English 62A post अभंग :- अवघ्या वाटा जाल्या क्षीण । कळीं न घडे साधन 
Dt 30th  April 14.
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अवघ्या वाटा जाल्या क्षीण । कळीं न घडे साधन ॥ १ ॥

उचित विधिविधान । न कळें न घडे सर्वथा ॥ २ ॥

भक्तिपंथ बहु सोपा । पुण्य नागवे वा पापा ॥ ३॥

येणें जाणें खेपा । येणेंचि खंडती ॥ ४॥

उभारोनि बाहे । विठो पालवित आहे ॥ ५॥

दांसा मीच साहे । मुखे बोले आपुल्या ॥ ६॥

भाविक विस्वासी । पार उतरिलें त्यासीं ॥ ७॥

तुका म्हणें नासी । कुतर्क्याचें कपाळीं ॥ ८ ॥

Background Information for understanding the meaning of this Abhanga:-

Spirituality prescribes many methods, paths or ways for attaining the Union with Universal Cosciousness who is also called God in the general terms. The path of Yoga, Path of Knowledge and Path of Worshiping God are some of the major paths. If we try to understand the methodologies in detail ; then we find that

a) for the path of Yoga one has to follow various disciplines like Pranayamaa( Control of Breath), Asanasa moulding the body to perform various positions which ultimately improve the Health of Body and Mind both etc. An able teacher is required to teach these, since an error can cause devastating effects on Body and Mind.

b) Similarly one has to develop dispassion of very High degree, total abstinence from the attachments to the worldly things and along with this one has to achieve total destruction of one's Ego. All this is not at all easy to do .

Hence like many other Saints and Seers ,Tukarama Maharaj is also advising us to follow the Path of Worshiping the God in this Abhanga.

Meaning of the Abhanga :-

In the 1^st and 2^nd stanza of the Abhanga, Tukarama Maharaj states that in the present times; it is very difficult to perform various Disciplines prescribed in the4 science of Spirituality. Though Spirituality prescribes one to follow either the Path of Knowledge or the path of Yoga, we donot have the necessary capabilities for doing the same.

For Example it is a common experience that If we have to perform simple ritual of Worship of Lord Vishnu, we do not know the method or procedure to do the same. We have always to depend on some Pandit for the same.

However the situation is still not hopeless. There is still the path of Worshiping the God available to us.

Tukaram Maharaj in the 3^rd and 4^th stanza ; assures us that this is the simplest path to tread-on

Now we are all aware that we get the results of whatever deeds we do. Bad deeds cause sufferings and good one give pleasure. However for experienceing /enjoying the both one has to take birth in the World. This event birth is the cause of all our sufferings.

In the 4^th stanza Maharaj says that Only Union with God will get rid of these and that is possible by following the path of Worship.

In the 5^th stanza Tukaram Maharaj says that the God is giving this indication to all of us by various means. Only we are not paying attention to these indicators.

This need some explanation as given further below.

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It is know that everyone suffers in this world either due to one's own actions or because of the others.

When all the other means to get freedom from the sufferings, then only one generally turns to the God thinking that only He can help.

The wiser ones do not wait for these indicators (sufferings) and start the worship of God by surrendering to Him.

In the 5^th , 6^th and 7^th stanzas Tukaram Maharaj is reminding us us the promise given by the Lord in the Bhagavadgeeta

Viz;- अनन्याश्चिंतयंतो माम्‌ ये जना: पर्युपासते । तेषां नित्याभियुक्तानाम्‌ योगक्षेमं वहाम्यहम्‌ । meaning that “ He takes care of the One who surrenders to Him totally”. Only condition required for this to happen is to have total faith in God's sayings.

In the last stanza ; Tukaram maharaj has given a caution saying that one should not treat the above as trash by using different methods of Logic. In spirituality the Faith on the sayings of Seer is very important. Only then can one experience what is told by such Seers...

In the last stanza ; Tukaram maharaj has given a caution saying that one should not treat the above as trash by using different methods of Logic. In spirituality the Faith on the sayings of Seer is very important. Only then can one experience what is told by such Seers.

Teachings of the abhanga:-

Teaching is simple. Have faith and worship the God.

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