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“Mani
Nahi Bhaav, Mhane Deva Mala Pav, Deo Bajarcha Bhaji pala Nahire”
“You
have not made up your mind to give up your ego, and you want that
God should bless you, why ? Do you think God is like
vegetables available in any market.” This is one of the
most popular bhajans (holy song) of Great saint Tukdoji
Maharaj.
The name of this great man was Manik and father’s name Namdeo.
He was born (1909) in Ingle family (surname). His
father was a very poor tailor. He was never interested in taking
the education, instead he would like to sit with the people in
temples and sing the songs. He learned the art of playing
“khanjiri” (an instrument of about 6 inches diameter
with the diaphragm of thin animal skin, played by one of the palms
and held in other). Manik accepted the great saint of
Varkhed Shri Adkoji Maharaj as his Guru. Manik would amuse the
people by singing his own instant compositions on the rhythm of
khanjiri.
After a few years, Manik left the home and stayed in different
dense forests for years to gather in search of the eternal
knowledge. (Atmadnyan). After enlightenment he came back to public
life. He came extremely popular due to his “easy to
sing” kind of bhajans for the villagers.
Mahatma Gandhi used to call him for meeting and he would like his
bhajans very much. Manik was named as “Tukdoji” by
his Guru, the name which he very much like. Tukdoji Maharaj
entered the independence movement at that time and instigated
people to participate in the struggle for independence. He
wrote the bhajans of patriotic meaning, that created awakening in
the villagers. He wrote the volumes of “Gramgita”
a book that became bible for the villagers. Rashtrasant
Tukdoji maharaj participated in the Vishwadharma Parishad
(International convention of religions) held in Japan in 1955 and
received the applauding. He would help the people in distress at
the time of national calamities.
Tukdoji
was a noble self realised saint. His early life was full of
Sadhana both spiritual and yogic exercises. He spent much of his
early life in the deep jungles of Ramtek, Salburdi, Ramdhighi and
Gondoda.
Even though he was formally not much educated, his metaphysical
spirit and potentiality was of very high order. His devotional
songs permeate full spirit of devotion and moral values. His
Khanjedi, a traditonal musical instrument was unique and his style
of playing it was unparalled. He was bachelor, however, his life
was dedicated for the services of the masses irrespective of
caste, class, creed or religion.
He was all the while absorbed in spiritual pursuits. He critically
observed the nature of the people and channelised them for the
cause of their upliftment. He had self realised vision and through
out his life, taught the lessons for the purity of hearts and
malice for none.
In early life, he used to sing the
devotional songs, however, with the passage of time, he impressed
the masses that God is not only in Temples, Churches or Masjids,
he is everywhere. His powers have no limits. He advised his
followers to follow the path of self realisation. He firmly
opposed the priesthood and propagated the eternal values and
universal truth.
Tukdoji stressed much on the congregational prayer wherein all the
people irrespective of their religion, could participate. His
prayer system is really unique and matchless in the world. He
claimed that his congregational prayer system could be bound to
bind the masses in the chain of brotherhood and love.
Rashtrasant Tukdoji used to work in
person with the villagers in road construction, village-sanitation
and other activities. His writings both prose and poetry are full
of devotion and the spirit of humanity. His nobility was of very
high order. His selfless devotion and dedication are .bound to
teach the lessons for the generations to come. Tukdoji is a
shining star in the tradition of the saints of our great India.
(Courtesy:
http://www.gramgeeta.org/photogallery/default.htm)
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