Sant Tukaram Maharaj Temple, Dehu Pune | Gatha Mandir Dehu | Sant Tukaram Maharaj Birth Place Dehu.

Sant Tukaram :-
Dehu is a place of Sant Tukaram - well known sant in Maharashtra. He lived here and taught people how to pray to god. He and Sant Dnyaneshwar were the popular sants and both worshiped Lord Vitthal. The 'Palakhi' in the month of 'Ashadh' from Dehu is one of the main attractions of Dehu. Many people have taken part in it many years. Dehu is a place where the 'Abhang 'of Sant Tukaram can be remembered. One can see his temple here on the banks of the river. This temple was constructed by his younger son Narayanbaba in 1723. Various other temples nearby are worth seeing. A rock where Sant Tukaram was on fast is also here. Sant Tukaram will always be remembered for his Abhang and Gatha.

There is one Gatha Temple on the bank of Indrayani river. A big statue of Tukaram sitting with a Veena in his hand is located at the entrance of the big Gatha temple. In the Gatha temple, about 4,000 abhangs (verses) created by Tukaram maharaj were carved on the walls.

Indrayani River :-
Holy Indrayani river which flows through Dehu which later flows through Alandi. The place where Lord Vitthal gave blessings to Saint Tukaram, which is now the main temple in Dehu consisting of 'Swayambhu' (self-existing) idols of Lord Vitthal and goddess rakhumai is
situated on the banks of river Indrayani.

Sant Tukaram was born to Kanakar 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. He spent most of his later years in devotional worship, community kirtans (group prayers with singing) and composing Abhanga poetry.

According to D Ranade, Tukaram's spiritual teacher was Babaji Chaitanya, who himself was fourth generation disciple of the 13th-century scholar Jnanadeva. In his work of Abhangas, Tukarama repeatedly refers to four other persons who had a primary influence on his spiritual development, namely the earlier Bhakti Sants Namdev, Dnyaneshwar, Kabir
and Eknath.

According to some scholars, Tukaram met Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj - a leader who challenged the Mughal Empire and founded the Maratha kingdom; (Hindvi Swaraiya) Their continued interaction is the subject of
legends. Eleanor Zelliot states that Bhakti movement poets including Tukaram were influential in Shivaji's rise to power.

Tukaram died in 1649 or 1650.

Important Places associated with Tukaramji in Dehu that exist today are :

Tukaram Maharaj Jam Sthan Temple, Dehu - place where Tukaramji was born, around which a temple was built later
Sant Tukaram Vaikunthstan Temple, Dehu - from where Tukaramji ascended to Vaikunth in his mortal form; there is a nice ghat behind this temple along the Indrayani river
Sant Tukaram Maharaj Gatha Mandir, Dehu - modern structure; massive building housing a big statue of Tukaram; In the Gatha temple, about 4,000 abhangs (verses) created by Tukaram maharaj were carved on the walls.