naiharva

Naiharva Hum Ka Na Bhave
Sai Ki Nagri Param Ati Sundar,
Jahan Koi Jav Na Avey
Chand Suraj Jahan, Pavan Na Pani,
Ko Sundesh Pahunchave
Dard Yeh Sai Ko Sunave

Naiharva...
Agey Chalo Panth Nahin Sujhe,
Peeche Dosh Lagawe
Kehi Bidhi Sasure Jau Mori Sajani,
Virha Jor Jarawe Vishai Ras Nach Nachawe

Bin Satguru Apno Nahin Koi,
Jo Yeh Rah Batawe
Kahat Kabira Suno Bhai Sadho,
Supne Na Pitam Awey Tapan Yeh Jiya Ki Bujhawey

Don't like anymore, the home of my mother.
Most beautiful is beloved's home - comes and goes none.
'Tell this pain to Him', will someone bother?

Someone, please be my kind messenger,
Wind, water, Moon or you the Sun.
Don't like anymore, the home of my mother.

To move back or ahead, a path I can't decipher.
How do I go to the home of the loved one?
'Tell this pain to Him', will someone bother?

There is no savior that one's own master,
Shows the right way for us often.
Don't like anymore, the home of my mother.

Objects, senses, engage me in the dance macabre
And my heart faces the arrows of separation.
'Tell this pain to Him', will someone bother?

Listen my dear noble ones, says Kabir,
In dreams He comes, quenches thirst of my own.
Don't like anymore, the home of my mother.
'Tell this pain to Him', will someone bother?

The master mystic Kabir gives the allusion of a married woman (soul) who pines for her husband's/beloved's (God) home and her heart does not find solace or peace in her mother's home(world). Translated to English by me in a form called Villanelle.
Listen to the song.

Udjayega Hans Akela

Ud Jayega Huns Akela,
Jug Darshan Ka Mela
Jaise Paat Gire Taruvar Se,
Milna Bahut Duhela
Naa Jane Kidhar Girega,
Lageya Pawan Ka Rela
Jub Howe Umur Puri,
Jab Chute Ga Hukum Huzuri
Jum Ke Doot Bade Mazboot,
Jum Se Pada Jhamela
Das Kabir Har Ke Gun Gawe,
Wah Har Ko Paran Pawe
Guru Ki Karni Guru Jayega,
Chele Ki Karni Chela


I am not very sure if there is a name for it - Learning through opposites. Like you learn about an Axiom /Thory in Mathematics by proving that the opposite is true. You learn about love through hatred, about friendship via treachery, about kindness through exploitation/harshness. Sufis and Kabir in particular, when they talk about Death they actually want to tell us about Life !
Death has been such an important concept, so many verses have been written about it. The reasons could be many - not many people get to do anything with it during their lifetimes, it is the final stop, a destination from where there is no apparent return (we can talk about rebirth later) but nothing more apt than the fact that we learn more about Life and Art of Living for that matter by knowing more about Death.
Death has been compared to a great escape, a grand reunion or end of a play/drama.
Our western friends call it 'giving up the ghost' where as much of Sanatana philosophy would say 'gave up his body' or 'kicked his frame' or 'change of clothes' !!

Kabir has his own way of comparing our souls to a Swan (Hans) which has been caged in our bodies and shall be free after Death.

The Swan will fly away,
Fly away alone to the blue skies.
Far from the fair of this world,
Which has entangled it for long in ties.

None can tell where shall it go,
Like dry leaves fallen from trees.
Driven by the gusts of wind,
Sans intention and direction which flies.

When the time of play is over,
No more ordering and being ordered around.
None to call the shots-
World, senses, mind or intellect profound.

The messengers of Yama (Lord of Death) are strong,
Never miss their target at all.
Is this life not a waiting,
A vain waiting for Yama's call?

Kabir is the slave of the Lord,
And sings the tales of His nature.
His name, shall get him(Kabir) to His door
That Kabir is sure.

