Tukaram: The Poet Saint of Maharashtra (Monumenta Indica Series, No. 8)

Language: (Translation from Mahipatiâ€TMs Bhaktililamrita)
Pages: 366


From the Jacket

It is generally accepted that the Tukaram was born in 1608, and ascended bodily into heaven in 1649. The present book is an English translation of the chapters 25 to 40 of the Bhaktililamrita of Mahipati. Mahipati gives us vivid pictures of the life of Tukaram which is full of human interest, full of food for the moralist, full of suggestions for the idealist, and to every one an inspiration to a better and nobler life.

Preface

The life of Tukaram, as portrayed by Mahipati in the Bhaktalilamrita chapters 25 to 40, presents many difficult problems for the historian, but for one who can lay aside these problems, and can let his imagination accept the vivid picture Mahipati gives us, undisturbed by questions of fact or legend, the life of Tukaram is full of human interest, full of food for the moralist, full of suggestions for the idealist, and to every one an inspiration to a better and nobler life.

Historical problems.—As generally accepted Tukaram was born in 1608, and ascended bodily into heaven in 1649. Mahipati wrote his account of Tukaram in 1774, or 125 years after Tukaram’s disappearance. Now Mahipati does not give the slightest hint either in the Bhaktalilamrita, or in the Bhaktavijaya, written 12 years earlier, as to where he obtained his information regarding Tukaram’s life. It is easy enough to make conjectures, as many do, but for the true historian all evidence is lacking. One hundred and twenty-five years give ample time for legends to grow around an honoured name, but whether fact or legend, we do not know Mahipati’s source of information, Did he have access to books that have disappeared? Did he visit Dehu, where Tukaram’s; descendants were living, and gather lLanguage: (Translation from Mahipati TMs Bhaktililamrita)
Pages: 366


From the Jacket

It is generally accepted that the Tukaram was born in 1608, and ascended bodily into heaven in 1649. The present book is an English translation of the chapters 25 to 40 of the Bhaktililamrita of Mahipati. Mahipati gives us vivid pictures of the life of Tukaram which is full of human interest, full of food for the moralist, full of suggestions for the idealist, and to every one an inspiration to a better and nobler life.

Preface

The life of Tukaram, as portrayed by Mahipati in the Bhaktalilamrita chapters 25 to 40, presents many difficult problems for the historian, but for one who can lay aside these problems, and can let his imagination accept the vivid picture Mahipati gives us, undisturbed by questions of fact or legend, the life of Tukaram is full of human interest, full of food for the moralist, full of suggestions for the idealist, and to every one an inspiration to a better and nobler life.

Historical problems. As generally accepted Tukaram was born in 1608, and ascended bodily into heaven in 1649. Mahipati wrote his account of Tukaram in 1774, or 125 years after Tukaram s disappearance. Now Mahipati does not give the slightest hint either in the Bhaktalilamrita, or in the Bhaktavijaya, written 12 years earlier, as to where he obtained his information regarding Tukaram s life. It is easy enough to make conjectures, as many do, but for the true historian all evidence is lacking. One hundred and twenty-five years give ample time for legends to grow around an honoured name, but whether fact or legend, we do not know Mahipati s source of information, Did he have access to books that have disappeared? Did he visit Dehu, where Tukaram s; descendants were living, and gather l