Arati, Vaikuntha come down to earth
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
उतरलें वैकुंठमहासुख मेदिनी ॥1॥
जय देवा पांडुरंगा जय अनाथनाथा । आरती ओंवाळीन तुह्मां लक्ष्मीकांता ॥ध्रु.॥
नित्य नवा सोहळा हो महावाद्यां गजर । सन्मुख गरुड पारीं उभा जोडुनि कर ।
मंडितचतुर्भुजा कटीं मिरवती कर ॥2॥
हरिनाम कीर्तन हो आनंद महाद्वारीं । नाचती प्रेमसुखें नर तेथिंच्या नारी ।
जीवन्मुक्त लोक नित्य पाहाती हरी ॥3॥
आषाढी कातिनकी हो गरुडटकयां भार । गर्जती नाम घोष महावैष्णववीर ।
पापासी रीग नाहीं असुर कांपती सुर ॥4॥
हें सुख पुंडलिकें कसें आणिलें बापें । निर्गुण साकारले आह्मांलागिं हें सोपें ।
ह्मणोनि चरण धरोनि तुका राहिला सुखें ॥5॥
अवतार गोकुळीं हो जन तारावयासी । लावण्यरूपडें हे तेजपुंजाळरासी ।
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
The supreme bliss of Vaikuntha has descended upon this earth. Victory to Panduranga, lord of the destitute; we wave the lamp before you, O beloved of Lakshmi. A festival of great splendor resounds with music every day; Garuda stands before you with hands joined in reverence. You stand with four arms adorned, hands resting on your waist. Kirtan and the name of Hari fill the great doorway with joy; men and women dance there in the ecstasy of love. The jivan-muktas behold Hari constantly. At the Ashadhi and Kartiki gatherings, legions of pilgrims stream in bearing Garuda's banner. Great Vaishnava warriors roar with the name; sin finds no entry, and demons tremble. This bliss was brought by father Pundalik. The formless took form, made easy for us to reach. Says Tuka, therefore I hold his feet and rest in happiness.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
The great bliss of Vaikuntha has come down onto this earth. Victory to you, Panduranga, lord of the orphaned; I wave the lamp before you, beloved of Lakshmi. Every day a fresh festival, loud with great music; before you stands Garuda on the platform, his hands joined. Adorned with four arms, your hands resting at your waist. The name of Hari and kirtan fill the great gate with joy; men and women dance there in the happiness of love. The freed-while-living see Hari without ceasing. At Ashadhi and Kartiki the crowds come in throngs with Garuda's banner; the great Vaishnava warriors roar out the name. Sin finds no way in, and the demons tremble. How did father Pundalik bring this bliss here? The formless took shape, made simple for our sake. Tuka says: so I hold his feet and rest in happiness.
What it means
The arati announces that the highest heaven, Vaikuntha, has descended and become visible at Pandhari. Tukaram fills the scene with what the pilgrim actually sees and hears: daily festival, loud music, Garuda standing with folded hands, the four-armed image, and the great gate ringing with kirtan where men and women dance in love. He names the two great pilgrimages, Ashadhi and Kartiki, when the warbands of Vaishnavas roar the Name so that sin cannot enter and demons shake. The hinge of the poem is gratitude to Pundalik, the devotee whose love is said to have drawn this bliss down and made the formless take an approachable form. The whole point is accessibility: what the scriptures cannot reach is here, simple and close, for ordinary people. Tukaram's response is to hold the feet and rest.
Devotion to Vitthal
Poems of praise, invocation, and intimate address to Lord Vitthal at Pandharpur.
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