Remember,it is a one way ticket for one,
The teacher shall go as per his action,
The student shall go as per his own.

kabir: avadhuta gagan ghata

in the world that we live in today, divisiveness has become the order of the day.
Divisions, chasms on the lines of wealth, social class, faith and education (unfortunate paradox) are rampant. Even on the path to liberation and knowledge (as you would have seen education has lost its purpose) there is so much duality. This duality is the root of all illusion or maya. As depicted by Kabir in 'Maya maha thugini' (see below) it remains in close proximity to all of us, in forms we fail to see because it is 'maya'.
Well, the point is Kabir, in his teachings, in his use of language and metaphors has always taken care of this aspect. So, we find his verses,poems and teachings very much rooted in the very earth he stood on and the people he lived with. No esoterism, no divisions, on this path, there are only travelers. Hence, the use of simple examples and metaphors to demonstrate the highest Truths.

An example would be this poem (heard it on a CD 'Nirgun ke Gun' Kumar Gandharva)

Avadhuta Gagan Ghata Geharani Re

Pachm Disa Se Ulti Badali,
Rum Jhum Barse Meha
Utho Gyani Khet Sambharo
Behe Nisrega Pani

Nirat Surat Ke Bel Banawo,
Beeja Bovo Nij Dhani
Dubadhya Dup Jaman Nahi Pawe,
Bovo Naam Ki Dhani

Charon Kone Char Rakhwale,
Chug Na Jawe Mrig Dhani
Katya Khet Meenda Ghar Lyawe,
Jaki Puran Kisani

Paanch Sakhi Mil Kare Rasoi
Jeehme Muni Aur Gyani
Kahe Kabir Suno Bhai Sadho
Bovo Naam Ki Dhani

O Unattached One!
Dark clouds are looming over the sky.

The winds have turned back from the west,
Don't miss the rhythmic rain,
Wake up O enlightened, tend to your fields,
Else, all water will drain away in vain.

Let's make a creeper of song and face, (naam aur rupa)
By planting the seed of Self,
Sow the seed of 'Naama',
Don't let the weeds of doubt settle.

Four guards (truth, detachment, celibacy, naama) on four sides keep watch,
Lest, the deer (senses) graze the crops,
Cut the harvest, and bring it home
And offer it to the Lord.

Five friends (senses) cook together,
Even saints and knowledgable ones are in the soup,
Says Kabir listen O noble ones,
Sow the seed of 'Naama'

kabir - kya maangoon

Kya Mangoon Kutch Thir Na Rahyee
Dekhat Nayan Jalya Jag Jayee
Ik Lakh Poot Sava Lakh Naati
Ta Ravan Dhari Diya Na Baati
Lanka So Kot Samad Si Khayee
Ta Ravan Ka Khabar Na Paayee
Aavat Sang Na Javat Sangati
Kaha Bhayo Dar Bandhe Hathi
Kahat Kabir Unt Ki Baari
Jhari Jaise Chale Juwari

the question i sometimes struggle a lot with - what should i ask for ?

Kabir answers.

what should i ask for in my prayer
when nothing stays still,
when the whole world burn's,
at a moment's mere will.

sons and grandsons,
friends and relatives,
none to show a lamp to Ravan (mighty one of Lanka)
all fled before like fugitives.

wealth and fame
possessions, fortresses
left Ravana alone, of whom
we don't even find traces

we have come alone,
and shall leave alone,
with nothing in hand,
says Kabir like a gambler forlorn.

kabir - maya maha thugini

maya - the illusory power of Lord (bhagwan ki mohini shakti). Considered to be very very powerful, because it is a power of god. Only to the Lord does it bow, or only by Lord's grace does it spare man. One may always be deluded to have conquered maya but she somehow finds her place to become the veil between man and his ultimate perception.

Kabir in his own style - of truthful, plain and unrestrained style puts this forth in this beautiful song.

