Bhakta Tukaram was a contemporary of which Mughal emperor?

Correct Option

Bhakta Tukaram (1608-1650 CE) was a prominent Marathi saint and poet of the Bhakti movement. His active period largely coincided with the reign of the Mughal Emperor Jahangir (1605-1627 CE).

• Tukaram was a devotee of Vithoba (a form of Krishna) and belonged to the Varkari tradition of Maharashtra.
• He composed numerous Abhangas (devotional poems) in Marathi, which emphasized spiritual equality, devotion (Bhakti) over ritualism, and criticized caste distinctions.
• His teachings significantly influenced the socio-religious landscape of Maharashtra and continue to be revered.

Incorrect Options

• Babar (1526-1530 CE): Babar's reign predates Tukaram's birth by several decades, making them not contemporaries.
• Akbar (1556-1605 CE): Akbar's reign concluded just before Tukaram's birth in 1608 CE, thus they were not contemporaries.
• Aurangzeb (1658-1707 CE): Aurangzeb's reign began after Tukaram's demise in 1650 CE, indicating they were not contemporaries.