Tukaram

Tukaram (c. 1608–c. 1649) was a Marathi saint and poet of the bhakti tradition. He belonged to the Varkari movement and is revered for his devotion to Vithoba, the form of Vishnu, at Pandharpur. He lived in Dehu, near Pune, during the 17th century.

Tukaram's devotional poetry, known as abhangas, are the core of his legacy. They express unwavering devotion to Vithoba, a call for humility, ethical living, and social equality. The hymns are marked by direct language, vivid imagery, and a focus on daily piety, compassion for the poor, and rejection of caste barriers.

His works were compiled into collections such as the Tukaram Gatha, and he is regarded as a central figure in Marathi religious literature and the broader bhakti movement. His verses helped shape the Warkari pilgrimage to Pandharpur and remain widely read and sung in Maharashtra.

In scholarship, Tukaram is seen as a key voice in 17th-century Maharashtra, balancing devotional practice with social concern and influencing later Saints and reformist currents in the region. His legacy persists in temples, devotional practices, and the ongoing tradition of abhang singing within the Marathi-speaking world.