Added 58A for English Readers  post on 11/02/2014 to Abhanga a week of Sant Tukarama.
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For Marathi readers a seperate post no 58Bis added .

    मुखें बोले ब्रह्मज्ञान । मनीं धन आणि मान ॥ १ ॥

ऐशियाची करिंतां सेवा । काय सुख होये जीवा ॥

पोटासाठी संत । झाले कलींत बहुत ॥ ३ ॥

विरळा ऐसा कोणी । तुका त्यासि लोटांगणी ॥ ४॥

Verbatim Meaning :-

There are some persons who talk about the Supreme Knowledge , (but ) they have desire for Wealth, and Name and Fame . || 1 ||

If one serves such a person ( With the hope of attaining Liberation) , what will one get( Nothing but pain only) || 2||

In this Kaliyuga there are many such persons who declare themselves as Saints || 3 ||

Tukaa says that the real Saint ( Who has attained Liberation and the Knowledge the Divine) are very very few , and he is ready to surrender himself at such a persons feet || 4 ||

Meaning of the Abhanga :-

This abhanga is cautioning us to be clear before one decides to select a spiritual guide.

He says that in these times ; there are many fraudsters who declare themselves as the Knowledgeable ( about God and Brahman). Their ultimate goal is to get Fame and Wealth .( That is why they choose Spirituality as an easy means to earn the same.)

If one goes to such a Guru, what one will get is nothing .The real target of Liberation remains an illusion. And remaining in the illusion will bind One again and again in the never ending cycle of Birth and Death.

Tukaram Maharaj says at the end that If He comes across a real Saint, then he is ready to surrender at the feet of such a saintly person.

Teaching of the Abhanga :-

In Tukarama Mahaarajaas period this was the condition. In today’s times as well the condition has not changed .Thus this Abhanga is useful and meaningful for us even today.

We should be cautious while selecting our Spiritual Guru. Just because he is giving good lectures does not mean that such a person can be our Guru.

The best approach is to Read, Contemplate over what one has read to understand the deeper meaning, and then follow what one has understood .This naturally needs a very long time but at least there is no chance of going in wrong path.

In fact the destined Guru will himself come once our mind is pure and the time is right. An example of this is described in the world famous book by name .” An Autobiography of a Yogi” authored by swami Paramahansa Yoganand .

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