Abhanga 3921
The verse
कौडीकौडीसाटीं फोडिताती शिर । काढूनि रुधिर मलंग ते ॥१॥
पांघरती चर्म लोहाची सांकळी । मारिती आरोळी धैर्यबळें ॥२॥
तुका म्हणे त्यांचा नव्हे चि स्वधर्म । न कळे चि वर्म गोविंदाचें ॥३॥
Literal translation
For-coin-split-own-head — bleeding-malanga. Wears-charma-iron-chain — shouts-courage. Tukā: not-svadharma — no-Govinda-varma.
What it means
★ Verse 4 of the 7-abhang anti-fake-renunciate cluster. For a small-coin each, they split their own head, drawing blood — these malangas. They cover themselves with animal-skin and iron-chain; they shout loud cries with forced-courage. This is not their proper-conduct either; they do not know the essence of Govinda. Specific reference to the malanga/fakir — a 17th-c. Deccan Sufi-mendicant type known for self-mortification rituals (head-splitting, skin-cutting, iron-chain wearing) as a beggar's-spectacle. Tukārām's anti-spectacle critique. Striking documentary of multi-religious Deccan-religious-marketplace.
For someone today
Tukārām: splitting-your-head-for-coins-with-spectacle — doesn't-know-Govinda's-real-essence.
Where this applies
- ★ Tukārām's malanga/fakir-type in 7-abhang cluster
- 17th-c. Deccan Sufi-mendicant documentary witness