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What is the News?
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the Sant Tukaram Shila Mandir in the temple town of Dehu in Pune district.
What is Shila?
Shila refers to a rock that is currently on the Dehu Sansthan temple premises. It has been the starting point of Wari pilgrimage for centuries and is pious for the Warkari sect.
Significance of this rock: 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.
Who was Sant Tukaram?
Sant Tukaram Maharaj was a 17th-century Bhakti saint and Marathi poet from Maharashtra.
Tukaram is best known for his devotional poetry called Abhanga and community-oriented worship with spiritual songs known as kirtans.
His work is central to the Warkari sect spread across Maharashtra. He is also credited with starting the Wari pilgrimage.
His message about a casteless society and his denial of rituals had led to a social movement.
Source: The post is based on the article “Explained: The Sant Tukaram temple and its significance” published in Indian Express on 11th June 2022.