Again something I heard at a play called Kabir - played at Mumbai by Sukumar Sen.

Maya Maha Thugni Hum Jaani ||
Tirgun Phans Liye Kar Dole
Bole Madhuri Bani ||

I know it very well,
this delusion of maya.
she roams unhindered
with the knot of three gunas (rajas,sattwa and tamas)
and speaks in sweet voices.


Kesav Ke Kamla Ve Baithi
Shiv Ki Bhavan Bhavani |
Punda Ke Murat Ve Baithi
Tirath Mein Bhai Pani ||

Look how hideously she lurks close
to all that you call good or pure
As Lakshmi she sits near Vishnu
As Parvati near Shiva
As the idol before the pundit
and as sacred water in sacred lands.

Yogi Ke Yogin Ve Baithi
Raja Ke Ghar Rani |
Kahu Ke Hira Ve Baithi
Kahu Ke Kodi Kani ||
Sits as companion of yogis,
as queen in the house of the king
for some it is the diamond
for some it sits as the penny

Bhaktan Ke Bhaktin Veh Baithi
Brahma Ke Brahmani |
Kahe Kabir Suno Bhai Sadho
Yeh Sab Akath Kahani ||

look how she sits as bhakti of the devotee
as Saraswati with Brahma
Kabir says O noble ones,
this is the unsaid tale.

kabir - hirnaa

Free translation of a song of Kabir.
there a beautiful rendition of this song by Kumar Gandharva

Hirna Samajh Boojh Ban Charna ||

O senses-deer carefully tread,
The woods of senses dreaded.

Ek Ban Charna Duje Ban Charna
Tije Ban Pag Nahin Dharna ||
Roam care-free in the first forest
of truth-bliss-absolute
Also roam in the second
of feeling and thought
But, stay away from the third
Stay away from the third.

Tije Ban Mein Panch Paardhi
Un Ke Nazar Nahin Padna ||
Five hunter-senses mighty lurk in the third,
avert their probing gaze like pray bird.

Panch Hirana Pachis Hirni
Un Mein Ek Chatur Na ||
Twenty-five female deers, all fools
will engage you in their tools.

Toye Mar Tero Mas Bikawe
Tere Khal Ka Karenge Bichona ||
will kill you and sell you flesh
and would sleep on any useful remains

Kahe Kabira Jo Suno Bhai Sadho
Guru Ke Charan Chit Dharna ||
kabir says listen o noble ones
fix your hearts on the lotus feet of gurus.

the mysticism of kabir (great sufi saint and poet of India)

I have been listening to Kabir for quite some time now. You must be wondering listening or reading? well, I had read him during my school days (mostly to get good grades to top the class) and later on, on the internet (as one of the ways to kill some precious office time), but thanks to Beghum Abida Parveen (famous sufi singer from Pakistan) and Gulzaar (lyricist and poet) and Times Music for the wonderful album 'Gulzaar presents Kabir by Abeeda' , The Listening started. As they say if you find a rare jewel, a fountain of joy or something really special the best thing, one might not agree to it immediately, would be to share it with the world. So, here is my effort to do so and since the colloquial Hindi (also called sadhukhadi - a mix of Hindu, Bhojpuri, Braj Bhasha, Awadhi and Rajsthani which became popular during the bhakti and sufi movements in India) may not be commonly understood, a free translation is attempted. Please consider them as an attempt by a tiny earthen lamp to remove darkness to the best of his capacity when the sun has gone down on the western horizon.

