Saint Tukaram- Encyclopaedia of Saints of India (Part-23)

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Sant Tukaram was a well-disciplined and a sincere devotee of God. He opined, 'God cares for love, not for food.' He was non-possessive and used to distribute his small possessions among the needy. He emphasised the Life Divine and explained his desire for the Amrita. He stated that the attainment of the Amrita is through the Nama and man's liberation is through the Amrita.

The text contains fourteen chapters having deep bearing on ideology and philosophy of life of Sant Tukaram. These chapters are about his early career, evolution of sainthood, his religion and sadhana, Shivaji and the saint, a devotee, in turmoil, a saint and a sage, philosophy of his life, a saint par excellence and his views on God.

This work would be useful for teachers, scholars and students in India and abroad.

Contents include: Early Career; Evolution of Sainthood; Tukaram's Religion and Sadhana; The Life Divine; Shivaji and the Saint; Pilgrim to Light; Being Human; A Devotee; In Turmoil; In Time and Place; A Saint and a Sage; Philosophy of Life; A Saint Par Excellence; Views on God.

Dr. S.R. Bakshi, Ph.D., D.Litt. is an eminent scholar of Modern Indian History and is the author of several works on Indian nationalism and freedom movement. His recent works include 'Encyclopaedic History of Indian Culture and Religion' (in 5 Vols.), The Great Marathas' (in 5 Vols.), The Great Rajputs' (in 6 Vols.), 'B.R. Ambedkar: His Political and Social Ideology' (in 2 Vols.), 'Encyclopaedic History of The Sikhs and Sikhism' (in 6 Vols.), The Great Moghuls' (in 8 Vols.), and 'Development of Women, Children and Weaker Sections' (in 5 Vols.). Dr. Bakshi is member of several academic institutions having deep bearing on historical research.

Dr. Sangh Mittra, LL.B. Ph.D. from Lucknow University, is Dy. Director (Research) in Indian Council of Historical Research. Her Ph.D. thesis on 'Iconographic Study of Minor Brahmanical Deities in Northern India' is published along with more than 20 Research Papers in reputed historical journals. She is Life Member of several academic institutions and a reputed examiner of Ph.D. thesis of Universities of North India. Besides she has actively participated in numerous national and international Seminars.

Numerous saints have emerged from the lower castes in our Hindu cultural history. Such a glaring example was Sant Tukaram who was born in a lower middle class, shopkeeper family of the village, Dehru, near Poona in Maharashtra. With the passage of time, he became one of the greatest saints of our sub-continent. He was critical of the learned Brahmans and never held them in high esteem. So far so he gave a declaration of God in the form of a song in which he started, "Had I been a learned man, I would have brought calamities on me; would have scorned the service of the saints...."

Undoubtedly Tukaram was deeply inclined towards God and it is a well-known fact that this was at the expense of his own family responsibilities. His wife did not favour his working of religious mind and often she would drive away guests who would gather to listen to his devotional songs. Tukaram complained, that she, "runs after my guests like a mad dog...." Even his relatives and family friends opposed Tukaram. Besides he received serious setbacks in his life. He lost his father, when he was hardly in his teens. He also lost his son, land and cattle. "Life seems to me like vomit," he lamented. But he did not lose heart on account of these natural calamities. He had an ardent belief that these sufferings brought him closer to God.

Tukaram followed Namadeva who appeared in a dream and urged him to compose devotional verses. He became a true follower of Namadeva. Indeed he was directed to complete the unfinished task of Namadeva, which was to create a billion abhangas.

**Contents and Sample Pages**