Markers of a saint

 Tochi Saadhu Olakhaavaa

Sant Tukaram gets overwhelmed with gratitude and love when talking about saints. His usual style of using metaphors becomes even more spirited when he touches this subject. 

The journey of a seeker in the spiritual path is often laden with obstacles and threats of going astray. The worldly affairs can distract easily and delay the progress of even the most earnest person. It is the saints that watch over a good man and goad him from time to time on the right path and prevent him from a fall from grace. They know the pitfalls too well and simply out of mercy stand by to lead the devotee. Tukaram is not blind to this generosity. Over and over and at every opportunity he thanks the saints for their vigilance, guidance, nurturing and protection. 

Kaay yaa santaanche maanu upkaar 

Maj nirantar jaagaviti ..

He was enlightened enough to realize that God’s presence is in every creation and therefore treated every person with respect. But he admitted that beyond this formality he didn’t give much importance to anyone as much as he did for saints. He cared for the company of saints and only saints. 

Tukaa mhane jaise maanati Haridaas 

Taishi naahi aas aanikaanchi 

Maaziye jaatiche maj bheto koni

Aawadichi dhani fedaavayaa 

Aawadey jyaa Hari antaraapaasuni 

Aisiyaanchey mani aarta maaze 

Suphal haa janma hoyil tethun 

Detaa aalingan vaishnavaansi 

Festivals like Diwali Dasara in the Hindu tradition are times of celebration. There is abundance of sweets and delicacies, gifts, meeting of loved ones and in every way an atmosphere of joy. Tukaram’s favorite things were keertans, bhajans, and any means that provided thoughts of God. He got these in abundance in the company of saints and devotees. And therefore he has made reference and compared these occasions to festivals. He called it a blessed day when he met any saint. He went as far as stating that if a saint comes to the door one must not hesitate to give up even God’s worship. In his words, meeting a saint in person is several times more valuable than going on a pilgrimage or to a temple where God is in the form of a stone or a river. 

Saadhu sant yeti gharaa tochi Diwali Dasaraa 

Dasaraa Diwali tochi aamhaa sana

Sakhe santjan bhetatil 

Dhanya aaji din

Jaale santaanche darshan

Dev saaraave paratey sant pujaave aaratey

Teerthi dhondaa paani

Dev rokadaa sajjani 

One may ask what do saints do ?

Even their casual talk is filled with wisdom. Seeing the ignorance of a common man and overcome with love for all creation they take it upon themselves to selflessly show the way for their betterment.

Sahaj bolane hita upadesh 

Karuni saayaas shikaviti …

Jagaachyaa kalyaanaa santaanchyaa vibhooti 

Deh kashtaviti upkaare 

What are the markers of a saint ?

First :

Perfection

The purity of thought and deed, compassion and knowledge in a saint is complete and not variable with time , place and occasion. 

To drive this point home Tukaram cites several beautiful examples.

A sandalwood tree would impart its fragrance to anyone who comes in contact with any of its parts, be it a trunk or root. 

Parees is a touch stone. It is said to turn iron into gold with a simple touch, no matter what part of it comes into contact with the other object.

You cannot find darkness on any side of a lamp that is lit. It emits light all around.

The sweetness of sugar is evenly distributed in its every crystal. 

Thus, points Tuka, one cannot find a single fault in a true saint. He is perfect as a whole. Like the expanse of the sky.

Notice how brilliantly Tukaram has enumerated the sense of smell, touch, sight and taste in the above examples?

Chandanaache haat paayahi chandan 

Parisaa naahi heen koni anga 

Deepaa naahi paathi poti andhakaar 

Sarvaange saakar avaghi goda 

Tukaa mhane taisaa sajjanaa paasun 

Paahtaa avagun milechi naa

Tuka mhane taise jaanaa santjan 

Sarvatra sampoorna gagan jaise 

Second:

Compassion 

Who the world rejects, the saints welcome into their hearts and make them their own. They provide shelter to one who has nowhere to go.

Indeed the entire core of their being is soft like butter. They treat the lowest ranks of people with the same love and kindness as they would treat their own child. They bring joy in the lives they touch and take away suffering. Truly such saints are not men of God but God Himself in human garb.

Je kaa ranjale gaanjale tyaasi mhane jo aapule 

Tochi saadhu olakhaavaa dev tethechi jaanaavaa 

Mrudu sabaahya navneet taise sajjanaache chitta 

Jyaasi apangitaa naahi tyaasi dhari jo hridayi 

Dayaa karane je putraasi techi daasaa aani daasi 

Tuka mhane saangu kiti tochi Bhagwantaachi moorti 

Dayaa kshamaa angi tochi santa jagi 

Santaachiyaa gaavi premaachaa sukaal 

Naahi talmal, dukkhalesh 

Third:

Self realized

It is absurd to try finding darkness holding a lamp in your hand. This is how the state of self realization is. Any trace of ignorance, fear, confusion, delusion is destroyed for the saints who attain self realization.

A dust storm no matter how powerful cannot cloud the sun. Neither can fire be hidden under a cover of grass. The light of Divinity will shine under any circumstances. Alas, the ignorant can’t fathom this.

