Thuka Miracles...

'Thukaramaachi Gatha'

Tukaram Ambiye was his complete name. He was a treader by profession. Initially, theirs was a well to do family. He was married and had a son from his first wife. Soon there was a terrible famine and he lost everything during that time, so much so that his wife and son died during that time. There was no money, so relatives shunned him. His second wife, by name Aavli (alias Jijabai) was from Pune. She was very short tempered. All these difficulties and sufferings took a toll on him and he developed detachment towards worldly matters. He cleaned the Vitthala temple from Dehu and lit the light there and started to serve anyone who did Keertana (Harikatha) there. He also studied the literature of his predecessors like Jnaneshwar, Namdev etc. Once in a dream, a brahmin by name Babaji Chaitanya (Lord Panduranga) gave him the gurumantra "RamaKrishnaHari". Thus, his spiritual life began. He started to chant this name continuously. Since he did nothing for earning the living, his wife started to fight with him. But Tukaram was now, so much immersed in Panduranga that he was beyong caring. He also got inspiration to write Abhangas about Panduranga. He sought solace in a nearby hillock by name Bhandara Dongar where he meditated upon His holy feet. The compilation of his Abhangas is known as Tukaramachi Gatha.

Tukaram suffered many ordeals in his life time due to the presence of powerful brahmins of his time. One such person was Rameshwarbhat, who believed only in ritualistic devotion and chanting scriptures. He could not understand Tukaram's pure devotion to Lord Panduranga and was very upset. Also, he felt it was blasphemous for Tukaram to write in Prakrit (Marathi) instead of writing in Sanskrit.

The brahmins of his time felt that it was blasphemous for a treader (shudra) to write about Lord. Hence a court case was foisted on him. When the judge asked him whether he had actually written those Abhangas himself, Tukaram told him that he was mere mortal and it was Panduranga who inpired him to write. The judge ordered tonsuring his hair and subsequent procession on the donkey. Tukaram was not perturbed at all. The procession was taken in Dehu. Tukaram asked the people to take the procession along the road leading towards his house, so that his wife too could watch her husband being honoured. Among his adverseries, there was one, by name Mumbaji, who immersed his works in the river Indrayani. Tukaram was pained.

Thukaram sat near the river, in a temple, fasting for 14 days. After 14 days, the book, Thukaramachi Gatha surfaced on water unaffected!!!

The entire Gatha, came afloat, without a letter being wiped off. The onlookers were stunned to see this miracle.
The Lord of Pandareepuram saved Thukaram's Gatha -the entire collection.. what more can the LORD do for his Devotee??

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The Lord ate with Thukka

Because of the serene of Thukaram , Panduranga gave company for Thuka when he ate.

The news spread that Lord Vitthala eats in the company of Tukaram. In order to confirm this, the brahmin priests from nearby place, Chinchwad, who were a great devotees of Lord Ganesha invited him. When Tukaram went there, they arranged an extra plate near Tukaram for Lord. However, Tukaram insisted that they arrange two extra plates, one being for Lord Ganesha too. The priests were annoyed thinking that how could Lord Ganesha would eat. Just then Lord Ganesha Himself told that as Tukaram was blessed by Lord Panduranga (Vishnu), all other Gods too blessed him automatically. The priests were stunned. All the people around watched, the two plates getting empty, without anyone being seen. Thus, they realised the greatness of Tukaram's devotion....

Tukaram Brings Speech to a Dumb Boy

While on a journey to the sacred spot where the Mula and Bivara rivers join, Tukaram brought yet another miracle. He went to the house of a brahmin while begging for food in Ranjanagav. He happened to arrive at the brahmin's house just as the brahmin was performing an agnihotra yagna, a sacrifice of grain and ghee into a fire, accompanied by prayers.

The brahmin was very pleased when he saw Tukaram, understanding that his prayers had been answered. He served Tukaram some food, and then said to him, "I have a son who is eight years old. But, he has never spoken a word. Because of that, the sacred thread ceremony has been delayed since he can't repeat the Gayatri mantra. Tukaram had the boy brought in.

He gestured for the boy to come near him, and he said, "Say Vitthal. Vitthal." The boy said the sacred name, and began speaking. Tukaram stayed there overnight, and the very next day, they performed the boy's sacred thread ceremony

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The Golden miracle

A brahmin was performing a sacrifice to end his poverty by fasting in from of Gnaneshwar's samadhi (tomb). To reward him for his intense determination, Gnaneshwar appeared to the brahmin in a dream. He told the brahmin to go to see Tukaram and bring back whatever Tukaram gives him.

