Hindu Poetry

[saidevo]

===========================================================================
Sri Aurobindo
===========================================================================
Nirvana (1933-1934)

All is abolished but the mute Alone.
The mind from thought released, the heart from grief,
Grow inexistent now beyond belief;
There is no I, no Nature, known-unknown.
The city, a shadow picture without tone,
Floats, quivers unreal; forms without relief
Flow, a cinema's vacant shapes; like a reef
Foundering in shoreless gulfs the world is done.

Only the illimitable Permanent
Is here. A Peace stupendous, featureless, still.
Replaces all, - what once was I, in It
A silent unnamed emptiness content
Either to fade in the Unknowable
Or thrill with the luminous seas of the Infinite.

*********

God

Thou who pervadest all the worlds below,
Yet sitst above,
Master of all who work and rule and know,
Servant of Love!

Thou who disdainest not the worm to be
Nor even the clod,
Therefore we know by that humility
That thou art God.

*********

Life and Death

Life, death, - death, life; the words have led for ages
Our thought and consciousness and firmly seemed
Two opposites; but now long-hidden pages
Are opened, liberating truths undreamed.
Life only is, or death is life disguised, -
Life a short death until by Life we are surprised

*********
To Weep Because

To weep because a glorious sun has set
Which the next morn shall gild the east again;
To mourn that mighty strengths must yield to fate
Which by that force a double strength attain;
To shrink from pain without whose friendly strife
Joy could not be, to make a terror of death
Who smiling beckons us to farther life,
And is a bridge for the persistent breath;
Despair and anguish and the tragic grief
Of dry set eyes, or such disastrous tears
As rend the heart, though meant for its relief,
And all man's ghastly company of fears
Are born of folly that believes the span
Of life the limit of immortal man.

*********

Quotes from 'Savitri'

The human in him
Paced with the Divine.

*****

Our life
Is a holocaust
Of the Supreme.

*****

None can reach heaven
Who has not
Passed through hell.

*****

Our human state
Cradles the future god.

*****

In absolute silence
Sleeps an absolute Power.

*****

The life you lead
Conceals the light you are.

*****

One man's perfection
Still can save the world.

He who would save the world
Must share its pain.

I shall save earth,
If earth consents
To be saved.

*****

He Who Chooses The Infinite Has Been Chosen by the Infinite.

*****

All our earth starts from mud and ends in sky.

*****

The soul that can
Live alone with itself
Meets God.

*****

To know is best,
However hard to bear.

===========================================================================
Ramana Maharshi
===========================================================================
From Sat Darshan

As in a well of water deep,
Dive deep with Reason cleaving sharp.
With speech, mind and breath restrained,
Exploring thus mayest thou discover
The real source of ego-self.
The mind through calm in deep plunge enquiries.
That alone is real quest for the Self.

--(trans. Kapali Sastry)

*****

There Is Nothing new To Get

There is nothing new to get.
You have on the other hand,
to get rid of your ignorance,
which makes you think you are other than Bliss.
For whom is this ignorance?
It is to the ego.
Trace the source of the ego.
Then the ego is lost and Bliss remains over.
It is eternal You are That, here and now...
This is the master key for solving all doubts.
The doubts arise in the mind.
The mind is born of the ego.
The ego rises from the Self.
Search the source of the ego
and the Self is revealed.
That alone remains.
The universe is only expanded Self.
It is not different from the Self...

===========================================================================
Ramakrishna Paramahansa
===========================================================================
Quotes from Ramakrishna

"God is in all men, but all men are not in God; that is why we suffer."

"Do you know what I see? I see Him as all. Men and other creatures appear to me only as hollow forms, moving their heads and hands and feet, but within is the Lord Himself."

From The Gospel of Ramakrishna
Come on Mind - Ramprasad Sen

Come on, Mind, let’s go steal-
You and I together-
All Shiva owns- Mother’s feet,
If we can carry them off.

But if they catch us
In that watchful house,
That would be the end of the body.
They’d tie us up in Kailasa.

Don’t forget your guru’s advice
If we get in; we’ll wound Shiva
With an arrow of devotion,
Then grab those feet and run.

