Devotional Elements in the Poetry of Tukaram and Ralph Waldo Emerson-A Comparative Study

Comparative study of literature is an important discipline, which has opened several avenues of studying cultures of different religions, and countries. The world of literature offers opportunities to acquaint ourselves with literature and the genius working at different times and places. Many a time, it so happens that though two minds are separated by time and spaces think alike. This is particularly so in the case of poets and prophet. Tukaram belong to 17^th century from India, state of Maharashtra who wrote devotional poetry in Marathi whereas Ralph Waldo Emerson belongs to 19^th century of America. Generally two cases looks so unlike each other, separated by time and religion representing two different cultures. However, the creative urges that inspired two have much in common. The 17^th century, India was a politically disturbed country and inherent paradoxes in the caste structure made the life of an individual like Tukaram a sage of suffering. 19^th century America was equally hostile to independent thinkers and theologian like Emerson whose transcendental philosophy was a deviation from prevalent puritan thought. Emerson led the life of a saint who swam naked in the Walden and preached in the street of Boston. A  Divinely gifted orator project him as an exponent of a new religious philosophy. Tukaram’s religion belief value every individual as representative of the Almighty made him a poet of divine concerns.