Hindu Poetry

[Arjuni]

Namast�,

Another rainy day here, and more beautiful things to read.

Ecstasy
Cover mine eyes, O my Love!
Mine eyes that are weary of bliss
As of light that is poignant and strong
O silence my lips with a kiss,
My lips that are weary of song!

Shelter my soul, O my Love!
My soul is bent low with the pain
And the burden of love, like the grace
Of a flower that is smitten with rain:
O shelter my soul from thy face!
--Sarojini Naidu

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

[Mana]

Namaste Indraneela,

It is so nice to be reminded of the beauty of this world; when one has tired eyes it can make so much difference to see love.
Thank you for sharing.

praNAma

mana

[Arjuni]

Namast�, all,

This was an interesting exercise in verse that I stumbled across on deviantART: a verse to Kṛṣṇa, in a modified Norse metre. I thought it lovely in both idea and execution.

The Flute-Playing Lord

"My brother the cowherd walks with me | 'neath a rugged rainless sky.
Brother, help � I am blind, | for the light is little here �
'Lo, Gopal, let the wind's song, | so wood-caught, lead your feet,
and feel the evening heart | laid under the rolling earth.'

When I am older still, | then I will say to you:
Listen to a flute play, | its song running in the trees,
Listen to a lad talk | of his brother the cowherd.
Listen to the boy's ballad: | our Murali, playing:

Hark: o golden one! o | dark-blue one, o refuge�"

By user Viglio on site deviantART, homepage here.

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

[Friend from the West]

Namaste all and welcome back Indraneela,

Beautiful! Thanks for this.

Om Shanti

FFTW

[Arjuni]

Namast�...and thanks for the welcome back...

I stumbled upon this last night and find it to be, even in translation, some of the most vibrant and amazing poetry I've ever read:

Classical Telugu Poetry, an Anthology:
http://publishing.cdlib.org/ucpressebooks/view?docId=kt096nc4c5

(To include appropriate warning for other readers, a few of the poems do deal with "adult" situations and subjects.)

A quick excerpt:

"Sustaining always on his thousand hoods
the dense burden of the earth,
the forests and oceans and rooted mountains
and rushing rivers and lakes, the Snake
called Infinite softly bears the unbearable body
of the god who sleeps on water.
Won't he make an end to whatever
was badly done, and be kind to me?"

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

[Friend from the West]

Hari OM!

Namaste and hello everyone and Indraneela,

Last night in reading some of what you share and what Saidevo wrote in school, and what you both write regarding poetry, realize I do not have this understanding to describe poetry as you do, but will try in my own crude way.

In reading half of what you shared with last night, find it both makes me smile and to find it most interesting. It is for me most unique. Thanks for this and I will look forward to finishing remainder in the morning.

Om Shanti

FFTW

[Arjuni]

Namast�, verse-lovers,

It's been too long, yes?

"You have nothing to worry about.
Be free from worries,
And remain immersed in love for the Beloved.
He shall take you across the ocean of the world,
If you seek support of his boat sailing in this ocean.
No amulet, charm, yogic practice
or other holy repetition is of any avail.
Only he provides the technique which destroys sins,
and removes vices from the heart.
By seeing and reflecting within your heart,
says Dariya,
You will be freed from all ills
Just by kindling the wick of Nam
with the Satguru's lamp."
--Sant Dariya Sahib

(And another, longer verse is here, for those who enjoy dramatic imagery; the poem is not exactly Hindu, but is a favourite of mine nonetheless!)

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

[Arjuni]

Namast�,

Both of these are from Devara Dasimayya, 10th century.
Translated from the Kannada by A.K. Ramanujan.

===
"Whatever It was

that made this earth
the base,
the world its life,
the wind its pillar,
arranged the lotus and the moon,
and covered it all with folds
of sky

with Itself inside,

to that Mystery
indifferent to differences,

to It I pray,
O Ramanatha."

===
"The five elements
have become one.

The sun and the moon,
O Rider of the Bull,
aren't they really
your body?

I stand,
look on,
you're filled
with the worlds.

What can I hurt now
after this, Ramanatha?"

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

[Arjuni]

Namasté,

This is a writing of Akka Mahadevi, 12th c., translated by Vinaya Chaitanya. (Channamallikarjuna is a name of Śiva.)

Like treasure hidden by the earth,
Like the taste hidden by the fruit,
Like gold hidden by the stone,
Like oil hidden by the sesame seed,
Like fire hidden by the word,
Channamallikarjuna, jasmine-tender,
Hides as the being behind becoming;
No one knows him.

When I did not know myself
Where were you, tell me?
Like the color in gold,
You were in me.
Though you were in me
I saw you as different.
O Channamallikarjuna, jasmine-tender.

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