Narayan Wamanrao Tilak (1861-1919) and Laxmi bai Tilak (1868-1936)

Narayan Waman Tilak, a renowned Marathi poet and a social reformer, is loved throughout Maharashtra as “the poet of children and flowers.” He was born into a Hindu Chitrapavan Brahmin family in Karajgaon village in the Ratnagiri District of Maharashtra on 6 December 1861.  Biographies of his life mention he was disliked by his father because he was born with feet first, which at that time was considered a bad omen in the Indian culture. During his education, he learned Sanskrit literature extensively. He later married to Manakaranika Gokhle, who then took the married name of Lakshmibai Tilak.

narayan wamanrao tilak and lakshmi bai tilak After completing his education, he took up several jobs in different places in Maharashtra such as a teacher, a Hindu priest and a press compositor. In 1893, Tilak traveled by train from Nagpur to Rajanandgaon Sansthan in search of a new job. Rajanandgaon Sansthan, in those times, was a princely state in the Central Province of India.  While on the train, he met a Christian missionary, who after     lengthly conversation, presented Tilak a copy of the Bible and whispered a “prophesy” in Tilak’s ears saying,“You will come under the  grace of Savior Jesus in less than two years.” Tilak was very disappointed in the Hindu caste system, with its emphasis on rituals and ceremonies in Hinduism. He was drawn to the teachings of the Jesus Christ in the Gospels, and after a series of life changing events, he decided to follow Jesus Christ in 1895. When Lakshmi bai heard about his decision, she was stunned. This led to a separation between the couple for some time. She started studying the Bible on her own and eventually felt the same interest and affection. She, too, accepted Jesus as her personal Savior in 1900. The couple resumed their married life together. After accepting Christ, Tilak primarily lived in the town of Ahmadnagar and served about 24 years as a preacher in the local church, until his death in 1919.

Christ Centered Work of Tilak

Tilak introduced using “Bhajans” and “Kirtan” to the Marathi church, enriching their devotional life by this art form familiar to them. He never gave up his Indian cultural birth right but brought the riches of Hindu heritage in to the Church. Narayan Wamanrao Tilak has written more than 2100 poems, some of them comprising hundreds of lines. He also started to compose, in Marathi, an epic titled “Khristayana”, describing the works of Jesus Christ in native Indian form. However, he died after finishing only ten of its chapters. Lakshmi bai later completed the epic by adding 64 chapters of her own. Laxmi bai also wrote her autobiography titled, “Smruti Chitre”, which was a masterpiece in Marathi literature. It was published in 1934-1937 in four parts. Narayan Waman Tilak’s work in Christian literature and poetry in the Marathi language has been immense, yet sadly, much forgotten over time.  However, his legacy and Christian influence still lives on in the many lives he touched through the love of Jesus Christ.

18 Responses

  1. Its realy very great. thanks.
    woud you please so any Poetry written by narayan waman tilak?

  2. narayan wamanrao tilak he was introduced christ using bhajans & kirtan & he share the gospel to unreached people , we have learn his life how to share gospal to unreached people.. & proclaim the Gods word in unbeliver ………….

  3. Please send me lyrics / text of poem Kshano kshani pade uthe paribale, a poem of Narayan Waman Tilak.

  4. Its great to read about N.V.TILAK and his wife ‘s dedication and service towards God in that era. The very strong point of his service for Christ was that his himself wrote the poems and bhagans in marathi which obviously touched the local peoples. He is the best example for us.

  5. Narayan Waman Tilak was a great example of believer and follower of GOD JESUS CHRIST he took 2 years to accept JESUS that means it was not an emotional decision but the divine calling of God.

  6. Praise God, The Lord Jesus Christ for His love for His people. I came to know
    Christ from Hindu background. He is my God and my Lord.

  7. क्षणोक्षणी पडे, उठे, परि बळे, उडे बापडी,
    चुके पथहि, येउनी स्तिमित दृष्टिला झापडी.
    किती घळघळा गळे रुधिर कोमलांगातुनी,
    तशीच निजकोटरा परत पातली पक्षिणी.

    म्हणे निजशिशूंप्रती, अधिक बोलवेना मला,
    तुम्हांस अजि अंतीचा कवळ एक मी आणला,
    करा मधुर हा! चला, भरविते तुम्हा एकदा,
    करी जतन यापुढे प्रभु पिता अनाथां सदा!

    अहा! मधुर गाउनी रमविले सकाळी जना,
    कृतघ्न मज मारतील नच ही मनी कल्पना,
    तुम्हांस्तव मुखी सुखे धरुन घांस झाडावरी
    क्षणैक बसले तो शिरे बाण माझ्या उरीं

    निघुन नरजातिला रमविण्यांत गेले वय,
    म्हणून वधिले मला! किती दया! कसा हा नय!
    उदार बहु शूर हा नर खरोखरी जाहला
    वधुनी मज पाखरा निरपराध की दुर्बला!

    म्हणाल, भुलली जगा, विसरली प्रियां लेकरां
    म्हणून अतिसंकटे उडत पातले मी घरा,
    नसे लवहि उष्णता, नच कुशीत माझ्या शिरा,
    स्मरा मजबरोबरी परि दयाघना खरा.

    असो, रुधिर वाहुनी नच भिजो सुशय्या तरी
    म्हणून तरुच्या तळी निजलि ती द्विजा भूवरी.
    जिवंत बहु बोलकें किति सुरम्य ते उत्पल,
    नरे धरुन नाशिले, खचित थोर बुध्दिबल.

