Sant Tukaram

Subject: History

Section: Personalities

Sant Tukaram Maharaj was a 17th-century Marathi poet, Hindu sant (saint), popularly known as Tuka, Tukobaraya, Tukoba in Maharashtra.
He was a Sant of Varkari sampradaya – that venerates the god Vithoba – in Maharashtra, India.
He was part of the egalitarian, personalized Varkari devotionalism tradition.
Tukaram is best known for his devotional poetry called Abhanga and community-oriented worship with spiritual songs known as kirtans.
His guru was bhakti movement Saint Chaitanya Mahaprabhu.
Tukaram pointed out the evil of wrongdoings of society, social system and Maharajs by his kirtans and abhangs.
Tukaram Gatha is a Marathi language compilation of his works, likely composed between 1632 and 1650.
Also called Abhanga Gatha, the Indian tradition believes it includes some 4,500 abhangs.

Social reforms

Tukaram accepted disciples and devotees without discriminating gender.
Tukaram taught that “pride of caste never made any man holy”, “the Vedas and Shastras have said that for the service of God, castes do not matter”, “castes do not matter, it is God’s name that matters”.

The Varkari sect

Sant Tukaram and his work are central to the Varkari sect spread across Maharashtra.
His message about a casteless society and his denial of rituals had led to a social movement.
Sant Tukaram is credited with starting the Wari pilgrimage.
The Wari sees lakhs of devotees congregating in the temple towns of Dehu and Alandi to accompany the padukas of Sant Tukaram and Sant Dyaneshwar respectively as they start for Pandharpur.