===========================================================================
Swami Vivekananda
===========================================================================
A Benediction

The mother's heart, the hero's will,
The sweetness of the southern breeze,
The sacred charm and strength that dwell
On Aryan altars, flaming, free;
All these be yours, and many more
No ancient soul could dream before--
Be thou to India's future son
The mistress, servant, friend in one.

Light

I look behind and after
And find that all is right,
In my deepest sorrows
There is a soul of light.

===========================================================================
Other Poets
===========================================================================
Cradle Song - Sarojini Naidu

From groves of spice,
O'er fields of rice,
Athwart the lotus-stream,
I bring for you,
Aglint with dew,
A little lovely dream.

Sweet, shut your eyes,
The wild fire-flies
Dance through the fairy neem;
From the poppy-bole
For you I stole
A little lovely dream.

Dear eyes, good night,
In golden light
The stars around you gleam;
On you I Press
With soft caress
A little lovely dream.

*****

Aspects of God - Sri Anandamayi Ma

"God is without form, without quality as well as with form and quality.
Watch and see with what endless variety of beautiful forms
He plays the play of his maya with Himself alone.
The lila of the all pervading One goes on and on in this way in infinite diversity.
He is without beginning and without end.
He is the whole and also the part.
The whole and part together make up real Perfection."

*****

O Lord, are you in the maya - (Kanakadasa 1509-1609)

O Lord, are you in the maya,
Or, the maya is in you.?
Are you in the body,
Or is the body in you?

Is the view in space,
Or the space is in the seen?
Or do both be in the eye?
Is the eye in buddhi,
Or the buddhi in the eye?
O! Hari! Do both exist in thee?

Is the sweetness in sugar,
Or sugar in sweetness?
Or are they together in the tongue?
Is the tongue in buddhi,
Or the buddhi in the tongue?
O Hari! Do both exist in thee?

Is the flower in fragrance,
Or the fragrance in the flower?
Together are they in the smell?
O Aadikeshava of Kaginele
Of incomparable prowess!
These are beyond my grasp!
Isn't all in thee?

*****

Look To this Day - Kalidasa (c.380-c.415)

Look to this day:
For it is life, the very life of life.
In its brief course
Lie all the verities and realities of your existence.
The bliss of growth,
The glory of action,
The splendour of achievement
Are but experiences of time.

For yesterday is but a dream
And tomorrow is only a vision;
And today well-lived, makes
Yesterday a dream of happiness
And every tomorrow a vision of hope.
Look well therefore to this day;
Such is the salutation to the ever-new dawn!

*****

[Arjuni]

I found this thread while searching for something else. What a lovely idea...

Both of these are by Sarojini Naidu.

The Flute-Player of Brindaban

Why didst thou play thy matchless flute
'Neath the Kadamba tree,
And wound my idly dreaming heart
With poignant melody,
So where thou goest I must go
My flute-player with thee?

Still must I like a homeless bird
To Indra's golden-flowering groves
Where streams immortal flow,
Or to sad Yama's silent Courts
Engulfed in lampless woe,
Where'er thy subtle flute I hear
Beloved I must go!

No peril of the deep or height
Shall daunt my winged foot;
No fear of time-unconquered space,
Or light untravelled route,
Impede my heart that pants to drain
The nectar of thy flute!

Wander, forsaking all
The earthly loves and worldly lures
That held my life in thrall,
And follow, follow, answering
Thy magical flute-call.

***
Kali the Mother

All Voices: O terrible and tender and divine!
O mystic mother of all sacrifice,
We deck the sombre altars of thy shrine
With sacred basil leaves and saffron rice;
All gifts of life and death we bring to thee,
Uma Haimavati!

Maidens: We bring thee buds and berries from the wood!

Brides: We bring the rapture of our bridal prayer!

Mothers: And we the sweet travail of motherhood!

Widows: And we the bitter vigils of despair!

All Voices: All gladness and all grief we bring to thee,
Ambika! Parvati!

Artisans: We bring the lowly tribute of our toil!

Peasants: We bring our new-born goats and budded wheat!

Victors: And we the swords and symbols of our spoil!

Vanquished: And we the shame and sorrow of defeat!

All Voices: All triumph and all tears we bring to thee,
Giri'ja! Shambhavi!

Scholars: We bring the secrets of our ancient arts.

Priests: We bring the treasures of our ageless creeds.

