Bharat Devotion
Embroidered artwork for Lahanpan Dega Deva — Sant Tukaram Abhanga: Embroidered Om symbol above a brass diya, marigolds and a temple spire at sunrise

Lahanpan Dega Deva — Sant Tukaram Abhanga

AbhangasLord VitthalSant Tukaram

Lahanpan Dega Deva — Sant Tukaram Abhanga

Sant Tukaram prays for smallness: the ant tastes sugar while the great elephant bears the goad, so humility is the happier gift.

Verses

Lahaanpana degaa devaa, mungee saakharechaa ravaa

O Lord, grant me the blessing of smallness and humility! Look how the tiny ant enjoys sweet crystals of sugar.

Verse 1

Airaavata ratna thora, tyaasee ankushaachaa maara

The celestial elephant Airavata is deemed a magnificent jewel of great stature, yet he must constantly endure the painful blows of the mahout's iron goad.

Verse 2

Jayaa angi mothepana, tayaa yaatanaa katheena

Whosoever takes pride in exalted stature, power, or grandeur in this world must inevitably bear immense and agonizing hardships.

Verse 3

Tukaa mhane jaana, vhaave lahaanaahuna lahaana

Tuka says: Understand this eternal truth, and strive always to become smaller than the smallest in humility before God.

Verse 4

Worship Guidelines & Chanting Benefits (Phalashruti)

Auspicious Day

Daily or auspicious lunar days (Ekadashi, Purnima, Pradosham)

Best Time (Muhurta)

Brahma Muhurta (4:00 AM – 6:00 AM) or Evening Dusk (Sandhya)

Sacred Offerings

Ghee lamp (Deepa), Incense (Dhoopa), Fresh flowers & Water offering

Spiritual Benefits (Phalashruti)
  • Peace of mind, spiritual upliftment, and harmonious energy in the home

Background

Sant Tukaram (1608–1650) of Dehu is revered as the kalas, the crowning finial, of the Warkari tradition. In this composition, abhanga no. 1282 of the Tukaram Gatha, he turns to the universal human thirst for prestige and dominance. Using plain rural imagery, the tiny ant enjoying sugar and the royal elephant struck with the iron goad, he shows that spiritual sweetness belongs to those who become 'smaller than the smallest' before God.

About this Text

Composed by: Sant Tukaram · Medieval Warkari Poet-Saint · 17th century, Maharashtra

A householder-saint of the Warkari tradition from Dehu, Maharashtra, who composed thousands of Abhangas (devotional verses) to Vitthal in plain, direct Marathi, often reflecting on his own hardships, doubts, and everyday struggles as a grain merchant.

More by Sant Tukaram

Vrukshavalli Amha Soyare: Tukaram's Abhanga on SolitudeAamhi Jato Aamchya Gava — Sant Tukaram AbhangaAata Kothe Dhave Man — Sant Tukaram AbhangaAnandache Dohi Anand Tarang — Sant Tukaram AbhangaBheti Lagi Jiva Lagalise Aas — Sant Tukaram AbhangaHechi Daan Dega Deva — Sant Tukaram Abhanga

Did You Know?

The Ant and the Elephant

Tukaram's analogy of the ant (Mungi) and the elephant (Airavata) is one of the most frequently quoted philosophical metaphors across Maharashtra's cultural ethos.

Greatness and Its Price

The poem turns worldly ranking upside down: the elephant's size earns it the goad, while the ant's smallness lets it taste sugar freely.

Universal Satsang Anthem

This abhanga is sung as a foundational meditative lesson across all Warkari Kirtans to instill ego-surrender in spiritual seekers.

#Abhanga#Warkari#Sant Tukaram#Vitthal#Humility#Pandharpur
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Connected Teachings

The same teaching, echoed across traditions

HinduismDeva Tuza Mi Sonar — Sant Narhari Sonar's Goldsmith AbhangaHinduismKanda Mula Bhaji — Sant Savata Mali AbhangaHinduismAamhi Daivache Daivache — Sant Sena Nhavi AbhangaHinduismHechi Daan Dega Deva — Sant Tukaram Abhanga