Some lives become legends because of their victories. But some lives become sacred because of their suffering —
lives that turn wounds into wisdom, loss into love, and pain into prayer. Among such rare souls stands Sant Tukaram Maharaj, the 17th-century poet-saint of Maharashtra, whose journey from unbearable tragedy to divine illumination has inspired millions for centuries.
Tukaram’s spirituality wasn’t based on rituals or privilege — it came from a direct experience of God, born in the heart of a simple man who lost everything yet discovered eternity. His teachings continue to guide people on how to live with devotion, compassion, humility, and inner freedom.
Table of Contents
Early Life – A Heart Tempered by Trials
Sant Tukaram was born in Dehu village near Pune to a humble farming family. Though the household was modest, it was rooted in honesty and faith. But destiny tested Tukaram severely:
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Famine destroyed their farmland
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The family business collapsed
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His mother passed away
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His first wife and son died young
These losses shattered the world he knew. But instead of turning bitter, Tukaram turned inward — searching for a meaning beyond suffering.
The Mantra That Brought Light Back Into His Life
In a turning point that shaped history, Tukaram received divine initiation in a dream. A Sadguru placed his hand on Tukaram’s head and gave him the sacred mantra:
“Ram Krishna Hari”
This mantra became the heartbeat of his existence. Chanting day and night brought an inner transformation that healed his anguish and opened the door to spiritual realization.
Tukaram then restored the old Vithoba temple in Dehu and began singing His devotion through abhangas — poems that carried spiritual truth in the simplest language.
The Birth of the Divine Poet
Tukaram’s poetry was not composed — it flowed.
He described it as a voice that spoke through him, not from him.
His turning point came when he had a dream of Lord Vitthal and Sant Namdev. Namdev revealed that the unfinished divine poems of his own life would now manifest through Tukaram.
From that day onward, the river of abhangas never stopped.
Today, nearly 4,600 abhangas remain preserved — each glowing with devotion and wisdom.
Teachings of Sant Tukaram – Simple Words, Eternal Impact
Sant Tukaram’s spiritual message rejected discrimination and ego. His teachings were for everyone, regardless of caste, education, or status.
Core teachings of Sant Tukaram:
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God lives in every being — service to people is service to God
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Chanting God’s name purifies the mind and destroys inner suffering
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Ego is the greatest enemy; humility is the greatest virtue
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Devotion does not require rituals — only a pure heart
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True happiness is not in possessions but in surrender to God
His abhangas became the spiritual voice of common people because they explained the highest truth in the simplest language.
The Miracle of the Indrayani
As Tukaram’s influence grew, some orthodox Brahmins could not accept a Shudra saint being revered by thousands. They forced him to throw all his poems into the Indrayani River, claiming his teachings were against traditional norms.
Tukaram obeyed, but with a heavy heart, fasted and prayed on the riverbank for 13 days.
On the 13th day, the impossible happened —
Every single manuscript surfaced, completely dry.
For society, it was a miracle.
For Tukaram, it was a reminder that when something belongs to God, no force can destroy it.
The Final Journey – Becoming One With the Divine
Sant Tukaram eventually reached a state where the devotee, the worship, and the Divine merged into one. He lived not for God, but in God.
According to tradition, Tukaram did not die — he ascended to Vaikuntha (the divine realm of Vishnu) in a radiant chariot, witnessed by villagers.
His physical form disappeared,
But his spiritual presence has never faded.
Sant Tukaram’s Legacy — Why the World Still Follows Him
Centuries have passed, yet Sant Tukaram remains one of the most celebrated saints of India because:
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His teachings require no religion — only humanity
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His songs dissolve stress, ego, and negativity
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His life shows how a broken heart can become the doorway to God
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His message empowers common people, not just scholars
In Maharashtra, every year, lakhs of devotees join the Varkari pilgrimage, singing Tukaram’s abhangas with tears of love and joy:
“Vitthal Vitthal Jai Hari Vitthal”
“Ram Krishna Hari”
His words continue to heal, awaken, and transform.
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