संत साहित्य · Tukārām · Abhanga 3253 of 4582

Abhanga 3253

A heartfelt devotion to a beloved, personal form of the divine is not lesser than formless liberation, and it cannot be argued or shamed away.

When someone insists your personal devotion is a lower path than abstract enlightenment.

When you feel your attachment to worship or chanting is too strong to release, and that is fine.

When another person tries to talk you out of a devotion that genuinely moves you.

The verse

इच्छिती तयांसी व्हावें जी अरूप । आम्हांसी स्वरूपस्थिती चाड ॥१॥ आतां नव्हे माझा भाव अनारिसा । पाउलांनी इच्छा गोवियेली ॥ध्रु.॥ लेंकरासी कोठें जाणत्याची परी । करूं येते दुरी धरावया ॥२॥ लागली न सुटे नामाची आवडी । माझी भावजोडी भंगूं नका ॥३॥ घेसील वेढे मुक्तीच्या अभिळासें । चाळवीं जा पिसे ब्रम्हज्ञानी ॥४॥ तुका म्हणे माझा कोठें भक्तिरस । पाडावया ओस चाळविसी ॥५॥

Literal translation

V1: those-who-wish — give-them-arūpa; we-have-chāḍa-for-svarūpa-sthitī. V2 (dhr.): now-not-otherwise; feet-bound-icchā. V3: child-doesn't-know-knowing-one's-way-of-keeping-far. V4: Name-āvaḍī-doesn't-release; don't-break-bhāva-jōḍī. V5: go-take-mukti-abhiḷāṣa-circles; deceive-the-mad-brahma-jñānīs. V6: Tukā: where-is-my-bhakti-rasa-to-be-made-vain by-(your)-chāḷavīsī.

What it means

A striking 5-verse text. Tukārām prefers-svarūpa-(form)-to-arūpa-(formless); his-feet-bind-icchā; Name-āvaḍī-fastened; don't-break-bhāva-jōḍī; go-deceive-jñānīs-with-mukti — my-bhakti-rasa-is-not-vainable.

For someone today

Tukārām: I want the saguṇa-form, not formless-mukti; deceive others, not me.

Where this applies

When someone tells you your personal, heartfelt devotion is a lesser path than abstract spiritual knowledge
When you feel pulled toward a beloved form or practice and are told to let go of all form instead
When your love for chanting or worship feels stubborn and won't loosen its grip
When someone tries to talk you out of a devotion that genuinely moves you

Bhakti