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Pills of Positivity 4 - Kabir and his couplets.
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This latest edition is one more in this series by me which tells about various enlightened saints from throughout India who collectively gave rise to the ‘Bhakti Movement’ (Devotional Movement) in India, which emancipated Indians from the rigid caste and class hierarchy, and in a very egalitarian way taught them all to be devoted to one single God (who has multitude of names and forms).
Most of the saints of the Bhakti Movement also showed contempt towards heavy-inclination towards ritualism (which is called ‘Karma-Kanda’). Instead, those saints emphasized that in order to be truly spiritual; a man only needed to be purely devoted to him, without becoming twisted in the maze of ritualism, scriptural injunctions, superstitions, caste and class prejudices or illogical customs.
My life changed for good when one-day I coincidentally listened to a contemporary rendition of a certain devotional song, from the Youtube channel called ‘Aks and Lakshmi’. Since then I’ve explored the songs and music of many other devotional artists from India, but Aks and Lakshmi would always hold the most special place in my heart.
In the fourth edition of this series; I’d like to briefly share about the life and works of Saint Kabir who was born in 1398 A.D or 1440 A.D - Varanasi, India. Many legends surround Kabir Das’s life, according to which he was found and raised by a Muslim weaver named Neeru and his wife Nira. Throughout his life he showed a critical attitude for both the unethical practices which were being blindly carried around by Hindus and Muslims, and like a roaming bard; Kabir preached the way of ‘truth’ (meaning God) and ‘Bhakti’ (devotion) as means to experience that truth ourselves, by not merely relying on scriptures, traditions, customs, or even hearing the sermons of Godmen!
Kabir is today famous for his couplets (called ‘Dohe’ in Hindi and Awadhi Language). In just two lines Kabir would glue his audiences , like how bees start buzzing around a sweet-flower. In his vast bibliography full of short & terse couplets Kabir not only chided the blind-believers of any religion, but also emphasized the need for all the religions and its believers to collectively merge for the harmony of the world, realize the truth called ‘God, together.
I’m here sharing two of my most favorite couplets of mine, whose contemporary (melodious) renditions can be listened to by visiting Aks and Lakshmi’s Youtube channel :
“Main Kehta Aankhon Ki Dekhi…Tu Kehta Kaagaz Ki Lekhi…Tere Mera Manwa Ek Kaise Hoyye Re…Main Kehta Aankhon Ki Dekhi…Tu Kehta Kaagaz Ki Lekhi…Tere Mera Manwa Ek Kaise Hoyye Re…”
English translation : “I’m telling you that I’ve seen and experienced the truth (God) with my own eyes…And you are telling me that everything written in your scriptures is only truth…So tell me how can both of us be the same?”
Explanation : In this couplet Kabir has warned the spiritual seekers and relying on only obsessive reading of the scriptures wouldn’t take those seekers anywhere in their spiritual journey. Rather, our very life should become conducive for experiencing the spiritual truth.
“Dheere Dheere Re Manaa…Dheere Dheere Re Manaa…Dheere Sab Kuch Hoi Re…Maali Siche Sau Ghada….Ritu Aaye…Fal Hoye…”
English translation : “Have patience human…Have patience…All’s good for those who wait. Just imagine a Gardner who desires fruits in his orchard…So rather than making his plant drink buckets and buckets of water…The Gardener makes it drink only a small pot of water a hundred times, after which during the season of the fruits arrive, the Gardner is blessed with those fruits.”
Explanation : In this couplet Kabir has explained humans the value of consistency and patience by giving an analogy of a Gardner (or an orchard owner). He tells that just like a Gardner desirous of fruits, makes his plant consistently drink small pot-full of water, only after which he is blessed with those fruits, similarly if we humans desire any goal, we should have patience and we should be consistent in our hard work and balanced in our efforts, only after which we are booned with achieving those goals.
