MYSTIC POET SAINT KABIR BHAJANS (VOL 15) DOWN MEMORY LANE!
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| Saint Kabir |
My favorite Kabir Bhajans
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| Anup Jalota |
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| Bhimsen Joshi |
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| Lata Mangeshkar |
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| Haridas Giri |
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| Jagjit Singh |
My Journey towards Saint Kabir started around 20 years back. Being a Tamilian from the land of Tamil poet Kannadasan, this journey had not been easy. Language proficiency is required to understand saint Kabir’s philosophical thinking.
I was then living in Hyderabad. One morning I listened to a Bhajan Sandya program in TV broadcast by Doordarshan rendered by Anup Jalota. Something attracted me towards that Bhajan. Till then other than film music about which I am passionate, I listen to mostly Carnatic music. This is the song that touched me.
Krodh na Chhoda Jhoot na Choda……
I went to Music World in Hyderabad and got the cassette containing that program Bhajan. I took that cassette to Chennai and showed to my wife’s cousin late Dr Jayashankar a IITM Professor who was a saint by himself.
He interpreted the meaning of this Bhajan.
Interpretation:
Did not abstain
from anger, Did not abstain from falsehood
Why did you
withdraw from the True Word?
Why did you
relinquish {japa}silent prayer?
Longing inwardly
for this false world
Why did you
forget the Real World?
You preserved
sea shells[seashells are equated to wealth}
Left off the Precious
Jewel
The memory of
that name which brings eternal bliss
That memory, why
did you omit?
God assures
Deliverance,
Why did not
leave body, mind, wealth
Why did [you]
leave the silent prayer?
Jayashankar said that what I have got is only a
tip of the iceberg. He then introduced me to the world of Kabir.
I came back to Hyderabad and started looking
for more devotional cassettes. Believe it or not, choosing a good devotional
cassette is the most difficult thing from my experience. This world is full of
remixes including in devotional. Most of the devotional cassettes are not devotional
but only commercial filmy type!
I spent hours in Music World and bought a few cassettes. But I had a new problem. I
do not Know Hindi as well as Sanskrit.
There was no Google search at that time like
now. I could not understand the meaning to follow these Bhajans which was in chaste Hindi. I went to Higginbothams
and other Bookshops to see whether I can get English translated Books on Kabir Bhajans. Unfortunately, I could
not find any at that time.
Then I thought of this idea and bought Hindi to
English Dictionary and started literally translating these songs. It was a
real tough job. It used to take me 3 to 4 hours to translate one song.
Today’s technology all this may sound weird as
everything is at your fingertips now through Search. However, from my experience
when you struggle to learn something it gets embedded deep inside and makes a
lifetime impact than the one available instantly.
As we came to US this journey of getting bhajans
CD became more difficult as this genre of music is not commonly available in the
Indian stores. I used to request relatives coming from India to get some Kabir Bhajans and as years went by
this has become a passion and we now have a decent collection.
Here is Kabir Bhajan with the golden voice of my
favorite Jagjit Singh who can touch the soul with his plain rendering.
Beet Gaye Din Bhajan Bina Re
Our life passed away
without devotion to God. I spent my childhood playing, in my
youth my pride overtook me.
I have lost most of my life in useless pursuits and the desires of my mind and
senses are still not quenched. Old age passes away by brooding/worrying over
many things. At no stage does a man turn his mind to God.
Kabir says listen o Sadho (seeker),
the saints dwelling on HIS name have crossed this ceaseless ocean of the world.
The message here is to withdraw from the attachment to the sense/material object
and be attached to the Lord.
Bhimsen Joshi as always is a powerhouse who can create
wonders with his modulation in his inimitable style and vidwat and here is my
favorite Kabir bhajan by Pandit
Mat Kar Moh Tu
Interpretation
Nightingale Lata Mangeshkar is not only famous for
her film songs and she has sung devotional bhajans and this song of Kabir with Roop Kumar Rathod
Na Hi Dharmi Na Hi
Adharmi
Translation
Neither am I Righteous nor
Non-Righteous
Neither am I an Ascetic nor a Sensualist
Neither Do I Speak nor Do I Listen
Neither Am I a Servant nor a Master
Neither Am I Constrained nor Liberated
Neither Am I Sad nor Jubilant
Neither Am I Distinctly Isolated from Anything
Nor Am I Identified Completely with Anything
Neither Do I go to the World of Hell
Nor Do I Proceed to the World of Heaven
All Actions are Really My Actions
But Yet I am Distinct From the Actions
This Truth Only A Rare Exceptional One Realizes
Such A Person Sits in Quiescence
Oh Kabir Don't Bring Forth Any Creation
And Don't Efface Anything Either
This song exemplifies vintage Kabir
mysticism. Since the ultimate cannot be truly described in language or by using
analogies from the physical reality, Kabir uses the concept of negation as a
means of instruction.
It is made clear that the path of
righteousness is as binding as the path of non-righteousness, because worldly
matters veritably drive both of these. By negating these polar views the
song indicates an approach that tries to do neither - leading a natural and
spontaneous existence where the path emerges as the journey proceeds.
Kabir bhajans are very popular in North India.
In South also become popular thanks to late Haridas Giri through his Namasankeerthanam. His vision of Kabir was in his powerful rendering which is how a nama
sankeerthanam should be for others to follow. He created awareness of the greatness
of Kabir to the Carnatic audience and also musicians who followed him everywhere.
His death was a big blow for south for the devotional music lovers.
Bhajore Bhaiya Ram Govinda Hari
Meaning
Sing o brother glory of ram govind hari
For doing this neither will have to do japa or practice or other austerities and
It doesn't even cost you anything. It is not the only aim of human beings to
please his children and get wealth. Kabir says the mouth that does not utter the
Ram Naam is as good as soiled.
What I
liked about Kabir's Bhajans is its simplicity and his firm belief in what he
says. Kabir touches the
soul, the conscience, the sense of awareness and the vitality of existence in a
manner that is unequalled in both simplicity and style.
Last few years I have chosen this Bhajan path and with no formal training I should say these Bhajans has given me new meaning to life. Atleast one Kabir Bhajan will be in my prayers. These bhajans when I sing understanding the meaning keeps me grounded and removes my ego and pride as and when it raises and accept the blessing of god with gratitude.
To Be Concluded
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