Tukaram was born in 1608, in the small village of Dehu in the West Indian state of Maharashtra to Bolhoba and Kanakai a couple belonging to the lower Sudra class. He had two other brothers. Despite their lower class status the family was well to do and enjoyed good social standing in the village. Tukaram’s troubles started with the illness of his father, due to which he had to start supporting his family at the tender age of thirteen. Shortly thereafter, both his parents died. Tukaram’s problems only mounted; death of his family members and economic hardship seemed to plague him.
Tukaram was married twice, his first wife Rakhumabai died due to starvation during a famine, his second wife Jijabai or Avali as she was called, was much younger than his first had been and had little patience with his devotion and for God and she nagged him continuously. He had three sons.
Tukaram was initiated without any intermediaries as the other saints usually were. He dreamt that he was initiated by the Lord Hari himself dressed as a Brahman.
Tukaram continuously sang the praises of the Lord, he sang it in the form of abhangs which he wrote. These were in his mother tongue Marathi. The abhangs express his feelings and philosophical outlook. During his 41 years, Tukaram composed over 5,000 abhangs. Many of them speak of events in his life, which make them somewhat autobiographical. Yet, they are focused on God, Pandurang, and not Tukaram. His abhangs became very popular with the masses of common people. It was this very popularity that caused the religious establishment (the high caste Brahmins) to hate and persecute Tukaram. as, he was causing them to lose their power over the people.
There are many miracles attributed to Tukaram.
Showing posts with label saints. Show all posts
Showing posts with label saints. Show all posts
Thursday, May 6, 2010
Saint Dyaneshwar
One of the great scholar saints, Saint Dyaneshwar is still remembered with great reverence. Born in 1271 to Vithal Pant and Rukmini, he had a difficult childhood.
He lost his parents at an early age. Orphaned and poor, Dyander and his siblings had to depend on alms for their living. However, his preaching brought him fame and extended his influence in the area. He was deeply interested in the study of scriptures and in religious practices. He tried to remove social disparities by educating people through his experiences and anecdotes of life.
He came to Newa in 1288. He composed ‘Dyaneshwari’, whic holds pride of place in the Indian scriptures, philosophical treatises and also in Marathi literature. He knew many languages and words; as many; 56 languages can be found in ‘Dyaneshwari’. He mastered the ‘Gita1 whe he was only 15 years old. A sizeable section of Indian society is st influenced by Saint Dyaneshwar’s teachings. He took 'Samadhi' in 1296.
Alandi Yatra
Human being in every age has attempted to find the reason for his existence. He has strived hard to understand the nature. But at the end has always labeled it as a god’s gift. God, does it really exist or it’s the only idea generated by human which has always motivated him to rise?
Belief is the only bridge between god and us where we have always attempted to reach the other end.
Alandi is one such place where almost 3 hundred thousand people walk down in a month of November with saint Dyaneshwar’s idol in a cradle. They sing they dance they pray, they are almost lost, because they believe in his existence at Alandi. They take a holy bath in the river Indrayani to wash all their sins and are all set to walk the noble path of mankind as a true human being.
Saint Dyaneshwar started on his commentary on Bhagavat Gita where he attempted to translate it in local Marathi language which later came to be known called Bhavarthadeepika.
After translating the Bhagavad Gita into Marathi Dnyandeo expressed his desire to leave his body by taking Samadhi at the age of 21.
Samadhi is a process where you meditate till your soul liberates out of your body.
Dyandeo went inside a ground to meditate and was found alive even after 25 years in a same meditative posture beneath the ground when villagers at Alandi learned through telepathy that a root of a tree is disturbing him. They chopped it and covered the place allowing dyaneshwar to continue with his own journey for Moksha ie journey between life and death.
It was a final exploration to continue with a belief……. that will always raise a question……. is he still alive?
He lost his parents at an early age. Orphaned and poor, Dyander and his siblings had to depend on alms for their living. However, his preaching brought him fame and extended his influence in the area. He was deeply interested in the study of scriptures and in religious practices. He tried to remove social disparities by educating people through his experiences and anecdotes of life.
He came to Newa in 1288. He composed ‘Dyaneshwari’, whic holds pride of place in the Indian scriptures, philosophical treatises and also in Marathi literature. He knew many languages and words; as many; 56 languages can be found in ‘Dyaneshwari’. He mastered the ‘Gita1 whe he was only 15 years old. A sizeable section of Indian society is st influenced by Saint Dyaneshwar’s teachings. He took 'Samadhi' in 1296.
Alandi Yatra
Human being in every age has attempted to find the reason for his existence. He has strived hard to understand the nature. But at the end has always labeled it as a god’s gift. God, does it really exist or it’s the only idea generated by human which has always motivated him to rise?
Belief is the only bridge between god and us where we have always attempted to reach the other end.
Alandi is one such place where almost 3 hundred thousand people walk down in a month of November with saint Dyaneshwar’s idol in a cradle. They sing they dance they pray, they are almost lost, because they believe in his existence at Alandi. They take a holy bath in the river Indrayani to wash all their sins and are all set to walk the noble path of mankind as a true human being.
Saint Dyaneshwar started on his commentary on Bhagavat Gita where he attempted to translate it in local Marathi language which later came to be known called Bhavarthadeepika.
After translating the Bhagavad Gita into Marathi Dnyandeo expressed his desire to leave his body by taking Samadhi at the age of 21.
Samadhi is a process where you meditate till your soul liberates out of your body.
Dyandeo went inside a ground to meditate and was found alive even after 25 years in a same meditative posture beneath the ground when villagers at Alandi learned through telepathy that a root of a tree is disturbing him. They chopped it and covered the place allowing dyaneshwar to continue with his own journey for Moksha ie journey between life and death.
It was a final exploration to continue with a belief……. that will always raise a question……. is he still alive?
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