Deep gheuniyaa dhoonditi andhaar 

Bhete haa vichaar aghatit 

Vishnudaas aamhi na bhyo kalikaalaa 

Bhulo mrigajalaa na ghade te

Udhalitaa maati Ravikalaa maley 

He kaise na kaley bhaagyaheenaa 

Tuka mhane truney zaanke hutaashan

Hey tey vachan waoogey chi 

Fourth:

Ability to distinguish between good and evil

In the Bhagwad Gita Shri Krishna famously declared his purpose for incarnations is to protect the good people and destroy the evil.

Paritraanaay saadhunaam, vinaashaayach dishkritaam

Dharma sansthaapnaarthaaya sambhavaami yuge yuge

Several times Tukaram has reiterated that the role of the saints is similarly two fold : to extend love and compassion towards the righteous people who are in need and to tackle the injustices and cruelty from the evil minded people. While the saints are inherently filled with kindness and goodwill, it is left to the person who meets them to see them as per their own maturity and outlook. A saint will go to any lengths with generosity for a needy good person but not flinch to discipline a bad player or wrongdoer. 

Dayaa tiche naav 

bhootaanche paalan 

Aanik nirdaalan 

Kantakaanche

Tuka mhane aamhi avaghechi goda

Jyaache purey koda tyaache pari 

Bhaley tari devu gaandichi langoti 

Naathaalaache kaathi devu maathaa 

Fifth:

Integrity 

There are many who fake being God’s messengers and talk big things without the slightest idea of truth.  Tukaram has compared them to a soldier who brags about bravery and achievements without ever going to a battlefield.The minute such man actually comes face to face with the enemy he starts shaking vigorously in fear for his own life! 

In contrast a true saint has offered his life to God and is beyond any fear of life or death. Blessed are the parents of such a man. He revels in the praise and service of God and can take any challenge head on. His speech is as fearless and sharp as his resolution and this can easily wound the ego of an evil man. 

Sainthood is no piece of cake to achieve. You can’t get it in a market or buy it with wealth or go on a pilgrimage in search of it.  Nowhere can it be found , even if you look for it in heaven or hell. You have to be ready to offer your entire life for the service of God , stand resolute in this effort and sacrifice the ego for it. Without the readiness for this supreme sacrifice any talk of sainthood is but empty.

Varivari bole yuddhaachiyaa goshti 

Parasainyaa bheti naahi jaali 

Paraavyaache bhaar paahuniyaa drishti 

Kaapatasey poti thartharaa 

Manaachaa uddhaar raayaachaa jhunjaar

Firangaachaa maar maaritasey 

Dhanya tyaachi maay dhanya tyaachaa baap

Angi anutaap Harinaamey

Tuka mhane saadhu boley khargdhaar

Khochatey Antar durjanaanchey 

Naahi santpan milate he haati 

Hindataa kapaati raani vani 

Naye mol detaa dhanaachiyaa raashi 

Naahi te aakaashi paataali te

Tuka mhane miley jeevaachiye saati 

Naahi tari goshti bolo naye 

Santaanchaa mahimaa to bahu durgam 

Shaabdikaanche kaam naahi tethe 

Deh jaavo athavaa raaho

Pandurangi dridha bhaavo 

Sixth:

Teachings and spreading the divine message 

The light from the sun, a lamp or a diamond can shine upon any object for you to see. But only the saints (realized souls) can show you the Truth that is invisible.

Sandalwood paste can bring relief for the physical body that is subjected to worldly pressures. But the sufferings arising from the three Gunas namely Sattva Rajas Tamas, can only be cured by the company of the saints.

Parents bring up their kid with utmost love and care but it is the saints who take one beyond the cycles of life and death.

Food can mitigate hunger but saints can help overcome the suffering of life.

Therefore one should not hesitate to go visit saints, seek their company and dedicate themselves to their service without waiting for an invitation from the saints.

Saints play an important role in spreading lasting peace,happiness and a culture of devotion to God.Their presence is akin to sandalwood that imparts it’s fragrance to whatever it comes in contact with.

Ravi deep heeraa daaviti dekhane 

Adrishya darshane santaanche ni 

Tyaanchaa mahimaa kaay varnu mi paamar 

Na kaley to saachaar Brahmaadikaa

Taapali chandan nivavito kudi 

Triguna to kaadhi santsang 

Maaybaapey pinda paaliyelaa maayaa 

Janma maran jaayaa santsang 

Santaanche vachan vaari janma dukkha 

Mishtaanna te bhook nivaaran 

Tuka mhane javali na paachaaritaa jaave 

Santcharani bhaave righaavayaa 

Vaadhaviley sukha bhakti bhaav dharm

Kulaachaar naam Vithobaache

Tuka mhane guna chandanaache angi 

Taise tumhi jagi santjan 

The deep insights offered by Tukaram about the importance of saints for any person seeking to walk on a path of righteousness and evolution in their spiritual pursuit are simply invaluable. For me the study was thought provoking and made me ask questions of myself and search inside thoroughly. It also made me crave for more and more as I went on reading . One superficial reading was never enough. I had to keep diving deeper and deeper and each time came out with newer realizations and better tools for daily living with more purpose and meaningfulness. The faults keep becoming more visible but that’s a good beginning if I must leave them behind. Tukaram continued to express gratitude to the saints at every opportunity. I feel the same way towards Tukaram. Four centuries later his words are serving as guide posts for me in my journey. There is no way to repay the kindness and generosity. 🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼

Saree is a cotton silk from Solapur, with features of ilkal. Paired with a khun blouse.