The boar avatar, the Lord as mother
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
हिरण्याक्ष दैत्य मातला जे काळीं । वरदानें बळी शंकराच्या ॥1॥
इंद्रपदराज्य घेतलें हिरोनी । देवा चक्रपाणी ह्मणती धांव ॥ध्रु.॥
तइं पांडुरंगा शूकर जालेती । तया दैत्यपती मारविले॥2॥
तुका ह्मणे ज्यांचीं राज्यें त्यांसी दिलीं । ऐसी तूं माउली पांडुरंगा॥3॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
When the demon Hiranyaksha grew drunk with power, strengthened by Shankara's boon, he seized Indra's kingdom by force, and the gods cried out to the Lord to come to their aid. Then, O Panduranga, You became the great boar and slew that demon lord. Says Tuka, You restored their kingdoms to those they belonged to; such is Your motherly care, O Panduranga.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
There was a time when the demon Hiranyaksha grew drunk with power, made strong by Shankara's boon. He seized Indra's kingly throne by force. The gods cried out: Lord, holder of the discus, come quickly. Then, O Panduranga, You became the boar and killed that lord of demons. Tuka says: You gave their kingdoms back to those they belonged to. Such a mother You are, O Panduranga.
What it means
Tukaram retells the boar avatar to show what the Lord does when the strong rob the weak. A demon emboldened by a boon takes Indra's throne, the gods cry out, and Panduranga comes as the boar to kill the usurper and restore each kingdom to its rightful owner. The unspoken frame is justice that no one else can deliver. Notice the final image: Tuka calls this fierce, world-rescuing Lord a mother, because the same force that destroys the wrongdoer is tenderness toward the wronged. The stake is trust that what was stolen will be set right.
Sacred Stories
Abhangas drawing on mythological narratives to illuminate spiritual truths.
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