Vaishnavism, Shaivism and Minor Religious Systems v2.c13.86

v2.c13.86

§ 75. It has been already stated that Tukārām had acquired a great facility in composing Abhaṃgs. He spoke in Abhaṃgs and wrote in Abhaṃgs. Some of these only could be written and were written, and others were neglected by him or his immediate followers, but retained in the memory of others. The collections, therefore, of his pieces cannot be expected to be of the same size. There are two such printed in Bombay, one containing 4621 pieces and the other 8441. This latter collection is uncritically made and oftentimes one same piece is given a second time with the opening lines omitted. Still, this is a larger collection and contains Abhaṃgs which are not to be found in the first collection, but are quite in the style of Tukārām with the usual fervent devotion and purity of thought. We will now give a few specimens.