Mar 28, 2015

Guru Vinya Ghor Andhaaro





Guru shatters the pitch darkness, the lamp destroys the utter blackness, says Kabir, urging us to light the lamp in our own self-temple. As he says, light the lamp and there's radiance!

I learnt this song from Asariya Bhai Jagariya of Kutch, Gujarat. 'Jagariya' means one who awakens.Watch his beautiful rendition with his mandali on 'Ajab Shahar' here.

Jal vinya jyot, pavan vinya paani
Al pal vaar leher laagi re
Mandariye maan
Deepak baryo ajvaado

Guru vinya ghor andhaaro mandariye maan
Divle vinya ghor andhaaro mandariye maan
Deepak baryo ajvaado

Etleek chhe potli padi jaase hethi
Padi jaase maati maaylo gaaro re
Mandariye maan
Deepak baryo ajvaado

Seelari nu saanto ras bharyo meetho
Guriye guriye ras nyaaro re
Mandariye maan
Deepak baryo ajvaado

Haath maan chhe vaatko ne saaro sheher bhatkyo
Moorakhda ne tel nahin aale koi udhaaro re
Mandariye maan
Deepak baryo ajvaado

Kaho ho Kabir suno bhai saadho
Naam liyo nirakaaro re
Naam liyo niradhaaro re
Mandariye maan
Deepak baryo ajvaado 

Guru Shatters the Pitch Darkness

Water douses fire, wind dries up water
Each moment a new wave rises
In the temple
Light the lamp and there’s radiance

The guru shatters the pitch darkness
In the temple
The lamp dispels the utter darkness
In the temple
Light the lamp and there’s radiance

Such a small bundle
It will bite the dust one day
It will mingle with the mud
In the temple
Light the lamp and there’s radiance

The sugarcane stem
Is juicy and sweet
Each knot has a special taste
In the temple
Light the lamp and there’s radiance

Begging bowl in hand
You went round the whole town
No one lends oil to a fool
In the temple
Light the lamp and there’s radiance

Says Kabir, listen seekers
Dwell upon the formless
Take the name of the nameless
In the temple
Light the lamp and there’s radiance

(translation by Vipul Rikhi and Shabnam Virmani)

Feb 20, 2015

Milo re Milo




Oh, to meet someone from my own land, says Gorakh, and be able to exchange a few words with him. As the saint-poets often say, no one here understands our language. They speak a different tongue.

This is a song from Malwa, which we learnt from Kaluramji.

Milo re milo koi mhaara des ra
Do do baataan karaanga ji

Lakkad lakkad sab ek hai
Ek hi maalik ne gadhiya ji
Ek lakkad toh dhooni mein jale
Dooji mahalaan mein jadiya ji
Milo re milo...

Patthar patthar sab ek hai
Ek hi maalik ne gadhiya ji
Ek patthar ki moorat bani
Dooji seedhi mein jadiya ji
Milo re milo...

Dharti maata ra choolha kariya
Aasmaan kiya hai kadhela ji
Chaar jugaan ke phoonkan diya
Dhuan gagan samaana ji
Milo re milo...

Dui kar jod Gorakh boliya
Paaya hai vaikunth vaasa ji
Jin ne ratiya nij naam ko
Voi nar sant sujaana ji
Pahunchooga sat dhaama ji
Milo re milo... 

Someone from my Land

Oh, to meet someone from my land
And have a few words with him

This wood, that wood, they’re all one
The same master made them all
This wood burns in a sacred fire
That one’s studded in a palace wall
Oh, to meet…

This stone, that stone, they’re all one
That master fabricated them both
This stone becomes part of the idol
That one’s on the temple floor
Oh, to meet…

Mother earth, the firewood stove
The sky transforms to a cauldron
All four ages tossed in the fire
The smoke rises up to the heavens
Oh, to meet…

Gorakh folds his hands in prayer
He’s found his place in heaven
One who remembers the true name
Arrives at the true destination
Oh, to meet…

(translation by Vipul Rikhi)

Feb 3, 2015

Aisi Mhaari Preet



With Diwali firecrackers as the backdrop, this live recording from a satsang in Pune in November last year speaks of an intensely intimate love: like the vine for the tree, like the fish for the sea. This beloved is closer than one’s own heartbeat.

We learnt this song from Prahladji, among the many others that he’s been and continues to be an amazing channel for. The sweetness of the Malwi dialect adds its own special flavour to the song. With much gratitude to Sheetal Vaidya, Neerad Trivedi and aunty for hosting the satsang and for this recording.

