Saint-poet Chokhamela (चोखामेळा), a 14th-century saint from Maharashtra, is known for his deep devotion to Lord Vitthal despite the social hardships he faced. He belonged to what was, in those days, considered as one of the lowest untouchable casts viz. Mahar (महार). This particular abhang captures the spirit of joyous, uninhibited worship despite facing tremendous hardships including prohibition from entering temples.

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Verse 1

अबीर गुलाल उधळीत रंग ।
नाथा घरी नाचे माझा सखा पांडुरंग ॥१॥

Abīr gulāl udhaḷīt raṅga |
Nāthā gharī nāce mājhā sakhā Pāṇḍuraṅga ||1||

Meaning: Showering fragrant white and red powders (Abir and Gulal), my dear friend Panduranga (Lord Vitthal) dances in the home of His devotee.

Word to Word Meaning

• अबीर (Abir): A fragrant white powder used in rituals.
• गुलाल (Gulal): A bright red/pink powder used in festivals.
• उधळीत (Udhalit): Splashing, showering, or throwing into the air.
• रंग (Rang): Colors.
• नाथा (Natha): Of the Lord/Master (referring to the Sant Eknath in some interpretations, as Vittal is said to have stayed at Sant Eknath Maharaj’s home).
• घरी (Ghari): At home / In the house.
• नाचे (Nache): Dances.
• माझा (Mazha): My.
• सखा (Sakha): Dear friend / Companion.
• पांडुरंग (Panduranga): Another name for Lord Vitthal.

Verse 2

उंबरठ्यासी कैसे शिवू आम्ही जाति हीन ।
रूप तुझे कैसे पाहूं त्यात आम्ही दीन ।
पायरीशी होऊ दंग गाउनी अभंग ॥२॥

Umbarathyāsī kaise shivū āmhī jāti hīn |
Rūp tuje kaise pāhū tyāt āmhī dīn |
Pāyarīshī hoū daṅga gāunī abhaṅga ||2||

Meaning: How can we touch the threshold (of the temple) being of humble birth? How can we behold Your form, being so lowly? Instead, we will remain absorbed at the temple steps, singing your praises through abhangs.

Word to Word Meaning

• उंबरठ्यासी (Umbarathyasi): To the threshold (raised doorframe) / doorstep
• कैसे (Kaise): How.
• शिवू (Shivu): Touch.
• आम्ही (Aamhi): We.
• जाति (Jati): Caste.
• हीन (Heen): Low / Humble / Downcast.
• रूप (Roop): Form / Appearance.
• तुझे (Tuzhe): Your.
• पाहूं (Pahu): See / Look at.
• त्यात (Tyat): In that (situation).
• दीन (Deen): Poor / Needy / Humble.
• पायरीशी (Payarishi): At the steps (of the temple).
• होऊ (Hou): Become.
• दंग (Dang): Absorbed / Engrossed / Lost in.
• गाउनी (Gauni): By singing.
• अभंग (Abhang): Devotional verses

Verse 3

वाळवंटी गाऊ आम्ही वाळवंटी नाचू ।
चंद्रभागेच्या पाण्याने अंग अंग न्हाऊ ।
विठ्ठलाचे नाम घेऊ हो‌उनी निःसंग ॥३॥

Vāḷavaṇṭī gāū āmhī vāḷavaṇṭī nācū |
Chaṃdrabhāgechyā pāṇyāne aṅga aṅga nhāū |
Viṭṭhalāce nāma gheū hoūnī niḥsaṅga ||3||

Meaning: We will sing and dance on the sandy banks (of the river). We will bathe every limb of our bodies in the waters of the Chandrabhaga. Becoming completely detached from the world, we will chant the name of Vitthal.