sukhiya sab sansaar hai, khaye aur soye
dukhiya das kabir hai, jaage aur roye
look at the joy of the world
that eats, drinks and sleeps in peace
fated but is poor Kabir
stays awake and cries
(very beautiful couplet that shows the differences between the state (days and nights) of the seeker and of non-seekers. Kabir says, these people of the world are lucky, as compared to seekers like him. Guru Nagendranath Bhaduri of Bengal used to say " the people of the world are real renunciants, not me. I have only given up a few stones(property, diamonds etc.), metals(gold, silver), rupee notes and other comforts of the world for everlasting bliss . But these people have renounced the creator of all these things for a few comforts of the world"
Even Buddha wonders at his dissuader, a friend of his " My friend you must be of strong heart: for after seeing all three (old age, disease and death) you still can indulge in the pleasures of the world. My house is on fire (his mind is perturbed), and surely one can not be condemned for running (his act of leaving his kingdom, riches, post and his family in search of the truth) out of the house on fire."

jo kachhu kiya so tum kiya, main kachhu kiya nahin
kaha kahoon jo main kiya, tum hi the mujh mahin
what is done, is by you lord
none by me
if any i claim the otherwise
you only did through me

man laago yaar fakiri mein...( o mind! devote yourself to austerities)
bura bhala sab ko sun lijo
kar gujran garibi mein
रूखा सूखा खायीके ठंडा पानी पीयो |
देख परायी चोपदी मत लाल्चावे जीयो ||
कबीरा सो धन संचीये, जो आगे को होए|
शीश चढाये गठरी, जात न देखा कोए ||
akhir ye tan khaak milega
kyon phirta magroori mein
man laago yaar fakiri mein...

माला कहे है काठ की, तू क्यों फेरे मोहे |
मन का मनका फेर दे, सो तुरत मिला दूँ तोहे ||
कहे कबीर सुनो भाई साधो,
साहिब मिले सबुरी में
मन लागो यार फकीरी में |

kabira ret sindoor, ur kajar diya na jaye
nainan pritam ram raha, duja kahan samaye

karta tha to kyon raha, ab kahe pachtaye
bove ped babol ka, aam kahan se khaye

sahib sun sab hot hai, bande te kachhu nahin
rai te parvat kare, parvat rai mahin

jyon til mahin tel hai, jyon chakmak mein aag
tera sain tujhme base, jaag sake to jaag
like the hidden oil in the oilseed
and the fire in the firestone
the 'kingdom of lord' lies within you
realise this if you can

this is one thing that all regions unequivocally state -
know that the kingdom of God lies within you - Christ in New testament
al haq ( i am that) - bulleh shah, sufi saint
and kabir puts it in his inimitable style

Moko Kahan Dhundhere Bande
Mein To Tere Paas Mein

Na Teerath Mein, Na Moorat Mein
Na Ekant Niwas Mein
Na Mandir Mein, Na Masjid Mein
Na Kabe Kailas Mein
Mein To Tere Paas Mein Bande
Mein To Tere Paas Mein

Na Mein Jap Mein, Na Mein Tap Mein
Na Mein Barat Upaas Mein
Na Mein Kiriya Karm Mein Rehta
Nahin Jog Sanyas Mein
Nahin Pran Mein Nahin Pind Mein
Na Brahmand Akas Mein
Na Mein Prakuti Prawar Gufa Mein
Nahin Swasan Ki Swans Mein

Khoji Hoye Turat Mil Jaoon
Ik Pal Ki Talas Mein
Kahet Kabir Suno Bhai Sadho
Mein To Hun Viswas Mein

ah ! need no explanation...what realisation...what truth !!
nainan(eye) ki kar kothdi, putli(iris) palang(bed) bichaye
palkon(eyelid) ki chit darke, pi(beloved) ko liya rijhaye

nainan antar aao to, nain jhamp tohe lyun
na main dekhun aur ko, na tohe dekhan jyun

mala(rosary) to phire kar(hand) mein, jeebh(toungue) phire mukh maahin
man(mind) bapu chahun(everywhere) dis phire, yeh to sumiran naahin

what kind of prayer is this
with the mind scattered and disturbed?
only the tongue moves in the mouth,
mechanically the rosary is revolved.


