Sant Tukaram Maharaj (Marathi pronunciation: [t̪ukaːɾam]) was a 17th-century Marathi Saint, Hindu sant (saint), popularly known as Tuka, Tukobaraya, Tukoba in Maharashtra. He was a Sant of Varkari sampradaya (Marathi-Vaishnav tradition) - that venerates the god Vitthal - in Maharashtra, India. He was part of the egalitarian, personalized Varkari devotionalism tradition. Sant Tukaram Maharaj is best known for his devotional poetry called Abhanga and community-oriented worship with spiritual songs known as kirtan. Biography Early life Tukaram was born in modern-day Maharashtra state of India. His complete name was Tukaram Bolhoba Ambile .. He was born in the year 1598 or 1608 in a village named Dehu, near Pune in Maharashtra, India. Sant Tukaram was born to Kanakai and Bolhoba More and scholars consider his family to belong to the Kunbi caste. Tukaram's family owned a retailing and money-lending business as well as were engaged in agriculture and trade. His parents were devotees of Vithoba, an avatar of Hindu deity Vishnu (Vaishnavas). Both his parents died when Tukaram was a teenager. Sant Tukaram's first wife was Rakhama Bai, and they had a son named Santu. However, both his son and wife starved to death in the famine of 1630–1632. The deaths and widespread poverty had a profound effect on Tukaram, who became contemplative, meditating on the hills of Sahyadri range (Western Ghats) and later wrote he "had discussions with my own self". Tukaram married again, and his second wife was Avalai Jija Bai. Later life He spent most of his later years in devotional worship, community kirtans (group prayers with singing) and composing Abhanga poetry. Tukaram pointed out the evil of wrongdoings of society, social system and Maharajs by his and . He faced some opposition because of this, by society from some peoples. A man named Mambaji harassed him a lot, He was running a (religious seat) in Dehu and had some followers. Initially Tukaram gave him the job of doing puja at his temple, but he was jealous of Tukaram by seeing Tukaram getting respect among the village peoples. He once hit Tukaram by thorn's stick. He used foul language against Tukaram. Later Mambaji also became admirer of Tukaram. He became his student. Tukaram disappeared (It is controversial and needs to be explored) in 1649 or 1650. According to some scholars, Tukaram met Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj – a leader who founded the Maratha Empire; Their continued interaction is the