Tukaram Page #9

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I'm Bahinai.

I've come from Kolhapur to see you

I have drunk my thirst,

eaten my hunger (forgotten everything)

Master, I want to be your disciple

Bhagu, get some water and jaggery

Okay

- You've come from so far

Rest awhile

Then we'll talk

Take it - No Master.

Tell me, will you induct me?

She's very stubborn.

Say 'Yes' or she won't

even drink a drop of water

She sings your verses all day

You are?

- Her unfortunate husband!

Adyn, becoming a disciple...

...means walking with support

And if Lord Pandurang wanted

everyone to become my disciple...

...why would he have let

different flames in every heart?

My verses may be like

momentary lightening

They may light the way for a moment

But you must use your inner

glow to light up your life

Kapila, I have got what I wanted

I listen to Tukaram's

narration every night

And live in this monastery

The Master says "See the world

through the light in your heart"

But when his 'abhangs' light

up everything so clearly...

...why would I use my faint lamp?

Will people laugh at me?

But really, It's so wonderful

to hear him speak

Do you think I should try to write?

See what Mambajibuva,

this monastery's head, says

I heard that you ate

at Tukaram's house

You want to be his disciple

Is it proper for a brahmin lady

like you to bow to a low caste?

Brahmins and low castes?

We are pilgrims of Vithoba

We don't discriminate

What does Tukya know?

He can't become a scholar by

reading holy bLooks and singing verses

There are many wise people

in the world Be their disciple

He has agreed to instruct you

Yes

I'm looking for common sense;

not wisdom

Govind, Parshuram, come here

What happened?

- Throw their belongings out! Go!

Isten to me

- No! You can't stayn here.

I offered a brahmin

couple a roof for a few days

Not for this tomfoolery

Don't do this...

- Out...

Please don't do this

Where will we go?

Don't do that

- Throw their stuff out. This cow too

Listen

- Yes.

Is this Dehu village?

- Yes

King Shivaji wants to

visit the blacksmith

Where is the king?

- There

I'll show you

What do you do?

- Nothing

Nothing?

I have a business and some land

My brother looks after the

business HE (God) tills the farm

And you tend to animals?

- Someone has to do it

I hear there's a big

saint called Tukaram

A saint?

- Isn't he one?

In these troubled times,

there's a saint in every home

Really?

- Yes.

His wife criticizes him;

his children scream at him

The learned priests oppose him

- I see

Has anyone see him worship properly?

Has he ever done religious rites?

Or propitiated the planIts? No!

He only advises people

to be good Is that enough?

But that is a necessity

Some wise men get close to God

Some even hug him like a child

But Tukaram's knowledge is

sparse and his pride boundless

I tell you He is unduly popular

Queues of people

He has no time to meIt himself!

How will he meIt God?

Axman told me that Tukaram is so

sirmple; it's tough to rrecognizozoe him

Your Majesty...

Tukoba...

- What?

Who else would be so

candid about himself?

Sorry Master

- It's okay.

How is Laxman?

God tLook him away

Pandurang!

He put his life in danger to save me

We couldn't bring his body

The King did all the rites

We have the ashes

Hanmya...

Tuka... what?

look who's here

The person Laxman worshipped.

King Shivaji!

Great!

- It's okay.

I am honoured, your majesty

My Laxman is always

full of praise for you

Today his majesty is

here to praise Laxman

Laxman!

Laxman...!

Laxman...!

Axman...!

Your discourses

strengthened our efforts

My father tried to

establish an empire too

But that bore no fruit

Because slavery was in

the people's mindsIt

But you saint-poIts

gave them self-respect

So many young men like Laxman

voluntered to fight these intruders

It's big of you to say that!

My mother wishes to honour

you and reward you in court

You must come

Oh king, I would never turn

down this affectionate invitation

But I feel that my task is different

To create peace in people's

minds through Lord Vitthal's worship

To travel all over the valleys

and dales of the Sahyadri mountains

To find brave men like Laxman

To send them to you; that is my job

To give them

strength to fight injustice

To protect your citizens, is your job

It's best that we

work in our own areas

You said that my

contribution strengthens your task

That is my reward

Your gift to me!

What happened?

My sister's getting married.

Digubhat didn't show up

The guests were getting

delayed so we did the wedding...

...without a priest. They punished me

Mambaji, what is this?

Move out of my way

Why? If someone else chants the

hymns, is the wedding invalid?

Or are those hymns less effective?

This is a matter of religion

Religion or business?

He wanted remuneration from both sides

So what? It's our right

to perform marriage rites

Why? Because you are God's manager?

Yes!

Religion is God's administration and...

...so, as you say, we are His managers

So you blacken the

face of our poor Damu?

No other alternative - At least

fear that God might be watching

These simple, ignorant

people turn a stone into God

And you decide that

God knows nothing...

...an d turrn H irm into a stone!

Tuka!

Damu, get down!

Don't you dare

Stop... you'll regrIt

it if you touch Tukaram

Yes... Yes...

- Damu, get down

You haven't committed any crime

Tuka, I have two more daughters

Don't worry. If these

priests continue in this manner...

...we'll marry off

your girls without them!

Tukya, let's just see for how

long these people stand by you

Oh Vitthal, what's all this?

What religion in

this that bends people?

Religion should teach them to stand

You endorse such a religion?

One that makes

people numb and powerless?

No? Then why are you silent?

You actually watch this

harassment in the name of religion?

What do I say to you?

Now let people praise

you as much as they wish

for me, God is dead...

I don't care what others think!

It your speech sayn that God exists

But experience in your

mind that he is formless

Tuka...!

We servants of Lord

Vishnu are softer than wax

But also hard enough to break

the weapon of the king of Gods

We will give even our

loincloths to the virtuous

Bur we will smack the

wicked on the head with a stick

Do these fellows think we

servants of Lord Vishnu are weaklings?

I was trying to persuade them,

hoping that they'd change

But they are taking advantage

and stinging these simple folk

They have to be taught a lesson

for the guinea-worm on the foot

Some camphor was applied

Actually, it needed something stronger

Evil people deserve tit for tat

When the scorpion

climbs on the holy idol

It's not because it likes to worship

It must be hit with a shoe

All evil deserves tit for tat

That Tukya...

He calls saints donkeys...

...an d scorrpions

...an d snakes

He has to be taught a lesson!

They call themselves saints?

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