Word to Word Meaning

• वाळवंटी (Valvanti): In the sands / on the riverbank.
• गाऊ (Gau): Will sing.
• आम्ही (Aamhi): We.
• नाचू (Nachu): Will dance.
• चंद्रभागेच्या (Chandrabhagechya): Of the river Chandrabhaga.
• पाण्याने (Panyane): With the water.
• अंग अंग (Ang): Whole body / all limbs
• न्हाऊ (Nhau): Will bathe.
• विठ्ठलाचे (Vitthalache): Of Vitthal.
• नाम (Naam): Name.
• घेऊ (Gheu): Will take / chant.
• होउनी (Houni): Having become.
• निःसंग (Nisang): Detached / Free from worldly attachments.

Verse 4

आषाढी-कार्तिकी भक्तजन येती ।
पंढरीच्या वाळवंटी संत गोळा होती ।
चोखा म्हणे नाम घेता भक्त होती दंग ॥४॥

Āṣāḍhī-Kārtikī bhaktajana yetī |
Paṇḍharīchyā vāḷavaṇṭī santa goḷā hotī |
Chokhā mhaṇe nāma ghetā bhakta hotī daṅga ||4||

Meaning: During the holy months of Ashadh and Kartik, the devotees arrive. On the sands of Pandharpur, all the saints gather together. Chokha says, while chanting His name, the devotees become completely lost in divine ecstasy.

Word to Word Meaning

• भक्तजन (Bhaktajan): Devotees / Followers.
• येती (Yeti): Come.
• पंढरीच्या (Pandharichya): Of Pandharpur.
• वाळवंटी (Valvanti): In the sands / riverbank.
• संत (Sant): Saints.
• गोळा (Gola): Gathered / Collected.
• होती (Hoti): Become / Are.
• चोखा (Chokha): Saint Chokhamela
• म्हणे (Mhane): Says.
• नाम (Naam): Name.
• घेता (Gheta): While taking / chanting.
• भक्त (Bhakt): Devotees / followers
• होती (Hoti): Become / Are
• दंग (Dang): Absorbed / Engrossed.

Sant Chokhamela’s abhang beautifully expresses devotion that transcends social barriers and external limitations. Through joyful remembrance of Vitthal, the abhang reminds seekers that sincere Bhakti alone brings inner freedom and divine closeness.

– Translation by Vaishali Koparkar and Prasad Koparkar.

This beautiful Abhang by the 17th-century Marathi saint-poet Sant Tukaram Maharaj describes the state of spiritual ecstasy and the non-dual experience of bliss.

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Verse 1

आनंदाचे डोही आनंदतरंग ।
आनंदचि अंग आनंदाचे ॥१॥

Ānandāce dohī ānandataraṅga |
Ānandaci aṅga ānandāce ||1||

Meaning: Tukaram describes a vast oceanlike lake of bliss in which waves of joy alone arise, as if everything around —both the gross and subtle — is made of that ultimate Divinity. It conveys a state where existence itself becomes pure bliss.

Word to Word Meaning

• आनंदाचे (Ānandāce): Of bliss / of joy
• डोही (Dohī): In the lake / in the deep pool
•  आनंदतरंग (Ānandataraṅga): Waves of bliss
•  आनंदचि (Ānandaci): Bliss itself / only bliss
• अंग (Aṅga): Body / limb / form
• आनंदाचे (Ānandāce): Of bliss

Verse 2

काय सांगो जालें कांहींचियाबाही ।
पुढें चाली नाहीं आवडीनें ॥२॥

Kāya sāṅgo jāleṃ kāṃhīciyābāhī |
Puḍheṃ cālī nāhīṃ āvaḍīneṃ ||2||

Meaning: The experience is so profound that it cannot be described in words. Something inexplicable and extraordinary has happened. The experience is so overpowering that neither the body nor the mind can move forward (function as usual); it becomes still in deep contentment and joyous wonder.

