Question

What is abhang?

Answer 1

Hint:
The word ‘abhang’ is a combination of words – A: meaning without & Bhang: stands for ending. It literally means something that is uninterrupted. This word became popular in the 1200s.

Complete step by step solution:
Abhang s are considered to be a part of Bhakti Sampradaya that began during the times of Sant Dnyaneshwar.

Abhang is a popular Hindi word used to describe a type of poetry that is sung as a devoted praise towards the Hindu god Vitthala, who is also called Vithoba. Its literal translations means an unflawed and perpetual procedure, thereby referring to the poems that are sung unceasingly by devotees of the god. They are mostly heard from pilgrims that travel to Pandharpur.

Abhanga has a definitive format which begins with ‘naman’ from worshipper to invoke the god, followed by ‘roopancha abhang’ to describe the human form of the god and is ended with a moral and religious message. This style of poetry brings people together to perform bhakti. This results in bringing communal harmony without any discrimination based on one’s financial stature, caste, creed and societal hierarchy.

Saint Tukaram, Saint Samarth Ramdas and Saint Eknath are known for various abhangs that were created by them for this bhakti movement. These centuries’ old poems are still sung by people at the various religious places

Note:
   Abhang is considered to be a form of ‘Ovi’. It means that it is a form of a prose that has rhythmical structure.
· These poems are usually used to narrate events about God Vitthala, who is a Hindu deity highly revered by people of Maharashtra. He is known as the avatar or manifestation of god Vishnu. His idols are seen and worshipped as a dark young boy standing on a brick where his arms are on his hips and elbows pointing outward.