Social criticism, devotion as trade
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
होउनी जंगम विभूती लाविती । शंख वाजविती घरोघरीं ॥1॥
शिवाचें निर्माल्य तीर्था न सेविती । घंटा वाजविती पोटासाठीं ॥2॥
तुका ह्मणे त्यासी नाहीं शिवभक्ति । व्यापार करिती संसाराचा ॥3॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
Becoming wandering mendicants, they smear ash and blow conches from house to house. They do not partake of Shiva's sacred offerings or holy water. They ring their bells only for the sake of their stomachs. Says Tuka, they have no true devotion to Shiva. They are merely carrying on the trade of worldly life.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
They turn themselves into wandering mendicants and smear ash on their bodies. They blow their conches from house to house. They do not partake of Shiva's offerings or his holy water. They ring their bells only to fill their stomachs. Tuka says: they have no real devotion to Shiva. They are only carrying on the trade of worldly life.
What it means
Tukaram watches mendicants who carry every sign of Shaiva worship, the ash, the conch, the bell, door to door, yet skip the one thing the signs are for: receiving Shiva's offerings and sacred water. The bells ring for bread, not for God. He names the stakes plainly, that there is no real devotion here, only a livelihood dressed as worship. The probe is for anyone who keeps the outward forms of religion running while the heart of it has quietly become a business.
Social Criticism
Rebuke of hypocrisy, caste pride, false teachers, greed, and religious pretence.
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