine Bernsten (1988), The Experience of Hinduism:
Essays on Religion in Maharashtra, State University of New York
Press, ISBN 978-0887066627, pages 248-249
7. Jump up^ RD Ranade (1994), Tukaram, State University of New York
Press, ISBN 978-0791420928, pages 1-7
8. ^ Jump up to:a b c d e Richard M. Eaton (2005), A Social History of the
Deccan, 1300–1761: Eight Indian Lives, Cambirdge University
Press, ISBN 978-0521716277, pages 129-130
9. Jump up^ Raj Kumar (2003). Essays on medieval India. Discovery
Publishing. p. 204. ISBN 978-81-7141-683-7. Retrieved 9
February 2012.
10. ^ Jump up to:a b c d e RD Ranade (1994), Saint Tukaram, State
University of New York Press, ISBN 978-0791420928, pages 7-9
11. Jump up^ SG Tulpule (1992), Devotional Literature in South Asia
(Editor: RS McGregor), Cambridge University Press, ISBN 978-
0521413114, pages 150-152
12. Jump up^ R. D. Ranade. Tukaram. SUNY Press. pp. 9–
11. ISBN 978-1-4384-1687-8.
13. ^ Jump up to:a b c d e Eleanor Zelliot (1976), Hinduism: New Essays in
the History of Religions (Editor: Bardwell L Smith), Brill
Academic, ISBN 978-9004044951, pages 154-156
14. Jump up^ RD Ranade (1994), Tukaram, State University of New York
Press, ISBN 978-0791420928, pages 10-12
15. Jump up^ Stewart Gordon (1993). The Marathas 1600-1818.
Cambridge University Press. pp. 1–3. ISBN 978-0-521-26883-7.
16. Jump up^ Kaushik Roy (2015). Warfare in Pre-British India –
1500BCE to 1740CE. Routledge. pp. 140–141. ISBN 978-1-317-
58692-0.
17. ^ Jump up to:a b Justin Edwards Abbott (2000), Life of Tukaram, Motilal
Banarsidass, ISBN 978-8120801707, page 320
18. Jump up^ SG Tulpule (1992), Devotional Literature in South Asia
(Editor: RS McGregor), Cambridge University Press, ISBN 978-
0521413114, pages 158-163
19. Jump up^ Mohan Lal (1993), Encyclopaedia of Indian Literature:
Sasay to Zorgot, Sahitya Akademi, South Asia Books, ISBN 978-
9993154228, page 4404
20. Jump up^ Daniel Ladinsky (2002), Love Poems from God,
Penguin, ISBN 978-0142196120, page 333
21. ^ Jump up to:a b c d e f Mohan Lal (1993), Encyclopaedia of Indian
Literature: Sasay to Zorgot, Sahitya Akademi, South Asia Books, ISBN
978-9993154228, pages 4404-4405
22. Jump up^ SG Tulpule (1992), Devotional Literature in South Asia
(Editor: RS McGregor), Cambridge University Press, ISBN 978-
0521413114, pages 149-150
23. Jump up^ RD Ranade (1994), Tukaram, State University of New York
Press, ISBN 978-0791420928, pages 19-22
24. ^ Jump up to:a b c d The Life and Teaching of Tukaram J Nelson Fraser,
and JF Edwards, Probsthain, Christian Literature Society, pages 119-
124
25. Jump up^ Dilip Chitre (1991), Says Tuka: Selected Poetry of
Tukaram, Penguin, ISBN 978-0140445978
26. Jump up^ JF Edwards (1921), Encyclopædia of Religion and Ethics:
Suffering-Zwingli, Volume 12, Editors: James Hastings, John
Alexander Selbie and Louis Herbert Gray, New York: Charles
Scribner, Reprinted in 2000 as ISBN 978-0567065124, page 468
27. ^ Jump up to:a b RD Ranade (1994), Tukaram, State University of New
York Press, ISBN 978-0791420928, pages 192-197
28. ^ Jump up to:a b c d e f R G Bhandarkar (2014), Vaisnavism, Saivism
and Minor Religious Systems, Routledge, ISBN 978-1138821064,
pages 98-99
29. Jump up^ Charles Eliot (1998), Hinduism and Buddhism: An
Historical Sketch, Volume 2, Routledge, ISBN 978-0700706792, page
258, Quote: "Maratha critics have discussed whether Tukaram
followed the monistic philosophy of Sankara or more, and it must be
confessed that his utterances are contradictory."
30. Jump up^ The Life and Teaching of Tukaram J Nelson Fraser, and JF
Edwards, Probsthain, Christian Literature Society, pages 119-123,
218-221
31. Jump up^ David Lorenzen (2006), Who Invented Hinduism: Essays
on Religion in History, Yoda Press, ISBN 978-8190227261, page 130
32. Jump up^ Anna Schultz (2012), Singing a Hindu Nation: Marathi
Devotional Performance and Nationalism, Oxford University
Press, ISBN 978-0199730834, pages 25-28
33. Jump up^ Anne Feldhaus (1982), BahināBāī: Wife and Saint, Journal
of American Academy of Religion, Volume L, Issue 4, pages 591-604
34. ^ Jump up to:a b RD Ranade (1994), Tukaram, State University of New
York Press, ISBN 978-0791420928, pages 154-156
35. ^ Jump up to:a b The Life and Teaching of Tukaram J Nelson Fraser,
and JF Edwards, Probsthain, Christian Literature Society, pages 163,
54-55
 36. ^ Jump up to:a b c d David Lorenzen (2006), Who Invented Hinduism:
Essays on Religion in History, Yoda Press, ISBN 978-8190227261,
pages 127-128
37. Jump up^ Gatha Temple, National Geographic (2014)
38. Jump up^ Mohan Lal (1993), Encyclopaedia of Indian Literature:
Sasay to Zorgot, Sahitya Akademi, South Asia Books, ISBN 978-
9993154228, page 4403
39. Jump up^ Richard M. Eaton (2005), A Social History of the Deccan,
1300–1761: Eight Indian Lives, Cambridge University Press, ISBN
978-0521716277, pages 138-141
40. Jump up^ Dilip Chitre (1991), Says Tuka: Selected Poetry of
Tukaram, Penguin, ISBN 978-0140445978, pages xvi-xvii
41. ^ Jump up to:a b MK Gandhi (1930), Songs from prison: translations of
Indian Lyrics made in Jail, (Adapted and formatted by John Hoyland,
1934), New York : Macmillan, OCLC 219708795
42. Jump up^ Prem Choudhary (2000), Colonial India and the Making of
Empire Cinema, Manchester University Press, ISBN 978-0719057250,
page 155
43. Jump up^ Lawrence Babb and Susan Wadley (1998), Media and the
Transformation of Religion in South Asia, Motilal Banarsidass, ISBN
978-8120814530, page 131
44. Jump up^ Justin Abbott (2000), Tukaram: The Poet-Saints of
Maharashtra, Motilal Banarsidass, ISBN 978-8120801707
45. Jump up^ J Nelson Fraser and KB Marathe, The Poems of Tukaram,
Motilal Banarsidass, ISBN 978-8120808515
46. Jump up^ The Life and Teaching of Tukaram J Nelson Fraser, and JF
Edwards, Probsthain, Christian Literature Society
47. Jump up^ The Life and Teaching of Tukaram J Nelson Fraser, and JF
Edwards, Probsthain, Christian Literature Society, pages 274-278,
Appendix II & III
48. Jump up^ Guy A Deleury (1956), Psaumes dy Pelerin: Toukaram,
Paris: Gallimard, ISBN 978-2070717897, pages 9-34
49. Jump up^ Ramchandra Dattatraya Ranade (1994), Tukaram, State
University of New York Press, ISBN 978-0791420928
50. Jump up^ Dilip Chitre (1991), Says Tuka: Selected Poetry of
Tukaram, Penguin, ISBN 978-0140445978
51. Jump up^ Daniel Ladinsky (2002), Love Poems from God,
Penguin, ISBN 978-0142196120, pages 331-352
52. Jump up^ Chandrakant Kaluram Mhatre, One Hundred Poems of
Tukaram, Createspace, ISBN 978-1512071252

