03-23-2005, 04:16 AM
This is a xlation from a gujju article . Pl pardon my xlation skills..
The story is about Sant Tukaram.
Goswami Tulsidasji has rightly said that <i>Hari Ananta Hari Kathaa Anantaa</i>. Sant Tukaram was a singer of one such anant kathaa. Sant Tukaram was born in 1608 in a village 18 miles from Pune. He was a bhakta in true sense of the word. His life was a beautiful mix of Bhakti and Karma.
He was married for the first time at the age of 13. After finding out that his first wife was sick with dum (asthama?) he was married a second time. His first wifes name was Rakhubai while his second wife's name was Jijai. His family was big - an elder brother, a younger brother, sisters and others. His parent passed away when he was 17. His bhabhi (elder brothers wife) also passed away soon. His elder brother became disillusioned and became a vairagi (ascetic) and went away on a pilgrimage. The entire load of supporting the family came upon Tukaram. His business suffered losses and agriculture ran into losses. The first wife was really nice while the second one was real fiesty and gave lots of trouble to Tukaram. Tukaram then started a business of spices but he again incurred losses. This was followed by a drought and he lost his first wife and his daughter soon after.
Tukaram became disillusioned after this. He handed over the remaining business to his younger brother and got involved in hari araadhana. Tukaram used to his puja @ Samiparath Viththal Temple every morning. He sometimes used to go sit near the Indriyani river or on Bhagnath mountain. In solitude he used to pray to gyaneshwari or eknathi bhavat parayan. Every evening he used to return back to village to participate in harikirtan.
During this time due to Gods grace "Abhang" vani (dont know what this is) came out of Sant Tukaram. Knowledgeable people were surprised to hear this.
9 miles away from Pune, some vedic pandits didnt like a shudra to speak in Abhang vani. Sant Tukaram got disheartened and submerged his books written in Abhang vani in the river.
He was so disheartened he gave up all food and water and went to Viththal temple and started ghor sadhana. 13 days and nights later he had Bhagwan sakshatkaar. Other devotees recovered the books that he had submerged in the river due to Gods grace. Sant Tukaram then sang the Hari Kathaa and spread the word of love for all. Word got around and reached Shivaji maharaj. They both met and Shivaji Maharaj expressed his shraddha. Lakhs of people in Maharashtra still sing Sant Tukaram's songs . Sant Tukaram passed away at the age of 41.
The story is about Sant Tukaram.
Goswami Tulsidasji has rightly said that <i>Hari Ananta Hari Kathaa Anantaa</i>. Sant Tukaram was a singer of one such anant kathaa. Sant Tukaram was born in 1608 in a village 18 miles from Pune. He was a bhakta in true sense of the word. His life was a beautiful mix of Bhakti and Karma.
He was married for the first time at the age of 13. After finding out that his first wife was sick with dum (asthama?) he was married a second time. His first wifes name was Rakhubai while his second wife's name was Jijai. His family was big - an elder brother, a younger brother, sisters and others. His parent passed away when he was 17. His bhabhi (elder brothers wife) also passed away soon. His elder brother became disillusioned and became a vairagi (ascetic) and went away on a pilgrimage. The entire load of supporting the family came upon Tukaram. His business suffered losses and agriculture ran into losses. The first wife was really nice while the second one was real fiesty and gave lots of trouble to Tukaram. Tukaram then started a business of spices but he again incurred losses. This was followed by a drought and he lost his first wife and his daughter soon after.
Tukaram became disillusioned after this. He handed over the remaining business to his younger brother and got involved in hari araadhana. Tukaram used to his puja @ Samiparath Viththal Temple every morning. He sometimes used to go sit near the Indriyani river or on Bhagnath mountain. In solitude he used to pray to gyaneshwari or eknathi bhavat parayan. Every evening he used to return back to village to participate in harikirtan.
During this time due to Gods grace "Abhang" vani (dont know what this is) came out of Sant Tukaram. Knowledgeable people were surprised to hear this.
9 miles away from Pune, some vedic pandits didnt like a shudra to speak in Abhang vani. Sant Tukaram got disheartened and submerged his books written in Abhang vani in the river.
He was so disheartened he gave up all food and water and went to Viththal temple and started ghor sadhana. 13 days and nights later he had Bhagwan sakshatkaar. Other devotees recovered the books that he had submerged in the river due to Gods grace. Sant Tukaram then sang the Hari Kathaa and spread the word of love for all. Word got around and reached Shivaji maharaj. They both met and Shivaji Maharaj expressed his shraddha. Lakhs of people in Maharashtra still sing Sant Tukaram's songs . Sant Tukaram passed away at the age of 41.