Image of Vithoba - I

 Introduction:

Dilip Chitre is one of the foremost Indian poets, a notable bilingual writer in Marathi and English, and a versatile artist. He was a significant figure in post-Independence Indian literature and a key influence in the "little magazine movement" of the 1960s in Marathi literature. 

Dilip Chitre is also an important translator. He translated Saint Tukaram and Saint Dnyaneshwar into English. The poem ‘The Image of Vithoba’ is taken from his translated book ‘Says Tuka’. The poem is a translation of one of Saint Tukaram’s abhangas.

The main theme of the poem is devotional love. The poem celebrates the deep emotional and spiritual connection between the bhakta (devotee) and Lord Vithoba. It expresses bhakti, peace, and inner joy.

The poem:

The poem describes the beautiful and divine image of Lord Vithoba (Vitthala), the beloved deity of Maharashtra. The poet presents Vithoba as standing in a deep, peaceful trance on a brick, with his arms akimbo (hands on his hips), the familiar traditional posture seen in Pandharpur.

The poet describes the saint-like ornaments Vithoba wears:

• a garland of tulsi (sweet basil),
• a yellow silk garment,
• crocodile-shaped earrings, and
• the Kaustubha stone shining at his throat.

The poet admires both Vithoba’s appearance and the spiritual calm that surrounds him.

In the last lines, the poet speaks through the voice of Saint Tukaram (Tuka). Tuka says that seeing Vithoba in this form brings him complete bliss. His own loving devotion meets the divine beauty of the god — “The loving eyes are mine, the loved face His.” It shows the intimate, personal bond between the devotee and the deity.

The language of the poem is simple, musical, and devotional. The short lines create a calm rhythm, matching the peaceful stance of Vithoba. The poem reads like a prayer or meditation.