Tukaram — Maharashtra's Great Sant and Abhangas

Introduction

Significance

Auspicious Time

Required Samagri (Materials)

Preparation Steps

1. 1Bathe and wear clean, modest clothing
2. 2Create a clean altar space facing east or north
3. 3Place the image of Sant Tukaram alongside Lord Vitthala-Rukmini
4. 4Light the lamp and incense
5. 5Offer water, flowers, and tulsi leaves
6. 6Sit in a comfortable posture (sukhasana or padmasana)
7. 7Invoke the guru-parampara: Jnanadev, Namdev, Eknath, Tukaram

Steps

1. 1Begin with three deep breaths and chant 'Om Vitthalaya Namaha' three times
2. 2Recite the invocation abhanga: 'Sundar te dhyan ube vithu chaya' to center the mind
3. 3Chant selected abhangas from Tukaram's Gatha, focusing on the meaning and bhava
4. 4Use the tulsi mala to repeat 'Vitthala Vitthala' or 'Jai Jai Ram Krishna Hari' for 108 rounds
5. 5Meditate on the form of Vitthala standing on the brick (itthi) with hands on waist
6. 6Offer the prepared prasad with the prayer: 'Tukaram bolu bhakti, Vitthala lavu mukti'
7. 7Conclude with arati (waving of lamp) while singing 'Yuge atthavisa vitevari ubha' or similar arati
8. 8Distribute prasad to all present and touch the feet of elders for blessings

Mantras

Guidelines

• •Observe a sattvic diet (no onion, garlic, meat, alcohol) on Tukaram Beej and Ekadashi days
• •Fast from grains on Ekadashi; consume fruits, milk, and root vegetables if needed
• •Maintain celibacy (brahmacharya) and speak truthfully during vrat periods
• •Spend extra time in abhanga recitation, kirtan, and seva (service) to fellow pilgrims
• •Avoid daytime sleep; engage in japa, reading Tukaram's Gatha, or listening to discourses

Do's

• ✓Sing abhangas with genuine emotion (bhava) rather than mechanical repetition
• ✓Treat all beings as embodiments of Vitthala; practice seeing God in everyone
• ✓Participate in the wari (pilgrimage) at least once in life if physically able
• ✓Study the Gatha (collected abhangas) regularly with a qualified teacher or commentary
• ✓Support the Varkari community through annadan (food offering) and service

Don'ts

• ✗Do not treat abhangas as mere entertainment or cultural performance
• ✗Avoid criticizing other saints or sampradayas; Tukaram honored all genuine bhaktas
• ✗Do not commercialize his teachings or use them for personal gain
• ✗Never disrespect the tulsi plant, the palkhi, or the Varkari symbols
• ✗Do not neglect family duties in the name of spirituality; Tukaram balanced both

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• •Pronouncing Marathi words in abhangas incorrectly without learning proper pronunciation
• •Focusing only on popular abhangas while ignoring the deeper philosophical ones
• •Believing that external rituals alone suffice without inner transformation
• •Confusing Tukaram's nirguna-leaning bhakti with purely saguna ritualism
• •Assuming the wari is only a physical journey; the inner wari of the heart is primary

Regional Variations

• •In Dehu, the palkhi procession begins with special rites at Tukaram's samadhi temple
• •In Pandharpur, the wari culminates in a grand darshan of Vitthala on Ashadhi Ekadashi
• •Konkan region Varkaris emphasize sea-side kirtans and distinct musical styles (dindi)
• •Urban centers like Mumbai and Pune host large-scale abhanga festivals with classical musicians
• •Diaspora communities in the US, UK, and Gulf organize virtual wari and online kirtans

Frequently Asked Questions

References & Traditional Notes

• •Tukaram Gatha (standard edition edited by Vishnu M. Bhave)
• •Bhakti-Vijaya by Mahipati (18th-century hagiography)
• •Jnaneshwari by Sant Jnanadev (philosophical foundation of Varkari thought)
• •Varkari pilgrims' oral tradition passed through generations of dindi leaders
• •Scholarly works by R. D. Ranade, Justin E. Abbott, and Eleanor Zelliot

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