"Tukaram".
Sant Tukaram (तुकाराम), respectfully referred to as Shri Tukaram, and colloquially referred to as "Tuka" (तुका) was a seventeenth century Marathi poet saint of India, with a very great stature in the Bhakti movement of Maharashtra, so much so that in the popular mind he is the very peak of that centuries long outbreak of love for God. The days of his life are contentious with scholars assigning various dates to his birth. The four most popular options are 1568, 1577 1608 and 1598 AD, so we do have a wide choice. There is lesser dispute that he died in 1650 AD, a public event wherein his Divine body was lifted up to the Divine realm by his favourite Deity, Vithobha of Pandharpur, who was an Avatar of Krishna. As to the rest his poetry did the talking and it still does.
He is considered one of the favourite saints of Maharashtra especially the Varkari sampradaya (community).
Tukaram was a great devotee of Krishna, the supreme God in Vaishnavism
He was born in Dehu, very close to modern Pune city in Maharashtra. His father was a small trader or peddler and he was barely literate all his life. His family were successful grain sellers but the priestly class considered him lowborn.
Despite these personal tragedies, he never lost the love towards Krishna. His songs were the spontaneous expression of devotion through singing and dancing of kirtans in honor of Krishna. However, Tukaram faced many problems in his own spiritual quest. Other than the personal tragedies, he appeared to be filled with frustration and doubt. One day, when he was prepared to commit suicide, he experienced the Divine. From that moment on, his life changed. His philosophy was simple and effective 'Sit silently and repeat the name of the Lord as you remember Him. That alone is enough for realization.' He constantly emphasised that ethics and orthodox religion like the study of Vedas were just formalities and the real use of religion is in realization of the Divine through Love.
He used to write a particular verse form called the abhanga, a run on couplet with three and a half feet with the first three rhyming. In the use of this poetic device he was unrivalled, and others have practically left it alone after him in tacit acknowledgment there is nothing more that can be done with it. As was the tradition, he also used to add his signature Tuka Mhane (तुका म्हणे) or "Tuka Says" at the end of each verse.
Typical of the Varkari sampradaya where samaj seva (service to the community) and hari sankirtan (group worship through music) was the Way, Tukaram made it his call to work for group enlightenment rather than just for himself.
In addition to posthumous miracles, many miracles "leaked" from Tukaram during his lifetime. He fed a multitude of people even though he only cooked for one. He turned iron into gold on more than one occasion. He made the dumb speak and brought the dead back to life. He changed the water in a well from brackish to sweet, instantly calmed a very vicious dog, and once while at the home of an elderly brahmin couple, made lamp oil appear out of thin air. Yet, he was no magician. His total devotion to Pandurang was the force behind these amazing feats. This was known to Tukaram, as evidenced by the fact that he never showed the slightest bit of pride or arrogance. Tuka always remained humble, meek and simple. He simply could not help but Grace the souls.
Hindu religious figures | Indian religious figures
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It uses material from the "Tukaram".
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