vitthalpandurangapandharpurabhang

Sundar Te Dhyan

सुंदर ते ध्यान in English · English

🕉️ hindu·📿 1× repetitions·🕐 Morning or evening worship; Ekadashi and Ashadhi/Kartiki Wari·📜 Tukaram Gatha (Marathi abhang tradition of the Varkari sampradaya)

Read in your language / script

हिन्दी / देवनागरी తెలుగు தமிழ்ಕನ್ನಡ മലയാളം ગુજરાતી বাংলা ଓଡ଼ିଆ ਪੰਜਾਬੀEnglishසිංහල 𑌗𑍍𑌰𑌨𑍍𑌥

✦ Meaning

Sundar Te Dhyan is one of Sant Tukaram's most cherished abhangs, a loving meditation on the standing form of Vitthal (Panduranga) at Pandharpur. Verse by verse it paints the Lord — hands on His waist, tulsi garland, yellow silk, makara earrings and the Kaustubha gem — and concludes that simply gazing on His face is the devotee's entire happiness. It is sung throughout Maharashtra in Varkari bhajan and daily worship.

Origin & Story

Tukaram Gatha (Marathi abhang tradition of the Varkari sampradaya) · Sant Tukaram · 17th century CE

Sant Tukaram of Dehu poured his devotion to Vitthal into thousands of abhangs collected as the Tukaram Gatha. In 'Sundar Te Dhyan' he lovingly contemplates the standing image of Panduranga at Pandharpur — the form with hands on the waist that has drawn pilgrims for centuries. Rather than asking for anything, Tukaram declares that simply beholding the Lord's blessed face (Shrimukh) is the whole of happiness, making the abhang a model of pure, desireless devotion.

✦ As told in scripture

It is told of Sant Tukaram that his abhangs, once cast into the Indrayani river by those who opposed him, were miraculously restored after thirteen days of his unbroken prayer to Vitthal — a sign, devotees say, that the Lord Himself guarded the songs in which His beautiful form is so lovingly meditated upon.

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Complete Text with Meaning

Tap any line — or the ▶ button — to hear it recited

Verse 1

Sundar Te Dhyan Ubhe Vitevari | Kar Katavari Thevuniya ||

Meaning:Beautiful is that form worthy of meditation, standing upon the brick, His hands resting upon His waist.

Verse 2

Tulasihar Gala Kase Pitambar | Aavade Nirantar Techi Dhyan ||

Meaning:A garland of tulsi about His neck, yellow silk wrapped at His waist — that very vision is ever-dear to me, beyond all ending.

Verse 3

Makarakundale Talapati Shravani | Kanthi Kaustubhamani Virajit ||

Meaning:Makara ear-ornaments glitter upon His ears, and on His breast the Kaustubha jewel shines in splendour.

Verse 4

Tuka Mhane Majhe Hechi Sarva Sukh | Paahin Shrimukh Aavadine ||

Meaning:Tuka says: this alone is all my happiness — to gaze, again and again with loving delight, upon that blessed face.

Word-by-Word Meaning

Click any word to hear its pronunciation

Sundar Te Dhyan🔊That beautiful form (worthy of meditation)

Ubhe Vitevari🔊Standing upon the brick (the vit at Pandharpur)

Kar Katavari🔊Hands placed upon the waist (the iconic Vitthal posture)

Thevuniya🔊Having placed / resting

Tulasihar🔊A garland of tulsi (holy basil) leaves

Gala🔊Around the neck

Kase Pitambar🔊Yellow silk (pitambara) wrapped at the waist

Aavade Nirantar🔊Ever-dear, beloved without end

Techi Dhyan🔊That very form, that meditation

Makarakundale🔊Fish/crocodile-shaped ear-ornaments (makara kundalas)

Talapati Shravani🔊Glitter and sparkle upon the ears

Kanthi🔊Upon the throat / chest

Kaustubhamani🔊The Kaustubha jewel (the famous gem worn by Vishnu)

Virajit🔊Shines resplendently

Tuka Mhane🔊Tuka (Sant Tukaram) says

Hechi Sarva Sukh🔊This alone is all my happiness

Paahin Shrimukh🔊I shall gaze upon the blessed face

Aavadine🔊With loving delight

Benefits of Chanting सुंदर ते ध्यान

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Establishes a clear, beautiful mental image of Vitthal for steady meditation (dhyana)

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Fills the heart with santosha (contentment), teaching that the Lord's darshan is itself complete happiness

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A perfect bhajan to begin or close daily worship in the Varkari tradition

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Cultivates one-pointed devotion and turns the restless mind toward the Lord's form

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Simple, melodious and easy for the whole family to learn and sing

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Especially loved on Ekadashi and during the Pandharpur Wari

How to Chant सुंदर ते ध्यान

Repetitions1times

Best TimeMorning or evening worship; Ekadashi and Ashadhi/Kartiki Wari

Sit calmly before an image of Vitthal, close your eyes, and as you sing each line build the picture the abhang describes — the brick, the hands on the waist, the tulsi garland, the earrings, the Kaustubha jewel. Let the song become a guided meditation (dhyana) on the Lord's form, ending by resting the mind on His blessed face. It is often sung together with 'Yei O Vitthala' and the Pandurang aarti.

Frequently Asked Questions

This page shows the complete सुंदर ते ध्यान written in the English script — the same Sanskrit/Hindi verses, transliterated character-by-character so you can read and chant comfortably. Tap any line (or the ▶ button) to hear it recited aloud.

Yes — only the script changes; the words and their meaning are the original. The verse-by-verse meaning, benefits and how-to-chant guidance on this page apply exactly the same.

It means 'That beautiful form (worthy of meditation)'. The abhang is a contemplative description of Vitthal standing on the brick at Pandharpur, meant to fix that beautiful image in the devotee's mind.

It was composed by Sant Tukaram (17th century), the great Varkari poet-saint of Dehu, whose abhangs to Vitthal (Panduranga) are sung across Maharashtra. The signature line 'Tuka Mhane' (Tuka says) marks it as his.

The detailed description of the tulsi garland, yellow silk, makara earrings and Kaustubha jewel is a meditation aid: by dwelling on each beautiful feature, the devotee's wandering mind becomes absorbed in the Lord's form (saguna dhyana).

It is sung in daily morning or evening worship, during bhajan and kirtan, on Ekadashi, and especially during the Ashadhi and Kartiki pilgrimages to Pandharpur.