Word to Word Meaning

• काय (Kāya): What
• सांगो (Sāṅgo): Should say / tell
• जालें (Jāleṃ): Has happened / became
• कांहींचियाबाही (Kāṃhīciyābāhī): Beyond description / inexplicable / something extraordinary
• पुढें (Puḍheṃ): Ahead / forward
• चाली (Cālī): Movement / walk / gait
• नाहीं (Nāhī): Not / no more
• आवडीनें (Āvaḍīneṃ): With great love / out of intense liking

Verse 3

गर्भाचे आवडी मातेचा डोहळा ।
तेथींचा जिव्हाळा तेथें बिंबे ॥३॥

Garbhāce āvaḍī mātecā ḍohaḷā |
Tethīṃcā jivhāḷā tetheṃ biṃbe ||3||

Meaning: Just as a pregnant mother’s external cravings are said to reflect the desires of the unborn child in the womb, a saint’s immeasurable inner joy (of realizing the ultimate union with the Divine) is getting so naturally manifested in his bliss.

Word to Word Meaning

• गर्भाचे (Garbhāce): Of the foetus / of the child in the womb
• आवडी (Āvaḍī): Desire / liking / love
• मातेचा (Mātecā): Of the mother
• डोहळा (Ḍohaḷā): Pregnancy craving / longing
• तेथींचा (Tethīṃcā): Of that place / from there
• जिव्हाळा (Jivhāḷā): Affection / deep love / soul-connection
• तेथें (Tetheṃ): There
• बिंबे (Biṃbe): Reflects / manifests

Verse 4

तुका म्हणे तैसा ओतलासे ठसा ।
अनुभव सरिसा मुखा आला ॥४॥

Tukā mhaṇe taisā otalāse ṭhasā |
Anubhava sarisā mukhā ālā ||4||

Meaning: Further, Tukaram says that just as casting of clay inside a mould creates the outer expression effortlessly reflecting the mould as is (without any further craftmanship), my divine inner experience similarly flows, naturally without any effort, through my lips in the form of these words.

Word to Word Meaning

• तुका (Tukā): Tukaram (the poet)
• म्हणे (Mhaṇe): Says
• तैसा (Taisā): In that way / likewise
• ओतलासे (Otalāse): Has been cast / poured into a mould
• ठसा (Ṭhasā): Impression / stamp / seal
• अनुभव (Anubhava): Experience
• सरिसा (Sarisā): Along with / directly/ naturally
• मुखा (Mukhā): To the mouth / in speech
• आला (Ālā): Has come

Sant Tukaram’s abhang beautifully portrays the state of divine bliss experienced through devotion and inner realization. Through simple yet profound imagery, it reminds seekers that true joy arises from union with the Divine and naturally expresses itself through Bhakti.

– Translation by Vaishali Koparkar and Prasad Koparkar.

The Abhang - Amruthani Goed, by Sant Namdeo, a revered Marathi saint-poet, describes that chanting God’s name is the highest spiritual practice. 

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Verse 1

अमृताहूनि गोड नाम तुझें देवा ।
मन माझें केशवा कां बा न घे

Amrutāhūni goḍ nām tuje devā |
Man māje Keshavā kāṅ bā na ghe ||1||

Tranlation: O God, your name is sweeter than nectar. O Keshava, why does my mind not accept it and recite it?

Word to Word Meaning

• अमृताहूनि (Amrutāhūni) – than nectar
• गोड (Goḍ) – sweet
• नाम (Nām) – name
• तुझें (Tujhe) – your
• देवा (Devā) – O God
• मन (Man) – mind
• माझें (Mājhe) – my
• केशवा (Keshavā) – O Keshava (Krishna/Vishnu)
• कां (Kāṅ) – why
• बा (Bā) – indeed / pray tell
• न घे (Na ghe) – does not accept / take

Verse 2

सांग पंढरिराया काय करुं यासी ।
कां रूप ध्यानासि न ये तुझें ॥२॥

Sāṅg Paṇḍharirāyā kāy karūn yāsī |
Kāṅ rūp dhyānāsī na ye tuje ||2||

Translation: O Lord of Pandharpur, tell me what I should do about this. Why does your form not appear in my meditation?

