Name – Sant Tukaram Maharaj

Born – Tukaram Bolhoba Ambile Either 1598 or 1608 Dehu, Pune Maharashtra, India

Died – Either 1649 or 1650 in Dehu, Pune

Parents – Bolhoba (father), Kankai (mother)

Other names – Tukoba, Tukobaraya

Religion –  Hinduism

Order – Varkari tradition

Dharma names –  Sant Tukaram

Sant Tukaram Bolhoba Ambile was a celebrated Varkari saint and poet from Maharashtra, renowned for his heartfelt abhangs dedicated to Lord Vithoba. Throughout his life, Tukaram led community kirtans, spread messages of bhakti, and fearlessly spoke against social evils and hypocrisy. Despite facing opposition—such as from Mambaji, who later became his devotee—Tukaram remained steadfast in his devotion.

He also had a legendary friendship with Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, who greatly admired his teachings and, according to tradition, was saved by Tukaram from Mughal pursuers. Historians believe Tukaram attained Vaikuntha in 1650, leaving a lasting spiritual and social legacy that continues to inspire millions.

Vedanta – In his Abhangas, Tukaram frequently mentions four key figures who deeply influenced his spiritual journey: the earlier Bhakti saints Namdev, Dnyaneshwar, Kabir, and Eknath. Scholars in the early 20th century viewed Tukaram’s teachings as rooted in Vedanta, though they noted the absence of a consistent, structured philosophy.

Kirtan – Tukaram promoted kirtan as a devotional practice centered on music, community singing, and dancing. He viewed kirtan not merely as a way to understand Bhakti, but as an expression of Bhakti itself. For Tukaram, its highest virtue lay in its dual role: while guiding the devotee on their spiritual journey, it also inspires and opens a spiritual path for others.

Social reforms – Tukaram welcomed disciples and devotees regardless of gender. Among his well-known followers was Bahina Bai, a Brahmin woman who endured her husband’s anger and abuse after she chose the path of Bhakti and accepted Tukaram as her spiritual teacher.

Tukaram composed Abhanga poetry, a traditional Marathi literary form known for its metrical structure (typically using the ovi meter), straightforward language, and blend of folk tales with profound spiritual themes. His verses are celebrated for their spontaneous, passionate tone and folksy style, written in the everyday language of the people. This marked a departure from earlier poets like Dnyandeva and Namdev, who conveyed similar spiritual depth but with a more refined and stylistic elegance.

Authenticity – The first printed compilation of Sant Tukaram’s poems was published by Indu Prakash in 1869, with support from the British Bombay Presidency. However, the 1869 edition relied on centuries-old manuscripts that had been repeatedly edited, corrected, and rearranged.

As a result, scholars question its historical authenticity, since existing manuscripts of Tukaram’s abhangs are fragmented, jumbled, and often contain variations and missing pieces. This raises ongoing debates about how closely modern compilations reflect Tukaram’s original teachings.

Books & Translations-

• The 18th-century biographer Mahipati included Tukaram in his four-volume compilation on the lives of saints from the Bhakti movement. This work was later translated into English by Justin Abbott. Between 1909 and 1915, Fraser and Marathe published an English translation of approximately 3,700 poems from the Tukaram Gatha, spread across three volumes. In 1922, Fraser and Edwards released a biography of Tukaram that explored his religious ideas, featured some translated poems, and offered a comparative analysis of his philosophy and theology with that of Christianity. Later, in 1956, Deleury published a metrical French translation of selected poems by Tukaram—spelled “Toukaram” in his edition—accompanied by an introduction to Tukaram’s religious background.
• In 1966, Arun Kolatkar published six volumes of avant-garde translations of Tukaram’s poems. Ranade also contributed to Tukaram scholarship with a critical biography and selected translations of his works.
• Dilip Chitre translated the writings of Sant Tukaram into English in his book Says Tuka, which earned him the Sahitya Akademi Award in 1994. Additionally, a selection of Tukaram’s poems has been translated and published by Daniel Ladinsky.
• Chandrakant Kaluram Mhatre translated a selection of Tukaram’s poems, published under the title One Hundred Poems of Tukaram.

Maharashtra society – In his Abhangas, Tukaram frequently mentions four key figures who deeply influenced his spiritual journey: the earlier Bhakti saints Namdev, Dnyaneshwar, Kabir, and Eknath. Scholars in the early 20th century viewed Tukaram’s teachings as rooted in Vedanta, though they noted the absence of a consistent, structured philosophy.

Mahatma Gandhi – In the early 20th century, while imprisoned in Yerwada Central Jail by the British colonial government for his non-violent movement, Mahatma Gandhi read and translated Tukaram’s poetry, along with the Upanishads, the Bhagavad Gita, and works by other poet-saints of the Bhakti movement.

Places associated with Tukaram –

• The Tukaram Maharaj Janm Sthan Temple in Dehu is the site where Tukaramji was born, and a temple was later constructed at this location in his honor.
• The Sant Tukaram Vaikunthstan Temple in Dehu is the site from where Tukaramji is believed to have ascended to Vaikuntha (the Abode of God) in his mortal form. Behind the temple, there is a scenic ghat along the Indrayani River.
• The Sant Tukaram Maharaj Gatha Mandir in Dehu is a modern structure, a large building that houses a massive statue of Tukaram. Inside the Gatha temple, around 4,000 Abhangs (verses) composed by Tukaram Maharaj are carved on the walls.
  

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  Movies and popular culture- 

  • Tukaram (1921) silent film by Shinde.
  • Sant Tukaram (1921) silent film by Kalanidhi Pictures
  • Sant Tukaram (1936) – this movie on Tukaram was screened open-air for a year, to packed audiences in Mumbai, and numerous rural people would walk very long distances to see it
  • Thukkaram (1938) in Tamil by B. N. Rao
  • Santha Thukaram (1963) in Kannada
  • Sant Tukaram (1965) in Hindi
  • Bhakta Tukaram (1973) in Telugu
  • Tukaram (2012) in Marathi
  • Tukaram’s life was the subject of the 68th issue of Amar Chitra Katha, India’s largest comic book series
  • Balbharti has included a poem of Tukaram in a Marathi school textbook
  • The government of India had issued a 100 rupee Silver commemorative coin in 2002.