A History of the Mahrattas v1.c5.s4.28

v1.c5.s4.28

He was born at Dehu village, Poona District, and was the son of a Vānī (trader), whose family for several generations had associated itself closely with the worship of Vithoba of Pandharpur, in whose honour Tukārām composed many of his verses. His compositions are marked by a high level of religious exaltation, and the style of his *abhangas*, which are supposed to number more than 8,000, is simple and often full of pathos. He has been described as ‘the Kabir of the Marāthās,’ and no other poet has contributed so many familiar quotations to the common speech of Mahārāshtra.¹ Yet Tukārām could on occasion display a mastery of invective, and in his crusade against the empty ritual and barren ceremonial of Brahman priestcraft chastised with unsparing ridicule both Brahman and Gosāin. The following verses exemplify his attitude towards the Gosāin whose only tangible mark of asceticism is discoverable in the colour of his garments.²