Abhanga 3921
Public self mortification performed for coins and applause is not anyone's true path, and it teaches nothing about God, Tukaram says.
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
Tukaram points to wandering mendicants who split their own heads and draw blood for a coin, wearing animal skin and iron chains, shouting with theatrical courage to draw a crowd. It looks dramatic, even brave, but it is not their true calling and it teaches them nothing about God. Pain performed for an audience is not the same as inner surrender. Real spiritual effort has substance underneath it, not just spectacle.
मराठी: तुकाराम अशा भटक्या साधूंकडे बोट दाखवतात जे एका नाण्यासाठी स्वतःचे डोके फोडून रक्त काढतात, चामडे आणि लोखंडी साखळी घालतात आणि गर्दी जमवण्यासाठी धाडसाचे नाटक करत मोठ्याने ओरडतात. हे पाहायला नाट्यमय, अगदी शूर वाटते, पण हा त्यांचा खरा मार्ग नाही आणि त्यातून त्यांना देवाबद्दल काहीच कळत नाही. प्रेक्षकांसाठी केलेली वेदना ही आंतरिक समर्पणासारखी नसते. खऱ्या साधनेमागे केवळ देखावा नसून खरा आशय असतो.
Where this applies
- Tukārām's malanga/fakir-type in 7-abhang cluster
- 17th-c. Deccan Sufi-mendicant documentary witness