Abstract Sant Tukaram (1608–1650), a prominent Bhakti saint of Maharashtra, articulated a powerful critique of caste hierarchy, ritual formalism, and religious hypocrisy through his devotional poetry (abhangas). This paper examines Tukaram’s verses as a counter-hegemonic knowledge system that challenged Brahmanical orthodoxy and redefined spiritual authority through experiential devotion (bhakti). Using qualitative textual analysis of selected ‘abhangas’ and interpretive engagement with secondary scholarship, the study explores how Tukaram’s vernacular epistemology contributed to an egalitarian moral framework that remains relevant to modern Indian knowledge systems. The findings demonstrate that Tukaram’s devotional discourse functioned simultaneously as spiritual expression and socio-ethical resistance, offering insights applicable to contemporary debates on caste, inclusive education, ethical leadership, and indigenous epistemologies.
Mahananda Bhagwantrao Bansode (Sat,) studied this question.
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