Word to Word Meaning

• सांग (Sāṅg) – tell
• पंढरिराया (Paṇḍharirāyā) – O Lord of Pandharpur (Vitthal)
• काय (Kāy) – what
• करुं (Karūn) – shall I do
• यासी (Yāsī) – about this
• कां (Kāṅ) – why
• रूप (Rūp) – form
• ध्यानासि (Dhyānāsī) – in meditation
• न ये (Na ye) – does not come
• तुझें (Tujhe) – your

Verse 3

किर्तनीं बैसतां निद्रे नागविलें ।
मन माझें गुंतलें विषयसुखा ॥३॥

Kīrtanīṁ baisatāṁ nidre nāgavileṁ |
Man māje guntaleṁ viṣayasukhā ||3||

Translation: While sitting in kirtan, sleep overcomes me. My mind remains entangled in worldly pleasures.

Word to Word Meaning

• किर्तनीं (Kīrtanīṁ) – in kirtan / devotional singing
• बैसतां (Baisatāṁ) – while sitting
• निद्रे (Nidre) – sleep
• नागविलें (Nāgavileṁ) – attacks / troubles
• मन (Man) – mind
• माझें (Mājhe) – my
• गुंतलें (Guntaleṁ) – entangled
• विषयसुखा (Viṣayasukhā) – in worldly pleasures

Verse 4

हरिदास गर्जती हरिनामाच्या कीर्ति ।
न ये माझ्या चित्तीं नामा म्हणे ॥४॥

Haridās garjatī Harināmāchyā kīrti |
Na ye mājhyā chittīṁ Nāmā mhaṇe ||4||

Translation: The devotees loudly proclaim the glory of Hari’s name. Yet it does not enter my heart, says Namdeo.

Word to Word Meaning

• हरिदास (Haridās) – devotees of Hari
• गर्जती (Garjatī) – loudly proclaim / roar
• हरिनामाच्या (Harināmāchyā) – of Hari’s name
• कीर्ति (Kīrti) – glory
• न ये (Na ye) – does not come
• माझ्या (Mājhyā) – into my
• चित्तीं (Chittīṁ) – heart / mind
• नामा (Nāmā) – Namdeo
• म्हणे (Mhaṇe) – says

– Translation by Vaishali Koparkar and Prasad Koparkar.

The Abhang - Namacha Gajar, by Sant Namdeo is a celebration of the power and glory of the Divine Name (Nāma). It describes a deeply devotional vision where chanting God’s name becomes the highest spiritual practice. 

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Verse 1

नामाचा गजर गर्जे भीमातीर ।
महिमा साजे थोर तुज एका ॥१॥

Nāmāchā gajar garje Bhīmātīr |
mahimā sāje thor tuj ekā ||1||

Meaning: The chanting of the Lord’s Name resounds and thunders across the banks of the river Bhima. Such immense and magnificent glory befits You alone, O Lord.

Word to Word Meaning

• नामाचा (Nāmāchā): Of the Name (of God)
• गजर (Gajar): Chanting / Roar / Resounding sound
• गर्जे (Garje): Thunders / Echoes / Resounds
• भीमातीर (Bhīmātir): The bank of river Bhima
• महिमा (Mahimā): Glory / Greatness
• साजे (Sāje): Befits / Suits
• थोर (Thor): Great / Immense
• तुज (Tuj): To You
• एका (Ekā): Alone / Only

Verse 2

रिद्धीसिद्धी दासी अंगण झाडती ।
उच्छिष्टे काढती मुक्ति चारी ॥२॥

Riddhī-siddhī dāsī aṅgaṇ jhāḍatī |
uchchiṣṭe kāḍhatī mukti chārī ||2||

Meaning: Prosperity and spiritual powers (Riddhi and Siddhi) serve as maidservants who sweep Your courtyard, while the four types of Liberation humble themselves by clearing away Your leftovers.

