An artists impression of Ved Vyas ‘Into a blind darkness they enter who follow after the ignorance, they as if into a greater darkness who devote themselves to the Knowledge alone.’ – Isha Upanishad Some time around 2000 BC, or perhaps even earlier, when much of Europe was still perfecting the art of survival, sages and seers of India were… Read More The Upanishad Diaries – I
In recent times Sufi music and poetry have moved from the shrine to the stage. Some consider this trend to be undesirable. They believe that in the attempt to make it more appealing it is being diluted and corrupted for public consumption. However the fact remains that the increasing popularity of Sufi music and poetry,… Read More SUFI POETRY AND MUSIC IN POPULAR CULTURE
Amir Khusrau: The Sufi with a difference Amir Khusrau teaching his disciples; miniature from a manuscript of Majlis Al-Usshak by Husyn Bayqarah. Courtsey: Wikipedia Remembered more as a musician and a poet than a Sufi, this versatile genius, who is also considered to be among the first Muslim musicologist of India, was… Read More Amir Khusrau
Artisit’s impression of Baba Farid Kaagaa sab tan khaiyo, chun chun khaiyo maans, Do nenan mat khaiyo, mohe piyaa milan ki aas (O crow eat my body and every morsel of my flesh But pray eat not my eyes for they wait for the sight of the Beloved) – Hazrat Baba Farid The above… Read More Sufism and Indian Sufism
Like his beloved hill – Arunachala, this sage raised his head in solitary grace above the rest of humanity, humble in his spiritual grandeur. He advocated no religious method, tradition or ritual. He was above them and espoused the spirit of Self inquiry. ‘Know thyself and you shall know the Truth’ was his response to… Read More Raman Maharishi: The Silent Seer of Arunachala
Know that al-Mehdi (A.S.) must come, but he will not come until the earth is filled with injustice and oppression. He will fill it with justice and equity….. – Musnad Ahmad Ibn Hanbal, Vol. 1, P. 99 When rigthteousness is weak and unrighteousness exults in pride, then my Spirit arises on earth for the salvation… Read More Waiting for the Saviour
Be quiet. Quietness is the surest sign that you’ve died. Your old life was a frantic running from silence. The speechless full moon comes out now. – Rumi ” The discovery of the truth is the discernment of the false. You can know what is not. What is – you can only be.… Read More Quotes: Stillness, silence and the present moment
Equating the human soul with a bird is found in myth and mystical literature all over the world. From Hallaj to Sanai and Rumi, Persian mystical poetry has used the symbol of Bird, beautifully. The human soul, like a bird can choose to remain caged in this perishable body or fly towards Liberation. Ibn Sinna… Read More Flight of the Soul Bird
They belonged to various castes and communities, spoke varied language and dialects and came from different professions. We had Kabir the weaver, Namdev the tailor, Akho the goldsmith, Goro the potter and Chokhmela the mahar who rebelled against the exploitative caste system and exclusiveness of organised religions. While Eknath and Gyanadev, the Brahmin, from Maharashtra, Chaitanya Mahaprabhu from… Read More Bhakti Saint Poets of India
The tradtion of Brahmins (Bhatt) drumming on earthen or copper pots (mann) with their ringed fingers while narrating akhayans – melodious poetical compositions describing in detail, episodes from epics like Ramayana and Mahabharat is unique to Gujarat. Born in Vadodara, Gujarat in the 17th century, Kavi Premanand was one such Manbhatt who raised the standard… Read More Bhakti poets – Premanand, the Manbhatt of Gujarat – I
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