    मातीत ते पसरिले अतिरम्य पंख,
    केले वरी उदर पांडुर निष्कलंक,
    चंचू तशीच उघडी पद लांबवीले,
    निष्प्राण देह पडला! श्रमही निमाले!

    – ना.वा.टिळक

  8. क्षणोक्षणी पडे, उठे, परि बळे, उडे बापडी,
    चुके पथहि, येउनी स्तिमित दृष्टिला झापडी.
    किती घळघळा गळे रुधिर कोमलांगातुनी,
    तशीच निजकोटरा परत पातली पक्षिणी.

    म्हणे निजशिशूंप्रती, अधिक बोलवेना मला,
    तुम्हांस अजि अंतीचा कवळ एक मी आणला,
    करा मधुर हा! चला, भरविते तुम्हा एकदा,
    करी जतन यापुढे प्रभु पिता अनाथां सदा!

    अहा! मधुर गाउनी रमविले सकाळी जना,
    कृतघ्न मज मारतील नच ही मनी कल्पना,
    तुम्हांस्तव मुखी सुखे धरुन घांस झाडावरी
    क्षणैक बसले तो शिरे बाण माझ्या उरीं

    निघुन नरजातिला रमविण्यांत गेले वय,
    म्हणून वधिले मला! किती दया! कसा हा नय!
    उदार बहु शूर हा नर खरोखरी जाहला
    वधुनी मज पाखरा निरपराध की दुर्बला!

    म्हणाल, भुलली जगा, विसरली प्रियां लेकरां
    म्हणून अतिसंकटे उडत पातले मी घरा,
    नसे लवहि उष्णता, नच कुशीत माझ्या शिरा,
    स्मरा मजबरोबरी परि दयाघना खरा.

    असो, रुधिर वाहुनी नच भिजो सुशय्या तरी
    म्हणून तरुच्या तळी निजलि ती द्विजा भूवरी.
    जिवंत बहु बोलकें किति सुरम्य ते उत्पल,
    नरे धरुन नाशिले, खचित थोर बुध्दिबल.

    मातीत ते पसरिले अतिरम्य पंख,
    केले वरी उदर पांडुर निष्कलंक,
    चंचू तशीच उघडी पद लांबवीले,
    निष्प्राण देह पडला! श्रमही निमाले!

    – ना.वा.टिळक

  9. I remebere old poem in our text book of Primari Marathi school. Kshanokshanipade uthe paribale, ude bapadi. I searched on Google. And I was happy to read old poem, full of sorrow. touching heart, & tearing eyes.. I would like to reproduce it here the copy of Original one.

    क्षणोक्षणी पडे, उठे, परि बळे, उडे बापडी,
    चुके पथहि, येउनी स्तिमित दृष्टिला झापडी.
    किती घळघळा गळे रुधिर कोमलांगातुनी,
    तशीच निजकोटरा परत पातली पक्षिणी.

    म्हणे निजशिशूंप्रती, अधिक बोलवेना मला,
    तुम्हांस अजि अंतीचा कवळ एक मी आणला,
    करा मधुर हा! चला, भरविते तुम्हा एकदा,
    करी जतन यापुढे प्रभु पिता अनाथां सदा!

    अहा! मधुर गाउनी रमविले सकाळी जना,
    कृतघ्न मज मारतील नच ही मनी कल्पना,
    तुम्हांस्तव मुखी सुखे धरुन घांस झाडावरी
    क्षणैक बसले तो शिरे बाण माझ्या उरीं

    निघुन नरजातिला रमविण्यांत गेले वय,
    म्हणून वधिले मला! किती दया! कसा हा नय!
    उदार बहु शूर हा नर खरोखरी जाहला
    वधुनी मज पाखरा निरपराध की दुर्बला!

    म्हणाल, भुलली जगा, विसरली प्रियां लेकरां
    म्हणून अतिसंकटे उडत पातले मी घरा,
    नसे लवहि उष्णता, नच कुशीत माझ्या शिरा,
    स्मरा मजबरोबरी परि दयाघना खरा.

    असो, रुधिर वाहुनी नच भिजो सुशय्या तरी
    म्हणून तरुच्या तळी निजलि ती द्विजा भूवरी.
    जिवंत बहु बोलकें किति सुरम्य ते उत्पल,
    नरे धरुन नाशिले, खचित थोर बुध्दिबल.

    मातीत ते पसरिले अतिरम्य पंख,
    केले वरी उदर पांडुर निष्कलंक,
    चंचू तशीच उघडी पद लांबवीले,
    निष्प्राण देह पडला! श्रमही निमाले!

    – ना.वा.टिळक

    The poem tell how hopeless mankind is. It is the Human Attitude!?

  10. Million thanks for Shanoshani!
    I was searching for this poem after my Father died 10 years ago. Because he used to sing this poem (very nicely) or us when we were kids (we are three brothers) and after that he used to sing this for our kids. I at least would like to let this poem is known to my grand kids and hence I was searching it.. Thanks once again, God Bless YOU!

  11. please send me Narayan vaman tilak poem Tav tak tav samardhir chal la zunjaya.

    Warm Regards
    Sam

  12. I would like to receive the poem :” Ekate kaanani pushpa vrikshaavari, shobhate tya kuni paahile naa jari” please let me have the full poem, which we learnt in primary school around 1950 _52.

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