Aisi mhaari preet nibhaavajo
Ho nirdhan ka ho Raam
Aisi mhaari preet nibhaavajo
Ho durbal ka ho Raam
Bhavsaagar mein bhoolo mati

Tam toh jharkat ham beladi
Raanga tam se liptaaye
Tam toh dhaldo ne ham sookhi jaavaan
Mhaara kai ho havaal?
Aisi mhaari preet nibhaavajo…

Tam toh samdar ham maachhali
Raanga tamaara ho maay
Tam toh sookho ne ham mari jaavaan
Mhaara kai ho havaal?
Aisi mhaari preet nibhaavajo…

Tam toh baadal ham moriya
Raanga tam se judaaye
Raanga tam se harkaaye
Tam toh garjo ne ham boliya
Tam toh barso ne ham boliya
Mhaara kai ho havaal?
Aisi mhaari preet nibhaavajo…

Kahe ho Kabir Dharmidas se
Piyu thaara ghat maay
Piyu hirday dhadkaaye
Aisi mhaari preet nibhaavajo…

Be True to My Love

Be true to my love
Like the poor have no one but their Raam
Be true to my love
Like the weak have nothing but their faith
Don’t leave me alone in this life-ocean

You are the tree, and I the creeper
I’ll stay in your embrace
If you wither, I’ll dry up too
What will happen to me without you?
Be true to my love…

You are the sea, and I the fish
I’ll stay immersed in you
If you dry up, I’ll die too
What would I be without you?
Be true to me love…

You are the cloud, I the peacock
I’m connected to you
I get great joy from you
When you rain, I sing and dance
What would I be without you?
Be true to my love…

Kabir says, O Dharamdas
The beloved is within your body
The beloved is your own heartbeat
Don’t leave me alone in this life-ocean
Be true to my love…

(translated by Vipul Rikhi)

Jan 9, 2015

Hiye Kaaya Mein



In yet another song on the body, Kabir meditates on the fragility of our lives - like a necklace of pearls that will scatter, like a garden of flowers that will be grazed away, or like a clay pot that will shatter one day. This body is also described as a marketplace, where one must strike a good bargain.

We learnt this beautiful song from Mooralala ji. This is a live recording (hence the low levels) made in Rome by the renowned oral historian, Alessandro Portelli, who had warmly invited and hosted us. Singing here at the Apollo Film Club as part of our tour of Europe in 2014.

Hiye kaaya mein bartan maati ro
Hiye dehi mein bartan maati ro
Phooti jaase nahin kare ranako
Sahib hamko darr laage ek din ro

Ek hi din ro, ghadi palak ro
Nahin re bharoso ek hi pal ro
Sahib hamko darr laage ek din ro

Hiye kaaya mein maala motiyan ki
Tooti jaase doro roodho tan ko
Sahib hamko darr laage ek din ro

Hiye kaaya mein haat bajaara
Sauda kari le ho roodho pal ro
Sahib hamko darr laage ek din ro

Hiye kaaya mein vaadi phuliyan ki
Mriga chari jaaye ho roodho van ro
Sahib hamko darr laage ek din ro

Ek din aavse, sab ne bulaavse
Lekha lese raai til ro
Sahib hamko darr laage ek din ro

Kahat Kabira suno bhai saadho
Pehla hai naam alakh ro
Sahib hamko darr laage ek din ro 

In This Body 

In this body, a vessel of clay
It will shatter
Then never resound

I fear that day, lord
Just one day, one moment
The blink of an eyelid
Can you trust
A single instant?

In this body, a string of pearls
The thread of this body
Will snap one day
I fear that day, lord…

In this body, a market bustles
Find a true saint
Strike a good bargain
I fear that day, lord…

In this body, a field of flowers
A deer grazes away
The beautiful garden
I fear that day, lord…

A day will come
Each one will be called
An account taken
Of every moment
I fear that day, lord…

Says Kabir, listen seekers
First and foremost
Remember the invisible
I fear that day, lord…

(Translation by Vipul Rikhi and Shabnam Virmani)

Jan 2, 2015

Haman Hain Ishq Mastaana



A classic Kabir song, 'Haman hain' describes his state of utter freedom and aloofness from attachments to or requirements from the world. He doesn't need to keep it happy anymore, he doesn't need to be in bed with it anymore. He has banished duality from his heart. This composition is by the wonderful Bindhumalini and Vedanth Bharadwaj. Find more songs at www.ishqfakiri.com

Haman hain ishq mastaana
Haman ko hoshiyaari kya?
Rahein aazaad ya jag se
Haman duniya se yaari kya?

Jo bichhude hain piyaare se
Bhatakte dar badar phirte
Hamaara yaar hai ham mein
Haman ko intezaari kya?

Na pal bichhude piya ham se
Na ham bichhude piyaare se
Unhi se neh laagi hai
Haman ko beqaraari kya?

Kabira ishq ka maata
Dui ko door kar dil se
Jo chalna raah naazuk hai
Haman sir bojh bhaari kya?

I’m Drunk on Love

I’m drunk on love
Why be clever anymore?
Free of worldliness
Why befriend the world anymore?

They wander who are lost
Separated from the beloved
My beloved dwells in me
Why wilt in waiting anymore?

Not once did I lose sight of him
Not once did he leave my side
My heart’s strings are tied to him
I don’t toss and turn anymore

Kabir, get drunk on love
Rid the heart of duality
Such a delicate path to tread
Why lug a heavy load anymore?

(translation by Vipul Rikhi)