The God Experience of Tukaram

- Bishop Thomas Dabre

The Religious World of Tukaram

The Image in the Temple :

1. The original source of all sacred spots, the fruit of all vows,

Brahma Himself embodied is Pandhari

Chorus; We have seen it with our own eyes;

our longing fasting eyes are satisfied.

2. Life of all life, companion in happiness, He stands upright hand on hip.

3. Father of the world, sea of mercy,

He destroys the wicked and loves the humble.

4. This is the form unqualified,

adored by the gods and contemplated by the sages (1473).

                              ***
1. 0 Pundalika, why are you haughty?

You have made Viththala stand.

Chorus : How is it that you are so bold?

You flung a brick behind.

2. Twenty eight yugas have passed.

Still you do not tell Him to sit.

3. Seeing your intense devotion, God left Heaven.

4. Tuka says, you alone are a reaIIy powerful devotee (3842).

attributeless, Being and Consciousness

You do assume name and form at Your own desire.

You do assume name and shape responsive to our own faith.

4. Tuka says, if You will show Yourself, then only,

O Narayana, You can be known (700).
     

                           ***
1. Fair is the vision where He stands on the brick, with His hands upon His hips.

Chorus : On hiS neck is the garland of Tulsi, He wears a robe of silk.

This indeed, is the form which I ever delight in.

2. The pendant fish sparkle in His ears.

The jewel Kaustubha shines at His neck.

3. Tuka says herein is all my happiness.

With joy will I behold His holy face ( 2) .
 

                              ***
1. Many have been lost through not worshipping the King of Pandhari.

Chorus: They worship the greedy and false gods that beg and pursue men for food.

2. They have forgotten the Lord of all.

3. Tuka says, in the end they will fall in the hands of Yama (800).

You take us beyond the ocean of this world in Your boat. (576)
 

                                ***

1. Listen, 0 you people, to the signs of your welfare Remember in your mind the Lord of Pandhari.

Chorus : 0 how can there be bondage for the one

who sings the praises of Narayana?
Know for sure that he will cross over the ocean of the world herebelow.

2. The evil age will take to his service.

The ties of the net of illusion will break.

Prosperity and fulfilment will become his servants.

3. This is the substance of all scriptures.

This is the secret of all the Vedas.

This indeed, has been the concern of the Puranas.

4. The Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas, Sudras, Chandalas,

children, and prostitutes even, can all attain (to this salvific welfare) .

. 5. Tuka says, we have discovered it by our own experience.

Happily there are other devotees who too enjoy this bliss (1142).

        
                                           ***

1. I am very vicious and guilty; what else can I say?

O Viththala, now do You grant me shelter at Your feet.

Chorus: Enough, enough of this world; great is the power of Karma over me.
It will not suffer me to be steady and firm.

2. Varied are the impulses of the mind.

They change their hue from moment to moment
If we seek any association it only infects us.

3b. Tuka says, now cut the knot of all my worries (2247).

                                      ***

This sinful worlu alienates man from God.

1. There is no peace at the hands of the world.

The mind continually is set on (worldly pursuits).

Chorus: God and religion are utterly abandoned.

A riot of self-indulgence goes raging on.

2. Toiling night and day one cannot satisfy one's family.

It is hard to gain a sight of God.

3. Tuka says, indeed, you are a destroyer of yourself.

                                               ***
1. Who else is my friend, besides You, 0 Panduranga?

2. I am intensely longing to meet You.

I count the days and nights on my fingers.

3. I can take no pleasure in my work and business.

Tuka says, this alone is the preoccupation of my mind (526).

                                             ***

1. Only after a seed is destroyed that an ear of corn is enjoyed.

Chorus: Young and old, all know this principle.

2. The gain is not without price.

Without the oblation of life (there can be no gain).

3. Tuka says, double is your gain if you lay down your life in battle (767).

                                     ***
1. It is delightful to listen to the stories of battles.

To actually take part in a battle, however, is a terrible suffering.

Chorus: So also the bhakti, of Hari is like the bread spitted on a stake.
A strong and brave person (possessing bhakti) can only rarely be found.

2. He who feeds his body becomes a slave of sense objects.

How can the Ruler of Vaikuntha be there ?

3. Tuka says, one must be ready to part with one's body in order
to find the Spouse of the goddess Rakhumai (i. e.the Lord of Pandharpur) (3874)

                                                  ***

God who accepts to be in love-relationship with man invariably divests him of everything.

1. You destroy him whose roots You search for.

Chorus : So complain holy men.

You have stirred up many a dispute.

2. You take him out of the world whom You hold in Your hands.

3. Tuka says, he who is touched by You is reduced to nothing ( 328) .

Thus, the bhakta is fully divested of himself

and taken complete possession of by God.

                                            ***
1. Love is a gift of God. It ends the life of the senses.
The purfied mind loses all consciousness of space and time.

Chorus : The blessed devotees of God, are liberated, and devoid of all inhibition.
They overflow with enthusiastic praise of His name and fame.

2. They have got an everlasting gain.

Coming into the world (literally, having been born) they became God's servants.
They will return to the womb no more.
They will enjoy supreme bliss in the Highest Brahma.
Their thoughts are exercised in such devotions as will bring them supreme merit.
Tuka says, there is no sin in the locality of the devotees of God.(2841).