(Continued from the Previous Issue)
I penned my 8th song “Do I have to sleep alone in solitude” on 11-11-1956. Verses have prosody, rhyme, alliteration. The verse called “Champakamala” (the name of a popular meter in Telugu poetry) has the syllables divided as ‘na, ja, bha, ja, ja, ja, ra’ the 11th letter ‘yati’ and the 2nd letter ‘prasa’. I thought that the rules of prosody do not apply to songs. But when I heard the cinema songs of Karunasri and Devulapalli Krishna Sastry, I felt that they too have a meter, a tune and a rhythm and have a pattern thought not very obvious. I kept this fact in mind. Whenever I heard a melodious song I used to write the burden of the song (pallavi) in that tune. The basis/support for the song is the tune. Later it can be set to any tune or raga. Perhaps you can call it the touchstone method. To test the purity of gold one draws a line on the touchstone first with 24 carat gold and beside it a line with the ornament gold. The comparison will reveal the quality or rather the extent of purity of the ornamental gold. An example Sri M.S. Ramarao has composed a song “The Taj Mahal ” – this spacious, peaceful solitary mansion. Its tune is very melodious and captivating. In the same tune I composed on Amma. “In your pure, large heart may I sleep in solitude” is the burden of the song. There is a difference in the movement and aptness of the verses. There may be a slight change in the tune, and rhythm as I do not have the knowledge of the rules of prosody. Since I follow the footsteps of the poet there might be similarity in the ideas presented. Where he used the word “Ekanta’ I used “Ekaki’ meaning lonely or in solitude. Actually only God is alone. ‘Sae Kaha’ ‘He is single, one without a second,’ This is the definition of God in the Veda.
Yours rays of light
Give light to all the worlds.
But I hold the torch of ignorance
And alone search for the path
In this midnight darkness
II In your pure II
There is a little ingenuity in the verse.
“Athato Brahma Jijnasa” is the first aphorism of the Brahma Sutras. A few people are of the opinion that Brahmavidya or the knowledge of the Brahman can be imparted only to the deserving. The words ‘atha and omkar’ are like twins. They were uttered by Brahma at the same time. It is a sign for an auspicious beginning. He who has the zeal to learn can be given the knowledge, for to have the fervor itself is the right qualification to receive the knowledge. This is the opinion of a few others. And this truth was clearly stated by Mother as “Mumukshutva is Moksha”. The desire to acquire knowledge of the Brahman was not present till that moment. But suddenly there is a yearning for it. Mother explains “that the power which inspires you will lead you to your destination when the proper time comes.” Those rays of light that radiance of knowledge will shed light on the world; the third eye will be opened.
But all by myself I hold the torch of ignorance And search for the path in pitch darkness
“Ekastapaha’. When you perform penance you should be alone. In such a pure, steadfast, spacious heart, Universal Mother makes her permanent abode in all her glory.
It might sound paradoxical, irrelevant and shocking when I state that while Mother in her compassion is shedding the rays of knowledge, I am contemplating on the Truth with the help of the torch of ignorance. But let me state the actual fact. The basis for knowledge is ignorance. When Mother comes to me to pour forth the nectar of wisdom I should keep ready the vessel of mind empty. I should surrender totally saying I do not know anything. But in all my arrogance when I sport my half baked knowledge how can Mother fill my heart with true knowledge.
Do I lead a lonely life
While my weak heart aches
To ponder over the heartrending stories!
That are hidden behind
The visible resplendent glory of yours
II In your pure II
This is the second verse of the song. Some consider Mother as the God of hardships, that is the one who extends a helping hand during calamities. But when it happens to be her own personal matter it is just the opposite. Tears are not unfamiliar to her. “If I don’t shed tears, you will have no water to drink ” she said on one occasion. With a desire for universal well-being in mind, she personally entered her own child in the temple, she offered her own Mangalsutra, (the auspicious symbol of marriage usually gold discs in a thread smeared with turmeric powder, tied round the neck of the bride by the bridegroom pronouncing the wedlock) for the universal welfare a unique secretive sacrifice. This heart – rending story an incredible laceration – all these are to open our – eyes to the Truth.
“God is happy, free of troubles, it is man who suffers” are the words of reproach and accusation made by those whose hearts ache with agony and distress. But under no circumstances can one misunderstand the divine Mother who is love personified. But if one does it is a heinous crime and sin. I shall illustrate this.
It was the rainy season. There was no electricity. Thousands of moths were drawn by the petromax light, mistaking it to be some kind of edible fruit, and fell down dead in heaps with their wings and bodies burnt.
A few days earlier there was a deluge at midnight, in Hamsaladeevi, Krishna Dist. Thousands were drawn mercilessly into the womb of the ocean. There was a great loss of life. Many were orphaned, left behind by their near and dear. Recalling this terrible natural calamity a brother expressed his anxiety about the event. Then Mother said, “That is true dear. There and here also thousands of dumb creatures insects and worms have perished. – Do we feel as much pain for the insects as we feel for human beings?” Because she is the Real Mother she tried to teach the basic qualities of compassion towards insects. She taught the truth. The insects are insignificant in the eyes of man. The vision of man is limited. But Mother placed them beside great pious men Prahlada, Dhruva, and Markandeya. Whether these insignificant creatures are dead or alive nobody bothers. Similarly there is none to understand Mother’s long story or her heart ache. He is a sinner, he is a saint; he is a man who made history, he is a characterless being we see these differences. To find fault with others or things is human nature. Not to find fault with Mother’s innate nature.
-(Contd. in the next issue)