Talk:Abhaṅgas

Lyrical poems composed of the mystics of Maharashtra, are popularly known as ‘abhaṅgas.’ ‘Abhaṅga’ literally means ‘unbroken or indivisible.’ The story goes that when Sant Tukārām, one of the greatest saints of Maharashtra, was compelled by his detractors to consign his poetical works to the river Īndrāyaṇi, Lord Viṭṭhala (Viṣṇu) restored them to their author saying that the works were ‘abhaṅga’ (‘indestructible’). That apart, it is true that these poems and songs abound in philosophical, mystical and ethical teachings which are ‘abhaṅga, and hence true for all time. Besides Tukārām, several other saints like Jñāneśvar, Nāmdev, Eknāth and Rāmdās, including women saints like Janābāi and Kānhopātrā have composed these abhaṅgas. These compositions imbibe the importance of the divine name and its repetition in spiritual life, God realisation as the summum bonum of life, the necessity of acquiring guru’s grace, the harmony of worldly life and spiritual life. These compositions denotes the importance and the need for inculcating moral values in day-to-day life. Abhaṅgas has succeeded admirably in abstract spiritual truth is intelligible and practicable to the common masses due to these type of religious reform movements, Bhakti Movement, of the saints of Maharashtra. Abhaṅgas has succeeded admirably in bringing the religious reforms in the society. Even today these abhaṅgas are sung by the common folk.

References

• Concise Encyclopedia of Hinduism by Swami Harshananda, Ramkrishna Math, Bangalore