Sant Tukaram ji

For four years, he managed the responsibility of house and business successfully. First his mother and father died and then elder brother’s wife died.

After the death of his wife, elder brother Savji who was already disinterested became an ascetic and he left the house and went for pilgrimage.

Now, even Tukaram’s heart broke and he lost all enthusiasm in the household. With this, the business became slow and taking advantage of this, the debtors stopped returning his money and the creditors kept asking him for money. This way, the business got affected and the time for bankruptcy came. Around two times, his in-laws helped him but once the business was affected it never came back on track. All his efforts did not pay off. To add to his misery, Pune regions had a severe famine. Many people died fluttering without food and water. Seeing all these, Tukaram’s mind filled with sorrow. Just then, his troubles reached its pinnacle. His first wife died and then, his son.

But after all these difficulties, Tukaram came out as an image of asceticism.

He handed over his younger brother his share and became engrossed in singing bhajans and praying. After great difficulties, Sant Tukaram’s mind and heart became absorbed in reciting the Lord’s name forever. By the grace of God, whenever he used to sit down for kirtan with people, he used to start saying Abhang Vani on its own. Seeing the greatest sense in his creations, great Saints and Brahmins respected him and started bowing to him.

With the fame of Sant Tukaram, many people were upset. Of this, one Brahmin who was a great scholar of Vedas, felt very bad that a person like Tukaram of the other caste sings Abhangs and all the castes including Brahmins believe him and respect him.
That is why he told a hakim (a learned man) to order Tukaram to leave Dehu and go away. At this, Tukaram went to Rameshwar Bhatt and told him, “The Abhangs which I say are said by the orders of Lord Pandurang. You are a Brahmin; with your orders I will stop creating Abhangs but what about those Abhangs which are already made and which are kept written?” at this the Pandit asked him to throw away those Abhangs in the river.

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On the second day of dark fortnight of Chaitra month in Samvat (the year of Vikram era) 1706, Shri Tukaramji left for heavenly abode. No one saw his dead body, actually he did not die. Lord personally took him to Vaikuntha along with his physical body. This way, after going to Vaikunthdham, Shri Tukaram appeared in front of his devotees. There are many monuments of Tukaram Maharaj in Dehu and Lohgaon. His Abhang –Vani is a precious and eternal religious asset. Shri Tukaram lives within his devotees through his Abhangs.

Shri Tukaram said, “There cannot be anything pure in his world that is created by the Creator. Just like water in ice and yarn in cloth, God is contained in this whole universe and that is why to consider anything impure in this world is an insult to God.”

Sant Tukaram also said, “Where there is a meeting of God, saints and prayers, there is the real Triveni Sangam. According to him, even Brahma cannot describe the happiness of Satsang.

Source: sagarworld

Sant Tukaram Ji: Life, Abhangs, and Spiritual Legacy

Sant Tukaram Ji was one of the greatest Marathi poet-saints of the Bhakti movement and a central figure of the Varkari tradition. He is remembered for his deep devotion to Lord Vitthal of Pandharpur, simple language, fearless truth, and compassionate heart. His abhangs became a voice of the common people, giving spiritual strength to farmers, workers, householders, and seekers who wanted a direct path to God.

Sant Tukaram Ji was born in Dehu, near Pune, in the seventeenth century. Public references commonly place his birth in 1608 and death in 1649, though some traditions mention alternate dates. He faced hardship, family loss, poverty, and business failure, but these difficulties pushed him toward deeper devotion. Instead of becoming bitter, he turned his pain into prayer and poetry. His life shows that suffering can become a doorway to spiritual awakening.

Sant Tukaram Ji composed abhangs, devotional poems that are simple, musical, and full of emotion. These verses praised Vitthal, questioned false pride, and guided people toward humility. His poetry did not need difficult language. It spoke directly to the heart. Because of this, his songs became part of Maharashtra’s living culture and are still sung in homes, temples, kirtans, and Varkari gatherings.

Sant Tukaram Ji strongly criticized caste arrogance, religious hypocrisy, and empty ritual. He taught that God accepts pure devotion, not social status. A person may know scriptures or perform rituals, but without compassion and humility, spiritual life remains incomplete. His message gave dignity to ordinary people and reminded society that the name of God is greater than ego.

Sant Tukaram Ji was influenced by earlier bhakti saints such as Dnyaneshwar, Namdev, Kabir, and Eknath. Like them, he used the language of the people and made devotion practical. He did not ask devotees to escape from life. He taught them to remember Vitthal while doing daily duties, serving others, and living honestly. This made his path useful for householders as well as renunciants.

Sant Tukaram Ji is also linked with the Tukaram Gatha, a compilation of abhangs attributed to him. These compositions cover devotion, human weakness, social reform, surrender, and the temporary nature of worldly life. They are valuable not only as religious songs but also as Marathi literary treasures. His writing helped strengthen the Varkari tradition and gave Maharashtra a lasting spiritual identity.

Sant Tukaram Ji remains relevant today because people still struggle with ego, comparison, stress, and social division. His teaching is simple: chant God’s name, speak truth, serve others, avoid pride, and keep faith during hardship. His life reminds modern readers that devotion should make the heart softer and conduct better.

This great saint stands as a symbol of Vitthal bhakti, equality, poetry, and moral courage. His legacy continues through abhangs, pilgrimage, kirtan, and daily remembrance. Even today, his words inspire people to live with humility, compassion, faith, and love for the Divine.