Word to Word Meaning

• रिद्धीसिद्धी (Riddhīsiddhī): Spiritual and material powers/prosperity
• दासी (Dāsī): Maidservants
• अंगण (Angan): Courtyard
• झाडती (Jhāḍi ): Sweep
• उिच्छष्ट (Uchchiṣṭē): Left overs (from a meal)
• काढती (Kāḍhi ): Remove / Clear away
• मुक्ति (Mukthi ): Liberation
• चारी(Chārī): Four*

* As part of the broader Vaishnava traditon, the Varkari Sampradaya recognizes four main types of liberation
(Mukti) that a devotee can attain through Bhakti (devotion) to Lord Vithal. These are:

• Salokya (Same Plane/Realm): The soul resides in the same spiritual planet or abode (Vaikuntha) as the Supreme Lord.
• Sannidhya or Sāmīpya (Close Proximity): The soul lives in the immediate presence of the Divine, acting as a direct associate.
• Sārūpya (Same Form): The liberated soul attains a spiritual form with features as the Divine.
• Sāyujya (Complete Union): The soul merges entirely into the Divine, losing individual identity.

Verse 3

चारी वेद भाट होऊनि गर्जती ।
सनकादिक गाती कीर्ति तुझी ॥३॥

Chārī ved bhāṭ hoūni garjatī |
Sanakādik gātī kīrti tujhī ||3||

Meaning: The four Vedas have become like bards, loudly proclaiming Your excellence, while great sages like Sanaka and others sing of Your divine fame.

Word to Word Meaning

• चारी (Chārī): Four
• वेद (Ved): The Vedas (Ancient scriptures)
• भाट (Bhāṭ): Bards / Encomiasts (who sing praises)
• होऊनि (Hoūni): Becoming / Having become
• गजर्ती (Garjati ): Proclaim loudly / Chant
• सनकादिक (Sanakādik): Sanaka and the other ancient sages
• गाती (Gāti ): Sing
• कीर्ति (Kīrti ): Fame / Glory
• तुझी (Tujhī): Your

Verse 4

सुरवरांचे भार अंगणीं लोळती ।
चरणरज क्षिती शीव वंदी ॥४॥

Suravarānche bhār aṅgaṇī loḷatī |
charaṇaraj kṣitī Śiv vandī ||4||

Meaning: Multitudes of great deities prostrate themselves in Your courtyard. Even Lord Shiva bows down to the dust of Your feet upon this earth.

Word to Word Meaning

• सुरवरांचे (Suravarānchē): Of the great gods/deities
• भार (Bhār): Crowds / Multitudes
• अंगणीं (Angaṇī): In the courtyard
• लोळती (Loḷati): Prostrate / Roll (in devotion)
• चरणरज (Charaṇaraj): Dust of the feet
• क्षिती (Kṣiti): The Earth
• शीव (Shīv): Lord Shiva
• वंदी (Vandī): Bows / Pays homage

Verse 5

नामा म्हणे देव ऐसा हो कृपाळू ।
करी तो सांभाळू अनाथांचा ॥५॥

Nāmā mhaṇe dev aisā ho kṛipāḷū |
karī to sāmbhāḷū anāthānchā ||5||

Meaning: Namdev says, such is the compassion of my Lord; He is the one who protects and looks after those who are helpless and have no one else..

Word to Word Meaning

• नामा (Nāmā): Saint Namdev (the author)
• ह्मणे (Mhaṇē): Says
• देव (Dev): God
• ऐसा (Aisā): Such / Like this
• हो (Ho): Is / Indeed
• कृपाळू (Kṛipāḷū): Compassionate / Merciful
• करी (Kari): Does / Performs
• तो (To): He
• सांभाळू (Sāmbhāḷū): Protection / Caring / Looking after
• अनाथांचा (Anāthānchā): Of the orphaned / The helpless

– Translation by Vaishali Koparkar and Prasad Koparkar.