संत साहित्य · Tukārām · Abhanga 2563 of 4582

Abhanga 2563

Saints can make the divine feel like your own family deity, and surrendering to that together with others turns crisis into joyful, embodied devotion.

When you are lost in a crisis and cannot see a way out on your own

When you meet devoted people whose certainty about God makes the sacred feel close and real

When you want your devotion to become joyful and full-bodied rather than just an idea

The verse

कुळींची हे कुळदेवी । केली ठावी संतांनीं ॥१॥ बरवें जालें शरण गेलों । उगविलों संकटीं ॥ध्रु.॥ आणिला रूपा ही बळें । करूनि खळें हरिदासीं ॥२॥ तुका म्हणे समागमें । नाचों प्रेमें लागलों ॥३॥

Literal translation

This is the family-Devī of our kula — made known by saints. Good — went in śaraṇa — unraveled in crisis. Brought to form by force — making firm in Hari-dāsīs. Tuka says: in company — began to dance with prema.

What it means

THE VIṬHṬHAL-AS-KULA-DEVĪ ABHANG.

The claim: kuḷīñchī hē kuḷa-dēvī — kēlī ṭhāvī santāmnīm — this is the family-Devī of our kula — made known by saints. Viṭhṭhal recognized-as-our-kula-deity, revealed-by-saints.

[T]

For someone today

For today: Viṭhṭhal is our kula-Devī — made known by saints.

Where this applies

When God feels distant and unfamiliar, and you need someone who already loves God to bring you close
When you are in the middle of a crisis and don't know which way to turn
When you meet a group of devotees and feel drawn to belong with them
When your devotion feels like an idea in your head rather than something you can feel and celebrate

Sant-sang / Sant-pūjā Bhakti Surrender (śaraṇāgati)