Thuka and his Maarga..

Thukaram had sung innumerable kirtans on Bhagavãn and he was quite popular among the common crowds.

Once a great Brahmin scholar, was giving a discourse. Finding a lot of people moving past his place he enquired of those few who sat listening to him, “Where are all these people going?”

They said that these people were going to listen to Thukaram. Every night Thukaram used to sing his simple kirtans and now and then stop to discourse on it. All the villagers would gather round to listen to him. This would go on until three in the morning. During the day, at work, all of them would sing Thukaram’s kirtans that were very simple and devotion filled.

Hearing this the scholar was furious. He met Thukaram and said, “You are a Vysya and not a Brahmin. Only a Brahmin can impart ‘upadesa’ (advice). I am a learned Brahmin. I know all the Shastras. You should stop your discourse from now.” Anyone else would have argued with the Brahmin. But, Sadhus are humility personified.

Therefore Tukkaram said, “Sir! I am sorry. But, I have never offered any ‘upadesa’ to any one. All my kirtans only praise the Lord. They describe the Lord’s beauty and ‘gunas’. However, you are a learned Brahmin. As such you know better. Tell me what should I do?” The Brahmin said, “Bundle up your kirtans and throw them into the Chandrabhaga river. And from now onwards stop singing your kirtans.” Thukaram bundled all his kirtans and threw them into the Chandrabhaga. He experienced deep pain as if he had pushed into the river a child of his whom he had brought up lovingly. He then sat on the banks of the river without food or sleep.

After three days, when the Pandãs (priests) in Pandaripur temple opened the doors of Lord Panduranga’s sannidhi they found a wet sack on the head of the Lord. It was dripping with water and the Lord’s garments were totally wet. Wonder struck they took the sack from the Lord’s head and opened it. They found innumerable writings with the stamp of ‘Thukaram’ in them. They realized that it was the kirtans of the Sadhu who visited the temple from Dehu Road. They immediately took the kirtans to Thukaram.

When Thukaram saw them with his writings, he asked them, “It is I who had thrown them in the river. Why did you retrieve them?”

The Pandãs explained, “No! We did not retrieve them from the river. We found them on the Lord’s head this morning when we opened the door to perform ‘prabodanam’. Since they all carry your stamp we realized that they are all your kirtans. We, therefore, came to return them to you.”

Thukaram’s joy knew no bounds as he realized that Panduranga had accepted his kirtans.
He asked the Lord, “If you approve of them why this delay in bringing them to me, Oh! Lord! I have been sitting here without food and sleep these for the past three days.”

The Lord said to him, “Thukaram! They were so wonderful that I have been reading them for the past three days!”

Learning about the incident, the Brahmin scholar came running to Thukaram and fell at his feet. “I did not realize your greatness. Please forgive me for the wrong done.” Thukaram shrunk away pleading, “You are a Brahmin and a great scholar. You know all the Shastras. How can you fall at my feet? Please do not fall at my feet.” Such is the humility of Sadhus.

Once during a discourse many people were placing lot of offerings. A devoted lady from a very wealthy family deeply desired to offer something but her husband was a miser. He would certainly not permit any offering. Without her husband’s knowledge she brought a small old brass pot that was in use in her home. She hid it in her saree ‘pallu’ and with lot of embarrassment gave it to the man who was receiving and offering the gifts from the people.

Seeing such a wealthy lady offering an old ‘in-use’ brass pot he decided to mar her name in public. He, therefore, wrapped it up neatly in a cloth and announcing the name of the lady said that she was offering a golden pot. The lady felt deeply embarrassed and was in tears. She was at a loss to know what to do. Thukaram recognized the lady’s ‘hrudaya’ (heart - the feeling of her heart). He took the cloth bundle from the man and returned it to him. On opening the bundle the man found a golden pot inside and not the old brass pot!

Such is the compassion of Sadhus.

Tukkaram said to Bhagavãn, “It is said that one who sings Your Name reaches Vaikunta. But, I desire to reach Vaikunta with this physical body. It is only in this physical body that I have sung Your Praises since my birth. Moreover, only if I leave for Vaikunta in this physical body will people believe it. They will not know and would refuse to believe that I have attained Vaikunta if I leave in my ‘sukshma sariira’ (subtle body).” Bhagavãn complied with his request and informed him the date and time when He (the Lord) would come down to the earth and take him to Vaikunta.

People gathered around Thukaram on the prescribed date and time to watch him leave for Vaikunta. On the appointed date and time Thukaram sat with his ‘tamboora’ singing the Praises of the Lord. Bhagavãn came down in a ‘vimãna’ and took Thukaram to Vaikunta in his physical body.

In later years when Thukaram’s grandson was performing discourse people questioned him, “Is it true that your grandfather attained Vaikunta in his physical body?”

The young man prayed to the Lord,

“If it is true that my grandfather attained your Lotus Feet in his physical body then let this ‘tamboora’ (one of the ‘tambooras’ used by Thukaram) leave for Vaikunta even as people watch it.”

Immediately the ‘tamboora’ floated up towards Vaikunta...

The Abhang follows as:

'Anuraneeya Thokadaa thukaa- Aakaasha yevadaa..

Giluni saandiley galeyvara- Bhava brahmaa Aakaara..

saandili thripudi- deepa udzjalalaagati.....'

Which means...

Smaller than the smallest atom, All embracing as the heavens, Tuka views the world objective -Name and form as all delusion -Realising its true natureSerpant like, he drops his cover, Far is left the triple range, Which the soul has just passed o'erLight the jar of dull clay brightens! Shining in that light doth Thuka Live on earth to serve the mankind..

Let us soak ourselves in more Abhangs and understand the meaning, sing, relish, realise, appreciate and make attempts to follow the Sant...