Vasudev - The Bhakti Cultivator of Maharashtra

Maharashtra has a long and proud tradition of song, dance, music and theatre. I remember my early days in Pune when I used to enjoy a large glass of sweet sugar cane juice listening to lullaby-like singing by the rural folks. Even the hard task of manually extracting the juice from sugar cane was lightened and made lively by a farmhand with his folk-songs!

As school-going kids in the city of Pune, my younger brother and I often used to watch with wonder some of the street singers and performers. A typical street song sounded more like a Bhajan in the glory of Lord Krishna. It went something like ...   

Govind Rama Ho, Gopala Rama Ji-Ji

Keshava Rama Ho, Madhava Rama Ji-Ji

The singer used to wear a colorful conical cap decorated with peacock feathers. Holding a chiplya in the hand and anklets tied to his legs to complement singing a folk song, the singer was seen by kids as an amusing personality. Until recently, I never knew the name of this particular tribe of street singers. A few days back, it was my dear brother who told me that such singers are called '"Vasudev."  

The bhajan-singing and entertaining heritage of Vasudev must be many centuries old. I understand that Vasudevs are still in existence though their population has dwindled rapidly over recent years.

From the name of the tribe and their songs, it is inferred that the Vasudevs worshipped Lord Krishna. Was not Vasudev father of Lord Krishna?

The Vasudev is part of a nomadic tribe of Maharashtra and keeps traveling from one place to another, entertaining people with traditional songs and verses. Some of them work in farms to make a living. Right in the morning, the vasudeo starts singing in the streets persuading people to perform selfless charity and worship to Lord Krishna. Like abhangs, the songs are composd in Marathi language.

Here is a sample song with a rough translation:

Balichya vanshi janma ghetla, Kaalicha dhanda sodu nako l

Aik paranya, tula sangato, Hari bhajlyavij rahu nako ll

(You have taken birth in a religious home, do not leave your farm work

Listen, I tell you, Do not stop worshiping Lord Krishna)

While propagating Bhakti, Vasudeo does not forget to ask people for help to fulfil his family responsibilities. The song goes further like:

Tumhi Aaya Baayanno dya Vasudevnila choli

Aho lahan mulichya dya angachi kaacholi.

(You ladies, please donate a blouse for my wife and a garment for my young daughter)

People of Maharashtra never made fun of the Vasudevs or looked upon them as beggars but used to treat them with respect and generosity.

Bhakti knows no bounds and Maharashtra is a forerunner in the matter of cultivating Bhajans and Bhakti both in the simplest ways. 

Vasudeo may be a very poor person but he has contributed immensely to build a rich tradition of Bhakti and Bhajans that add glory to Maharashtra and to the Hindu way of living!