Realization, the body burned away
Original Marathi from the Tukaram Gatha · About Sant Tukaram
मराठी मूळ
पंधरा दिवसांमाजी साक्षात्कार जाला । विठोबा भेटला निराकार ॥1॥
भांबगिरिपाठारीं विस्त जाण केली । वृित्त थिरावली परब्रह्मीं ॥ध्रु.॥
निर्वाण जाणोनि आसन घातलें । ध्यान आरंभिलें देवाजीचें ॥2॥
सर्प विंचू व्याघ्र आंगासी झोंबले । पीडूं जे लागले सकिळक ॥3॥
दीपकीं कर्पूर कैसा तो विराला । तैसा देह जाला तुका ह्मणे ॥4॥
Tukaram Gatha (Marathi Wikisource)
English Translation
Within fifteen days, direct realization came to pass. The formless Vitthoba was met. On the plateau of Bhambanath, the inner quest was undertaken, and the mind became steady in the supreme Brahman. Knowing the final truth, the seat of meditation was established, and contemplation on the Lord began. Serpents, scorpions, and tigers clung to the body, tormenting it in every way. As camphor dissolves entirely in flame, so did the body dissolve. Says Tuka, just so was this body consumed.
We ask forgiveness for any inaccuracies in rendering Tukaram ji’s original Marathi.
In Plain Words
Within fifteen days the vision came. I met the formless Vithoba. On the plateau of Bhambanath I made my search, and my awareness grew steady in the supreme Brahman. Knowing the final end, I set my seat and began meditation on the Lord. Snakes, scorpions, and tigers seized my body and set about tormenting it in every way. As camphor melts away in a flame, so did this body become. Tuka says: just so was this body consumed.
What it means
Tukaram reports an intense passage of his own practice. Going to the Bhambanath hill, he sat for meditation as one ready for the end, and within a short span the formless Vitthal was directly seen, his attention fixed steady in Brahman. He does not hide the ordeal: snakes, scorpions, and tigers came at the body and tormented it. The closing image carries the meaning, for camphor set alight leaves nothing behind. So the body, and the self bound up with it, was burned away entirely in the fire of that realization, consumed without remainder.
Autobiography
Tukaram's own account of his life, struggles, awakening, and mission.
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