The Hindu : Saints brought about India's unity

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Nov 15, 2002

Miscellaneous

Miscellaneous - Religion

Saints brought about India's unity

CHENNAI NOV. 15. It is claimed that India's integration as a nation happened only some decades ago, but long before that it remained united culturally, spiritually and on the basis of Vedic expositions. Bharat's saints who hailed from various parts of the country but who were engaged in spreading the divine message that God resides in everyone brought about this grand union. There were many kingdoms but the nation was one. One such torchbearer from Maharashtra, who was not spared of several tests, went about singing Lord Panduranga Vittala's compassion and grace in his "Abhangs". His writings were thrown into a river but they floated and were restored. "My early life was embittered by calamities but God's grace gave me comfort," says Thukaram who declared in one of his hymns that the sky was his pavilion and the earth, his seat.

Emperor Shivaji, who was so inspired by Saint Thukaram's teachings, desired to enter the monastic order by getting initiated by him but the former advised him "Bharat needs you; unite India and ensure the continuance of its cultural glory". Thus he created an awakening among people stating that culturally India was one country and it should be strengthened. Duty, he added, was more important than penance. Like many other great men, he was young when left this world. He was earlier a successful businessman but was ever engaged in spiritual activity, with his mind fixed on "Panduranga". Due to family disturbances, he left his home, seeking solitude in a secluded place. His principal message was "simple living and high thinking" and he pleaded for control of the mind and development of detachment. Possessed by God's love and armed with divine grace, the great saint emphasised the glory of devotion and the efficacy of chanting the Lord's name.

In his lecture on "Sant Smaram" series, Swami Mitrananda said Thukaram had intuition about his going to heaven and, as he sat singing on the banks of the Indriyani river, he entered the Lord's abode. His stirring compositions lay stress on "faith" and "surrender". "I was shy but you made me bold and why should I fear anyone," was his attitude. In this universe all are creations of God and the existence of different types of creepers, trees, wild animals and singing birds reveal God's presence everywhere, he explained.

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