Our Chitra Katha is drawn from the Abhangs of Chokha Mela - he composed about 350 of them. Chokha Mela's verses are a record of his spiritual growth. Born into a community considered untouchable, he wails:" My body is impure. My caste downtrodden. My character is despicable. My thoughts vile. My speech is not pure. I am humiliated by everyone. Such is my lot." The same Chokha later declares:"How can God be defiled by an untouchable? Who is pure and who is impure? God is above them both". As his faith in himself deepens, the lowly devotee, turned out of every temple he tries to enter, realizes at last that the greatest temple of God is man himself. With his new-found faith he sings:" My body is Pandhari. My Atma, the Lord. My peace, Rukmini". WhenChokha's faith in himself becomes total, he is ready for sainthood and he cries:" I am happy. I am happy. I have seen God in my own heart. I feel His presence everywhere. My body does not feel pain; does not feel anything, except God, everywhere".His wife, Soyrabai, and son, Karmamela, could not remain unaffected by the transformation of Chokha. About 60 Abhangs are attributed to Soyrabai. - from Amzon