Monday, March 21, 2011

Nasadiya: The hym of creation

"The Hym" by Neha


There was neither non-existence nor existence then.
There was neither the realm of space nor the sky which is beyond.
What stirred?
Where?
In whose protection?
Was there water, bottlemlessly deep?

There was neither death nor immortality then.
There was no distinguishing sign of night nor of day.
That One breathed, windless, by its own impulse.
Other than that there was nothing beyond.

Darkness was hidden by darkness in the beginning,
with no distinguishing sign, all this was water.
The life force that was covered with emptiness,
that One arose through the power of heat.

Desire came upon that One in the beginning,
that was the first seed of mind.
Poets seeking in their heart with wisdom
found the bond of existence and non-existence.

Their cord was extended across.
Was there below?
Was there above?
There were seed-placers, there were powers.
There was impulse beneath, there was giving forth above.

Who really knows?
Who will here proclaim it?
Whence was it produced?
Whence is this creation?
The gods came afterwards, with the creation of this universe.
Who then knows whence it has arisen?

Whence this creation has arisen
- perhaps it formed itself, or perhaps it did not -
the One who looks down on it,
in the highest heaven, only He knows
or perhaps even He does not know.

- Rig Veda

Translation by Wendy Doniger O'Flaherty. From the Book "The Rig Veda - Anthology"

Saturday, March 12, 2011

Whoever brought me here

"The Keeper" by Neha


All day I think about it, then at night I say it.
Where did I come from, and what am I supposed to be doing?
I have no idea.
My soul is from elsewhere, I'm sure of that,
and I intend to end up there.

This drunkenness began in some other tavern.
When I get back around to that place,
I'll be completely sober. Meanwhile,
I'm like a bird from another continent, sitting in this aviary.
The day is coming when I fly off,
but who is it now in my ear who hears my voice?
Who says words with my mouth?

Who looks out with my eyes? What is the soul?
I cannot stop asking.
If I could taste one sip of an answer,
I could break out of this prison for drunks.
I didn't come here of my own accord, and I can't leave that way.
Whoever brought me here, will have to take me home.

This poetry. I never know what I'm going to say.
I don't plan it.
When I'm outside the saying of it,
I get very quiet and rarely speak at all.

- Rumi , Translation by Coleman Barks

Tuesday, March 08, 2011

Aayi Zanjeer Ki Jhankar

" Thinking of Razia" by Neha


Khudaa khair karey
Aayi zanjeer ki jhankaar Khudaa khair karey
Dil huaa kiskaa giraftaar Khudaa khair karey
Aayi zanjeer ki jhankaar

Jaaney ye kaun meri rooh ko chhookar guzraa
Jaaney ye kaun
Jaaney ye kaun meri rooh ko chhookar guzraa
Ek qayaamat huyi bedaar
Ek qayaamat huyi bedaar
Khudaa Khair karey

Lamhaa lamhaa meri aankhon mein khinchi jaati hai
Lamhaa lamhaa meri aankhon mein khinchi jaati hai
Ek chamakti huyi talwaar Khudaa Khair karey
Ek chamakti huyi talwaar

Dil hua kiska giraftar khuda khair karey
Aayi zanjeer ki jhankar

Khoon dil kaa na chhalak jaaye kahin aankhon se
Khoon dil kaa na chhalak jaaye meri aankhon se
ho na jaaye kahin izhaar
ho na jaaye kahin izhaar
ho na jaaye kahin izhaar Khudaa khair kare

- From the Hindi movie " Razia Sultana", Lyrics by Jaan Nissar Akhtar, Sung by Kabban Mirza, Music by Khayyam

Learn more about this ghazal's story at : http://tinyurl.com/4fq56c8 .Incidentally, I recently visited Razia Sultana's (debated) tomb and today bumped into this otherworldly song from the movie "Razia Sultana"... serendipity - as usual!

Listen to this beautiful ghazal in Kabban Mirza's voice at : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HKlFQMXQ694