So, the brahmin went to Dehu, found Tukaram and told him his dream. Tuka was disgusted. He couldn't understand why the Lord was making his life more difficult by sending this person to see him. But, he knew that only Gnaneshwar understood His own actions.

He then told the brahmin to go to Lohagav, find a coppersmith named Shivji, and silently take whatever he was given. The brahmin did exactly as he was told, and explained the circumstances of his arrival to Shivji. Shivji didn't know what to make of it. However, it so happened that Shivji planned to have a large outdoor dinner at his home for the local brahmins that very night. So, he invited the brahmin to partake of the feast.

After all the brahmins had eaten, pan was served, and everyone felt very satisfied. Shivji then asked the visiting brahmin to come into his house. When the brahmin came inside, the coppersmith picked up four iron harrows (wheelless agricultural implements used to smoothen ploughed land), placed them on the brahmin's head, and said, "Go at once to Dehu and show these to Tuka."

To get back to Dehu, the brahmin had to go by two mountains, named Kanhe and Reke. The brahmin was getting tired from the long journey, so he dropped three of the harrows on the ground, and continued walking with the remaining harrow atop his head. The brahmin found Tukaram sitting by himself and approached him. Tuka asked whether Shivji had given him any alms. When he showed Tuka the harrow, it turned from iron into gold right before their eyes. Tuka then said to the brahmin, "This gift is from Gnaneshwar. Tell no one about this and carry on with your life." The brahmin left with the gold and went straight to the place where he had dropped the other three harrows. He searched the place thoroughly, but they were nowhere to be found. Nevertheless, managing to feel satisfied with what he had, the brahmin returned home.

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Thukka and Revelation of Supreme Knowledge

A devotee of Jnaneshwar Maharaj wanted to become knowledgeable, so he went and prayed Jnaneshwar fervently during the era of Saint Thukaram. Jnaneshwar Maharaj appeared in the dream of the devotee and asked him to go to Tukaram. Thus, the devotee came to Dehu, met Thukaram and told him about his wish and his dream. Thukaram wondered why was the man sent to him by Jnaneshwar, perhaps there might not be any education in his destiny. However, he gave the devotee a coconut and 11 abhangs of his. The devotee felt that the abhangas were in Prakrit (Marathi) and not useful to him and left everything there and left. At the same time, a foolish man, a nephew of a well known personality working in Shivaji's kingdom, arrived at Thukaram's door. This foolish man was sent by someone to Thukaram, so that the former became little worldly wise. The foolish man though illeterate was however, pious and had great faith in God.

Thukaram again gave the same 11 Abhangas and the coconut to him. He gladly accepted both, ate coconut, read and re-read the abhangas and went to Shivaji's kingdom to meet his uncle. When he went there, his uncle was explaining the meaning of some Sanskrit verses to audience, but left a couplet without expounding. The nephew went in time and stopped him and asked him why he left the couplet unexpounded. The uncle, shocked and jokingly asked him to expound the same couplet, which the nephew did immediately to the satisfaction of all. His uncle did not believe him and showed him a letter written in chaste Sanskrit and asked him to read it which the nephew immediately did. Later they came to know that it was a miracle wrought by Saint Tukaram.

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Thuka's journey to Heaven

On the day, when Thukaram was supposed to leave for Vaikuntha, he asked his wife, Aavli to join him so that Lord could bless her for her cooperation. She thought that Vaikuntha must be some nearby village, so she asked him to visit it himself as their buffalo was about to deliver the calf!

From the distance, Tukaram could see Lord Panduranga seated in the aerial car in all His glory. At that moment he sang his last Abhanga, "Aamhi jato aamuchya gava, Aamucha Ram Ram Ghyava" (I am going to my own place, please accept my Ram Ram). When he boarded the goldern aerial chariot, people went and informed his wife. By then the aerial chariot was already airborn! Aavli, though short tempered, was very faithful and devoted to her husband, could not tolerate the separation from her husband and fell down dead.

Such wonders happen to devotees who surrender themselves completely to the Lord.. and are constantly integrated and aware..

Stay tuned to the Divine Musical Vibes.....