Poets: And we the subtle music of our hearts.

Patriots: And we the sleepless worship of our deeds.

All Voices: All glory and all grace we bring to thee,
Kali! Maheshwari!

Indraneela
===
Oṁ Indrāya Namaḥ.
Oṁ Namaḥ Śivāya.

[NayaSurya]

===========================================================================
Cradle Song - Sarojini Naidu

From groves of spice,
O'er fields of rice,
Athwart the lotus-stream,
I bring for you,
Aglint with dew,
A little lovely dream.

Sweet, shut your eyes,
The wild fire-flies
Dance through the fairy neem;
From the poppy-bole
For you I stole
A little lovely dream.

Dear eyes, good night,
In golden light
The stars around you gleam;
On you I Press
With soft caress
A little lovely dream.

******

I have this poem, I think in a song from many years ago...and the first time I hear it...it made me cry so very hard and I did not even know what it was or where it come from. I search many years to find a translation and never could find so this is amazing to me that it was Hindu Poem.

So very beautiful, it makes my heart swell with such love.

[Arjuni]

NayaSurya, that was so intensely sweet and heartfelt. Thank you so much for sharing it with me, with us.

In return, I post a few gems by the poet/scholar Madhav Julian, translated from Marathi into English.

Love's Anxieties
When in the evening, after the day�s toil, I hurry home, un-told fears rush upon my soul. The impatient soul is all ear to catch any sound of yours, my baby. As my hesitating step falls on the threshold, I hear your sportive voice as you play with your mother, and, at once, O darling, with joy I shout your name. And as you look up to offer me such sweetness from your eyes, I lift you up to press you to my heart and to kiss you.

When at home I am absorbed in work, a sudden cry from somewhere startles and drives me to you. And I look into the cradle to find you are in sound peaceful sleep. Lightly I place my hand on your head, and as lightly I kiss you but with a sad, sad tenderness.

The day is gloomy with clouds and rain; and yet, O child, your golden smiles brighten my home.

===
The Pool Yearning for Re-Union
Where, in the past, entwining the threads of Life we danced the dance of Love, now I stand alone, looking round for my Beloved. She is nowhere to be seen, What, has she forsaken me? Does Love that has once arisen ever set?

Only the shallow, dry bed in all its sandy horror meets my eye. When the Beloved is not with me, my progress comes to a standstill. My deep mysterious heart is brimful with love but to no purpose.

Someone comes and remarks scornfully, "Look! Dead are his feelings. He laughs not, chats not, sports not!" And when the stormy wind bent on mischief comes running to me, transient ripples pass over my face; but the heavy dullness of the soul cannot be broken.

There is no Light of Life in my home; and so I wear the sable. Only the moonlight appears to smile through the clouds though sadly. The stars gaze fixedly upon me and lose all enthusiasm for dancing.

Human beings and animals toiling in the scorching heat of the Sun, and out of breath, come to me in the evening. They rest themselves for a while and return home � home, and my heart pines away in silence.

When the drums of Indra resound in the heaven above and the terrible golden Beauty flashes out and laughingly plays among the clouds � the gods� hearts gather in the surging flood of joy that bursts through the thousand eyes of Indra.

Then the peacock dances on the earth, and frogs the twice born begin their loud chant � then, dear one, will you madly rush to me to hold me in a fast embrace? The gods will then erect over us their triumphal arch.

Let us, as we chant the auspicious woodland song, fling ourselves over precipitous rocks; and wearing the ochre coloured garb of Renunciation, united in Love but cut off from all wordly considerations � let us meet our goal in that Home, in the sea of Beatitude � but alas! the summer month of Vaishakh is not yet over.

Indraneela
===
Oṁ Indrāya Namaḥ.
Oṁ Namaḥ Śivāya.

[saidevo]

namaste NayaSurya.

That is a lovely poem with so much of motherly affection that is typical of you.

As for your being a non-native Hindu, but only a shadow of it, remember the proverb "Coming events cast their shadows before", so, in your next birth, if you want one, you must/would be the very substance of the shadow, guiding the less-Hindulike people around you, with your exemplary life.

