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Context: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the Sant Tukaram Shila Mandir in the temple town of Dehu in Pune district.

More on the news:

• Shila refers to a rock that is currently on the Dehu Sansthan temple premises, and that for centuries has been the starting point of Wari, the annual pilgrimage to Pandharpur.
• The Bhakti saint Sant Tukaram had sat on this piece of rock for 13 continuous days when challenged about the authenticity of the Abhyangs he had written.
• Sant Tukaram and his work are central to the Warkari sect spread across Maharashtra. His message about a casteless society and his denial of rituals had led to a social movement. Sant Tukaram is credited with starting the Wari pilgrimage.

Sant Tukaram:

• Tukaram was born in the Indian state of Maharashtra. Tukaram Bolhoba Ambile was his full name.
• His master was Saint Chaitanya Mahaprabhu of the Bhakti movement.
• A 17th-century poet-saint who lived with Maratha ruler Shivaji Maharaj and saints such as Eknath and Ramdas.
• His poetry was dedicated to Vithoba or Vitthala, an avatar of Vishnu, the Hindu God.
• He is most known for his Marathi Abangas (dohas), which are a rich inheritance of Gatha - devotional poetry, and he was also crucial for laying the groundwork for Maratha nationalism.
• He emphasized community-based worship through spiritual melodies known as Kirtans. He promoted the virtues of piety, forgiveness, and inner tranquillity.

https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/the-sant-tukaram-temple-and-its-significance-7963601/

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