Sources[edit]

 Ayyappapanicker, K.; Akademi, Sahitya (1997). Medieval Indian

Literature: An Anthology. Sahitya Akademi. ISBN 81-260-0365-0.
 Ranade, Ramchandra D. (1994). Tukaram. New York: State
University of New York Press. ISBN 0-7914-2092-2.
 "Tryambak Shankar Shejwalkar Nivadak Lekhsangrah" by T S
Shejwalkar (collection- H V Mote, Introduction- G D Khanolkar)

Further reading[edit]
 John Hoyland (1932), An Indian Peasant Mystic: Translations from
Tukaram, London: Allenson, OCLC 504680225
  Wilbur Deming (1932), Selections from Tukaram, Christian
Literature Society, OCLC 1922126
 Prabhakar Machwe (1977), Tukaram's Poems, United
Writer, OCLC 4497514
 Dilip Chitre (1970), The Bhakta as a Poet: Six Examples from
Tukaram's Poetry, Delos: A Journal on and of Translation, Vol. 4,
pages 132-136
 Fraser, James Nelson; Rev. JF Edwards (1922). The Life and
Teaching of Tukārām. The Christian Literature Society for India,
Madras.
 Fraser and Marathe (1915), The Poems of Tukaram, 3 vols,
Christian Literature Society OCLC 504680214, Reprinted in 1981 by
Motilal Banarsidass, ISBN 978-8120808515

External links[edit]
Wikimedia Commons has
media related to Tukaram.

Wikimedia Commons has

media related to Varkari.

 Images, Biography: Tukaram Ram Bapat (2002), Tukaram Online,

14 Indian and 8 foreign languages
 Tukaram Gahtha (Wikibooks, Marathi Language)
 What I Want to Say, Tukaram, Mona van Duyn (1965), Poetry, Vol.
107, No. 2, pages 102-104
 Twenty five poems, Tukaram Prabhakar Machwe (1968), Mahfil,
Vol. 5, No. 1/2, pages 61-69
 Translations from Tukaram and other saint-poets, Arun Kolatkar
(1982), Journal of South Asian Literature, Vol. 17, No. 1, pages
111-114

 WorldCat Identities

 VIAF: 41876831

 LCCN: n50082017

Authority control ISNI: 0000 0001 1058 9670

 GND: 118624520

 SUDOC: 029926025

 BNF: cb12144805b (data)

Categories:
 1577 births
 1650 deaths
 Varkari
 Indian Hindu religious leaders
 Sant Mat gurus
 Marathi-language writers
 Marathi poets
 Sant Mat
 17th-century Hindu religious leaders