In the Hindu pativratA--devoted wife, tradition, a wife prays that she be united with her husband in the next birth too. The Tamizh poet SubraHmaNya BhArati, who loved his devoted wife ChellammA so dearly, told her, "My prayer is that in the next birth, I should be born as you and you as I."

A poem in return for the precious poems, though I am not native Hindu and merely a shadow reflection of that higher birth...

[NayaSurya]

Hari Om Namah Shivaya

[Arjuni]

Thank you for you, dear NayaSurya, and for the beautiful words you write and share. In reading your poetry, I forget worries and just spend the time thinking of Śiva - simply, wonderfully Śiva.

Two poems to add to the thread tonight. The very long one in the next post is by an author not Hindu but Sufi, but it describes the love of God with such reverent, transcendent beauty as to make the very idea of religious path irrelevant; it was too gorgeous not to share.

And this one is from me.

Sahasraksha
Twilight soothes the fevered, sun-scorched sky;
your lilting song, so gentle, wings on lustrous air.

Into stillness wakes my wandering heart.
You show your grace, your soft, eternal gaze;
the wind forgets to breathe, so light you dance.

My lips can only trace your name, the flame
you kindled in a vast, unguarded glance.

In secret reverent delight, the day unveils itself to night.
A thousand starry eyes shine piercing mysteries;
This love, this life I lay before your glistening feet.

Indraneela
===
Oṁ Indrāya Namaḥ.
Oṁ Namaḥ Śivāya.

[Arjuni]

Thy light has illuminated the dark chambers of my mind.
Thy love is rooted in the depth of my heart.
Thine own eyes are the light of my soul.
Thy power worketh behind my action.
Thy peace alone is my life's repose.
Thy will is behind my every impulse.
Thy voice is audible in the words I speak.
Thine own image is my countenance.
My body is but a cover over Thy soul.
My life is Thy very breath, my Beloved,
and my self is Thine own being.

Thou pourest wine into my empty cup wherever we meet,
on hills, on dales, on the tops of the high mountains,
in the thick forests and in the barren deserts,
on the shores of the roaring sea and on the banks of the gentle river.
And there ariseth in my heart the unearthly passion and the heavenly joy.

Thou hast won my heart a thousand times over.
Thou comest veiled under many and varied guises,
and in every guise Thou art unique.
Who is not attracted by the splendour
Thou hast so skilfully produced on the face of the earth?
In this beauty fair Thou shinest
adorned in myriad garbs.
Thine own is all the beauty and Thou shinest,
and yet art not Thyself attracted by it.
Thou on this stage of life actest as friend and foe,
and Thou alone seest the play performed so wonderfully.
I sought Thee so long, my Beloved,
and now I have found Thee at last, O Winner of my heart.
And in finding Thee I have lost myself.

Let me feel Thine arms around me, my Beloved,
while I am wandering away from home.
Let my heart become Thy lute;
hearing Thy song my soul cometh to life.
Let my virgin soul dance at Thy court, my Indra,
the passion it hath is for Thee alone.
O let me lean my head on Thy breast;
Thine arms enfolding me, my feet touch Paradise.

Wherever I look I see Thy beloved face, covered under many different veils.
The magic power of my ever-seeking eyes lifted the veil from Thy glowing countenance,
and Thy smile won my heart a thousand times over.
The lustre of Thy piercing glance hath lighted my darkened soul, and
lo! now I see the sun shine everywhere.

In the brightness of the day and in the darkness of the night
what didst Thou not teach me?
Thou hast taught me what is meant by wrong and what is called right.
Thou hast shown me the hideous face of life,
and Thou hast unveiled before me life's beautiful countenance.
Thou hast taught me wisdom out of utter darkness of ignorance.
Thou hast taught me to think after my thoughtless moments.
Thou playest with me, my beloved Lord and Master, hide and seek.
Thou closest mine eyes, and Thou dost open them.

When we are face to face, Beloved,
I do not know whether to call Thee me, or me Thee.
I see myself when Thou art not before me.
When I see Thee, my self is lost to view.
I consider it good fortune when Thou art alone with me,
but when I am not there at all, I think it the greatest blessing.

Thy whisper to the ears of my heart
moveth my soul to ecstasy.
The waves of joy that rise out of my heart
form a net in which Thy living word may swing.
My heart patiently awaiteth Thy word,
deaf to all that cometh from without.
O Thou, who art enshrined in my heart, speak again to me.
Thy voice exalteth my spirit.