© Kishan Trivedi
#kabir #bhakti #contemporary #pillsofpositivity #feelgood #series
_______________________________________
This latest edition is one more in this series by me which tells about various enlightened saints from throughout India who collectively gave rise to the ‘Bhakti Movement’ (Devotional Movement) in India, which emancipated Indians from the rigid caste and class hierarchy, and in a very egalitarian way taught them all to be devoted to one single God (who has multitude of names and forms).
Most of the saints of the Bhakti Movement also showed contempt towards heavy-inclination towards ritualism (which is called ‘Karma-Kanda’). Instead, those saints emphasized that in order to be truly spiritual; a man only needed to be purely devoted to him, without becoming twisted in the maze of ritualism, scriptural injunctions, superstitions, caste and class prejudices or illogical customs.
My life changed for good when one-day I coincidentally listened to a contemporary rendition of a certain devotional song, from the Youtube channel called ‘Aks and Lakshmi’. Since then I’ve explored the songs and music of many other devotional artists from India, but Aks and Lakshmi would always hold the most special place in my heart.
In the fourth edition of this series; I’d like to briefly share about the life and works of Saint Kabir who was born in 1398 A.D or 1440 A.D - Varanasi, India. Many legends surround Kabir Das’s life, according to which he was found and raised by a Muslim weaver named Neeru and his wife Nira. Throughout his life he showed a critical attitude for both the unethical practices which were being blindly carried around by Hindus and Muslims, and like a roaming bard; Kabir preached the way of ‘truth’ (meaning God) and ‘Bhakti’ (devotion) as means to experience that truth ourselves, by not merely relying on scriptures, traditions, customs, or even hearing the sermons of Godmen!
Kabir is today famous for his couplets (called ‘Dohe’ in Hindi and Awadhi Language). In just two lines Kabir would glue his audiences , like how bees start buzzing around a sweet-flower. In his vast bibliography full of short & terse couplets Kabir not only chided the blind-believers of any religion, but also emphasized the need for all the religions and its believers to collectively merge for the harmony of the world, realize the truth called ‘God, together.
I’m here sharing two of my most favorite couplets of mine, whose contemporary (melodious) renditions can be listened to by visiting Aks and Lakshmi’s Youtube channel :
“Main Kehta Aankhon Ki Dekhi…Tu Kehta Kaagaz Ki Lekhi…Tere Mera Manwa Ek Kaise Hoyye Re…Main Kehta Aankhon Ki Dekhi…Tu Kehta Kaagaz Ki Lekhi…Tere Mera Manwa Ek Kaise Hoyye Re…”
English translation : “I’m telling you that I’ve seen and experienced the truth (God) with my own eyes…And you are telling me that everything written in your scriptures is only truth…So tell me how can both of us be the same?”
Explanation : In this couplet Kabir has warned the spiritual seekers and relying on only obsessive reading of the scriptures wouldn’t take those seekers anywhere in their spiritual journey. Rather, our very life should become conducive for experiencing the spiritual truth.
“Dheere Dheere Re Manaa…Dheere Dheere Re Manaa…Dheere Sab Kuch Hoi Re…Maali Siche Sau Ghada….Ritu Aaye…Fal Hoye…”
English translation : “Have patience human…Have patience…All’s good for those who wait. Just imagine a Gardner who desires fruits in his orchard…So rather than making his plant drink buckets and buckets of water…The Gardener makes it drink only a small pot of water a hundred times, after which during the season of the fruits arrive, the Gardner is blessed with those fruits.”
Explanation : In this couplet Kabir has explained humans the value of consistency and patience by giving an analogy of a Gardner (or an orchard owner). He tells that just like a Gardner desirous of fruits, makes his plant consistently drink small pot-full of water, only after which he is blessed with those fruits, similarly if we humans desire any goal, we should have patience and we should be consistent in our hard work and balanced in our efforts, only after which we are booned with achieving those goals.
© Kishan Trivedi
#kabir #bhakti #contemporary #pillsofpositivity #feelgood #series