mati(clay) kahe kumhaar(potter) se, tu kyon raunden mohe
ek din aisa ayega main raundoongi(grind) tohe

at the inevitability of time-i wonder,
the diligent potter ploughs the clay
of which he is made up of
and would sure return to one day

yeh tan(body) vish(poison) ki belari(creeper), guru amrit(nectar) ki khaan(reservoir)
shish(head) diye guru mile, phir bhi sasti(cheap bargain) jaan(know)

gods be praised
a cheap bargain i made today
traded my being dry and dead
for the elixir of teacher's grace

sab dharti(land) kaagad(paper) karoon, lekhan(quill) sab panraye(trees)
saat samundra(ocean) ki syahi(ink) karun, guru gun (virtues/grace) likha na jaye
the greatness and kindness of a satguru (teacher) is explained here

the greatness of my teacher
mere words can describe not
even if use all landmass as canvass
and all oceans and ink pot

jab lag naata jagat (world) ka, tab lag bhagati (devotion) na hoye
naata (ties) tode hari bhaje, bhagat kahave soye

till the ties of the corporeal tie us
no devotion could percolate our hearts
he only is a devotee true
all ties of delusion who ruthlessly cuts


jab main tha hari nahin, ab hari hai main naahin
jab andhiyara mit gaya, deepak der kamanhi
There is another version of it. I dont know which is correct but both convey beautiful meanings themselves
jab main tha hari nahin, ab hari hai main naahin
prem gali ati saankri, tate do na samahin.

don't be surprised, seeing one pair of footsteps
on the wet sand covered narrow street.
we can not walk side by side here as two;
our beings get merged, what to say of feet

now the Lord has filled up the spaces
where ego used to hide
can they ever co-exist
darkness and light ?

souun (sleep) to sapne milun, jagun to man manhi
lochan ratein sab ghadi, bisurat (separated) kabhun nahi

meet me in my dreams when asleep
within the privacy of my heart when awake.
ever in the range of the inner eye,
let me not for a minute be separate.


साधू कहावत कठीन है , ऊंचा पेड़ खुजूर |
चढ़े तो चाखे प्रेम रस , गीरे तो चकनाचूर ||

to be a saint is no task easy
like the tall palm tree, the path lies
reach the top and taste the fruit,
or fall and shatter into pieces.


sadhoo bhooka bhav(feeling) ka, dhaan (money) ka bhooka nahin
jo dhan ka bhooka (hungry) hoye, wo to sadhoo (saint) nahin

the saint craves not for lucre,
feelings, his only bait.
one who feeds on money,
call him any but saint.


mariye (to die) to mar jayiye choot pade janjal(farce)
aisa marna kya bhala din mein sau(hundred) sau bar

echoes the same spirit as - cowards die many times

'tis better that death be embraced once
and the farce of life be got rid of
than numerous times a day
of fear, humiliation and death thereof.

bhala(good) hua meri matki(pot) phooti re
main to pania(water) bharan se chooti re

kabir talks about death, the routine of life and activities we do to sustain our body in form of allegory of a broken pot.

thank you O Lord! for kindness
that this earthen pitcher is broken.
no more filling it up
no routine guards now and worries none

mali(gardener) awat dekh ke kaliyan(buds) karen pukaar(shout)
phool(flower) phool chun liye, kaal hamari baar (turn)

the tiny buds watch perturbed,
plucking of fully blossomed flowers.
today the gardener chooses them,
tommorrow, it is surely us.

bura(evil) jo dekhan main chala, bura na milya koi
jo dil (heart) khoja apna, ta mujh sa bura na koi

i looked at the world around
an evil one but, could not find,
gazing inwards realized, none worse
than the evil inside my mind.


shabad shabad har koi kahe, shabad(words) ke haath na paon,
ek shabad aoshudh(medicine) kare, ek shabad kir ghaav(wound)

no limbs or armory they have
these words, words all around
some do the anointment,
some inflict wounds profound.