When Thou art before me, my Beloved,
I rise upon wings and my burden becomes light.
But when my little self riseth before my eyes,
I drop to earth and all its weight falleth upon me.

My soul is moved to dance by the charm of Thy graceful movements
and my heart beateth the rhythm of Thy dancing steps.
The deep impression of Thy sweet countenance, O Winner of my heart,
covereth all visible things from my sight.
My heart repeateth a thousand times the melody Thou playest on the flute.
It setteth my soul in harmony with the whole universe.

I dare not think of raising mine eyes to behold Thy glorious vision.
I sit quietly by the lake of my heart watching in it Thine image reflected.

Thou givest me Thine own love, and Thou winnest my heart with the charm of Thy beauty.
When I approach Thee, my Beloved, Thou sayest to me, "Touch me not".

I cling to Thee with a child's faith, bearing Thy most lovely image in my heart.
I sought refuge in Thy bosom, Beloved, and I am safe, feeling Thine arms around me.

How shall I thank Thee, my King, for Thy bountiful gifts?
Every gift Thou givest me, my generous Lord, is invaluable.
A tongue of flame arose out of the twinkling spark in my heart by Thy gentle blowing.
Thou hast opened the ears of my heart, that I may hear Thy softest whisper.
Thou hast taught me Thine own tongue, and to read the characters written by Thy pen.

I call Thee my King, when I am conscious of my bubble-like self,
but when I am conscious of Thee, my Beloved, I call Thee me.

How shall I thank Thee for Thy mercy and compassion,
O King of my soul? What didst Thou not unto me?
When I was walking alone through the wilderness,
through the darkness of night,
Thou camest with Thy lighted torch
and didst illuminate my path.
Frozen with the coldness of the world's hardness of heart,
I sought refuge in Thee,
And Thou didst console me with Thine endless love.
I knocked at Thy gate at last,
when I had no answer from anywhere in the world,
And Thou didst readily answer the call of my broken heart.

I searched but I could not find Thee.
I called Thee aloud standing on the minaret,
I rang the temple bell with the rising and the setting of the sun,
I bathed in the Ganges in vain,
I came back from Ka'ba disappointed,
I looked for Thee on the earth,
I searched for Thee in the Heaven, my Beloved,
but at last I have found Thee,
hidden as a pearl in the shell of my heart.

I would willingly die a thousand deaths,
if by dying I could attain Thy most lofty presence.
If it were a cup of poison Thy beloved hand offered,
I would prefer that poison to the bowl of nectar.
I value the dust under Thy feet, my Precious One,
most of all the treasures the earth holds.
If my head would touch the earth of Thy dwelling place,
I would proudly refuse Khusrow's crown.
I would gladly sacrifice all pleasures the earth can offer me,
if I could only retain Thy pain in my feeling heart.

One moment's life lived with Thee is worth more than a life of long years lived in Thine absence.

My life-long sorrow I forget, when Thou castest Thy glance upon me.
Time is not for me. One glimpse of Thy glorious vision maketh me eternal.

It is Thou who art my pride.
When I realize my limited self, I feel myself humblest of all living beings.

O Thou, the seed of my life's plant,
Thou wert hidden so long in my bud-like soul.
But now Thou hast come out, O my life's fruit,
after the blossoming of my heart.

Let me grow quietly in Thy garden as a speechless plant,
that some day my flowers and fruits may sing the legend of my silent past.

Thy music causeth my soul to dance.
In the murmur of the wind I hear Thy flute,
The waves of the sea keep the rhythm of my dancing steps.
Through the whole of nature I hear Thy music played, my Beloved,
My soul, while dancing, speaketh of its joy in song.

Thy smile has brought my dead heart to life again.
My life and death depend upon the closing and disclosing of Thy magic glance.

O give me one more cup, O Sakhi,
which I will value more than the whole life I have lived.
-Hazrat Inayat Khan

Indraneela
===
Oṁ Indrāya Namaḥ.
Oṁ Namaḥ Śivāya.

[NayaSurya]

Beautiful, ty for posting for us to read!

In every heart, it seems the same Love can be found<3

[NayaSurya]

Hari Om Namah Shivaya